Visiting United States President Bill Clinton said in Ankara on November 15 that he hoped the upcoming talks on the Cyprus issue will bring about lasting peace and security for the Cyprus people.

Clinton expressed the hope at a brief press conference in the presidential palace in Ankara after he held official talks with his Turkish counterpart Suleyman Demirel.

After inter-delegational talks, Clinton briefed about the Cyprus issue over which he discussed with Demirel.

Clinton arrived in Ankara late Sunday night for a five-day official visit to Turkey as well as to attend the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe summit to be held in Istanbul on November 18-19.

Clinton said he was hopeful about the upcoming indirect talks on the Cyprus issue.

Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash are expected to attend the "proximity talks" scheduled to be held in New York, the United States, on December 3.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement Monday, saying Turkey completely supports and shares the sensitivities and position put forward by Denktash earlier in the day about indirect talks on Cyprus.

The statement said Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side stressed that current atmosphere is not suitable for direct talks on Cyprus, adding "the basis for negotiation should be prepared for a comprehensive initiative for a lasting solution through the talks with the mediator."

Cyprus has been divided into the Turkish Cypriots-controlled north and the Greek Cypriots-dominated south since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the northern third of the island in the wake of a failed coup seeking union with Athens.

Direct negotiations between the two sides on the island have not been held in the past two years because of preconditions set by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side for the recognition of the breakaway republic in northern Cyprus.

In a statement issued Sunday in New York, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the acceptance by the two sides for the "proximity talks."