March 12, 2008 - 13:42 AMT
PACE observer: Ankara wants Armenia tensions to ease
The election campaign revealed Serzh Sargsyan as the most mature candidate. Observers met all presidential hopefuls except for Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who refused to appear at the meeting. Meanwhile, Serzh Sargsyan presented explanation on all accusations brought against him," said Mesude Nursuna Memecan, a Turkish parliament member and PACE observer.

"The observers' reports record progress as compared to the previous elections," she said, adding that Turkey stands for soonest resolution of the political crisis in Armenia.

"Congratulating President-elect Serzh Sargsyan, Turkey's President Abdullah Gul called for normalization of relations. Turkey is ready to lend a helping hand to Armenia, as normalization of relations is important," she said, 1news.az reports.

AKP member Mesude Nursuna Memecan served on the 26-member PACE observation mission.