Davutoglu asks Russia to mount pressure on Syria

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has asked Russia to put more pressure on Syria to implement the cease-fire that was to have gone into effect April 12 in accordance with a plan which was prepared by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. Davutoglu met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov yesterday in Brussels. "I asked him to deliver the message to Damascus that the ceasefire is not fully implemented. Implementation of the ceasefire is of vital importance," Davutoglu told reporters, adding that he has briefed all of the NATO ministers and provided them with some visual materials to show where the clashes are happening. "All of the ministers expressed their support for Turkey and promised to extend their hands in the event of a major influx [of refugees from Syria] into Turkey," he said.