US State Dept: ”Turkey is well positioned to deliver a powerful message to Syria”

The US on Monday praised this week's visit to Damascus by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his efforts against Syria's violent crackdown. "We're pleased that he's undertaking this visit," US State Department Spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. "The Secretary (US Secretary of State Clinton), as you know, spoke to Foreign Minister Davutoglu yesterday. They did talk about the situation in Syria. And we believe it's another opportunity to send yet another strong message to (Syrian President Bashar) Assad that this crackdown on peaceful protestors cannot stand." Toner added, "Certainly we believe Turkey has a powerful role to play here as a neighbor, as a country that has, in fact, taken in refugees fleeing Syria. They are, we believe, well positioned to deliver a powerful message."