MOSCOW, (SANA)_Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the unfolding situation in Syria proves that there is no alternative to the plan of the UN envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, for a diplomatic and political settlement of the crisis there.

In a telephone talk with the UN envoy, Kofi Annan, on Sunday, Lavrov said that the main task at this stage is to unify the efforts of key players to ensure the implementation of Annan's plan.

Lavrov added that Russia is contacting the Syrian government and the opposition's representatives to encourage them to jumpstart a political dialogue.

''Moscow is ready to study plans to coordinate the international efforts on the Syrian track,'' added Lavrov. According to the statement, Annan informed Lavrov on the outcome of his visit to Syria and his assessment of the developments there.

Russian Foreign Ministry: Russia, China, Cuba Voted against UNHRC Decision for being ''Imbalanced, Biased"

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russia, China and Cuba voted against a U.N. Human Rights Council decision which condemns the Syrian governments for the tragic events in al-Houla town because it was ''imbalanced and biased.''

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that Russia, China and Cuba voted against the decision because its text was imbalanced and biased as it leveled groundless accusations against the Syrian government for all the crimes committed in Syria and holds it fully responsible for human rights violations, without condemning the acts of gunmen, criminals and terrorists who perpetrated bombings in Damascus and Aleppo , vandalized facilities and assassinated public, academic and religious figures.''

The statement stressed that Russia vehemently condemns the collective killing of civilians in al-Houla on May 25.

''The UNHRC decision goes beyond the Council's mandate and contradicts the UN Security Council press statement on May 27,'' the Russian Foreign Ministry statement added.

''It is a matter of great concern that some countries pinpoint culprits without waiting for the findings of the observer mission investigation into al-Houla tragedy, in order to exert pressure on the U.N. Security Council to exploit this tragedy for their own interests and thwart the implementation of Annan's plan,'' added the statement.

''We are as convinced as ever that the Syrian crisis can never be settled except through political and diplomatic means and on the basis of all parties' commitment to Annan's peace plan and the relevant UN resolutions,'' the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

''Our country opposes using the UNHRC to launch a scenario of using force against Syria…It is important not to anticipate the finding of the observer mission probe into al-Houla crime.''

''The sole exit from the Syrian crisis is in ending violence and supporting Annan's plan…Russia will stick to this position and calls upon other countries to follow suit,'' the statement said.

M. Ismael