Despite Having Been Affected by the Russo-Georgian Squabble, Both Armenia and Azerbaijan Cautiously Abstain From Taking Sides

The events of the “five-day war” in South Ossetia demonstrated that countries of the Southern Caucasus largely act according to their own national interests, and not on the assurances of “eternal friendships.” Thus, both Armenia and Azerbaijan behave in a careful and calculated manner, realizing that getting involved in the Russian-Georgian conflict bears a lot of “hidden reefs” which could prove to be more dangerous than the status-quo that is so despised by Baku and so cherished by Yerevan.
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Is a Military Confrontation Between Russia and NATO Impossible?

On more than one occasion in history, various crises demonstrated the ability to unfold according to their own, unnamed logic, and not according to the plans of the masterminds behind them. Such may also be the case with Russia’s present confrontation with the West over the breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia – just when it looks like the conflict has been exhausted, it turns out that the passed grievances have been the mere tip of the iceberg.
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