July 15, 2008 - 17:46 AMT
Moscow to brisk up relations with Armenia if Georgia joins NATO
Moscow-Baku relations have cooled since the USSR decline and do not depend on situation in third states, with the exception of Russia's engagement in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, a Russian expert said.

"Current relations satisfy Russia with their predictability. Baku is not fully content but it does appreciate predictability of its partner," Russian political scientist Dmitry Andreyev said.

Russia will not lose influence in the South Caucasus if Georgia joins NATO, according to him.

"Moscow will just brisk up relations with Armenia and will deeper engage in Karabakh process if Georgia joins the Alliance," Andreyev said.