Statements and developments regarding a settlement of the Karabakh conflict have intensified of late and have lead to speculation that a break-through in the talks is soon in coming. Such speculation is based in part on the recent statements of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, alluding to the prospect in a solution to the Karabakh conflict within the next several months.

Such increased activity is clearly conditioned on the stepped-up measures taken by the super-powers and various international institutions regarding the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. The spokesperson for the U.S. Secretary of State office has even declared that the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey must be achieved without preconditions and according to a sensible timetable. In the coming days the Minsk Group Co-chairs will once again visit the region. Who they will meet while in Karabakh, besides the president, is still unclear. But the signs of increased activity regarding a settlement are quite apparent. Against this back drop of swirling activity, both the authorities and rank and file citizens in Karabakh exhibit amazing calm. All are caught up in the mundane concerns of everyday life, as for the example the negative effects of ill weather. Everything is a topic for discussion except for a possible settlement of the Karabakh issue. In fact, the topic is discussed more outside of Karabakh than within its borders. The calm exhibited by the people of Karabakh can be interpreted in several ways. The first is that the residents believe that they have solved the problem already, through their own actions on the ground, and thus the statements of foreigners do not concern them in the least. Or else, they don't find it necessary to state their position on the matter for the umpteenth time, even though they occasionally do so. Or else they simply believe that in the end, come what may, the determining factor will be the voice of the Karabakh people. As to what extent these arguments of theirs will prove to bear fruit, only time will tell. But it is more than clear that on-going developments demand a higher sense of preparedness and alertness than presently exists. For isn't it the case that in the geo-political game such reasoning, however sincere, is simply brushed away on the diplomatic back-burner.