«While Azeri lands are occupied by Armenia, Azerbaijan will not agree to any peace with that country,» Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev stated at a meeting with Commander of the US Oklahoma State National Guard, Major General Harry White, Trend news agency reported. «I note with regret that the OSCE Minsk Group, which deals with the conflict settlement, has not attained any positive outcome yet. A considerable number of arms and ammunition is accumulated in the occupied Azeri lands, which poses threat to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export oil pipeline, which will start operating soon. We expect much of the US Ambassador to the Minsk Group in the conflict settlement,» S. Abiyev said. In H. White's words, «the new period will open new opportunities, Azerbaijan will turn into a leading state in the South Caucasus.» He said Oklahoma State is ready to share defense experience. S. Abiyev noted that the basic interests of Azerbaijan and the US coincide, and that after «the liberation of the lands seized by Armenia,» Azerbaijan will develop faster and will become a leading state in the South Caucasus.