Azerbaijan has reported a the death of its soldier in border clash with Armenia ahead of EU talks on territorial dispute resolution.

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry stated that an Azerbaijani soldier was killed following a provocation by Armenian forces, while Armenia reported four soldiers wounded in the clashes.

Leaders from both countries are scheduled to meet in Brussels on Saturday, facilitated by the European Union, in an effort to normalize relations.

The meeting follows discussions held in Washington last week, where the United States acknowledged positive developments towards resolving the Karabakh region dispute.

The Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict revolves around the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since the early 1990s. The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life and displacement of people, with periodic flare-ups of violence over the years.

The latest round of fighting erupted in September 2020, leading to a six-week war that ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire in November 2020. The conflict claimed the lives of over 6,000 people and displaced tens of thousands.

In November 2020, a peace agreement was signed between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia, which aimed to end the conflict and establish a ceasefire. The agreement also granted Azerbaijan control over several territories adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh, which had been under Armenian control for decades.

However, tensions remain high between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and sporadic border clashes have continued. The international community, including the United States, Russia, and the European Union, has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict through negotiations. (ILKHA)