The August 2008 conflict in Georgia caused the tragic loss of hundreds of lives, and left many thousands of people displaced. Five years on, we can see the impact the military conflict had on Georgia and South Caucasus.

For the OSCE and its participating States, the conflict and its aftermath serve as a reminder of the core mandate of the Organization: to build a space of co-operative security, to respect differences, build confidence and to strive for the peaceful resolution of disputes, says the statement dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the August 2008 conflict.

“Five years after, the OSCE is heavily involved in mediation addressing the consequences of the conflict. Together with the EU and the UN, the OSCE co-chairs the Geneva International Discussions. These ongoing discussions are the only forum where all stakeholders are represented, bringing together participants from Tbilisi, Tskhinvali and Sukhumi, as well as Moscow and Washington,” it reads.

The OSCE believes people living in the conflict-affected areas deserve peace, stability and the opportunity to live their lives right now. In this context, the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was created to deal with matters affecting the daily life of people on the ground.