On the fifth anniversary of the Russia-Georgia August 2008 war, the Government of Georgia reiterates that its goal is to resolve the existing conflict with Russia in a peaceful manner through negotiations based on the principles of international law.

In this op-ed Dennis Sammut reflects on lessons to be learnt from how the conflict over South Ossetia spiralled into a short but bitter war between Georgia and Russia in 2008.

In this exclusive interview with commonspace.eu South Ossetia's envoy to Moscow blames Georgia for starting the 2008 war, and the international community for complacency bordering on complicity. He dismisses the role of civil society in resolution of the conflict and says Russia was the salvation of the Ossetian people.

source: commonspace.eu with agencies.

source: US State Department.

Five years have passed since Georgia and Russia fought a short but costly war that again brought suffering and death on a huge scale to the Caucasus. Lessons need to be learnt and the world and the people of the region together must say "Never again", and must with their actions and their will avoid the spiral that leads to war. Commonspace.eu summarises the conflict and its background in ten short questions and answers as an introduction to a series of articles, interviews and special reports which we will be publishing over the next few days

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