TODAY: United Russia congress; Georgia-Russia talks progress, Russia wants UN to monitor weapons trade; Poland seeking to allay tensions over missile defense; Bakhmina, Politkovskaya.

The United Russia party is holding its congress today, giving party leader Vladimir Putin a chance ‘to re-assert his status as Russia’s most popular politician‘.  Putin has already been quoted as having pledged to spend an extra $1.8 billion on defense over the next two years, and to transfer $1 billion to the IMF to fund crisis rescue packages.