TODAY: Talks on Russia joining WTO require work; South Ossetia election sees Georgia tensions simmer; no ‘begging’ for Belarus; Moscow opposition march broken up by police; Russian dolls

President Dmitry Medvedev and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso have agreed on the need for a ‘serious response’ to North Korea and Moscow will apparently back sanctions.  The European Union, the United States and Russia will hold in-depth ministerial talks this week on the Kremlin’s hopes to join the World Trade Organization.  According to Washington, ‘a great deal of work remains, particularly by the Russian Federation, in order to take the accession process forward’.