ARMENIA TO RETURN GERMAN CULTURAL VALUABLES.

By a decree signed on May 1, the recently elected President Robert Kocharian ordered the return of German art objects, old books and manuscripts representing Armenia’s share of the Soviet loot in Germany. Kocharian tasked the Internal Affairs and State Security Ministry and the Foreign Ministry to handle the transportation and restitution arrangements. Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, who began a visit to Germany yesterday, is scheduled to hand over a batch of 575 items. (Russian agencies, May 1 and 4) Georgia made a similar decision in 1996. The two countries have thus set an example for Russia, which prevaricates on restitution while holding the lion’s share and the most valuable parts of the loot.

UNEASY TRUCE AFTER FIGHTING IN DUSHANBE.