RUSSIAN FEDERATION The Foundation for Mutual Understanding and Reconciliation of the Russian Federation A partner organization of the Austrian Fund for Reconciliation, Peace, and Cooperation, the foundation was established in November 1993 by the Government of Russia to provide compensation to the victims of Nazi persecution during World War II. Contact: Stoleschnikow pereulok, d. 6 str. 3 103009 Moskau, Russia Telephone: +007 095 745 86 43 Fax: +007 095 777 25 73 E-mail: fondvip@tsr.ru "Federal Law on Cultural Valuables Displaced to the U.S.S.R. as a Result of World War II and Located on the Territory of the Russian Federation" On April 15, 1998, the Russian parliament enacted legislation to address cultural property originally taken by the Nazis and their allies and later seized by Soviet troops during and at the end of World War II. The law provides for the return, subject to stringent terms and conditions, of certain cultural valuables to foreign governments and families, and the nationalization of the remaining property by the Russian Federation. According to Article 9, section 1 of this law, claims for the return of property other than family heirlooms must be filed within 18 months of the law’s entry into force. The deadline for submission of all claims was October 21, 1999. Conferences Russia participated in the London Conference on Nazi Gold. Russia participated in the Washington Conference on Holocaust-Era Assets. Proceedings of the Washington Conference may be found at http://www.state.gov/www/regions/eur/holocaust/heac.html. Russia participated in the Vilnius International Forum on Holocaust Era Looted Cultural Assets. Proceedings of the Forum can be found at http://www.vilniusforum.lt/proceedings/index.htm.