Russia on Wednesday bluntly rejected Germany's request for a speedy exchange of works of art plundered in the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in World War II.


Russian Culture Minister Yevgeny Sidorov said after talks with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel that every claim and counter-claim would have to be carefully considered by lawyers as well as art experts.


"We cannot return things on a unilateral basis," Sidorov told a news conference. "This is, as Mr. Kinkel said, not a one-way street."


"I think the process will take a long time," Sidorov said.


Kinkel, clearly disappointed by Sidorov's response, had said earlier in the day that the restitution of artworks was no marginal issue but a "key test" of the countries' new relations.


Invading German troops plundered thousands of works of art, the entire contents of some museums, after the invasion of the Soviet Union was launched in June 1941. When Soviet troops occupied Germany four years later, valuable collections and individual works were spirited to Moscow.


Kinkel's one-day visit comes at a crucial time in relations, five months before the deadline for withdrawal of the last Russian troops stationed in formerly Communist eastern Germany.