[mym]

==Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso and Monet are Russian painters?==

I wrote paintings not painters.

==Or perhaps you think that Russia shouldn't honor her contracts?==

1) By the international law paintings cannot be are arrested.
2) Swiss gave warranty for these paintings.
3) NOGA's claims were rejected by French court a year ago.
4) Switzerland's Federal Council overruled the cantonal court yesterday.
5) NOGA's claims are not clear. Otherwise Russia could pay the debt long ago.

BTW masterpieces are on the way home. So Russia is right.

[John O]

3) NOGA's claims were rejected by French court a year ago.

What standing would the french have to rule in a dispute between a Swiss and a Russian? Besides that we know that the french are easily cowed with a minimum of intimidation. Their courts are corrupt.