Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BERLIN (AP) - Germany wants to double state funding for the hunt for Nazi-looted art, which since 2008 has amounted to (EURO)14.5 million ($19.7 million).
The government was criticized by Jewish groups last year for being slow to announce the discovery of more than 1,400 artworks in a Munich apartment in early 2012.
Some of the paintings, drawings and prints are claimed by the heirs of former owners persecuted by the Nazis.
The affair has prompted fresh scrutiny of how Germany handles disputes over Nazi-looted art.
Monica Gruetters, the government's top cultural official, told lawmakers Wednesday it was "unbearable that there is still Nazi-looted art in German museums."
She pledged to create a central point of contact for claimants to avoid the impression that German officials were trying to duck responsibility.
(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)






