The following press release was today issued by the Ethiopian Embassy in London.

Joyous scenes have greeted the return to Ethiopia of the Axum obelisk this last week.

As many of you are aware the 24 metre tall, 160 tonne obelisk was flown from Rome into Axum in three parts because of its enormous size. The first part arrived early on Tuesday 19th April, the second part on Friday 22nd and the third part today, Monday 25th April.

The third part was greeted this morning by Ethiopia’s President, Prime Minister and a huge crowd including politicians, religious leaders and elderly “patriots” who fought the Italians when they invaded Ethiopia in 1936. They all watched as a massive Antonov cargo plane landed in the Tigrayan (northern Ethiopian) town and workers unloaded the 1,700-year-old piece of carved granite.

President Girma Wolde Giorgis wiped away tears as he greeted the obelisk and a huge crowd cheered the end of a 68-year dispute over the symbol of the Axumite civilization, which was stolen by Italian troops in 1937. "This is the land of the Queen of Sheba, and the obelisk belongs here," the President said. "I never thought I would be alive to see its return." Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said "I am very happy," as he boarded the plane to inspect the cargo, adding that the obelisk was "..not merely a piece of stone, this is a symbol of identity", adding "It is the end of a very bad chapter.”

"I am very happy and relieved that at last the obelisk is back," Meles said after receiving the 60-tonne top piece of the obelisk at the airport at dawn. "I think this will bring about a major change of attitude in those countries that have treasures that do not belong to them." The Government hopes that the return of the obelisk will encourage others who have looted items in their possession to return them to where they rightly belong.

The head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Abuna Paulos said, “Justice has been done. This was the right thing for Italy to do."

Considered one of the four kingdoms of the world, the powerful Axumite Kingdom, between 200 and 100 B.C., ruled a vast region that stretched down across the Red Sea.

Ethiopia is grateful to the Italian government that made the obelisk’s homecoming possible. "This marks a new chapter," Italian ambassador Guido La Tella said on the occasion. "This also marks an end of our colonial period."

The obelisk is the largest, heaviest object ever to be transported by air, according to Lattanzi, the Italian company responsible for transporting the obelisk to Axum. 

It will be re-erected in the autumn after the rainy season.

This homecoming marks a proud time in Ethiopia’s history, a time when there is a real sense that Ethiopia is undergoing a renaissance. Vast changes have taken place in the past 14 years particularly in the domains of health, education and infrastructure building. Tourism is rising fast and the economy is growing by at least 7% a year. There are still areas where food security is a challenge but the situation is in hand.

Ethiopia’s Deputy Information Minister Netsanet Asfaw announced on Saturday that Ethiopia would be requesting the return of the remains of Prince Alemaheyu, the son of Emperor Tewodros, who was taken by the British in 1868 when he was seven during General Napier’s invasion of the then capital Magdala. The prince’s remains are currently buried in Windsor Castle grounds. Many hundreds of precious and sacred artefacts were taken at Magdala, including Tabots (altar tablets representing the Ark of the Covenant), illuminated manuscripts, processional crosses, bibles, crowns and chalices. They are in various institutions and private collections mostly in Britain, but also in Europe and elsewhere.

ENDS