Ethiopians, friends petition for return of Axum obelisk

Addis Ababa, August 22(ENA)-- Close to 2,350 Ethiopians residing in Djibouti and Ethiopians' friends of various nationalities in that country have presented petitions calling for the return of the Axum obelisk from Italy to its home country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Press, Information and Documentation general directorate with the Ministry told ENA on Thursday that the petitioners sent the 130-page petition enclosed with a letter that explains their request to the secretary general of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister of Italy.

In their petition letter dated August 12, 2002 the petitioners have expressed their dismay at the damage to the obelisk due to lack of the necessary care and conservation, the Ministry quoted the Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti as saying.

It said they have also urged the international community to put pressure on the Italian government to immediately return the monument, which they said is the heritage and the pride of Ethiopians in particular and Africans in general.

(END)