The ANNOTICO Report

Could this gesture inspire the English to return all their Archeological
"booty" from Egypt and Palestine that were Protectorates, as Ethiopia was??
Or Austria, France, and Spain to return the works of Art that they
appropriated during the almost 350 years of  "occupation/exploitation" of
Italy.Or again England looting India, and so many other instances.

Curiously, while Ethiopia has demanded return of the Obelisk, Eritrea is
demanding the return from Ethiopia of hundreds of archeological artefacts
taken from ancient sites, between 1960 and 1965, in the early years of
Eritrea's struggle for independence from Ethiopia, threatening a new row
between the feuding Horn of Africa neighbours.

Eritrea, like Ethiopia, wants to preserve its cultural heritage and that
items excavated from sites at the southern town of Matara, the Red Sea port
of Adulis and monastaries near Asmara, that were at one time great trading
centers, but beginning in the seventh century started to decline. Those
items are currently in Addis Ababa.

Incidentally, despite their differences in the first part of the century,
there has been a long and friendly relationship between Ethiopia and Italy,
encouraged by an Italian Community of 2,000 who stayed after Ethiopia
regained it's freedom. Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, in 1997
conducted a four-day state visit to Ethiopia, in which he pledged Italy's
commitment to Ethiopia's development and efforts at democratization and
poverty alleviation. Since then,  Italian investments in Ethiopia show that
Italy made the largest financial investment that Africa has ever seen.

Coincidentally, on April 14, Italy signed  2.4 billion birr (about 277
million US dollars) loan agreement to improve Ethiopia's HydroElectric
Power, another in that promised series of collaborations, and/or grants
from Italy.

The Government of Ethiopia has also embarked on an  identification and
transfer of skills, financial and other resources from Ethiopians
particular those residing in Italy to assist in its revival.

Voice of America
By  Sabina Castelfranco
18 April 2005

(Rome) After decades of delays, an ancient Ethiopian obelisk (confiscated)
by Italian troops during the dictatorship of Benito Mussolini, is going
back home. The first of three segments is expected to leave Rome by Tuesday.

The first and top segment of the obelisk - a national treasure for Ethiopia
- will be traveling home aboard a Russian transport plane, leased by the
Italian authorities.

The company organizing the airlift has said no one has ever attempted to
fly such a massive monument. The obelisk, which was taken down in three
segments, weighs 160 tons.

The Italian Foreign Ministry says the two remaining pieces of the obelisk
are expected to be returned by the end of this month.

The 24-meter granite block is believed to be around 1,700 years old. It was
taken away from the Ethiopian city of Axum in 1937, after Italy's fascist
dictator Benito Mussolini ordered its seizure.

The monument was then erected in downtown Rome as a war prize from Italy's
invasion of Ethiopia.

The obelisk's long-delayed return was initially scheduled to be completed
last week, but last-minute technical problems forced a postponement. The
obelisk has been a source of contention between Italy and Ethiopia for
decades.

Italy signed a pledge to the United Nations in 1947 to return all of the
property it plundered from Ethiopia. Rome signed two later agreements, in
1956 and 1997, to repatriate the obelisk.

But it was not until Ethiopia threatened to sever diplomatic ties with Rome
in 2003 that a final deal to send the obelisk back was reached.

After it was dismantled in October 2003, there were other delays. The
Italian authorities could not find a suitable aircraft to carry the massive
blocks. Then a special runway had to be built in Axum for the plane to land
safely.

The costs of the delicate and complex operation continued to rise. The
Italian government initially released 1.5 million euros for the project,
but the price tag has since risen to an estimated six million euros.

http://www.voanews.com/english/
2005-04-18-voa50.cfm

Ethiopia
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
April 12 ,2005

Ethiopia and Italy, on April 11 , 2005, signed a 2.4 billion birr soft loan
agreement.

The agreement was part of the commitment made by the government of Italy
during the official visit of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to that country.

Minister of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED), Sufian Ahmed and
Ambassador of Italy to Ethiopia, Guido La Tella signed the agreement on
behalf of their respective governments.

According to the agreement, the loan will be used to finance part of the
costs relevant to civil works and a portion of the electro-mechanical and
hydro-mechanical works of the Gilgel Gibe II hydro-electric power Project,
which is an extension of the Gilgel Gibe 1 Hydropower Station.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Sufian said the loan would contribute for
the expansion of power supply in the country.

Sufian said the agreement shows the prevailing cooperation between Ethiopia
and Italy.

It was indicated that the loan would be paid back in the next 20 years.

Ambassador Guido La Tella on his part said the bilateral cooperation
between the two countries has been steadily growing, adding the present
agreement with Ethiopia is the highest amount his country has ever signed.

The ambassador said Ethiopias efforts in building the power sector would
have significant contribution to the countrys development.

It was reported that the Gilgel Gibe II Hydroelectric power project would
have a capacity to generate 420 mega watt and believed to raise the
country's power generation capacity by 60 percent.

http://www.mfa.gov.et/Press_Section/
publication.php?Main_Page_Number=1605