Axum, February 15, 2008 (Axum) - Foundation work to re-erect the Axum obelisk, which returned home after 68 years exile, has been completed, culture and tourism commission of Tigray State said.Axum branch office head with the commission, Fiseha Zibelo told ENA on Thursday that currently the re-erection of the obelisk is in progress.
The re-erection of the obelisk, being carried out by an Italian construction company called Lattanzi SRL, is expected to be fully finalized in August 2008.
The Italian government covers the total budget amounting over 2.8 million U.S. dollars for the implementation of the project. It also financed related studies and the transportation cost for the obelisk.
The Axum obelisk is around 1,700 years old. Axum was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1980.
R:9:15-9:36
E:9:55am
---END---
