RESOLUTION ON THE RETURN OF THE PILLAGED
AFRICAN MONUMENT THE OBELISK OF AXUM
The Assembly of Heads of State and Government:
Recalling the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property adopted on 14 November 1970, by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),
Recalling also the Convention regarding the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted on 16 November 1972 by UNESCO,
Recalling further United Nations General Assembly resolutions on the return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin, adopted since 1972, and in particular resolutions 33/50 of 14 December 1978, 34/64 of 29 November 1979 35/128 of 11 December 1980, 36/64 of 27 November 1981, 38/34 of 25 November 1983, 40/19 of 21 November 1985, 42/7 of 22 October 1987, 44/18 of 6 November 1989, 50/56 of 11 December 1995, 52/24 of 25 November 1997, 45/190 of 17 December 1999 and 56/97 of 14 December 2001,
Convinced that cultural property constitutes a basic element of civilization and national culture,
Cognizant of the singular importance attached by the countries of origin to the return of cultural property which is a fundamental spiritual and cultural value to them,
Reiterating the solemn appeal made on 7 June 1987, by the Director-General of UNESCO for the return of irreplaceable cultural heritage to the countries of origin,
Bearing in mind the United Nations General Assembly
Resolution 56/8 on the proclamation of 2002 as the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage,
1. DECLARES that the return or restitution to a country of its cultural property contributes to the strengthening of international cooperation between developed and developing countries.
2. Affirms the importance of the provisions of the convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects.
3. DEPLORES the systematic delaying tactic deployed by the government of Italy regarding the pillaged African historical monument, namely the Obelisk of Axum.
4. CALLS upon the government of Italy to abide by its commitment entered into in 1947, 1956 and 1997 to return the Obelisk of Axum to its country of origin;
5. URGES UNESCO to put the necessary pressure on the government of Italy to return the Obelisk of Axum to Ethiopia without further delay.
6. APPEALS to the international community to pressure the Italian Government to return the Obelisk of Axum pursuant to the United Nations General Assembly Resolutions.