Assembly/AU/Dec.82 (V) DECISION ON THE RETURN OF THE AXUM OBELISK TO ITS PLACE OF ORIGIN The Assembly: 1. RECALLS its Resolution AHG/Dec.184 (XXXVIII) of July 2002; 2. COMMENDS the Government and the people of Ethiopia on the return of the pillaged Axum Obelisk to its place of origin; 3. FURTHER COMMENDS the efforts deployed in this regard by the Commission of the African Union to expedite the return of the Axum Obelisk; 4. EXPRESSES ITS GRATITUDE for the efforts deployed by UNESCO and other international partners in the return of this African historical monument to its country of origin; 5. ACKNOWLEDGES that the cooperation demonstrated by Italy in the return of the Axum Obelisk is a positive step that should be taken as a landmark in the history of cooperation between Africa and Europe in the cultural area; 6. EXPRESSES ITS APPRECIATION to the Government of Italy for ensuring the safe return of the Axum Obelisk in conformity with its commitment and in response to the request made by the OAU/AU in its Resolution AHG/Dec.184 (XXXVIII) of July 2002; 7. DECLARES that the return of the Axum Obelisk constitutes a victory for all African countries; 8. CALLS UPON all concerned countries to follow this exemplary act and make further efforts to return pillaged cultural property to their places of origin.