The first pieces of the Axum obelisk will arrive in the ancient Ethiopian town of Axum on April 13 after about 70 years of stay in Italy, it was announced Friday.

Government officials told journalists Friday at a press conference that preparations have been finalized to accept the first part of the 24-meter-high obelisk, which was looted by the invaders of fascist Italy in 1937.

Teshome Toga, minister of youth, sports and culture, said the first part of the obelisk would arrive in Axum on Wednesday morning where thousands of people and high-ranking government officials are expected to welcome the obelisk at the Axum airport.

Teshome said the remaining two parts of the obelisk would also arrive in Axum town within two weeks, until the end of this month.

"We have finalized every preparation to return the obelisk. The Italian government has shown great cooperation and political commitment for the return of this historical property. We are very proud to accept this historical heritage back," Teshome said.

He said that construction works, including the road to move the obelisk from Axum airport to the re-erection site, have been completed.

He said that the Italian government would cover costs of transportation and the re-erection process based on the two countries' agreement signed in November last year.

Over 1 million US dollars have been collected last month at a telethon fund-raising event held at the national palace in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to cover costs related with the return of obelisk.

Asked when the obelisk will be re-erected at its place, Teshome said "we have a plan to re-erect this obelisk as soon as the whole obelisk arrives in the country by the end of this month."

He said that the re-erection process would not take much time than the dismantling process held in Italy last year.

"We have invited UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) to be involved in this process together with the Italian experts who are currently working with us for the re-erection process," he said.

He said no further delay would occur to return all the pieces of the obelisk by the end of April 2005.

Ethiopia is one of the oldest continuous civilizations in the world. The first known civilization in Ethiopia was that of the mighty Aksumite Kingdom. Having established itself in 1,000 BC, in northern Ethiopia, it eventually spread over all of northern and even central Ethiopia. The ancient city of Axum, which was started by the Aksumites, was Ethiopia's first capital city.