Venezuelan President Presented with UNESCO Award in Cuba

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accepted Friday in Cuba an international award from UNESCO and opened Havana international Book Fair, this time around honoring Venezuela.

Cuban President Fidel Castro presented the Venezuelan leader the Jose Marti Award before a massive crowd of over 200,000 people that gathered Friday night at Havana´s Revolution Square.

UNESCO instituted the Jose Marti Award back in the 1990s to honor individuals with outstanding contributions to regional integration and the preservation of a given region´s culture, traditions and historic values.

Venezuelan Education minister Aristobulo Isturiz and other senior officials accompanied Chavez during his brief 24-hour visit to Cuba.