December 17, 1997
HAVANA, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Cuban President Fidel Castro decorated UNESCO director Federico Mayor Zaragoza on Tuesday with the country's highest award to foreign dignitaries.
At a ceremony at Havana's Palace of the Revolution, Mayor said he was honored to receive the national order of Jose Marti, named after a 19th century hero of Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain.
He said he would continue to work for a strengthening of ties between Cuba and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
Mayor, who arrived on a three-day visit to the Cuban capital on Tuesday, was due to take part in a seminar in Havana on the life of Felix Varela, a 19th century priest who is viewed as a father of Cuban independence.
23:35 12-16-97