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Mexico has awarded its highest honor for a foreigner to Mario Vargas Llosa, winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize in literature.
President Felipe Calderon presented the Peruvian author with the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle on Friday. Calderon also praised him for advocating for freedom and democracy.
Vargas Llosa said that since he has been sharply critical of Mexico at times, Calderon’s words speak to “the democratic spirit of Mexico.”
The writer has criticized a number of governments in Latin America, often ones with left-leaning leaders like Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez.
Vargas Llosa’ selection to open Argentina’s book fair next month has created controversy there among some on the left who consider him an extreme conservative.http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=BrickONeil&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0312420277&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr
Brick ONeil 