Vargas Llosa named 'honoured guest of Buenos Aires city'

Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa was named “honoured guest of Buenos Aires city”, an award bestowed by the City Legislature. The Peruvian writer will later give a conference in the Book Fair, a decision that months ago irked several Kirchnerite intellectuals, including the National Library Director Horacio González.

 “I am very thankful for this homage of my beloved Buenos Aires. I am very moved and I receive this honour with modesty and humility. I know of the convictions and principles that come with this award. Principles that we all defend: love for freedom, for an ample and tolerant society in which different ideas and beliefs can co-exist civilly, without triggering violence, that so much harm has made throught history.”

 “Buenos Aires is a beautiful, welcoming city, and I dream of living here one day. I owe Buenos Aires and Argentine culture a lot, and I hope I can live up to this award”, Vargas Llosa stated.

 Vargas Llosa is scheduled to give a conference in the Book Fair, but has said that he won’t talk about politics. The Peruvian author is an outspoken critic of President Cristina Fernández de Kichner’s administration.