Havana Feb 24 (RHC)-- Havana City Historian Dr. Eusebio Leal received Friday in Havana Chile's Comendador Order of Merit, during a ceremony presided over by Chilean Ambassador Ricardo Herrera.

The ambassador read a letter sent by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, highlighting Dr. Leal's contribution to the raising of awareness in Latin America regarding the preservation of patrimony. The Chilean president said her country was honored in presenting Leal with the Order of the Comendador. 

The Havana historian thanked President Bachelet for the honor received from her country and recalled the long-standing ties uniting Cuba and Chile, which he said date back to the time of Cuba's struggle for independence.

Created in 1817 by Chile's Libertador, Bernardo O'Higgins, the Comendador Order of Merit is Chile's oldest. It is granted foreign personalities for outstanding civil services rendered the Chilean nation.