Havana, Mar 19, (RHC), – A cooperation agreement that exists between Cuba and the United States to protect the legacy of U.S. writer Ernest Hemingway, who lived on the island for over 29 years, was renewed on Tuesday in Havana by cultural and political authorities from both countries.

The agreement, first signed in 2002 by the National Council for Cultural Heritage (CNPC) and the Social Science Research Council of the United States, was created to establish an official cooperation project to preserve the heritage of the U.S. writer in Cuba, particularly in Finca Vigía, Hemingway's residence in the Havana locality of San Francisco de Paula.

The renewed accord was signed this time by the President of the Finca Vigía Foundation, Jenny Philips and Gladys Collazo, president of the National Council for Cultural Heritage.

Attending the ceremony as observers were U.S. Democrat congressman James McGovern, responsible for the governmental authorization for this project, and Fernando Rojas, Cuban Deputy Culture Minister.

In statements to the press, McGovern said he was very proud of the work carried out over the last 11 years of cooperation, saying this was an example of what could be achieved in an scenario of improved relations between the United States and Cuba.