HAVANA, Cuba.- The Minister of Culture, Alpidio Alonso, accompanied by Deputy Ministers Fernando Rojas and Maria Elena Salgado, presented this Monday afternoon writer Abel Prieto as the new president of the Casa de las Americas before the Board of Directors and the workers, according to La Ventana, web portal of that cultural institution.

It was also known that Marcia Leiseca, who founded Casa de las Americas with Haydee Santamaria and served for several decades as its first vice-president, was freed from its responsibility.

Abel Prieto replaces poet and essayist Roberto Fernandez Retamar, who served as president of that institution from 1986 until his death last July.

At the meeting, the new president of Casa de las Americas recognized Retamar´s work and the important legacy of founder Haydee Santamaria.