By unanimous decision, Peruvian poet Antonio Cisneros has been selected for this year's Gabriela Mistral Inter-American Prize for Culture, the judges announced today. The Prize is awarded by the Organization of American States (OAS).

In selecting the winner, the jury noted that Cisneros' work admirably fulfills the criteria established by the OAS by contributing to the shaping and enrichment of the culture of the Americas. "With a body of work rooted in the historical significance of the era, Cisneros transcends borders with his mastery of the Spanish language and his mordant irony. His is an open, sometimes conversational poetry, stemming from a lucid reading of social reality."

The panel of judges met at the OAS headquarters for two days, and were led by the Director of Culture of Jamaica Sydney Bartley, representing the Permanent Executive Committee of the Inter-American Council for integral Development (CEPCIDI). The other judges were Alexis Márquez Rodríguez, representing the Secretary General; Emile Martel of Canada; Márcio Souza of Brazil; and Lancelot Cowie of Trinidad and Tobago.

The members of the jury also made special mention of the valuable contribution made by Helen Umaña, of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, through her research on the literature of her country.

Awarded this year for the category of literature and philosophy, the Gabriela Mistral Inter-American Prize for Culture was instituted in 1977 to recognize significant contributions by individuals or institutions towards shaping and enriching the culture of the Americas, its regions or unique cultural traits by expressing their own values and similarly by assimilating and incorporating universal cultural values. The award consists of a $30,000 cash prize and a certificate.

********