Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez arrived Friday in Cuba for 24-hour visit in order to accept an international award from Unesco and open Havana international book fair honoring Venezuela, local media reported.

"I want to embrace and kiss Cuba. I love Cuba!" Chávez said after embracing his friend and ally Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who received the Venezuelan ruler at José Martí airport in the Cuban capital. Chávez arrived in the island at 1:40 a.m. Friday.
  
Venezuelan Education minister Aristóbulo Istúriz and other officials accompanied Chávez, AFP reported.

Chávez Friday will be granted Friday night the International José Martí Award from Unesco for his contribution to Latin American integration and preservation of the region culture, traditions and historic values.
  
Before the ceremony, Chávez is to take part in the opening act of the fifteenth international book fair of Havana 2006. This year the event is honoring Venezuela.

Chávez arrived in Cuba after participating Thursday in Caracas in the acts commemorating his seventh year in office. The Venezuelan ruler announced the expulsion of US naval attaché John Correa from Caracas for allegedly spying on the Venezuelan government.