Havana - The Irish President, Michael Higgins, who''s making his first visit ever to Cuba, will tour this Thursday the historical Fortress of the San Carlos de la Cabaña, venue of the Havana Book Fair that has welcome writers, editors and distributors from 46 countries.

According to the working program of his visit, on the invitation of Cuba's President Raul Castro, Mr. Higgins will also visit a center of scientific interest, will open the exhibit 'The Irish in Latin America' and will take part in other scheduled events.

The Irish President is in Cuba as part of his Latin America tour that took him first to Peru and Colombia.

At the international Book Fair, Mr. Higgins and the Cuban Culture Minister, Abel Prieto, will preside over the presentation of the book 'Star of the Sea' of renowned Irish writer Joseph O'Connor, who's also attending the Fair with a group of outstanding Irish literary figures.

O'Connor's work narrates part of the history of the Irish migration to the USA in the middle of the 19th Century.