The Pablo Neruda Ibero-American Poetry Award 2005 was given to Argentine writer and poet Juan Gelman for "the ties of his work with popular culture and his original rigorous and concise character creativity."

The announcement was made on Saturday by Chilean Culture Minister Jose Weistein.

Gelman, author of books like "Under the Alien Rain" and "Annunciation," expressed his gratitude for the recognition and expressed his admiration for Neruda's work, which he termed as a "prize for Latin America and the world."

The Pablo Neruda Ibero-American Award was created last year on occasion of the celebration marking the centennial of Neruda. As apoet and activist known as much for his Bohemian lifestyle and his leftist politics, Neruda was winner of the 1971 Nobel prize for literature. Mexican writer Jose E. Pacheco received the first award.

The award is granted by the National Council for Culture and Art of Chile, and funded by the State Bank and the Pablo Neruda Foundation. The winner will get 30,000 US dollars, a medal and a diploma.

Gelman will receive the award on July 12 during an official ceremony marking the 101st anniversary of the birth of Neruda.

Gelman was born in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires in 1930. His first published book was "Violin and other Questions," which immediately received favorable comments. The Argentine author is also regarded by many as one of the greatest contemporary poets.

The poet was forced into exile for 12 years during Argentina's military dictatorship. In 1997, he received the National Poetry Award of his country.

Editor: Catherine