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U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar on Monday received Spain's highest civil award for a foreigner for his performance in what King Juan Carlos called "the toughest job on Earth." Perez de Cuellar, 71, a Peruvian who is retiring from his U.N. post after nine years at it, received the Order of Isabella the Catholic. "The role of the United Nations - and yours as secretary-general - have contributed in a very relevant way to the defense of the ideals of peace, justice and freedom," Juan Carlos told Perez de Cuellar, who was honored in a ceremony at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid.