Cuban Grammy Nominees Denied U.S. Visas
By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press Writer
HAVANA - Cuban musicians invited to attend this weekend's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles have been denied U.S. visas needed to attend the ceremony, a Culture Ministry official said Thursday.
"Something as noble as music is being converted into a policy against Cuba," Vice Minister of Culture Abel Acosta told reporters.
Surrounded by some of the Cuban musicians nominated for awards, Acosta showed journalists the letters from the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, denying their visa requests.
The letters cited Section 212f of U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Law, which states that the American president can deny U.S. entry to foreigners when their coming to the country is deemed "detrimental to the interests of the United States."
Officials at the American mission declined to comment on the case, citing confidentiality rules.
Singer Ibrahim Ferrer of the Buena Vista Social Club, a multiple Grammy winner, was among those at the news conference. Other Cuban artists nominated for this year's Grammy awards were percussionist Amadito Valdes, veteran guitarist Manuel Galvan, and singer Barbarito Torres.
Ferrer and pianist Chucho Valdes were among the Cuban artists who missed the Latin Grammy Awards in Miami last fall because their visas didn't arrive in time.
American officials at the time said most of the musicians applied for the visas too late under stricter rules and that several — including Ferrer and Chucho Valdes — didn't apply at all.
Because Cuba is classified by the U.S. government as a state sponsor of terrorism, more extensive background checks are required for citizens of the communist island who apply for visas. The process can take from eight to 10 weeks.