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Omara Portuondo: One Has to Be Insane to Accuse Cuba of Terrorism

CUBA, Jan 14, 2010 .-  “One has to be insane to accuse Cuba of being a terrorist country,” said Cuban Grammy award winner Omara Portuondo in reference to the inclusion of the island nation in the US list of states sponsors of terrorism.

According to the singer, the situation does not come as a surprise for her as the United States has maintained a hostile policy against Cuba for a long time.

“Before the latest measure [tougher airport screening implemented by the U.S for travelers coming from or through so-called terrorist countries], we were considered terrorists,” Portuondo stressed. She said:“for more than six years we were not allowed to go to the United Statesbecause they said we were terrorists and now things seem to be improving.”

Portuondo, who attended last November’s Latin Grammy awards ceremony in the US city of Las Vegas, had made a call against the blockade of that country against Cuba.

This year, she was once again included in the Grammy’s nominee list in the category of Best Tropical Traditional Album, but she was not invited to the awards ceremony to take place on January 31 in Los Angeles, California.

“It occurred to them to say that since we are visiting the United States, we are going to break the political line of Miami,” said the Buena Vista Social Club diva, while regretting being stopped from sharing herculture with the people.

“You know how nice it is to listen to ‘Veinte Años’ or to dance a little bit. How happy we were all going to be, but now it occurred to them to say that we are terrorists,” she told the journalist.

“They are insane,” Portuondo repeated. (Cubaminrex - acn)

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