Ry Cooder's visit to Cuba gets official OK

From ,The Baltimore Sun' February 2, 2001 Friday FINAL EDITION
HEADLINE: Musician's visit to Cuba gets official OK, this time; Fined for prior trip, Cooder travels after some high-level help

WASHINGTON - Musician Ry Cooder, who was once fined by the U.S. government for traveling to Cuba without permission to collaborate with the acclaimed musicians known as the Buena Vista Social Club, is back in Cuba recording music.

And this time, thanks to last-minute intervention from top Clinton administration officials, he's legal.

Cooder, a singer, guitarist and songwriter, who with his Cuban colleagues won a Grammy award in 1998, received U.S. permission to make new recordings in Cuba after Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and Samuel R. Berger, President Bill Clinton's national
security adviser, weighed in on his behalf in the last days of the administration, U.S. officials say.

Although his newest project is probably good news for fans of Cuban music, the high-level attention given to his case within the government raises new questions about the Clinton administration's final days in power.

Having encountered trouble last year in obtaining a license from the Treasury Department for a new trip to Cuba, Cooder gave $ 10,000 to Hillary Rodham Clinton's senatorial campaign in September.

On Jan. 17, three days before President Clinton left office, Cooder was granted the license.

Spokesmen for Sen. Hillary RodhamClinton and former administration officials said there was no connection between Cooder's campaign contributions and the Treasury Department's approval of a new Cooder
trip.

• article submitted by: WOMEX