(Prensa Latina - Cumbancha) Havana, Cuba - The US government is processing the visa application for various Cuban musicians nominated for Latin Grammy 2003 awards, to be delivered in Miami this coming September 3. "The US Interests Section in Havana (USIS) accepted to process the documents of the Cuban musicians," a Cuban Music Institute source told the cultural magazine "La Jiribilla." "The prestige and seriousness of our artists made it possible that the documents be accepted by the USIS," said the same source said. The Cuban magazine denied that the Cuban authorities delayed the visa applications and criticized such recent statements by the White House special envoy for the Western Hemisphere Otto Reich.

The possible presence of Cuban artists at the Latin Grammy gala has provoked a tense controversy between the exile groups and Cuban artists based in Miami. Cuban Culture Vice-Minister and Cuban Music Institute President Abel Acosta, defended the right of the Cuban artists to attend the Latin Grammy ceremony." The presence of our artists is a right gained by their talent and work," he stated.