Cuba's foreign minister criticizes U.S. ban on cultural exchange with Cuba

 Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez has denounced the United States' anti-Cuban policy, calling it "fanatical obscurantism," following the ban on a cultural exchange involving students from the Clarke College jazz band.

"The fanatical obscurantism that drives anti-Cuban policy in the United States goes so far as to ban a cultural exchange involving students from the Clarke College jazz band. What are Cuba's enemies afraid of?  What danger do they find in Cuba's powerful artistic development?" 

According to press reports, the U.S. federal government denied the Clark College jazz band permission to travel to Cuba one day before their scheduled departure date.

The group had planned to visit Havana to attend performances on Cuban jazz music and participate in musical exchanges with students from the Caribbean nation.