Tuner strikes sour note with U.S. over Cuba Treasury bars New Yorker from [View All]

[Osolomia]

Tuner strikes sour note with U.S. over Cuba
Treasury bars New Yorker from sending pianos to Havana
By Mary Murray
NBC News
Feb. 10, 2004

HAVANA - Ben Treuhaft thinks the U.S. Treasury Department got its wires crossed.

Last week, the New York piano tuner received a Treasury license to donate a pair of crutches and a walker to a Havana music conservatory instead of a renewal of his 8-year license to ship used pianos, musical instruments and piano parts.

... “Someone in the Bush administration is mad at us. Somebody decided we weren’t with their program on Cuba so they decided to shut us down.”

... In a letter dated Monday, Commerce said that piano donations are "not consistent with U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba." The only exceptions to this policy from this point on will be food, medicine and medical supplies.

... Almost every day Treuhaft calls the Treasury office looking for information to appeal their decision. “I want to know why they consider pianos subversive.”

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http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4222626/