BY NANCY SAN MARTIN

 The highest-ranking U.S. official for Latin America came to Miami Wednesday with a message for those who may think recent agreements between Cuba and the United States signals a softening in policy: Nothing has changed.

 The U.S. embargo remains firmly in place, recent accords to purchase food and other hurricane relief supplies from U.S. companies was the result of a change in attitude by Cuba, not the United States, and Cuba's criticism of the war in Afghanistan is ``nothing short of appalling and offensive,'' Lino Gutierrez, acting assistant secretary of state, said at a press conference in Coral Gables, where a report was issued on the most important developments affecting Cuba this year.

 Gutierrez said the Bush administration's sole mission is ``to see a rapid, peaceful transition to a free and democratic Cuba,'' and that the embargo was a key tool in U.S. strategy to bring about change.

 The statements were an apparent effort to dispel speculation that the shipments of food scheduled to arrive in Havana this month could lead to more permanent trade
 relations between the two nations.

 ``The United States has not changed any rules . . . or moved in any way to encourage these sales,'' Gutierrez said.

                                    © 2001