BY NANCY SAN MARTIN

 The top architect of U.S. policy for Latin America came to Miami on Wednesday with a message for those who may think recent unprecedented agreements between Cuba and the United States signal a softening in policy: Nothing has changed.

 The U.S. embargo remains firmly in place, and recent accords to buy food and supplies from U.S. companies were the result of a policy reverse by Cuba, not the United States, said Lino Gutierrez, acting assistant secretary of state.

 And, he added, Cuba's criticism of the war in Afghanistan is ``nothing short of appalling and offensive.''

 Gutierrez made his remarks in Coral Gables, where the anti-Castro Center for a Free Cuba issued a report highlighting what it said was the deteriorating political and
 economic situation on the island.

 Gutierrez said the Bush administration's mission is ``to see a rapid, peaceful transition to a free and democratic Cuba,'' and that the embargo is a key component of U.S. strategy to do that.

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

 Gutierrez's statements were part of a Bush administration effort to dispel speculation that the food shipments scheduled to begin arriving in Havana this month could lead to more permanent trade relations between the two nations.

 The White House reiterated the message in Washington on Wednesday with a statement saying that Bush strongly opposes a Senate proposal to allow private financing of U.S. food sales to Cuba.

 Cuban officials did not disagree with Gutierrez's assessment that planned food and medicine sales of up to $30 million are an ``exceptional purchase'' because of the
 devastation caused by Hurricane Michelle on Nov. 4. But they also have made clear that they are willing to buy more U.S. products if trade sanctions are fully lifted.

 ``We do want to buy from American companies,'' said Luis Fernández, spokesman for the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, D.C. ``But those discriminatory and humiliating sanctions need to be lifted.''

 Those who support an end to the embargo said the upcoming shipments are historic and groundbreaking no matter how dismissive both sides may want to be.

 For the first time in four decades rice and other grains grown in U.S. fields will float across an ocean that generally separates both nations.

 ``If something hasn't happened in 40 years then it happens, that is significant,'' said Sally Grooms Cowal, president of the anti-embargo Cuba Policy Foundation. ``Like in a football game, this is the first down.''

 The United States implemented the trade embargo after President Fidel Castro swept to power in 1959 and began nationalizing U.S. property on the island.

 A year ago, Congress enacted legislation that eased some restrictions to allow cash sales of food and medicine but the Cuban government had refused to make
 purchases, saying the measure reinforced the embargo because no credit purchases were permitted.

                                    © 2001