Cuban leader Raul Castro said on Sunday that "nothing has changed" concerning Cuba-U.S. relations despite occasional and limited bilateral talks on specific topics.

Castro told the parliament that the U.S. blockade against Cuba is still in place, and the five Cubans jailed in the United States on spy charges "remain suffering unjust imprisonment."

He singled out "abusive treatment and cruelty" committed to Gerardo Hernandez for condemnation.

Hernandez, along with Rene Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labanino

and Fernando Gonzalez, was arrested in September 1998 in the U.S. city of Miami when monitoring actions of anti-Cuba groups.

The five are regarded as heroes in the island country.

Castro said there will not be impunity for enemies of Cuba, despite Cuba's recent decision to release 53 inmates accused of serving as mercenaries of Washington.

Cuba has insisted on the release of the five and the end of the 48-year U.S. trade and economic embargo if Washington wants to improve its relations with the island country.