The United Nations and the international community should encourage the lifting of sanctions imposed by the United States on Venezuela, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
“What we have asked the United Nations and the world is to promote the lifting of sanctions to get rid of the blockade against Venezuela and to lift the seizure of our assets of $30 billion”, Arreaza told reporters. Arreaza also said the US sanctions harm the people of Venezuela and freeing the seized assets would alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the country.
The foreign minister added that while the Venezuelan mission is in New York, they will continue to meet with a number of representatives from other UN member-states to promote Venezuela’s cooperation with the organization.
In January, the United States blocked all assets of Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA in its jurisdiction and imposed a ban on deals with the company. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the United States undertook the move to take care of PDVSA “in the interests of the Venezuelan people” and also protect its own market.
The opposition leader was recognized by the United States and some other countries. Russia China, Iran, Turkey and Mexico as well as several other nations, have backed constitutionally elected Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as the country’s legitimate president and demanded a respect for the principle of non-interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs.