Venezuelan Foreign Minister Criticizes US Sanctions

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil. (Source: plenglish)

At the 52nd regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on February 28, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said that US sanctions have caused about 232 billion USD in damage to Venezuela.

Mr. Gil stressed that the US sanctions, also known as "unilateral coercive" measures, were "crimes against humanity" and were denounced by Venezuelan authorities at the International Criminal Court (ICC) three years ago.

He pointed out that Venezuela has been subjected to 927 unilateral coercive measures as well as other illegal provisions, directly and indirectly.

Venezuela's foreign minister said these US measures were aimed at "forcing regime change" in Venezuela and this violated international law.

Also at the session, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister condemned "politicization and double standards" applied to human rights issues.

He affirmed that Venezuela will continue to strengthen human rights, while respecting the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.

Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with the United States in 2019, after the US recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president to replace re-elected President Nicolas Maduro.

The US responded to the move by imposing sanctions targeting Venezuela's oil and financial sectors.

In March 2022, the two countries resumed contact to a certain extent when US President Joe Biden sent a delegation to Caracas to negotiate with President Maduro's government on oil supplies, amid a growing energy crisis due to Western sanctions against Russia.

Earlier this year, President Maduro said Caracas was ready to move forward with the normalization of political and diplomatic relations with the United States.

According to VNA