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"The wealth of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has been affected in a substantial way, closing bank accounts, withholding money," the foreign minister said.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza at a United Nations (U.N.) meeting denounced the unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States and asserted that they are not against officials, but against the general population.
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From U.N. headquarters in New York City, the diplomat said that "we are campaigning for ourselves so that the world understands the consequences of the unilateral blockade of the U.S. government on Venezuela, consequences that have taken the lives of thousands of Venezuelans."
Arreaza said that right now, the struggles to control the South American nation’s natural wealth has deepened, particularly, "against the social model of the Bolivarian Revolution developed by the commander Hugo Chavez with the people"
"The wealth of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has been affected in a substantial way, closing bank accounts, withholding money," the foreign minister explained.
In addition, he reported that there are some 5 billion euros belonging to Venezuela that have been blocked at different banks in European countries, including Citibank, Novo Bank, Bank of England, North Capital Bank, all joining U.S. measures meant to harm the country.
The Venezuelan diplomat also stated that several state accounts have been closed and they have been denied the possibility of seeking credits, which would be used to buy food, supplies and medicine needed by the people.
Arreaza reported that in the coming days President Nicolas Maduro will announce the creation of a registry to "keep track of the effects our people are suffering as a result of the blockade" imposed by the U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking on the unilateral and illegal sanctions imposed by the U.S. government, the foreign minister assured members that Venezuela is not a threat to any country in the region, much less to U.S. territory. "The sanctions are not against officials — they are against the people, against our economy," he reiterated.
He also stressed that his country's bilateral relations with Russia, especially military alliances, do not represent a threat to U.S. security.
"We will continue working in the industrial, mining, scientific and military areas to guarantee the peace and security of Venezuela," he confirmed, adding that the population of his country suffers the effects of the economic blockage by generating a deep social impact so as to "make the world believe that the model of Bolivarian Socialism has failed."
The Venezuelan foreign minister also denounced that there are currently 26 patients in Italy awaiting bone marrow transplant who are about to die as a result of the blockade imposed by the United States.
The official explained that these people, children, young people and seniors, had their treatment and expenses paid for by the subsidiary of the Venezuelan state oil company Pdvsa in the US, Citgo, but when that was seized by the U.S. government, they tried to cover the debt by other means, which has not been possible.
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