CARACAS, 10 June, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza stated that the U.S. sanctions against Venezuela are part of a "comprehensive assault" against the country.

He said in a statement, "It's not just the sanctions, the unilateral coercive measures. Let's see this as a comprehensive assault, a political and diplomatic assault, definitely an economic assault, communicational and ideological assault. It is a real assault with operations by mercenaries."

"There is no doubt" that the measures applied by Washington "have hurt the Venezuelan economy and the Venezuelan people, and constitute crimes against humanity," said Arreaza.

He added, from every perspective, unilateral coercive measures are illegal under international law and that is clearly established by the United Nations General Assembly itself, in different debates and resolutions.

He spoke at the opening of a virtual academic conference called, "Unilateral coercive measures: disrespect for international law and serious human consequences."

The conference gathered experts in the field and diplomatic envoys accredited to the United Nations Human Rights Council.