“This despite the fact that we don’t have normal economic ties with the European Union.” It threatened to impose more economic sanctions on the South Caucasus country heavily dependent on Russia. Pashinian has also downplayed the sanctions’ impact on the Armenian economy while urging the Russians to lift them. “That is why we believe that the Armenian political thought should find solutions to get out of this economic impasse.” Narek Karapetian said Strong Armenia hopes to thereby demonstrate that it stands for a “real diversification” of the country’s foreign relations.