Armand Basmajian

1. Only as Armenian. It doesn’t matter where I am born.

2. There are no significant changes. Male, Orthodox Christian, Armenian; profession – only librarian; social identity – non-party member with own opinion for many topics; family man.

3. Of course, social environment is perhaps the most important factor that defines national identity. Contacts with peers, school, university, work – all these have always been in the Bulgarian environment. was The closing of Armenian school in the late 50s by order of the Communist party was an unforgiving interference; later, rejection of my identity as a national minority and the refusal of my admission documents for specialties that I chose (in Sofia University); the refusal of my application for scholar’s job, although there were opportunities for this, the reactions of some people when they come to know my nationality (I am talking about individuals, not about society as a whole).

4. Don Quixote and D’Artagnan among fictional characters, the reason is my passion to books and to justice. As for my musical interests, they have to do with Baroque, Classics and Classical jazz. They are not function of my age.

5. Like I said, literary characters are that have always been closer to me. In field of cinema I have no specific preferences for certain movies, images, and artists. I like some black-and-white artist, especially some of them that work bookplates.

6. Controversial. External factors only reinforced my idea of my national identity. This is due more to the negative attitude of some people towards my nationality. I cannot describe the reasons for this, as I think I treat equally all around me. My national identity helps me when I'm in Armenian environment, or when choosing topics for books, etc. As I said above - my nationality played negative role when applying to the University and for an academic career. In the sphere that I was applying there is still not a recognised specialist.

7. Yes, I do live in ethically different state. But this does not bother me at all, for I am accustomed to avoid conflicts with hostile persons. My parents were Armenians, so there were no contradictions in their family. The same is truth for religion and my family. What after that? Nothing important. Some frustration that I compensated with age.

8. This question does not concern me, for I have not changed the place I live.

9. This was a brief account and I do not have anything to add.