— New Year’s greetings from Comrade Ramiz Alia to the people Dear comrades, workers and peasants, intellectuals and young people, mothers and sisters: Good evening and Happy New Year! I wish that 1990 will be a year of success and new victories in the building of socialism and the defence of our beloved homeland, and in strengthening the freedom, independence and national sovereignty that are so precious to every Albanian. The year that has passed was a memorable one for our country. We celebrated the 5th anniversary of liberation and the establishment of people’s power, recalled the heroism of the people in the National Liberation War, remembered the glorious road we have travelled to build a new life, brought to mind the many sacrifices our people have made to emerge into the light, and pledged that, as always, we would resolutely continue along the road we have chosen, the socialist road. This year too, we worked with enthusiasm and great mobilization, and with a strong sense of responsibility. The results are satisfactory. From the results achieved in the economy, culture and other fields, we can say that 1989 was the best year of the eighth five-year plan. We had more than 2 billion lekë more in social output than the previous year. National income increased by 10 per cent, that of agricultural cooperatives by 12 per cent, while exports rose by about 20 percent. Further [...] with one eye open, so as not to be caught off guard by deception. No one—not even the greatest, most cunning and treacherous enemy—has ever subdued us. We have never allowed anyone, and will never allow anyone, to dictate their laws and norms to us. Albania its own forces, while respecting the conditions of our country and the traditions of our people. freedom, independence and national sovereignty, and socialism. Our Party and people are convinced that our system has vitality and great creative strength, and is capable of moving society forward and overcoming every difficulty and obstacle. The system we have built knows no exploitation of one person by another. We have no rich people living at the expense of workers and peasants, just as we have no poor people living on someone’s charity. Everyone lives by their own work and sweat. Our socialist society is a just society; it knows neither social conflicts nor national oppression. It respects working people, honest people, people who do not build their own well-being on another person’s misfortune. On these factors our powerful unity has been forged; these moral values underpin our socialist order, and from them stem citizens’ rights and duties. We are conscious that it will take a great deal of work for us to become a rich country. But we are proud to be free and independent, and we are certain that our future will be better and more prosperous. To this end, we have joined all our forces and work tirelessly. With this conviction and confidence, we enter this new year as well. Dear comrades, Let us make 1990 a year that brings goodness and prosperity to our people and guarantees our homeland the freedom, independence and national sovereignty it enjoys. Once again, I wish you all—sisters and brothers, citizens of socialist Albania and compatriots wherever you may be, who keep alive your love for the motherland—a Happy New Year! May you always have goodness and happiness in your lives and families, and success in your work and studies. … develops and advances according to the principle of relying on one’s own forces, while respecting the conditions of our country. Along this path we have achieved the magnificent victories that we enjoy today; along this path we will preserve them in the future as well, just as we resolutely defend freedom, independence and national sovereignty, and socialism. 20 percent. The country’s economic and political stability was further strengthened, the people’s supply of food products and consumer goods improved, and important steps were taken to expand education and culture. This year, 73 per cent of pupils completing eight-year schooling went on to secondary schools, whereas in 1980 only 40 per cent did so. These successes are the fruit of our people’s work, effort, ideas and will. Therefore, on behalf of the Party, I congratulate you and greet you from the bottom of my heart, workers, peasants and intellectuals, who have put all your physical and mental abilities at the service of the socialist construction of the country, dedicating them to the homeland and the cause of socialism. Dear comrades, During the 45 years of free life, every person has become more prosperous and advanced. Such is 1990 as well. This was also reflected in what the People’s Assembly approved a few days ago. All sectors of the economy, culture, services and healthcare will be devel- oped with greater momentum. This year priority will be given to further improving the people’s supply of both food products and industrial and consumer goods. This will be possible because this year the material and technical base of agriculture will be strengthened, several measures to encourage and stimulate increased agricultural and livestock production will be more widely applied, and investment in light and food industries will increase. Realizing these plans requires persistent work and effort from everyone, a creative spirit and a revolutionary outlook. Stronger economic accountability is needed everywhere. To increase production efficiency, the interests of society, the collective and individuals must be better harmonized, broader scope must be given to the initiative and independent activity of the masses, and their responsibility and role must be increased. In this process, the struggle against bureaucratism, routine and every outdated mentality must also be waged, and our socialist democracy strengthened. The general line of our Party, worked out in Albania and by the Albanian communists themselves, with Comrade Enver Hoxha at their head, has been and remains a correct line: the line of freedom, independence and full national and popular sovereignty, unconstrained by foreign powers or organizations of any kind. At all times it has served the conditions and interests of our country. It has brought the people well-being and freedom, and given them full national dignity. Therefore, as in the past and today, so in the future, we will follow it faithfully. The events that have taken place recently in Eastern Europe have emboldened certain well-known anti-Albanian forces to resume their slanderous campaigns against our country. But, as our people say, they can try all they like. We Albanians are accustomed to forging ahead through struggle and effort; we are accustomed to ...

— More than 20 million lekë were contributed to the budget, and the accumulation deficit was reduced by about 51 million . On December 27, workers in the Tirana District fulfilled this year’s targets and those set for the 45th anniversary of the country’s liberation, producing more than 20 million lekë in additional industrial goods. The volume of construction was also exceeded by 2 per cent, municipal services for the people by 1 per cent, cash retail turnover by 3 per cent, as well as transport indicators measured in tonnes, tonne-kilometres, etc. During this year, more than 150 different facilities were built in these districts, including a bread factory, a flour mill, a bread-cloth factory, a honey factory, a jam factory and a corn-bread factory, as well as a leather-processing factory. “Dinamo”, “Pallati i Pashkos”, etc., as well as 2,000 residential apartments. The market was supplied with [?] and nearly 3 million lekë more in products, and 40 thousand [?] better. In the agricultural sector, planting targets were met. With the increase in production yields, agriculture has also improved [?] ... Industrial output has likewise increased. The income plans of industrial enterprises were exceeded by 40 and 50 million lekë, respectively, and the agricultural cooperatives fulfilled their targets. This year, industrial and construction enterprises exceeded their targets for the production of goods. Other enterprises recorded satisfactory indicators, and their objectives were achieved in accordance with the targets set for increasing economic efficiency. The annual plan for budget accumulation and that for revenues were exceeded by 4 million and 50 million lekë, respectively, a result achieved despite difficult circumstances. These successes were due to the productive work of enterprises and to the 6 per cent [...] by 1 and 6 per cent, respectively. Among the factors were planning, [?] fulfilment of targets [?], employment and materials for [?] use, production costs [?] ... reduced by about 5 million lekë. Also in planning [?] ... the new year, discipline and [?] ... collective turnover ... — 21 Dhjetori, the mechanical plant, the high-voltage enterprise, none [?] ... the carpet enterprise, the mine at Mushqeta, etc., as well as the agricultural cooperatives of Baldushk, Prezë, Petrelë, etc. In every economic enterprise and agricultural cooperative, measures have been taken to make a good start to work in 1990. The plan for total industrial production shows an increase of 6 per cent, and the agricultural plan an increase of 10 per cent. Exports will be 25 per cent higher than in the year that has just ended. More than 70 per cent of the increase in production is expected to come from higher labour productivity. Accordingly, in all the districts of the capital, workers’ collectives have broken down the plan targets and supported them with the necessary material resources. (ATSH)

We step onto the threshold of another year. We push open the shutters of a great door. Beautiful! It is not the same, nor is there any comparison with the feeling when, one day, they hand us the keys to a new apartment, so beautiful. It is the home we know, to enjoy every little corner. Everything there is ours. And yet a sudden “ahh” of satisfaction at all we have achieved; the rhythm that carries us onward through the days [?] of the year unfolds. Could it be that we have gone too far in following those things that “we leave behind”? Do we overdo it when, with a clear mind, we put them in the context of today? The road travelled by a person, a people, a country is life itself. How, then, can one forget oneself? That is why we constantly reflect on facts and figures, and make comparisons. We reflect on broader horizons of life, on what cannot be put into statistics but should be recorded in the memory of generations for years to come. A year that ends and another that begins each have their own events. It is impossible to escape them. This year, for example, produced more than 2 billion lekë in social output over what 1988 produced. Our national income was just as much higher. These are synthetic economic indicators showing that our pace is not bad, but 3–5 times faster than population growth. The population grew by 2 per cent in a year, national income by 10 per cent. Today’s mentality has no difficulty in grasping this truth: “Oh, the world!” As if we were the only ones with such growth rates! Not at all. We are neither the only ones, nor are we rich. But we do have something that gives us the right to be proud, without the slightest fear of boasting. This home of ours is not built on the sweat of others. That is why we feel its weight and its beauty. We do not open our gates so that someone can do as they please in our hearth. And there can be no greater dignity than this. We live on what we ourselves create. There is no greater security than this. The truth that will not leave you stranded on the road is your own sweat. We see and feel this deeply. Perhaps much more... But that is not all. Everything else is focused and refracted through these truths. A humane life is built; people grow, and work and sweat acquire great value. Let us give one example. This is youth. The people’s youth. Somewhat because life [?] ... The average has almost doubled compared with before the war. Is there a more meaningful truth than this? Only a short while ago, everyone was awaiting the decision to lower the retirement age for mothers with many children. How many letters and telegrams were sent to the Party! This is simply a natural concern for people (an essential feature of the system)—for the person who nurtures and keeps the youth of the homeland alive, for the person who gives the country its most beautiful cradle: its eternal youth. Socialism rewards the great contributions to the fullest. We reach one year and begin another. Life pulses through its days; people grow. The person of society ... (Continued on page 3)

Dear comrades,