WE DRAW YOUR ATTENTION IT IS NEITHER TOO LATE, NOR SHOULD WE WAIT — This is about early potatoes — From these days until 20 February is the most suitable time for planting early potatoes. This constitutes an important front of work for agricultural workers, since potatoes are a product of particular value for supplying the people, as well as for export. Planting on time lays the foundations for fulfilling this year’s potato-production tasks, which are by no means small. The experience of the agricultural enterprises of Lezhë shows this best: for years they have harvested more than 150 quintals per hectare of potatoes, and in certain plots as much as 300 quintals. In this economy, timely preparation of the seed, the soil, and the supply of organic fertilizers, as well as compliance with the planting schedule, form the basis of these achievements. But how is the work actually progressing this year? Preparing the seed is the first link in this campaign. In most districts it has been secured. Nevertheless, there are cases, as in the district of Fier, where, although the campaign is already upon us, some of the potato seed is still in Sërblevë, Dibër. This calls for urgent measures; otherwise the planting schedule and the results of the work will be jeopardized. The issue is all the more important because about one fifth of the total area planted with this crop is in this district. These days, some farms have begun planting potatoes. Other farms are also able to do so. The setting of planting dates is not set in stone when conditions are right. In the district of Lezhë, by 3 January a third of the area had been planted. Planting has also begun at the agricultural enterprises of Velipojë and Divjakë. These facts point to organized work outside the usual routine, without adhering rigidly to certain dates. On the other hand, they show that preparatory work on these farms was also completed on time. At the Ballsh agricultural enterprise and at the potato-production enterprise in this district, 400 quintals of organic fertilizer per hectare have been secured, but there are farms where this essential work is still behind schedule. What are they waiting for, when the specialists know the technology? But responsibility for applying it on time and properly must be felt by the managers of agricultural enterprises and the agriculture sections of the district executive committees. Delays or violations of the requirements that ensure the technology is followed can cost tens and hundreds of quintals of potatoes in lost production. Preparing and planting early potatoes is a principal front of the day’s work, both for the districts and for the Institute of Vegetables and Potatoes and the Ministry of Agriculture. These days we asked the Institute about the state of the work in this campaign. The specialists’ reply was: “The optimum potato-planting dates begin on 20 January. We still have no information about the preparations for this campaign. During the first ten days of January, we will go out to inspect the districts.” Isn’t that too late? The experience of Lezhë, as well as that of some other districts, where practice has demonstrated the benefits of early planting, shows that it is. So there is no room for waiting; there is no room for slackness. Early planting requires early preparation.

— More than 3,000 young men and women in the district of Krujë have, in recent days, cultivated the soil around more than 9,000 olive trees and fruit trees — After joyfully celebrating the New Year, of Krujë, organized into special brigades, launched into a campaign to tend olive groves and fruit trees, implementing the initiative undertaken by the youth to double and triple production in this sector as well. Encouragement to achieve the objectives set for the final year of the five-year plan came from Comrade Ramiz Alia’s New Year 1990 greeting to the Albanian people. During these days, the soil was also cultivated in plots planted with wheat, mainly for applying nitrate fertilizer, clearing weeds, and harrowing. The first application of nitrate fertilizer is nearing completion, while some farms have also begun the second. The youth organizations of the “Mustafa Kaçaci” state farm and of the cooperatives of Nikël, Bilaj, Fushë-Krujë, etc., distinguished themselves in this campaign, as did the young workers of the chemical-metallurgical combine, the industrial construction enterprise, the enterprise for the standardization and concentration of chromium in Laç, the food enterprise, etc. They exceeded the targets for the first two ten-day periods of the year and achieved good work results. A particularly important problem, since crop is in this district. No less important— the five-year plan, the New Year 1990 greeting from comrade Ramiz Alia to the Albanian people was delivered. During these days, more than 7,000 new tractors, 2,000 fruit trees, 3 ha of vineyards, etc., were [produced/planted]. At the same time, the young people worked … AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE WORK: THE SMELTERS AT THE COPPER SMELTER IN RUBIK. (Photo: N. Xhufka)

More than 2,400 teachers from 21 subject areas in the district of Shkodër have taken part in professional development activities in recent days. The analyses, discussions, and comparisons being conducted on the basis of first-semester results, inspections carried out, practical study of 17 new textbooks, and the refinement of advanced experience aim to raise the quality of educational work to a higher level, in implementation of the decisions of the 9th Congress of the Party and the instructions of Comrade Ramiz Alia. A special seminar was held with the heads of subject committees from across the district, focusing on problems requiring solutions and on planning the work for the second semester. In the professional development work of recent days, particular importance is being attached to the work needed to ensure the best possible mastery of the new mathematics curriculum for first- and second-grade classes. Joint scientific conclusions were presented to the heads of eight-year schools and the mathematics subject committees for these grades by the pedagogical office, based on inspections conducted among 270 teachers in 30 areas of the district; tasks for the second semester were also set. The best experience at several schools was also generalized, including “17 Nëntori,” “Salo Halili,” and “11 Janari” in the city, and schools in the villages of Vrakë, Bushat, etc. Teachers from all subject areas have been included in the professional development courses, analyses, and preparation of papers: from specialists at 38 agricultural secondary schools, with whom topics of a psychological and pedagogical nature are being covered, to kindergarten educators, physical education teachers, and teachers of other subjects. Meanwhile, 135 teachers from schools of various categories are continuing the written and oral examinations for the professional qualification program required for certification, (According to ATSH)

…in and inspiring example for everyone else. The good pace sustained at the start of this year also shows that all the efforts made have become a source of experience. The greeting that comrade Ramiz Alia addressed to the people, Hero of Socialist Labour Njazi Shimit-raku told us at the iron-nickel mine of Guri i Kuq, «encouraged and inspired us to work with greater perseverance, with a creative spirit and economic thinking at every link in production. The full participation of people in work in every brigade and sector and from one enterprise to another, as well as comprehensive preparatory measures, meant that production targets were exceeded from the first days of the year. We produced 60 tonnes more than planned in ore, over 100 tonnes of concentrate, and advanced the first metres beyond the schedule for the preparatory workings. Competition between sectors and enterprises …»

- POGRADEC - The working class of the Pogradec district ended the year that has just passed with achievements. It exceeded the overall industrial production plan by around 4 million lekë and fulfilled almost all the main plan indicators, such as the volume of geological exploration work, the extraction of iron-nickel ore and coal, rail and road transport in ton-kilometres, freight turnover, etc. A high level of activism and a sense of responsibility in carrying out assigned tasks and commitments characterized many workers’ collectives, such as those of the geological enterprise, the mines, the woodworking enterprise, the food-processing enterprise, etc. With their recorded achievements, they entered 1990 at a faster pace and better prepared, thus becoming an encouraging and inspiring example for everyone else.

- KUKËS - Without losing time, but with the guidance and improvement that the first days bring, the director of the chrome mine in Kalimash, Qemal Elezi, tells us: «During the year that has passed, we were at the forefront of the district. This year, too, we will be in the lead. Even in these first days, when the first shifts began, we exceeded our targets both in ore extraction and in the production of chrome concentrate. The shift supervisor, Sinan Qejvani, at the factory, says: We exceeded the plan for the first three days of exports by 10 percent, and we are continuing at this pace to add to our successes». The geologists of Kukës who have … (Continued on page 2)

- LEZHË - January 3, 1990. I see a truck heading toward the Mat Bridge, returning loaded with gravel for the construction enterprise. It is driven by Ndrec Çuni, who worked that day and achieved 235 percent of his quota. We begin with this driver, who is working for the year 2001, because perhaps he became a kind of «catalyst» for all his comrades, who on the first day of work exceeded the daily quota across the enterprise by 5.3 percent. But there are many like Ndreca in this enterprise. Yesterday we also met a foreman who, for 23 years running, has never failed to meet the tasks he set himself. This is Ymer Leti, who is getting closer to retirement day by day and yet seems only to grow younger. It is work that beautifies a person and ennobles his character. Here is what Ymeri told us: «My brigade’s objective is to build the new library building for the city of Lezhë. The day before yesterday, we pledged that by the end of January we would not only fully excavate the building’s foundations, but also put in the entire reinforced-concrete structure. Would you like to know how much of the daily quota has been completed these days? Here, listen: Gjergji … (Continued on page 2)»

Our editorial office addresses several agricultural enterprises in Tirana, such as “Ylli i Kuq,” “17 Nëntori,” and “Gjergj Dimitrov”; agricultural enterprises in Kukës; “Perlat Rexhepi” in Shkodër; those in Mamurras, Krujë; as well as agricultural enterprises in Mat, Mirditë, Librazhd, Tepelenë, etc. Although it is said that efforts were made to fulfil the 1989 targets, they nevertheless ended up with losses of several million lekë. We ask: what should be done to overcome this situation, which in many cases has recurred and worsened from year to year? If the organization is an obstacle, it should be improved. If production structures need to be adjusted and economic mechanisms refined, then this should be done. Society has no reason to pay for these losses. We await replies from the collectives of these enterprises, their cadres and specialists, the executive committees, and right up to the Ministry of Agriculture. And where should the Party organizations focus their attention in this regard? We believe that through the debate and the views that will be expressed, ways will be found to make a good start to 1990 and to emerge from this state of routine.

We have approached the Autotractor Combine in Tirana several times about its experience, since it is the country’s most powerful mechanical base and provides substantial support in the production of construction components, machinery, and equipment. This time, in the pages of the newspaper, we will present the concerns of drivers, mechanics, and maintenance workers who use products made by the Autotractor Combine. The issue is the poor quality of many types of spare parts. In 1989 alone, the motor-vehicle workshop of the Tirana transport service blocked nearly 3 million lekë worth of products in the Combine’s warehouses because they had dimensional defects. We are not talking here about the length of some of the replacement parts, which in quite a few cases is 3–4 times shorter than the standard dimensions. Has anyone considered or calculated how much this costs the economy? What are the causes: shortcomings in technical documentation, technology, discipline, inspection...? Where is the guarantee that should accompany these products from the very— …calculate how much the economy is losing because of this? What are the causes: shortcomings in the should accompany these products from the moment they leave the combine? Let the Party’s primary organizations, the collectives of the combine’s plants, its management, the General Directorate of Mechanical Industry, and the other plants under this Directorate discuss these matters, offer their views and find the right solutions. We await answers in the pages of the newspaper.

What is your opinion? We await your replies (p. 1) Economic thinking, prices and trade (p. 2) Courtesy and respect to remain alive in our memory. (p. 3) From the first days of the year (p. 4)

Supply problems again The first days of January, with fine sunny weather, are especially suitable for ploughing the fields. It would be natural to see tractors at work in the fields of Elbasan, where sugar beet and other spring crops are to be planted. But these days the tractors have changed their function. They are standing in the repair workshop… The secretary of the Party bureau of the Cërrik SMT, Dile Senja, says with evident concern that these days, along with other difficulties, are going to waste. This is happening because not a single tracked tractor is working, and not a litre of diesel fuel has been delivered out of the approximately 25 tonnes they were supposed to receive during the first three days. They were told that tank cars would arrive from Ballsh by rail, but they still have not arrived. Finally, (Continued on page 2)