— Statement by the Democratic Front of Albania concerning the tragic events in Kosovo — “What is happening these days in Kosovo—the savage police violence against an entire people, the beatings, killings and bloodshed—has deeply shaken and affected the entire Albanian people.” “What is happening these days in Kosovo—the savage police violence against an entire people, the beatings, killings and bloodshed—has deeply shaken and affected the entire Albanian people. The ferocity and barbarity of the Serbian chauvinists are inconceivable in our time and on our European continent. They used violence against a defenceless population that took to the streets to demand democracy, equality and humane treatment, values for which the entire civilised world is fighting today. The policy of terror pursued by Serbian chauvinism in Kosovo is being condemned by progressive world opinion as a whole. It has also been denounced and strongly condemned by the peoples of Yugoslavia themselves, by numerous democratic organisations, and by its press and public opinion. The Democratic Front of Albania, in the name of the entire Albanian people, demands an immediate end to the violence, terror and killings, as well as to the state of emergency in Kosovo. It is in Yugoslavia’s own interest, and in the interest of its stability and progress, to seek not the path of terror but that of democratic dialogue, to reach an understanding with the Albanians and recognise their democratic freedoms and rights, equal to those enjoyed by the other peoples of Yugoslavia. The Albanians demand nothing more than others, but they will accept nothing less. A normalisation of the situation in Kosovo, achieved through dialogue, tolerance and respect for the freedoms and human rights of the Albanians, would be not only in Yugoslavia’s interest but would also contribute significantly to good neighbourly relations between the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as well as to positive developments in the Balkans. Expressing its concern for the fate of its brothers in Kosovo and its profound sorrow for the blood shed anew in recent days, the Albanian people, with indignation and determination, demand that the violence in Kosovo stop immediately, that the terror cease, and that democratic paths be sought to resolve Kosovo’s problems, on the basis of equality and understanding.”

HARVESTING AT THE RIGHT TIME If we were to take a look at this year’s plans, we would see that the export of medicinal and essential-oil plants represents a considerable share for the Elbasan district as well. But alongside their collection, another problem has emerged: treating them as scientifically as possible, so that they are available not only today but also in the future. In other words, there must be continuity in ensuring supplies of these export resources. Such management is necessary because several kinds of medicinal plants—not only in Elbasan but elsewhere too—are being seriously depleted. We can list the seeds of xhirokuilla, salep tubers, mountain tea from Polis, the flowering plant of Vasilica, and many more. Most of these plants, which are gathered, have been pulled out by the roots and have now disappeared from the vegetation map of these areas. Some shrubs belonging to the medicinal flora are also moving towards extinction, such as hawthorn, wild rose, shtara, colchicum, etc. Consequently, the income that could be brought to the economy through their collection is also declining. Thus, intentionally or unintentionally, through lack of care, a balance established by nature itself has been disrupted, and a great and valuable resource has been destroyed. It is good that exports are being considered, but the condition and treatment of these plants must be considered with equal responsibility. Are inventories of this resource being made? Not adequately; indeed, neither the real situation nor its regulation has been properly addressed. Here is one example: at the forestry enterprise in Elbasan, it turns out that the plan for collecting linden flowers is far greater than the number of linden trees listed in the enterprise’s inventory. Is this exploitation intended to make up for a possible failure to meet the plan? Perhaps. But if reserves outside the enterprise’s holdings can be found for this, then the wider resource of medicinal plants as a whole must be considered much more carefully. Who is responsible for stopping the mistreatment and disappearance of this flora? The answer is that, as in every other district, the forestry enterprise is responsible for it, but its care is mainly limited to medicinal plants sold in shops. Let us not forget that medicinal plants grow in woods and pastures, along slopes, canals, river gorges and elsewhere. Therefore, forestry workers cannot protect and manage them in every case. As for the pasture enterprises, their role cannot even be discussed, because when their workers clear grazing areas, they eradicate these plants root and all—even though some of them are poisonous. Are there solutions, and what measures are being taken to address this problem? At the tobacco factory in Elbasan, which has a plan for collecting medicinal plants from individuals around Mikroxyanes, good work has begun to involve local residents in gathering the plants. Preserving and properly managing medicinal plants in their natural state helps increase this resource; that is one aspect. The other is increasing their numbers. The best results are currently being achieved by the Elbasan forestry enterprises: seven kinds of essential-oil plants and bay laurel. Can other kinds be cultivated as well? It is possible. Years ago, chamomile was cultivated on non-productive land in Elbasan, Shirgjani and Gjegjan. This kind of practice has now been abandoned. In fact, last year only 20 per cent of the chamomile collection target was achieved. Specialists believe that other medicinal flowers could also be cultivated on non-productive land or in the beds of rivers and streams. This has not been pursued with any care. Preserving and properly managing medicinal plants is one aspect of building up this resource. The other is increasing their numbers. The best results are currently being achieved by the Elbasan forestry enterprises: seven kinds of essential-oil plants and bay laurel. Can other kinds be cultivated as well? It is possible. Years ago, chamomile was cultivated on non-productive land in Elbasan, Shirgjani and Gjegjan. This kind of practice has now been abandoned. In fact, last year only 20 per cent of the chamomile collection target was achieved. Specialists believe that other medicinal flowers could also be cultivated on non-productive land or in the beds of rivers and streams. This has not been pursued with any care.

FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS OF THE «JORDAN MISJA» ART HIGH SCHOOL IN TIRANA DURING A PAINTING LESSON. (Photo: N. Xhufka)

MORE CAN BE DONE Young people themselves are primarily the ones who fill their leisure time. They are not lacking in enthusiasm. Their interests are many. But this also requires organisation—not in the sense of fitting this time into rigid frameworks. Such advance organisation requires everyone to appreciate the issue, to work with the village youth, and to provide full support and encouragement. In Synej, one encounters good practices. It is not only the cultural officer, Idajet Daj, who is active—as is expected of every cultural worker—but also the Party’s basic organisation, the people’s council and the cooperative’s leadership, each of which, so to speak, assigns someone from its ranks to attend to the interests of the youth. With everyone involved in this way, leisure life in Synej is vibrant. There is a model library; an artistic group, one of the best in the district, has been formed and stages variety shows as well as plays; individual painting exhibitions are held, such as the one by Shyqyri Dervishi, who is preparing for his second exhibition; and there are dance evenings and discussions about literature, art, science, etc. The cultural centre in Manëz also has good experience. Among other things, some time ago the cooperative youth committee, together with those of the area, organised the “Youth Cup” in football, volleyball, basketball, chess and tug-of-war. The young cooperative members of Jubë-Sukth are taking part in a sports championship between sectors, which they are holding at the new sports facilities built through voluntary work during January. The young people of Unit No. 8 in Gora spent last Sunday out in nature, in the Bashtovë forest, where they held various cultural and sporting activities, a joint concert with the secondary-school students, and folk games. Some young people were also awarded the youth certificate. Many evenings and gatherings have also been held in the agricultural cooperatives, including those of Rrogozhinë, Kryemëdhenj and Manzë, as well as events in honour of young people who set out on various campaigns. In Shijak, too, the young people spend their leisure time in a similar way. Nevertheless, the approach to rural youth’s leisure time is still not complete everywhere. Some officials expect everything from the youth. Rural youth, as well as urban youth in Durrës, have taken on the mission of “cultivating culture in cultural centres” and have so far equipped 17 cultural centres. But is that all? Young people do not have all the means to provide the material resources. These are the responsibility of the agricultural cooperative leadership. Yet some of them are barely getting by. In others, there is no practical work. In the village of Qerret in Jubë-Sukth, the cultural-centre worker has been absent for two years—has she left, or what? Books have been put to use by the cultural centre in Spaneshtë and elsewhere. At other times, activities are held in the libraries of the warehouse association, but small libraries are also needed in some cooperatives, and the people in charge of these centres have become postmen. In the village of Kazej, we were told that the cinema has not been there for a year or two. The issue of cinema in the villages, despite improvements, still needs attention; there are also other cases of screenings being missed, especially in some remote areas such as Mlik, Domën, etc. Take books. The village youth want books. Hundreds of them are receiving secondary education. But there is a problem: so many libraries have been established in the villages that they cannot all be supplied with books. We learn that cultural centres may have 200–250 books, many of them old, while some libraries go for months at a time barely receiving any books. So who is to blame: the large number of libraries, or the lack of book supplies? Perhaps 4–7 days should also be set aside in the agricultural cooperatives of Rrogozhinë, Kryemëdhenj and Manzë, as well as for events in honour of young people who set out on various campaigns. In Shijak, too, the young people spend their leisure time in a similar way.

— PËRMET — The director of the “Naim Frashëri” House of Culture in Përmet organised a meeting with people who had been honoured with titles and awards for outstanding work and creativity on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the liberation of the Homeland. At the meeting, those present listened attentively to Hero of Socialist Labour Argile Naqellari, Merited Teachers Qamil Xherahu, Milika Kule and Nikolla Kristo, who spoke about their distinguished activities, and to Kristo Frashëri, Vangjel Jani, Toralhim Emiri and Josif Bushi, about the awards they had won for their creative work. The meeting was accompanied by impressions and memories, songs and various anecdotes. Particular interest was shown in the talk by Prof. Kristo Frashëri about his valuable creative work and the responsibilities that must be undertaken for the historiography of the Përmet district, especially in the field of education. Those present met the professor, whose work and achievements are among the examples for all participants in this meeting, who work in various fields across the Përmet district. PËRPARIM MUSTAFAJ

The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia, yesterday received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Nguyen Ci Tran, who presented his credentials. Those attending the ceremony for the presentation of credentials included Foreign Minister Reis Malile; Sihat Toza, Secretary of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly; Andon Bërxholi, director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and others. The ambassador was accompanied by diplomats from the Embassy of the SR of Vietnam in Tirana. (ATSH)

COMMITMENT: BY 15 JUNE The new urea plant in Fier has now taken on its complete appearance. This year began with a high level of mobilisation, and work here is proceeding in a campaign spirit. Work schedules have been drawn up down to the smallest details, and every day work is being done to hand over the facilities in sequence. In conversation with the director of the investing enterprise, Thanasi Mërkuri, and the director of the implementing enterprise, Kristaq Thanasaj, we learn of the interest shown by the workforces of these enterprises in handing over the facilities. Building 301, the first to be handed over, is a prerequisite for bringing electricity into the plant. Workers from the anti-corrosion, ventilation and electrical teams, as well as builders, painters and plumbers, were working on this facility at the same time. It was a pleasure to watch the workers labour on those cold winter nights with perfect organisation, without getting in one another’s way. By morning, the facility was unrecognisable: it had been completed. In this way, the deadline for supplying electricity to the main station was met. This deadline in turn determines when electricity can be supplied to the other units of the project. Next, the water-circulation system will be installed in the plant, so the cooling tower must be handed over. The deadline for completing it is short and the amount of work is substantial. But the workers know their duties well, so concentrated efforts are being made on these facilities too. An example of rapid work on this

(Photo: N. Xhufka)

— BERAT — For several days, the growers of lulëdel have been working on planting in the agricultural economies of the Berat district; the process has been completed on 360 hectares out of a total of 3,600 hectares. Drawing on the experience of previous years, care has been taken to cultivate the plots on time, a task completed on nearly 80 per cent of the land, and to expand qilizma, which has been done on 40 per cent of the area. The workers of the “Toma Bello” agricultural enterprise and the cooperative members of Poshje, Gorican, Gjoroven, working well together with the machine operators, were the first to finish ploughing. (According to ATSH)

The brigade led by Mustafa Avdiu is an example at this facility: it completed the concreting of the four hoppers of the cooling tower in one month instead of the two planned, saving more than 10 tonnes of metal structures. Painting the tower with anti-acid paint also required a large workforce because of the short deadline. The workers themselves found a solution to this difficulty. The brigades led by Llambi Meco, Liman Gjini, Fran Syku, etc., took this task upon themselves without asking for additional workers. They handed it over five days ahead of schedule. These achievements also stem from the timely provision of materials, good coordination among the construction, assembly and investor teams, which remained on site and quickly resolved every problem, and the effective use of the brigades and material incentives. This encouraged and spurred the workers to compete with one another, and the task became reality. The workers on this project are optimistic that, at the pace at which work began and is continuing, the project completion deadline and the workers’ commitment will be realised, so that the facility can be handed over on 15 June. ANESTI VASILI SAKO SHQEHI at the construction site of the new urea plant, Fier

● THE INHUMAN VIOLENCE AND TERROR IN KOSOVO MUST STOP IMMEDIATELY. (p. 1) ● ORGANISATION THAT PROMOTES SERVICE QUALITY. (p. 2) ● THE ALBANIANS’ “GISELLE” IS LIKED. (p. 3).