A TOPIC FROM THE 9TH PLENUM Recently, in various enterprises and institutions, in accordance with the decisions of the 9th Plenum of the Party’s Central Committee, work collectives have elected or re-elected dedicated cadres, capable of working and, at the same time, leading. This is a clear and present truth: capable, militant cadres are not lacking. But, starting from the notion that «who knows what might happen at one of the meetings to elect heads», some higher-level bodies are showing excessive solicitude. We do not mean that they should sit with their hands folded. The point is to safeguard things well, to have greater confidence in the masses, in their cultural, political and ideological emancipation, and in their professional abilities. The masses themselves are interested in putting the best among them at the helm. For work cannot be resolved by an incapable leader, a bureaucrat, a liberal or a mediocre person. Let us give a concrete example: the workers’ inspection group sent by the Council of Professional Unions of the Tirana District and one or two comrades from the Party Committee of the District and Region No. 1 insisted, one more than the other, on dismissing the director of the pipe factory at the «Migjeni» artistic enterprise. However, even though two meetings were held with broad and direct participation by delegates—district—region (four hours on the first day and five on the second), the collective rejected the proposal to dismiss the director. Excessive solicitude was also observed a few days ago during the election of section heads. At the meeting of the People’s Council of the Durrës District, they had in fact already begun the work beforehand, and later the same happened in the Elbasan District. The two new heads who were proposed in the latter case had already been approved beforehand by the higher body! And it was this premature approval that prompted one of the secretaries of the District Party Committee to call on the councillor to withdraw the candidacy he had proposed. The other secretary also insisted on this supposedly unjustified proposal... But the council members rejected the secretaries’ candidates, giving their reasons. So why is there excessive solicitude in some cases? This happens because, naturally, it is not easy to appreciate things and wipe away the old, outdated routine: preparing a report by the personnel office, then a meeting and after that... browbeating the official representative into delivering the judgment, «this is the director proposed by the higher body». Why is such interference needed? Looking critically at the examples above, in the light of the lessons of the 10th Plenum, it is not difficult to understand the excessive solicitude. It is the collective, now emancipated, that chooses and puts forward a candidate from among its members. Only after that does the higher body make the appointment. We believe this is the essence of the matter.

Spring-like weather, ploughing is lagging OBSERVATION Although fuel supplies have been normal, the January ploughing plan of 770 ha was fulfilled for only 410 ha. The same situation has persisted during the first two days of February. The managers of the farms responsible for the backlog seem to consider this acceptable. Some of them cite as an explanation the fact that the district has a large livestock population, that land is used more than once, and that entire plots are still being used for fodder. That is true. But is there land lying idle? In the plains, much of the land planted with forage cabbage must also be ploughed once it has been consumed; the hilly and mountainous areas have even more land. Of the highland regions, people say: «January ploughing is the moisture of summer». The farms of Çatisë and Polçan are mountainous, and are managed by Jorgo Koroveshi and Llambi Kashi, but they ploughed only 4 ha each throughout January. The cooperatives in the hilly area, such as Mashkullora and Picari, also have land to plough, but in January they ploughed not a single hectare of the 28 and 26 planned. In the plain area of the district, while NB «Lunxhëria», the cooperatives of Lazarat and Glina are making some progress, the higher-type cooperatives of Sofratika and Vrisera and NB «Myzafer Asqeri» could speed things up. The weather could hardly be better for ploughing. The only «obstacle» is the attitude of some managers and specialists, who explain the delay by hiding behind the needs of livestock. THANAS DINO

These winter days have turned into a period of energetic work and campaigns on several fronts for young people in Dibër, especially in the fields. For example, in a single day, the young people carried out a concentrated campaign at the agricultural cooperative of Zerqan-it and collected 3.5 tons of organic manure. Large quantities of manure were also collected by young people in Zogje. At the Mezhda agricultural farm, they pruned and cleaned up 0.2 hectares of orchard and worked on around 200 trees. The young people at the Ostren agricultural cooperative are also doing high-quality work. So far they have transported 15 tons of chemical fertilizer to the plots, collected 80 tons of organic manure and cleaned 3 hectares of orchard. These days the young people at this farm are also working on 500 trees and have collected 1.5 tons of wood ash. The young cooperative members in Arras are also working well; they collected 80 tons of manure. Young people in Sohodoll, Req, Lurë, Zall-Dardhë, Sllovë, etc., have also taken part in numerous campaigns in this sector. E. BAHOLLI

Shkodër has distinguished traditions in libraries. Historically known are the library of the humanist Pjetër Bogdani (1683), that of Mustafa Pashë Bushati (1830), that of the orientalist Isuf Tabaku (1874), those of the «Bashkimi» (1899) and «Agimi» (1901) societies, the «Gjuha Shqipe» club (1911) and the «Komisia Letrare Shqipe» (1916), that of Hilë Mosi, etc. A worthy successor to them today is the «Marin Barleti» Library, which also inherited a good part of their collections. It possesses an incalculable wealth of books and incunabula, and an antiquarian collection renowned even beyond our country for its bibliographic and library value. The 16th, 17th and 18th centuries are represented by almost complete collections. The literature of Greek and Latin antiquity, (Continued on page 3)

In the village of Kryez, in the Pukë District, a lovely themed afternoon was organized to mark the retirement day of 45 mothers who have raised more than 6 children. Lavdie Leka, Deputy Secretary of the General Council of BGSH, was also present at the event. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

Yesterday the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Reis Malile, sent the following letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Havier Perez de Kuelar: Dear Mr. Secretary-General, Allow me to draw your attention to the tragic events currently taking place in Kosovo (Yugoslavia), which is inhabited mainly by Albanians. Yugoslav police forces are firing weapons at the innocent population, killing and wounding a very large number of people, including women and children. This has caused deep indignation and anger among the Albanian people. I also spoke about the grave situation that has arisen in Kosovo at the 44th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. International public opinion had expressed the view that Belgrade would take measures to stabilize the situation in the province. Unfortunately, however, it has deteriorated and become even more acute. This development poses a danger not only to Kosovo and Yugoslavia, but also to the cause of peace and security in the region. In accordance with the UN Charter, the United Nations has a duty to raise its voice and demand an end to violence, police terror and killings. In our view, the problems of Kosovo can be resolved only through dialogue and respect for the rights of Albanians and their equality with all the other peoples and nationalities of Yugoslavia. In view of your well-known commitment to human and minority rights, as well as to the cause of international peace and security, I trust that you will spare no noble effort to ensure that justice and a peaceful, democratic life are established in Kosovo. I request, Mr. Secretary-General, that this letter be circulated to all member states as a UN document. (ATSH)

As a volunteer correspondent for “Zëri...”, from time to time I have written about cultural activities taking place in the city of Vlorë. I have singled out a fact from this circle and separated it from this chronicle. Here it is: The pianist Keti Qose, from Elbasan, well known to our public through her recital concerts, for her ability and mastery in performance, was these days, like dozens and dozens of other holidaymakers, at the workers’ holiday home by Uji i Ftohtë in Vlorë. In other words, she had come to rest. The comrades she had just met asked her to give a concert for them. In collaboration with the baritone P. Zaka, a concert was prepared in the premises of this holiday home, featuring works by our own and foreign composers. It was warmly received not only for the mastery shown by the two artists, but also for the warm, friendly willingness they displayed to spend an enjoyable afternoon with their comrades. Keti could have said: “I have come to Vlorë on holiday; this is a time for concerts, and then there are preparations to be made: How will the art lovers appreciate me?...” and so on. They greatly appreciated her playing on the piano, as well as the artist’s modesty. GEZIM LLOJDJA

ONE OF THE DAY’S INTERNATIONAL EVENTS The frenzied anti-Palestinian wave that erupted in the occupied Arab lands was followed these days by a new plan aimed at making the occupation permanent. More than 100,000 Soviet Jews are expected to come from the Soviet Union, and Tel Aviv has planned to settle them in the West Bank of the Jordan and in the Gaza Strip. According to a statement by the Zionist prime minister himself, Jitzhak Shamir, “the Soviet Jews who arrive will be settled in special colonies built on confiscated Palestinian land.” Israeli policy in the occupied Arab lands is thus taking on a new, chauvinistic dimension. Alongside the escalation of violence, which is causing further casualties, Palestinian national identity is threatened with even more tragic consequences. Such a policy, as noted in yesterday’s commentary by the Palestinian news agency WAFA, “upsets the demographic balance between Palestinians and Jews in the Arab lands and seeks the annihilation of the Arab people of Palestine.” The campaign to recolonize the land with Jews emigrating from the Soviet Union aims to create false material evidence of the occupation’s legitimacy, at a time when the Palestinian Intifada is writing new pages of heroism and resistance in blood. But Tel Aviv’s deceitful policy and the Zionist practices on which it is based are powerless to legitimize an occupation and, still less, to wipe out and eradicate an entire people. The Israeli fascists are confronted with the reality that the Palestinian people cannot accept another master in their own home. That is why the hotheads in Tel Aviv and all the supporters of the mad dream of “Greater Israel” have turned to this further wave of Zionist expansionism, which is itself part of the plan to recolonize the inalienable Arab lands. ARBEN KARAPICI

SPECIALISTS FROM THE DESIGN BUREAU AT THE SHIPBUILDING AND SHIP-REPAIR YARD IN DURRËS, DURING A CONSULTATION. (Photo: P. Omeri - ATSH)

WE ARE ALL OUT IN THE OPEN: FACE TO FACE WITH ONE ANOTHER – What was new at the organization’s latest meeting – WE ARE ALL OUT IN THE OPEN: FACE TO FACE WITH ONE ANOTHER – What was new at the organization’s latest meeting – We are two communists in the Party’s basic organization of the preparatory department, textile factory, at the «Stalin» textile combine. We entered working life here at the combine and became communists here. We have been in the Party for quite a few years—one of us for 21 years, the other for less—and we have lived through together the efforts of the communists and the organization to lead the work as well as possible. What was new at this meeting? The first thing that stands out is the broad interest of the collective. Just one notice, posted in a visible place, was enough to fill the meeting hall. This is understandable, because our collective is very interested in what is discussed in the organization. In recent months, things at the textile factory have been going better. Raw materials have been arriving more regularly, and so has the workforce... for ourselves, for our comrades, for the organization. They raised criticisms of those in charge, pointed out some supply shortages, and brought up problems with the quality of raw materials. They showed how one thing or another could be improved. For example, there is a shortage of fastening pins. It is even said that the domestic ones are better than the imported ones. Yet they are not produced. The Korçë knitwear factory makes some, just enough for its own needs. Who is going to... We are talking about the life of the organization. The meetings it holds are also part of that life. We know, too, simply and truly, how important these meetings are for assessing how the organization is doing among the masses. The 9th Plenum gave us new guidance: the organization should discuss its work together with the workers, with the masses. This time, immediately after the Plenum, our organization acted accordingly. We discussed the Plenum materials, specific production tasks and work quality, the role of the organization and the responsibility of communists and cadres, and their relations with the workers. But what was special... months, things have been going better in the workshop. Raw materials have been arriving more regularly, and the workforce situation has also improved. Women workers have even come there to teach the young women. We say this because when we have selected raw materials, we have something to prepare for the report as a whole. But the quality of our work also has a great influence on them. We often talk about these things, but when they are raised in a broader circle and around the issue, decisions are then made; somehow, it turns out differently. With the broad participation we had, we all benefit, and the organization benefits. Three comrades stood up, for example: Petrit Bakalli, Thoma Bllaci and Riza Puka. None of them was a Communist. They spoke well. They spoke ab— something else. For instance, there are no connecting links. It is even said that locally made ones are better than factory makes a little, just for its own needs. Who will get things moving? And sometimes even bolts are missing! But Kavaja is right there. The day after the meeting, representatives of the combine’s supply department, the technical department and the quality department came to the workshop, explained many of these matters and answered questions. We think this prompt response is a sign of seriousness on the part of those comrades, just as our comrades in the workshop have been mobilized these days so that what was raised in the organization will have been fixed by the time of the next meeting. One more thing (Continued on page 2)

• Volunteers from the Zini sector on the new Milot-Rrëshen-Klos railway pay a visit to the town of Burrel. At the district museum they learned about the traditions, struggles and work of the people of Mat, while at the castle of Jo-vës Qershorit they held a discussion about walking… • For several consecutive days, the women’s chess championship was held at Youth Camp No. 8 in Tirana, with teams from the B-Vlorë schools of District No. 2 competing. At the end of the event, first place went to “A. Kondi” school, second to “Sh. Peza” school and third to “Av. Shanto” school. • A thematic gathering was organized in the town of Fushë-Arrëz by the women’s organization, in cooperation with the “Zeni Kadriu” Palace of Culture, on the theme “The Party gave us light and life.” It presented the work carried out in the field of improving Comrade Enver, with the article in “Bashkimi” No. 2, dated February 1907, on the further emancipation of mountain women. Songs, sketches and various interviews were presented at the event by Heroes of Socialist Labour, heroic mothers, fighters for the mass emancipation of women, outstanding workers, etc. • Mountaineers from the town of Krujë organized a climb up Mount Dajti these days. They travelled for about four hours, also crossing snow-covered paths. But, persevering and enduring the windy weather, they reached their goal: they climbed 1,612 m above sea level to the summit of Antena.

• EXCESSIVE INDULGENCE (p. 1) • A FORGOTTEN INSTRUCTION AND A PRACTICE TO BE IMPLEMENTED (p. 2) • CONTEMPORARY ACHIEVEMENTS AT THE INSTITUTE OF PEDIATRICS (p. 3) • AROUND THE EVENTS IN KOSOVO (p. 4)