Last year’s achievements in the economy, culture and other fields were among the best of recent years. This year, too, quite a few branches and sectors of the economy have got off to a good start. Dozens of collectives in the mechanical, mining, chemical, construction and transport industries, etc., are maintaining a steady pace of achievement through organized work. The outstanding example set by the cadres and workers of the Marina oil-extraction enterprise and the «Çlirimi» state farm in Fier, the Mushtesë mine, the «Misto Mame» wood-processing combine in Tirana, the wire factory in Shkodër, the «Nëntori» state farm in Maliq, Korçë, and many others is clear. But there are also bad examples. January has ended, and the «A. Kelmendi» food combine, the chemical enterprise in Tirana, the NTI and NTU in Elbasan, the NFP in Rubik, etc., have accumulated substantial deficits. Thus, this is becoming a screen behind which weaknesses in organization, management and implementation are also concealed. There are difficulties, too, especially at the beginning of the year, when certain discrepancies in the plan or changes to an additional allocation may play a role. But these are overcome not by lamenting, but through work: by demanding fulfillment of contractual obligations and holding those responsible accountable and subjecting them to the people’s scrutiny. Perhaps the district as a whole fulfills its plan, but when an enterprise runs up deficits—especially when they concern the people’s vital needs—there is no reason for it to remain «in the shadows» and for its managers not to be called to account, so that responsibility is established. Some people, not infrequently, in searching for the source of difficulties, jump from one branch to another, because one enterprise’s output is another’s raw material. In this regard, why should the key-making combine have difficulties fulfilling some indicators, as happens at the mechanical flour mill in Shkodër, which is repeatedly sent back? The difficulties of the textile industry are also well known; nevertheless, plans are set too high, and full measures are not taken to supply raw materials and secure a workforce. The same can be said of enterprises relying on voluntary assistance, and of some land-reclamation enterprises, such as those in Sarandë and Lezhë, where there are cases in which, although the project has been planned and the year has begun, the designs have still not been completed. It is precisely this lax attitude that the workers’ collective, the Party’s basic organizations and the state bodies must not allow. Every obstacle, every difficulty in growth has a solution. There were considerable difficulties in supplying villages with abundant drinking water, but through the mobilization of the masses and the assistance of the working class they are being overcome, so that by the end of this year the task will be fulfilled nationwide. Here is a good experience that we must firmly take hold of. Now that the first month of 1990 has passed, the workers’ collectives must work with greater persistence to successfully complete this year’s plan, the final year of the 8th Five-Year Plan. What is required is a new, dynamic method and style, militancy—not theory, but practice—in order to put into effect the historic decisions of the 9th Plenum of the Party’s Central Committee. the NTI and NTU in Elbasan, the NPF in Rubik, etc., but considerable deficits were created. Thus, the notion and practice take hold that “there is time,” “it is only the beginning,” “even a deficit for the 15-day period will be made up in the next one,” etc. The problem is that, while work is under way, managers and certain cadres in enterprises that have fallen behind often exaggerate the difficulties to cover up their inadequate efforts as organizers. For example, at the “Migjeni” artistic shoe factory enterprise, delays in the supply of domestic raw materials and obstacles in transport are used

At the construction and assembly site in the city of Stalin, welder Yvan Nito also stands out in the work of producing new equipment. (Photo: N. Xhufka)

IMPLEMENTING THE DECISIONS OF THE 9TH PLENUM Looking at some of the economic indicators achieved by the Lushnjë district in January and in these first days of February, one is reminded of the effective forms of work being used with the workers to clear the way for production. Here are some of them. Every day, more than 860 quintals of milk above the plan are delivered to the state. In January, almost all indicators were exceeded, while on February 7 the three-month export plan was completed. The supply of the population, both in the city and in the countryside, is being managed quite well. From the small household flocks, for example, 110 quintals more milk per day are being obtained than during the same period last year. There is also a clear mobilization to get the day’s work done. We believe it is a good indicator that, out of more than 45,000 agricultural workers, just over two hundred are absent. We have presented these few facts as evidence of the work being done in this district to put into practice the decisions adopted by the 9th Plenum of the Party’s Central Committee. The essential point is that commitment, economic logic, initiative and action are increasingly taking root in the work of the basic organizations, Party bodies and organs of state power, rather than administrative orders. People are being addressed not with slogans, but with reasoned arguments when it comes to improving economic indicators. Take, for example, the achievements of the brick factory workers in January. They produced more than the relevant plan by 68,000 and 19,000 units, respectively, of fired bricks, whereas previously they did not even fulfill the target. One might ask: what brought this about? The workers themselves provide the answer: they received over 7 percent more than the average monthly wage. In other words, they were told clearly, «if you achieve these indicators, this will be your personal benefit.» What we mean is that people—communists, specialists, cadres, workers and cooperative members—are being engaged through forms of work that make them personally interested in increasing production. By using these methods, one of the NTSH enterprises, as its director Naile Balli told us, fulfilled its January plan for collecting eggs from cooperative members’ household yards by about 300 percent. More than anything else, people are convinced by reasoned argument, by the force of sound and principled logic. Speaking with comrade Themie Thomai, first secretary of the district Party committee, we learned that during this period no meeting or review had been held to analyze problems in milk production. Certainly, this is not because there are no problems or no reserves that could raise the production graphs further, but because such meetings would be formal and unconvincing to people, whereas meetings could be held on other matters, such as services for fodder crops, which directly affect whether milk production rises or falls. The point, then, is to take logical action, as the interests of the work require, rather than formalistic action just to comply with some bureaucratic procedure that neither helps nor harms. In this district, for example, there have been problems with building homes for cooperative families. But now, following their study of comrade Ramiz Alia’s address to the 9th Plenum of the Central Committee, some effective measures have been taken in the interests of the cooperative members and the state. Specifically, links have been established with the people’s councils of individual villages, identifying not only concrete needs (thus also avoiding favoritism and family connections), but also what material resources cooperative members can themselves provide to meet a particular need. Meanwhile, pointless running around and loss of time have been eliminated, since the building materials have been contracted for and are delivered to the person where the house foundations have been laid. The instruction is no longer «find a vehicle and come collect the building materials,» but «wait for the vehicle on such-and-such a day.» During this period alone, several hundred thousand bricks and roof tiles, cubic meters of stone and tons of lime have been distributed, in addition to timber. This is a concrete action, a direct implementation of the decisions of the 9th Plenum of the Central Committee. Indeed, this is the best way to give them practical effect. Meetings and reviews can be held, and special lectures can be delivered, but people do not look at what is said or promised; they look at what is accomplished. In this regard, practical action is decisive in determining whether or not a directive is implemented. As the popular saying goes, «many words mean poverty.» The question, then, is what efforts are being made to make work more effective; what forms of work and commitment are being used to set the economic levers in motion; and what position the Party and state bodies take in allowing people to act on their own initiative within the rules and regulations. It seems to us that in the Lushnjë district good efforts are being made to give production new impetus. difficulties arose in supplying the brigades. The discussion, inspired by the 8th and 9th Plenums of the Party Central Committee, spurred the thoughts of the people in production and their well-reasoned desire that wage earners and ineffective clerks, who merely burden the economy and hinder work, be reduced as much as possible. It was based on a study. What did the study say? At the Mirditë District Party Committee, one learns that following the discussion about the organization and the reduction of clerical staff in non-production sectors, 60 clerks were cut from the agricultural cooperatives in this district, accounting for 16 percent of the staffing complement. Another 30 brigade leaders, 13 sector supervisors and 93 people employed in non-production activities on fixed daily wages were also cut. This is approximately the size of the workforce of the Spac agricultural cooperative. a study. What did the study say? Meanwhile

— IN THE MIRDITË DISTRICT, STAFFING LEVELS IN AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES ARE BEING CUT BY 16 PERCENT — The Mirditë District Party Committee reports that, following discussions on staffing levels and reducing the number of administrative employees in non-productive sectors, 60 employees were cut from the agricultural cooperatives in the district, representing 16 percent of the total. By reducing departments and administrative staff, the administrative apparatus, specialists and managers are closer to production. Thus, the most capable remain, while the others change duties. This is put to the test through practical work. the test in the figures: in 1980, there was one administrative employee for every 18.3 krakha of work in the agricultural cooperatives; at the beginning of this year, there was one employee for every 17.4 krakha of work—an increase of 106 employees and 27 cooperative members disciplined in the staffing structure, while the land area has decreased and yields in agricultural crops and livestock products have risen without justification, not to mention indicators that have worsened. Belul Memaj, an instructor at the district Party committee, speaking about the discussion held at the Bardhaj agricultural cooperative, which has around 280 hectares of land, says that, on the proposal and by the decision of the cooperative members, two departments were cut as unnecessary links that caused needless running around and took the farm managers away from the brigade, for the policy of peace and friendly cooperation with other states, and to deepen further the process of Balkan understanding and cooperation. For his part, Ake Wihtol thanked them for the welcome he received and for the particularly interesting conversation they had, and expressed the Finnish government’s wish to strengthen and give concrete form to friendly, economic and trade, and cultural relations and cooperation with Albania. «That,» he said, «is precisely the purpose of our visit.» from concrete work. By reducing the sectors and the number of clerks, In this way, the most capable remain, while the others change jobs. Their ability is also put to the test there. “It is right to demand discipline from a cooperative member who is five minutes late, but when the administration takes a long time to bring the plans to the brigade, or when it drags out the resolution of problems, what should we call that?” said a cooperative member. It was precisely this demand from the cooperative members that led to reductions in the administration. Action was taken immediately, and the sector supervisors, production specialists who were cut, and economists moved to leading brigades or into production. Meanwhile, the study conducted in the agricultural cooperatives of Kaçinar shows that nothing has been done to curb the growth of the staffing complement. It rose from 39 in 1980 to 49 in 1990. Therefore, the complement of clerks and non-production workers in this cooperative was reduced by 25 people. Here, more noticeably than in any other cooperative, there is a commitment to increasing the role of elected cadres as a way to reduce wage earners and increase each person’s active work. “Here it became clear that the work of the sectors was useless because they did not serve production, they ... (Continued on page 2)

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 Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Khamphent Phengmuong, who presented his credentials. The ceremony for the presentation of credentials was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Reis Malile; the Secretary of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Sihat Tozaj; the director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andon Berxholi; and others. (ATSH)

At the invitation of the Albanian Committee for Cultural and Friendly Relations with the Outside World, Vaso Gjorgjufi, journalist and publicist and chairman of the Greece-Albania Friendship Association, paid a visit to our country. He visited social and cultural centers in the cities of Tirana, Krujë and Durrës, and in the villages of Goran, Dajç and Jergucat in the Gjirokastër district. During his stay in our country, the guest from Greece was received by the Minister of Education, Skënder Gjinushi, who briefed him on the development of education and science in our country; the Deputy Foreign Minister, Sokrat Plaka, who spoke to him about the traditional relations between our two countries and the development of relations and cooperation between Albania and Greece; and the chairman of the League of Writers and Artists, Dritëro Agolli, who briefed him on the development of literature and art in our country. The guest has departed our country. (ATSH)

Yesterday morning, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Adil Çarçani, received the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland, Ake Wihtol, at the seat of the Council of Ministers and held a warm and friendly conversation with him. After conveying to the guest from Finland the feelings of friendship and respect that the Albanian people hold for the Finnish people, Comrade Adil Çarçani noted the positive relations that exist between our two governments and countries and expressed his hope for their further development. He briefed the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs delegation on our country’s domestic and foreign policy and on the Albanian people’s determination to proceed confidently along the path of freedom, independence and peace, a path that will bring them even greater prosperity. Comrade Adil Çarçani also spoke about some aspects of current political developments in the Balkans and Europe, stressing that Albania has always supported, and continues to support, a policy of peace and friendly cooperation with other states, in order to deepen further the process of understanding and cooperation in the Balkans. For his part, Ake Wihtol thanked his hosts for the welcome the Finnish government’s desire said, «is precisely the purpose of our visit.» Speaking about his impressions from visits made in recent days to Tirana and several other districts, he expressed his satisfaction and noted: «We saw with our own eyes that the situation in Albania is calm and that none of the slanders recently made against your country are true.» He wished the Albanian people greater success and prosperity in the further development of their country. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sokrat Plaka, was present at the reception. (ATSH)

Yesterday morning, the Secretary of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Sihat Tozaj, received the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Ake Wihtol, and held a warm and friendly conversation with him. Yesterday morning, Tozaj, received the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Ake Wihtol, and held a warm and friendly conversation with him. During the meeting, they discussed the development of concrete relations and cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries. They also expressed the desire to expand bilateral cooperation, including the exchange of parliamentary delegations between Albania and Finland, as a contribution to the further development of friendly relations between the two countries. Yesterday, Wihtol, also left our country. The Director of the Directorate for Economic Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ilkka Ruso, the adviser in the Directorate for Political Affairs of this ministry, Hannu Videnoga, as well as the businesspeople and the group of journalists from various press organizations and Finnish Radio and Television who accompanied him. To see off the delegation, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sokrat Plaka and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at Rinas Airport. During their stay in our country, Wihtol, and those accompanying him visited economic and social-cultural sites in the districts of Fier, Berat, Krujë and Durrës. (ATSH)

The winery in Leskovik has earned a good reputation throughout the country. In the photo: the factory manager, Ludhi Miçi, during analyses of the samples. (Photo: R. Durolli)