Experience has shown that the way to preserve and strengthen the socialist order as a whole is to develop and deepen democracy and the mass line, and to fight bureaucratism. For it is well known: weakening the masses leads to the degeneration of socialism. At various times, our Party has taken a series of important measures to fight and eliminate the evil of bureaucratism. The successes, too, have been considerable. But notwithstanding these, the fight against bureaucratism remains a permanent duty of the Party’s basic organizations and their forums, of communists, cadres and all workers. It is true that certain phenomena still exist in our society that keep bureaucratism alive and feed it. For example, outdated practices not infrequently create distance and separation between cadres, on the one hand, and the working masses, on the other. The Party has continually insisted—and once again did so at the 9th Plenum of its Central Committee—that cadres live closely among the masses, know their hardships and concerns, and listen to their opinions and voices. This means that the working class and the masses must be able to speak out when they are not taken seriously, when bureaucratism obstructs them. And it is well known: when the class speaks, bureaucratism is silenced. This is not merely a matter of organization, nor of goodwill, but a matter of vital importance, where formalism is unacceptable. All the measures laid down at the Plenum are connected with the idea of democratization: open meetings, limits on terms of office, reducing staffing levels, wider use of competitive selection, granting full powers to workers’ control, expanding the powers of the grassroots, and so on. And the positive results are undeniable everywhere. Yet at meetings with work collectives in enterprises and institutions, and at meetings with the people in neighbourhoods and villages, there is sometimes an official, formal atmosphere: a presidium occupied by officeholders; a report; a list of names of those “responsible” for discussion; and then the conclusions of the delegate, whose instructions are insisted upon as being turned into decisions. In such cases, there can be no question of a deeply rooted mass line. There are also many cadres who do in fact hold a meeting and take notes, but forget—or remember too late—to return to the heart of the masses and account for what was done and why something was not done. Not infrequently, the tendency to gloss over matters becomes acceptable and tiresome. It happens that an instructor, a secretary, and so on, does not report problems because they fear being told: “Why are you telling us this? What are you doing about it?” Yet the Party has always demanded, and still demands, that people be spoken to openly both about every problem they raise and about certain growing pains. Problems cannot be solved and difficulties overcome with general formulas or administrative orders, but through arguments, by explaining matters skillfully and inspiring the masses to judge the real ways of resolving them. For example, it has been said that the apartment blocks in the capital will be plastered and painted. But with the resources available, it will take approximately 20 years to achieve this objective. Here is an issue that can be discussed with the broad mass of innovators. The bureaucratic notions held by some people—especially that “they know everything,” that “the masses don’t want meetings” (in reality, they do not want meetings at all when a cadre arrives thinking he is all-powerful and all-knowing), that “the masses have nothing important to say,” and so on—do nothing but increase the masses’ sense of alienation and intensify their concerns and dissatisfaction. Neither one’s duties, nor academic title, nor the merit of one’s degrees confers authority. Authority comes from work, from the ability to communicate with ordinary people and solve problems. Therefore, the motto, as always, is and remains just one: discussion face to face with the people, a commitment to working with skill and passion to increase productivity and the people’s well-being, and to propose and resolve what the people want. Debate and the exchange of views on issues that concern them are essential; but to put them into practice at a new level, it is important to create a warm environment. Socialism needs everyone’s work and ideas. Another important direction of the Party’s work is the fight against certain incorrect interpretations of centralism in the practical actions of various state bodies and administrations. In everyday life, sound, humane understandings generally prevail, and there are also achievements. But here and there, there is a tendency to issue commands and to burden ministries and committees with deciding many matters, down to minor indicators that the grassroots could resolve. Such a tendency, once kept under control, is now an obstacle to resolving problems quickly and not infrequently leaves the grassroots waiting. Every basic organization has a duty to clarify to Party members that duties must be taken up in this way and must not be allowed to turn into additional competencies. Even worse and more deserving of criticism are cases in which some executive bodies, directorates of economic enterprises and presidiums of agricultural cooperatives take powers away from people’s councils. Sometimes, where circumstances allow, housing allocations are made, but along with them come special “instructions.” This, too, opens the way to favouritism and personal connections. These “interventions” are precisely restrictions on and violations of our socialist democracy. In particular, the subordination of bodies elected by the people to executive bodies constitutes a serious distortion of their democratic nature, because it abandons the fundamental principle that the elected bodies are the holders of power in our country. Therefore, this principle must never be compromised. “Power belongs to the one who has the duty to make decisions. There is no power without authority,” Comrade Ramiz Alia emphasizes. One of the most troubling manifestations of bureaucratism is the use of official position to show favour, even to obtain personal benefits at the expense of the state and society. The people speak of those who are given privileges through opportunities handed to them by one person after another in their respective fields; they speak of certain privileged people sent abroad for specialization without the masses having a say (and there are cases of people going on the eve of retirement). This is why the 9th Plenum of the Party’s Central Committee decided that work collectives should have the right to elect and to recall—that is, dismiss from work—any cadre, as well as the right to decide on specialization and other matters. The comrades in the courts and investigative offices of each district have their own rules and practices for dealing with problems, but this does not mean that the opinion of the masses should not be properly taken into account. Discussing the conduct of a person who breaks the rules and, beyond that, undermines good work in mass organizations helps the masses take a stand. Furthermore, it is not right for a worker—as, for example, at the “Stalin” textile combine, at the cigarette factory in Durrës or elsewhere—to inspect the women workers one by one at the gate. Such a “solution” violates the workers’ dignity and does not put a “bridle” on thieves. The Party demands that alien phenomena be fought intelligently and respectfully. The main thing is for the Party’s basic organizations and mass organizations to mobilize sound public opinion and create an atmosphere of disapproval around those who engage in such conduct. In the fight against bureaucratism, the Party has called for attention to be focused on the spread of this great evil and for people to become conscious of the need to do as much as possible to combat it. The decision to hold open meetings of Party basic organizations will give every member of the collective the opportunity to take part if they wish. These meetings are open because the Party has no interests other than those of the people. The qualities of the communists will become evident in this way, too. Any “concerns” about the number of participants, about “erasing boundaries,” or about “the role of some troublemaker” are pointless. Only at open meetings can the necessary conditions be created to help and protect communists, cadres and basic organizations from the rust of bureaucratism. Everyone knows how dangerous a bureaucratic communist is. A communist who holds a Party card does not do so for “superiority,” but to take on greater duties. The better open meetings are conducted, and the more debate, criticism and sincere self-criticism there is in each of them, the better the great tasks of our time will be carried out and resolved, and the more they will become genuine schools of communist education for communists and non-Party workers. A communist who does not value the opinion of the masses, a backward communist who does not meet the standards, a communist who is unconcerned with what is happening in the sector, the brigade or with a comrade beside him, a communist who remains silent in the face of those who lay hands on the people’s property—such a person has no reason to keep his Party card. We will see them better among the masses, and the masses can speak once, twice, but not a third time. A thorough understanding of the mass line and its practical implementation will be achieved more successfully by strengthening the leading role of the Party’s basic organizations. When the masses feel, at all times and in every sphere of social activity, that they are a factor of decisive importance, both the life of the basic organizations and that of the country will be further revolutionized every day, and the fight against bureaucratism will be raised to a higher level, as a condition for strengthening our socialist democracy.

Export targets given priority LIBRAZHD — Although this year’s export targets are 25 percent higher than last year’s, as we learn from the Planning Section of the district executive committee, the targets for January and for this month of February have been exceeded by more than 900,000 lekë. — LIBRAZHD — Although this year’s export targets are 25 percent higher than last year’s, as we learn from the Planning Section of the district executive committee, the targets for January and for this month of February have been exceeded by more than 900,000 lekë. The chromium mine in Përrenjas has had good results. “We have made the workers themselves responsible for meeting export requirements on time and to the required quality,” says Refik Disha, director of this mine. In January and during the first ten days of February, exports of high-grade chromium exceeded the target by about 30 percent. This has meant that there have been no complaints about exports. At the iron-nickel mine, thanks to the attention paid to the quantity of

— SHKODËR — The drivers of the freight transport park in Shkodër, in implementing the tasks set by the 9th Plenum of the Party’s Central Committee, are among the best performers. The main factor is the driver, who spoke of good progress. The travel-coefficient plan was fulfilled at 71, against a target of 67, while the utilization coefficient reached 65.5, against a target of 62. Good results have also been achieved in other indicators, in which the drivers’ brigades led by Bajram Halluni and Ferit Bilali have distinguished themselves. The park collective is also meeting its targets in the main transport indicators, such as ton

At the bearing assembly department of the UMB in Korçë, they have been assigned to produce three new types this year as well. IN THE PHOTO: Workers Aleksandra Toçi and Dhimitër Koço inspecting the quality of the bearings. (Photo: F. Hoti)

Nexhmije Hoxha, Chairwoman of the General Council of the ADF, sends a telegram to Nelson Mandela The Chairwoman of the General Council of the Democratic Front of Albania, Nexhmije Hoxha, sent the following telegram to Nelson Mandela: “We learned with particular pleasure of Your release from the many long years of suffering and hardship in the prisons of the Pretoria regime. This gives us the long-awaited opportunity to convey to You our very best wishes and the warmest fraternal greetings of the Democratic Front of Albania, as well as my personal greetings. For a long time, the Azanian people have fought heroically to realize their lofty aspirations for freedom, equality and democracy, against the dark and savage racist forces and their politics of apartheid. They can be proud to have brought forth from their ranks a leader such as You, who, through Your steadfast commitment to the cause of national rights, have become a great source of inspiration. Our people have expressed, and will always express, their solidarity with the Azanian people’s comprehensive efforts to dismantle the apartheid system, with the firm conviction that their struggle will continue and be crowned with victory, and that it will establish peace and genuine democracy as their undeniable rights, on the road to social progress. In the name of the entire Albanian people, we express our deepest feelings of sympathy for You and for the Azanian people. We wish You further success in the struggle to create a society of equality, freedom and national independence.” (ATA)

Yesterday morning, in one of the halls of the “Tirana” hotel in the capital, the preparatory meeting for the meeting of the energy ministers of the Balkan states began its work. Taking part in the meeting were the delegation of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, headed by Dimitër Sokolov, Deputy Chairman of the Energy Committee; the delegation of the Hellenic Republic, headed by Ioannis Delezios, Director of Energy Policy at the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Technology; the delegation of Romania, headed by Tiberiu Kempeanu, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Energy; the delegation of the Republic of Turkey, headed by Sami Yavuz, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources; the delegation of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, headed by Dr. Sretan Spasic, Deputy Secretary for Energy; and the delegation of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, headed by Llavdosh Hamataj, Deputy Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy. After thanking all the delegations for their contribution during the consultations held to identify possible issues and areas for multilateral cooperation in the energy field, he expressed confidence that it was the shared wish for this meeting to conclude successfully, achieve a fruitful exchange of views and contribute to the thorough preparation of the forthcoming meeting of ministers. The participants elected the head of the Albanian delegation, Deputy Minister of Energy Llavdosh Hamataj, as chair of the meeting.

Yesterday afternoon, the Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Besnik Bekteshi, received the heads of the delegations taking part in the preparatory meeting for the meeting of the energy ministers of the Balkan states. During the conversation, the heads of the delegations, after becoming acquainted with our country and its achievements, presented Besnik Bekteshi with their views on the meeting’s work, which serves to better prepare the meeting of the energy ministers. It appeared that the Albanian government regards the process of Balkan cooperation as a real and useful activity for the peoples and countries of our region, serving mutual understanding and reciprocal benefit and being in the interest of peace and stability in the Balkans themselves, as well as beyond. He spoke about cooperation and the exchange of experience in the energy field. (Continued on page 4)

At the invitation of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, an official parliamentary delegation of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil arrived in Tirana yesterday for an official visit. The delegation is composed of deputies Aldo Arantes, Jose Carlos de Saboya, Eduardo Bonfim, Florestan Fernandes and Oswaldo Lima Filho, from different parties represented in parliament. At Rinas Airport, the delegation was welcomed by Ibrahim Hamza, Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, deputies and other comrades. (ATA)

Petro Dode, Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, received the official parliamentary delegation of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil yesterday at the seat of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. Yesterday, Petro Dode, Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, received the official parliamentary delegation of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil at the seat of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. Taking part in the reception were Sali Shijaku, Secretary of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly; Sokrat Plaka, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; deputies and other comrades. During the reception, which took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere, Comrade Petro Dode welcomed the Brazilian guests and spoke of the feelings of friendship and respect that the Albanian people cherish for the Brazilian people, and of further strengthening cooperation between the two parliaments, among other things. He acquainted the Brazilian parliamentarians with the achievements of the Albanian people, the country’s economic and social development, the functioning of people’s power in Albania, the democratization of the system and measures for further deepening it by expanding the people’s participation in governing the country, and so on. Deputy Aldo Arantes noted, among other things, that this visit and the contacts they would have with senior Albanian officials would contribute to the further development of cooperation between the two parliaments, and so on. (Continued on page 4)

On this day, a premiere concert by the string orchestra of the Palace of Culture was given for art lovers in the foyer of the city theatre in Vlorë. It featured musical pieces by Albanian and foreign composers. The concert was warmly received and showed that it has many art lovers who follow it with passion. In recent days, “Swiss Film Days” were organized at the city cinema, where four films were shown to audiences: “Palafisa,” “The Murder of Mario Ricitet,” “The Invitation and Meridiana.” They were watched with interest by many viewers from Vlorë. The Gallery of Figurative Arts also had many visitors in recent days. An exhibition by the painter P. Stefani opened here. His works reveal the strength of his talent and passionate dedication to his work. The exhibition attracted considerable interest. Many activities have also been held in the countryside recently. For example, the creative groups of the Palace of Culture in Dukat, in cooperation with the youth committee of this cooperative, held a “Cultural Day,” featuring performances and a themed afternoon accompanied by a varied literary and artistic programme. GEZIM LLOJDIA