On Sunday, the newspaper «Drita» published Comrade Ramiz Alia’s speech, delivered at the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee on the current state and prospects of production at the «Shqipëria e re» Film Studio. This is a major impetus that the Party is giving film creators; it is also an expression of the special attention it gives to creators and creative work, so that it may be as militant and high-quality as possible, making good use of the valuable potential of our stage artists. Comrade Ramiz’s speech is a major work program for all our filmmakers, calling for fundamental changes in their creative work, for further strengthening its ideological-artistic message and raising the quality of our films, which have reached the people, won their affection, and served to educate them. But today’s demands of our cultured art lovers call for higher aspirations and achievements in quality. This important Party document is a work program for all our creators. It is a new point of departure, in light of the decisions of the Party Central Committee’s 9th Plenum, toward new ideological-artistic standards in every sphere of creativity. The further revolutionary transformation of the country’s life through the deepening of socialist democracy must strongly and swiftly capture the attention of all creators and awaken their interest. In this new light, they are called upon to move all audiences with new, powerful works that carry the newer, more emancipated thinking of our society. Having learned about the duties and demands the Party sets for our filmmakers, creators can and should play a greater role in ensuring that creative work proceeds well everywhere, and especially in giving the people works of the highest merit and a high ideological-artistic level. This does not mean that the powers that can and should be taken away from the administration should be monopolized by those who speak and impose themselves in the name of their posts and bureaucratic bodies, sometimes in the name of «affirming» their personality, their high academic degree, their social, state or Party positions, their long experience, and so on. At the round table of dialogue and debate, there is no «first». The one who brings the most convincing argument and offers the most useful solution is the one who leads. One person’s ego or another’s does not constitute a collective decision. In the name of collegiality, it is possible to act—as has happened in many cases—and trample it with both feet. In practice, this means either turning a blind eye to inferior quality, to a mediocre novel, a concert or premiere that falls short, or immediately giving the «green light» to higher-quality creative work. In art, culture and science, it was emphasized at the Party Central Committee Secretariat, there should be neither vetoes nor votes. In this Party directive, in this guidance, creators have found a subject for broad creative and social discussion among themselves; they see in it the «elimination» of many bureaucratic and administrative practices that obstruct their day-to-day creative work. The Secretariat of the Party Central Committee’s assessment of the great potential of our artists, the great confidence expressed there in their maturity and ideological-political and professional judgment regarding every task and commitment, and other considerations, all reflect confidence in the artists of this people and in their creative work. The Party requires that the spiritual needs of individuals and society be continuously met with works of quality. How many premieres should a professional theatre company, for example, stage in a year: three or four, or five? Indicative targets for creative work in some areas of the screen and stage have become like sacred numbers. Meeting them is equated with fulfilling the artist’s mission. Indeed, for example, an individual professional may have met the target number of premieres, but how much did many of them leave to be desired, when even the Festival organized in Tirana failed to make a more successful impact? The reasons for such a situation are complex, but among other things, the pursuit of quantity is also a significant obstacle. Conversations with some managers of cultural and artistic institutions about how work is progressing often begin with the phrase: «Just one more premiere and we’ll have completed the six-month or annual targets», and so on. The same thinking applies to the economic and financial activities of institutions, and people almost forget that in culture and art, more than in any other field, it is quality that gives production indicators their value. How many books, for example, have been published by publishing houses, and how effective have they been, when many comrades in schools, families and elsewhere often say: «Young people—and everyone—should read more!» The number of films, premieres, concerts and publications is not a fixed principle that can neither be reduced nor exceeded. The only proper «standard» is meeting the people’s spiritual needs with works worthy of them. One of the most important problems that cultural and artistic institutions must find a solution to is easing the burden on the state budget of the subsidies they receive, both to carry out their annual activities and, where necessary, to renew their equipment. The most effective and useful solution in this area, as the Party Central Committee Secretariat meeting also advised, is to improve the quality of all activities of cultural and artistic institutions and increase their revenues. The creators themselves, the governing bodies in this field, all staff collectives and the Party’s basic organizations will, through exchanges of views and debate, find ways, opportunities and forms of work to carry out this important task as well. Implementing the duties set out at the Party Central Committee Secretariat requires the commitment of all forces and productive, highly effective work by each person, as well as creativity and innovation in organization and management. In short, a new method and style of work for everyone. of socialist democracy, must strongly and swiftly draw the attention of all creators and arouse their interest. In this new light, they are expected to address readers and viewers with new, powerful works that convey the new, more emancipated thinking of our society. Having become acquainted with the tasks and demands the Party set for our filmmakers, by analogy we must also think and work in the same direction with the creators and performers of drama and theater, variety shows, the Opera and Ballet Theater, and all those engaged in mass cultural creativity, etc. To achieve new goals for quality in creative work means firmly combating command methods, which, as was also stressed at the Secretariat of the Party’s CC, «in the arts are more harmful and more dangerous than in any other field». It is logical, as life itself suggests, that their place should be taken by sound-minded dialogue, constructive and well-reasoned debate, and collegial judgment and evaluation. For this solution guided by the Party to become genuinely effective and achievable, it is necessary and essential for many powers to be transferred to the movement, from administrative bodies and administrators to collegial artistic bodies. Artistic councils, scientific councils, editorial boards, etc., while also seeking the views of as broad a circle of specialists as possible, without replacements or duplications of state organizations, from now on having among them; there, let them «make a goal» of freeing their daily creative work practices from the many bureaucratic and administrative practices that hold them back. The assessments made by the Secretariat of the Party’s CC regarding our artists’ great potential, and and professional judgment in every task and every undertaking by creators, will serve to further kindle the creative atmosphere and work with ever higher aspirations, so that literature, feature and documentary films, music, the visual arts, etc., may portray as worthily as possible the human epic of our socialist society. In this field, television too must expand the activities of its own feature-film studio. This activity, as the Party instructed, must become one of the most resolute, making more beneficial use of the equipment at its disposal. Every literary or artistic work must bear, at the heart of its content, the stamp of the times and life as it is. Otherwise, through gloss, posing and various contrivances that serve no one, reality is not shown as it is—the difficulties overcome by the people are denied and their heroism is diminished. Better fulfillment of these demands of the country’s literary and artistic public would further strengthen and deepen the democratic spirit of our creative work. The 9th Plenum of the Party’s CC, just as it called, through the many solutions it put forward, for further improvements in their material well-being, also stated, among other things: «What is required of ...»

THE PLAN: A DEMAND OF THE TIMES, A DAILY DUTY Livestock production exceeding targets In the village of Bajkaj, shepherd Spiro Kapusani has his own flock. His name is known to all the livestock farmers in the Sarandë district. Why? Lambing in his flock is over. None of the lambs born have been lost. They have already reached a weight of 12 kg each. They were born early, and milking also began 25–30 days ago. But what does this well-known shepherd have to say about this and his fellow shepherds? “Winter is turning to spring. So there is no room for self-satisfaction. It is true that up to now we have achieved this production in our flock, but the other shepherds?” — SARANDE — At the KTL of Allkos, Resul Mullai; at the Brina Agricultural Enterprise, Andon Jorgji in Stjar and Zaim Ademi in Konispol are ahead of us. And what figures have been achieved in livestock production across the district? The district chief veterinarian, Jorgo Babuli, says that this year 9,000 more lambs and 7,500 kids than last year have been born. There have been no losses among the young animals. What about milk production? January ended 1,500 quintals above the target. February, too, continues to exceed targets. Each day, 50 quintals of milk more than the charted amount are delivered from the centralized flock and the flocks of the cooperatives. This year Sarandë’s shepherds worked with the aim of significantly exceeding milk production from small livestock and cows. As a result, the achievements of farms in milk production at several locations—Stjar, the Vurg Agricultural Enterprise, Vrinë and Konispol—are substantial. This has been achieved not simply as a result of the weather, but first and foremost through the work itself, the conditions for raising livestock and care for the feed supply, and above all through the shepherds’ tireless care. BARDHYL BELJKO

— KORÇË — Making the best possible use of production capacity and introducing technological improvements are everyday requirements in the work of the collectives at the faience products enterprise. One example: recently, a press using modern technology for producing majolica tiles was put into operation here; it will form part of an entire production line. Rather than wait for all the investments required for the line to be completed, work was undertaken to master the press’s technology and the corresponding production process. The press was put into operation, doubling the production of majolica tiles. Meanwhile, the necessary measures are being taken to set up the complete line, which will increase current production three- to fourfold. The work being done here to ensure the fullest possible technical conditions for the mass processing of raw materials is also commendable. Mechanical engineer Ilo Kunesha, although retired, directed all the work to build, using the enterprise’s own resources, a filter press with a processing capacity of 5 tons in 24 hours. Work is now under way on a second press and a new machine for glazing majolica tiles. This will substantially improve product quality. These efforts are also inseparable from the mobilization to fulfill the assigned tasks. From the beginning of the year to date, the production plan has been fulfilled at 100.2 percent. The workers of the sanitary-ware semi-finished-products brigade, led by foreman Niko Jata-gani, stand out in particular. In conversation with the managers of this enterprise, we learned that a retail outlet selling only faience products will soon open in the city. Our wish, says enterprise director Osman Dëllinja, is for customers to be satisfied with our fully equipped sanitary-ware products, toilet fittings, majolica tiles, kitchenware, plates, baking dishes, bowls, etc. We will also measure our work by the turnover of this outlet. KOSTAQ DUKA

IN THE PHOTO: FOREMAN BARDHYL NELI CHECKING THE PLANTS IN THE LAPARDHASË GREENHOUSES IN THE BERAT DISTRICT. (Photo: G. Xhengo - ATSH)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Last year, our collective at the Muhur marble mine in Dibër fulfilled its export targets, delivering products worth around 160,000 lekë in foreign currency above plan. We also saved imported materials worth 35,000 lekë in foreign currency. Yet, although we fulfilled all the other indicators, we achieved less than 50 percent of the target under the item «exploration and development», which concerns mine preparation. This situation has continued for several years, including at the start of 1990. What is holding us back? Our inventory includes several excavators, most of which arrived nearly 20 years ago and have never undergone a major overhaul. No plant in the country has undertaken to repair them. We thought our problem would be resolved after we sent one of the machines to the «Drini» plant in Shkodër on October 23 last year. As far as we know, major overhauls are supposed to take one month, but four months have passed and the machine has not been returned to us. The same plant also undertook to repair another excavator, but no solution has been provided for the problem, and it has been idle since last June. As we said at the outset, we exceed our export targets. Is it really so difficult to ensure that we can work normally, in accordance with the requirements for repairs? IDRIZ LIKA, RIZVAN METHASANI, JONUZ ÇIKU and other workers at the marble mine in Muhur, Dibër

Every type of equipment imported comes with the relevant technical literature, which has specific features corresponding to the manufacturing plants. For this equipment to operate normally and with as few breakdowns as possible, it is essential that this literature be fully understood and followed from the moment the equipment is put into operation. This will extend the service life of the equipment and reduce economic losses. In reality, the translations provided by the agricultural mechanization station have been few and incomplete, have arrived very late, and have often come years after the machines and equipment were put into operation. We believe that the Mechanical Directorate at the Ministry of Agriculture should resolve this problem as soon as possible. MARASH DEMA engineer at the SMT, Pukë

Yesterday, Albania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rejs Malli, received the official parliamentary delegation of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil, composed of Deputies Aldo Arantes, Jose Carlos de Saboya, Eduardo Bonfin, Flores-tan Fernandes and Oswaldo Lima Filho. Yesterday, Albania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rejs Malli, received the official parliamentary delegation of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil, composed of Deputies Aldo Arantes, Jose Carlos de Saboya, Eduardo Bonfin, Florestan Fernandes and Oswaldo Lima Filho. During the meeting, which took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere, views were exchanged on the further development of friendly relations between Albania and Brazil. Rejs Malli acquainted the Brazilian deputies with the policy aimed at continually expanding international cooperation, as well as with the contribution Albania makes to peace and security in the region. He noted that our country attaches importance to relations with Brazil and the other states of Latin America and follows political developments in this region with interest. Current political issues and the process of further cooperation in the Balkans were also discussed. (ATSH)

The delegation of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Energy Committee, Dhimitër Sokolov; the delegation of the Hellenic Republic, headed by the Director of Energy Policy at the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Technology, Ioannis Delezios; the delegation of Romania, headed by the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Energy, Tiberiu Kerepcanu; the delegation of the Republic of Turkey, headed by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Sami Yavuz; and the delegation of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, headed by the Deputy Secretary for Energy, Dr. Sretan Spasic, have departed our country. They took part in the preparatory meeting for the meeting of the energy ministers of the Balkan states, which will be held in Tirana in the last week of May 1990. During their stay, the delegations visited economic facilities and social-cultural centers in the districts of Tirana, Durrës, Krujë, Berat and Shkodër. (ATSH)

Continuing its visit, the official parliamentary delegation of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil went to the district of Berat the day before yesterday. Continuing its visit, Brazil went to the district of Berat the day before yesterday. There, the delegation was received by the Vice-Chairwoman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, (Continued on page 4)

“What’s the matter, Rexhep? You look as if you’re looking for something you’ve lost,” I say jokingly.

Rexhep Hysa is an electrician in the Gjepalaj cooperative in Durrës. But he has another passion, too... Near the village reservoir there was a patch of barren land. No one had thought about how it could be used, or at most had considered it just a tiny strip of land. Rexhep thought of planting olive saplings there. Some people who saw him planting cuttings from pruned olive trees may have thought he wanted them for firewood or who knows what. He planted 1,000 trees from such cuttings. He collected waste and used it to fertilize the plants, one by one, and the villagers watched as all 1,000 saplings grew beautifully. He did all this work in his free time. These saplings cost 2 lekë apiece, compared with the 6 lekë charged for those produced by the nursery from which the cooperative bought its plants. Here is a lesson from this ordinary worker. We talk with him at one corner of the barren plot. He seems somewhat of a romantic, all the more so when you learn that he likes music and literature. A certain Agim Hysa is a poet, and Rexhep knows by heart many poems from the volume Agim published recently. But Rexhep does not take his eyes off the land. “What’s the matter, Rexhep? You look as if you’re looking for something you’ve lost,” I say jokingly. “No,” he says, “I’m looking for something to plant.” “To win?” “For the economy to win—and when it wins, we do well too. Here, listen: this year we’ll produce 3,000 olive saplings using shoots from pruned olive trees; by grafting, but also from suckers, as they’re called. 2,000 fig plants from cuttings, 1,000 walnut trees from seed, and 11,500 grafted plum trees. We’ve found all of them.” “You’re just going to plant them?” “There’s no great difficulty, as long as you enjoy the work.” “Of course, that’s good; you deserve congratulations, but don’t go forgetting your trade...” “This work wouldn’t make sense without repetition. But that’s what someone said at first when I was planting the first olive saplings. But now they support me; they even said at the cooperative leadership: ‘Would you like two or three comrades to help you?’ ‘Fine,’ I told them, ‘but they should work after their own jobs too.’ And that’s how music and literature are appreciated. A certain Agim Hysën is a poet and knows by heart quite a few poems from the collection he published recently. But he never takes his eyes off the soil.” S. GJORDENI

● IN ALL SPHERES OF CREATIVE WORK THERE IS ROOM FOR GREATER QUALITATIVE IMPROVEMENTS (p. 1) ● ABOUT THE EVENTS IN KOSOVO (p. 4).