The 9th Plenum of the Party’s Central Committee has set new tasks for enhancing the role of the masses in all spheres of the country’s life and for strengthening socialist democracy. The essence of all active work, as always, is and remains the struggle against bureaucratism and liberalism. Naturally, these two evils, dangerous for our society, cannot be fought with administrative measures, orders, sanctions and instructions. People’s convictions are formed and strengthened, first and foremost, through sound arguments. It is precisely this skilled work that has become—and is becoming—more evident in eliminating bureaucratic methods. The Party’s line in the struggle against bureaucratism has always been, and remains, based on understanding and implementing the mass line. Any action, practice or phenomenon that runs counter to the people’s interests cannot be acceptable as a method of work for our Party, which is inseparable from the working masses. Yet there are also instances of haste that pave the way for bureaucratic activity. A few days ago, the Executive Committee of the People’s Council and the Council of Professional Unions of the Tirana district sent a letter stating, among other things, that “from now on the director’s fund and housing will be allocated by the emulation commission.” We cannot yet speak of positive results from the work of these commissions. But this, too, is another bureaucratic solution. The working masses themselves must decide who should be rewarded and what work merits a reward. For example, the Party’s basic organizations in the central ministries have discussed staff reductions and have even decided to reduce the number of employees by this or that amount. This concerns all ministries, without exception. Yet, as we see, in many cases the mindset of “let’s wait and see what they tell us from above,” and “let’s draw up the decision, then act,” is still present. Why should we wait for decisions to “ripen” when the workforce itself is discussing this issue, and when those decisions are, and should be, the product of the masses’ sound judgment? Apparently, the practice has still not been abandoned whereby “after the workforce has discussed it, the institution’s or ministry’s leadership must meet to put the final stamp on it.” Therefore, it is the task of the Party’s basic organizations, mass organizations and state bodies to ensure that issues put forward for resolution are discussed with a strong sense of responsibility; that weaknesses and the causes of backwardness, or stagnation, are identified; and that tasks, deadlines and concrete solutions are set. Yes, it is true that cuts have been made and will be made among those who are surplus, but it is essential to consider, with the same sense of responsibility and seriousness: where they will go, when they will go, what work they will do, and to get them started immediately, without waiting for further meetings and reviews to catch up with them there. Prompt action within the Party’s norms and the decisions adopted by the 9th Plenum is the best expression of the struggle against bureaucratism. In this context, the working masses are called upon not to wait for orders and instructions, but to take initiatives. The Party’s basic organizations, mass organizations and state bodies must against bureaucratism. In this context, it is required that the workers’ voices and their views on moving work forward be heard and respected to the end. Even the slightest disregard encourages bureaucratism. There are cases in which the masses’ views and judgment are sought merely “to get it over with,” while in practice the same methods and practices as before—or only slightly different ones—continue. This is characteristic of bureaucratic work. Things cannot move forward with the attitude, “let’s do things the way we have always done them.” The fundamental thing is to bring interests into better harmony; but interests are harmonized and people become more committed to important work not through orders, but through the appropriate mechanisms: moral and material incentives, rewards according to the work done, and so on and so forth... For some time now, several enterprises, such as the knitwear factory in Korçë, the Tregushumi in Durrës, the textile combine in Berat, etc., have failed to deliver goods to their destinations in accordance with the contracts concluded. There have been disputes over this, cases have gone as far as arbitration, etc., but nothing has changed. And they continue to drag their feet and stubbornly persist. In this way, they must get catch up with them there. The 9th Plenum requires every cadre, first and foremost through his work, to earn people’s respect. This opens the way for cadres with education, and for those who work with dedication and militancy. From this perspective, work collectives have a duty to think and judge with political responsibility about whom they will put in charge. It is their right to appoint the director, the chief... This does not mean that the work will be done in a flash. All together, we will work passionately and persistently to increase production, raise productivity and improve well-being. It is therefore necessary to create, everywhere and at all times, the real conditions for capable people to take up positions of responsibility in elected bodies; to support young, energetic and knowledgeable cadres; and to eliminate previous bureaucratic practices and choices. The Party’s consistent line, Comrade Ramiz Alia said at the 9th Plenum, “has been and is that the broad working masses, in production and in the courts, should always be the principal subject of leadership activity, and that their initiatives and contributions should constitute the relevant factor in developing and implementing the policies pursued in various fields. This lesson is fundamental in the struggle against bureaucratism as well.”

— Reportage from the mining enterprise, Shkodër — On the occasion of February 22—Miners’ Day 1. We had visited the copper mines at Palaj and Karmë, as well as the new copper-processing plant at Mjedë, and the word “underground” had filled not only our notebooks. It seemed to us that all that time we had been leafing through a beautiful book about the underground and its “citizens”—the miners. You have only to glance quickly through the galleries to get the impression that, like the earth itself, the underground too is alive. It has its colours, shapes, reliefs and horizons. It has its routes, junctions, transport and traffic. It has its people and its concerns. It is, then, a whole life. A characteristic of the mining enterprise’s workforce is the steady fulfilment of its tasks. Let us compare two pledges made less than a month apart. At first they said that this year they would produce 1,000 tons of copper ore above the planned target. But after the work of the 9th Plenum of the Party’s Central Committee, all the workers thought the pledge should be doubled. The same was done for mining work, ore quality and productivity. And these pledges began to become reality in January. At the Palaj mine, the ore production plan was fulfilled at 123.7 per cent, while at Karmë it was fulfilled at 106.5 per cent. In the portrait of this workforce, figures like these convey a special message that is not limited to one month or one year, but extends throughout the underground life of Shkodër’s mining enterprise. 2. The copper-processing plant at Mjedë awaits its inauguration. The Eighth Five-Year Plan added ten more facilities to Mjedë. Now you feel like making a new description of this area, placing this plant on the map alongside the Vau i Dejës and Koman hydroelectric power stations, the mines and the railway station. These are well-known places, going back to the time of Ptolemy, but it was only in the years of socialism that such a map of the Drin valley was drawn. You have visited one by one the crushing, grinding-flotation and thickening-filtration sections; you have passed among the heavy machinery and followed the distinctive, sharp account of the (Continued on page 3)

MINERS OF THE KALIMASH MINE IN KUKËS DISCUSS THE QUALITY OF CHROMIUM ORE. (Photo: M. Xhufka) MINERS OF THE KALIMASH MINE IN KUKËS DISCUSS THE QUALITY OF CHROMIUM ORE. (Photo: M. Xhufka)

— FIER — Many work collectives in the Fier district are working with particular care to give priority to increasing the supply of food and industrial goods. This is shown by the supp- Many work collectives in the Fier district are working with particular care to give priority to increasing the supply of food and industrial goods. This is shown by the good and steady supply of the market and the regular pace of work during January and the first 20 days of February. The trading enterprises in this district together exceeded 2.6 (Continued on page 2)

— Observation from Gjirokastra — Of the 9,000 families living in the city, in implementation of the Council of Ministers’ decision to improve the population’s meat supply, only 5,200 have been scheduled to receive livestock (!). Here is what such attitudes have led to: although 16,000 lambs and kids have been born in the flocks so far, and mass shearing and milking have been under way for days, only 2,500 lambs have been distributed to families. Only 20 families have received calves, and 80 have received pigs, even though demand is high, especially in the karhanë, where keeping them has been a tradition. Why is this happening? Some economic managers, as well as the relevant organizations and even the district authorities, have been slow to implement the decision and are not familiar with the wishes and views of the masses. The chairmen of some cooperatives have not been fully convinced of the benefits of this form of organization and, by exaggerating the difficulties involved in securing fodder, are making its prompt implementation more difficult. The complacency that has arisen—that Gjirokastra has a good and satisfactory supply—is also being countered through concrete action by the Party and state authorities in the district. THANAS DINO on, the director's fund and housing apartments will be allocated by the emulation committee». of these committees. But this, too, is another bureaucratic solution. The collective knows who should be rewarded and who is most in need of housing. No official letter, no committee can replace its role and effective contribution. The point is to clear the way of bureaucratic methods and replace them with swift action that supports the interests of the people, as well as the laws of the state. In this regard, it is worth examining further some problem or phenomenon that points to harmful practices which, instead of fighting bureaucracy, feed it. For example, the Party's basic organizations have made, and continue to make, decisions on many issues concerning the progress of work. Of course, it is better that decisions are made, but whom do they serve and what value do they have if they are not implemented, if they remain written on paper alone? This bureaucracy is even more evident when, in response to unimplemented decisions, further decisions are made to put them into effect, yet these too are acted upon sluggishly. We can say without hesitation that bureaucratic methods have taken hold in this matter...

For the month of January, the miners of Memalijaj fulfilled 100.2 percent of the overall industrial production target, while in February they set themselves a new objective: to produce 1,000 tons of coal above plan. Although this year's production targets have been increased by 4 percent compared with last year, and those for the two months by 8 percent, by the 20th the miners had produced 500 tons of coal above plan. The collective of shaft sector 4, led by engineer Aleks Hoxha, has set an example for the whole mine, fulfilling the period's targets by 120 percent. The miners of shaft sectors 3 and 2, and Canaj, have also distinguished themselves for keeping up a steady pace during this period. As the mine director, Medin Duraj, tells us, the introduction of the new reward system based on a daily plan-norm has also encouraged the fulfillment of targets. In the three sectors where this reward system was introduced, in January the number of absences fell by 50 percent, the production capacity of the working faces increased by 15 percent, and fulfillment of the norms improved, etc. This has also led to a marked increase in the regularity and quality of production at the mine. This month, in implementation of the targets of the Ninth Plan, this reward system was extended to the whole mine. SEJМEN GJOKOLI

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the writer and patriot Foqion Postoli, the Committee for Culture and the Arts and the branch of the League of Writers and Artists of the Korçë district organized a jubilee afternoon at the city's «Thimi Mitko» library. Artists and cultural workers, writers, language and literature teachers, researchers, veterans, young men and women, and other guests attended. Also present were the first secretary of the District Party Committee, comrade Vangjel Çerrava, the chairman of the League of Writers and Artists, Dhimitër Agolli, and other comrades. The poet Dhori Qiriazi and literature teacher Rahim Ombashi spoke about the life and creative work of Foqion Postoli, who played an important role in the development of the Albanian novel. Composer Josif Minga highlighted the artistic and ideological merits of the opera «Lulja e Kujtimit» by People's Artist Kristo Kono, composed on the basis of Foqion Postoli's work of the same title. For those present, actors from the professional theater «Andon Z. Çajupi» performed excerpts from this writer's works, while the «Lira» folk choir presented a program of patriotic songs. (ATSH)

Yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Reis Malile received Vahbi Al Karaguli, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Iraq to the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, in connection with the forthcoming presentation of his credentials to comrade Ramiz Alia, Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. (ATSH)

From the latest telex Last night the director of the port construction enterprise in Durrës, Petraq Bollo, gave us this information: In addition to our other duties, our main project is the construction of the port's eastern quay. Every year we have had problems, especially with the supply of materials and technical equipment. Yet this year the same thing is happening again, despite our continuous efforts. We are having trouble obtaining stone supplies. From January until now, the cement factory in Fushë-Krujë was supposed to supply us with 3,320 cubic meters of stone for the two-month plan, but it has delivered only 766 cubic meters. The Elbasan Metallurgical Combine was supposed to supply us with 17 tons of iron but has delivered only 15 tons. During this period we have worked on building the foundation blocks. Now we are beginning the other processes, such as concreting and laying the surface. But with these shortages, can we keep up the required pace? The concern is justified. Construction of the eastern quay began many years ago and it is still unfinished. The delays in its construction have been raised in the press two or three times, but millions of tons have been invested in it and it still is not delivering the expected results. At the current pace, many more years will be needed to complete it. In the time that has passed, powerful hydroelectric plants have been built. At this pace, the quay—which will double the port's handling capacity—has become an old «wound». It can be healed by a new approach and attitude toward work, not by holding numerous meetings, as has been done until now. SOTIRAQ GJORDENI

THE PLAN: A DEMAND OF THE TIMES, EVERYDAY DUTY Particular attention to supply Laxness in implementation—

● EVALUATING MEASURES, A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY TO FIGHT BUREAUCRACY (p. 1). ● THESE WORKING PACE LEVELS DO NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF MEDICINAL-PLANT EXPORTS (p. 2). ● LET US MEASURE OUR WORK BY THE WORKS WE GIVE OUR READERS (p. 3). ● KOSOVA UNITED AGAINST VIOLENCE AND MURDERS (p. 4).