FOLLOWING THE TRAIL OF A LETTER TO THE EDITORIAL OFFICE In mid-January, regarding Dibra’s reserves for livestock production, the newspaper published an interview with the director of the district’s pasture enterprise. Before two weeks had passed, a letter arrived at the editorial office in which engineer Ajet Skarra wrote, among other things, that if the specialists’ views had also been sought, the article would have been formulated differently—as a criticism of a director who takes on impossible tasks and is content with an empty spoon. Perhaps, we thought at first, the letter-writer is right. For, not infrequently at meetings, when it comes to commitments, some leaders fill entire pages with “we will carry out this and that campaign, we will achieve this and that quantity,” while when the deadlines arrive, they are nowhere to be heard. The letter about the director of the pasture enterprise in Peshkopi also gives this impression: as though he exaggerates what can be achieved, as though he takes credit for the collective’s work, as though he makes commitments on his own. In fact, he is not one of those who rush to seize praise and make grandiose promises. That emerged from a face-to-face meeting organized to discuss the letter. As became clear at the meeting, the idea of turning the enterprise into a diversified agricultural economy was neither proposed nor initially supported by this director; indeed, he has several times been criticized in the district’s leading forums for opposing this directive, and on one occasion a disciplinary measure against him was proposed. But when he took up the Party directive to increase the people’s supply with the concrete possibilities of turning Dibra into a large livestock-production park, from the banks of the Drin all the way to the pastures of Korab, when he consulted with the communists and the masses, he became convinced of the responsibility, but also of the benefits, of this initiative, made a sincere self-criticism, and together with the collective shouldered a very difficult commitment. Yet this commitment, this task, disturbed the peace of some specialists in the enterprise’s administration. And “grounds” were found on which to criticize the director, as though he “does not know how to communicate with specialists, does not take their views into account.” Thus, the firm demand for accountability was called arrogance, while the director’s critical stance toward objections to bringing livestock farming into the pasture enterprise and planting trees on the terraces was called disregard for the specialists’ opinions. Why are such attitudes sometimes adopted? Because the demands being made to revolutionize working methods disturb the comfort of some cadres and specialists. Moreover, they have misunderstood the free exchange of views, treating it as democracy only for their own opinions, even when those opinions may be backward. Of course, what has been done at this enterprise cannot be called everything; it is only a beginning, as the director of the enter— had said in his interview. Still, it is not a beginning “with an empty spoon.” A diversified economy—anyone willing to work understands this—can include livestock, trees, bees, medicinal plants, and even mushrooms, which the newspaper wrote about in recent days. But with the current rules, which do not link a specialist’s remuneration to their production results, a full salary can be earned without any of these “troubles.” That some specialists at the Peshkopi pasture enterprise are outside this initiative, far from progressive thinking, is best shown by this fact: at the end of December, the collective’s annual review was held. Only the zootechnician Hysen Kola asked: “...What causes the losses in livestock farming? What is the balance of the fodder base?...” The person responsible for these tasks asks the director! Several other specialists did the same, demanding accountability from the leaders for things they themselves had failed to do. It is enough to create the impression that they are delegates attending the review and have come to this enterprise for the first time. The demand of the times is that everyone be a director in the work they do—in the sense of accepting responsibility, showing initiative, and encouraging others by their example. The times and the spirit of the 9th Plenum demand this of every worker and specialist. FRANO ÇAKA (incomplete passage at the beginning) ... confident on this path. He pointed out the ties of friendship between the Albanian people and the Brazilian people, and the possibilities that exist for ... ... the same one he had extended to Comrade Ramiz Alia. Speaking about the visits to Tirana and other districts, he said that we were greatly impressed by ... ... people’s [popular] Snat ... and member of this Presidium Eleni Selenica. (ATSH) ...tly took up the directive to increase the people’s supply, considering director of the enter— terprise in his interview, but was held. Only the zootechnician Hysen Kola asked this question: and specialist. FRANO ÇAKA

— COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA RECEIVED THE OFFICIAL PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES OF BRAZIL — The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Comrade Ramiz Alia, received yesterday morning at the seat of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly the official parliamentary delegation of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil. During the reception, which took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere, Comrade Ramiz Alia briefed the Brazilian guests on Albania’s socio-economic development, its achievements in various fields of life, the benefits socialism has brought to the people, and our people’s optimism about moving forward confidently along for further developing relations and cooperation between the two countries. Our people, Comrade Ramiz Alia said, have respect for the friendly Brazilian people and for the other peoples of Latin America. He spoke about our country’s principled and independent domestic and foreign policy, which serves its interests of freedom and independence, as well as peace and security in the Balkans and beyond. “We have had a very good time in Albania these past few days,” said, among other things, deputy Aldo Arantes, who, on behalf of the delegation, expressed thanks for the warm hospitality and the great honor shown to them by the high level of agricultural development, especially the terracing of land, the development of industry, and the Albanian government’s efforts to further improve production efficiency. Above all, we saw a happy and free people, with a steadily rising standard of living, a cultured people. He praised Albania’s role and its independent policy and expressed the desire to further strengthen the friendly relations between our two peoples, countries, and parliaments. The reception was attended by Sihat Tozaj, Secretary of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, and Eleni Selenica, a member of this Presidium. (Photo: ATSH)

Yesterday, on the eve of Miners’ Day, in Mjedë in the district of Shkodër

— Tanks and troops patrol the cities and populated centers — — A curfew rules everywhere — PRISHTINË, February 21. — The TANJUG news agency reported that, starting today, a curfew has been imposed in Kosovo. The Provincial Secretariat for Internal Affairs ordered people and vehicles to be banned from moving between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. The official statement recalls that the ban on public gatherings and demonstrations, declared a year ago when the state of emergency was imposed in Kosovo, remains in force. It also “warns” that all measures will be taken against those who violate these orders. The British news agency Reuters notes that the authorities imposed the curfew today after the army was ordered to suppress the protests by Albanians. The curfew, the agency emphasizes, was announced only a few hours after troops took up positions in Kosovo’s towns. TANJUG reported that armored units and other army units were deployed today in many residential centers. According to TANJUG reports, new protest demonstrations took place today in Vuçiternë, Podujevë, Gjakovë, Prishtinë, and elsewhere. Most of the province’s schools are not operating because Albanian pupils continue to boycott classes. Numerous strikes are also being held by workers at various enterprises. Work has stopped in all the Trepça mines, while the authorities announced that measures would be taken against the strikers at the Stari Tërg mine. Meanwhile, more detailed reports about yesterday’s demonstrations indicate that police used firearms in at least two towns: Mitrovicë and Ferizaj. One protester was killed by police bullets and about 20 others were wounded. Protests also took place in Gjilan, Istok, Vuçiternë, Kaçanik, Lipjan, and elsewhere. About 5,000 protesters gathered on the outskirts of Prishtinë, while military aircraft and helicopters flew low over the city. For the second day in a row, about 1,000 Albanian women took to the streets of Pejë, protesting against the brutality of the police forces deployed in the province. Because of the presence of this police, participants in the demonstration said, Albanians are no longer safe at home or at work and cannot move freely around the city. They also protested the mistreatment of women by units of the federal police. Protest demonstrations were also held in many Kosovo villages. Radio-Prishtina reports meanwhile that people continue to leave the ranks of the League of Communists of Kosovo in protest against the anti-Albanian policy being pursued in the province. These days, 41 members of the League of Communists at the “Montazha e Kosovës” enterprise also handed in their party cards. Teachers at the “Hivzi Sulejmani” school in Vllasticë also handed in their party cards to protest the situation that has arisen in Kosovo. (ATSH) A COMMON SIGHT ON THE STREETS OF KOSOVO

Yesterday, on the eve of Miners’ Day, the copper beneficiation plant was inaugurated in Mjedë in the district of Shkodër, an important project of the 8th Five-Year Plan. Workers who will operate the plant, geologists, miners, builders and installation workers, residents of villages in the Vau i Dejës area, and others gathered at a rally to take part in the celebration. Also present were Comrade Besnik Bekteshi, member of the Political Bureau of the Party’s Central Committee and Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy; Xhemal Dymylja, First Secretary of the District Party Committee; Bashkim Sykja, Chairman of the District People’s Council Executive Committee; and other comrades. On behalf of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, its Secretary-General Pajtim Bello delivered a greeting. He highlighted the great progress made over the Five-Year Plan periods in the discovery, extraction and processing of minerals, as well as the prospects opening up in this field this year and during the coming Five-Year Plan. In implementing the decisions of the 9th Plenum of the Party’s Central Committee and the instructions of Comrade Ramiz Alia, the collectives of geologists, miners, and mine and beneficiation-plant construction workers have increased their mobilization to fulfill the tasks of extracting minerals in the required quantities and quality; intensifying the search for and discovery of reserves of the main minerals and new ones; improving the technology of mining and mineral extraction, beneficiation and processing; and further increasing the degree of mechanization and automation of work processes. A telegram was sent to the Party’s Central Committee from the rally. (According to ATSH)

— Interview with the Minister of Internal Affairs, Comrade Simon Stefani, given to the editor of our newspaper — Question: Some foreign agencies, with malicious intent, periodically report that thousands of convicted people are held in prisons in our country. Sometimes they speak of 20,000 prisoners, sometimes 30,000, and even 40,000. What is the truth of the matter, Comrade Minister? Answer: This is not the first time that certain [claims] have circulated, deliberately put out through propaganda outlets, in an attempt—and continuing attempts—to distort the situation in Albania. This also includes the figures claiming that there is an extremely large number of convicted people in our country. The reality, however, is quite different. At present, there are only 3,850 prisoners in all the places of imprisonment and re-education throughout the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, convicted of crimes of various kinds, both ordinary and political. Of this number, those convicted for activities aimed at violently overthrowing the people’s power total 83 people. Meanwhile, there is not a single person convicted for activities that ...[?] Answer: Criminal punishment in Albania has a strongly educational character. It is imbued with lofty humanitarian aims. To achieve this purpose, the law clearly lays down the norms and rules that ensure convicts real opportunities to be re-educated and to become useful to society. Among other things, while serving their sentences, prisoners are granted leave to go home in the event of family bereavements; their sentences are reduced when they fulfill and exceed their work duties; and those who are granted amnesty, or who have achieved their goal of re...[?], are released early by decision of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. In our country, as a result of the stable political situation and economic stability, crime is continually declining. Question: Among these figures are also some that speak of the mistreatment of convicts in places where sentences are served. Could you tell us something about this matter? granted amnesty, or who have fulfilled their purpose, People’s Assembly. (Parts of the text are cut off at the edge of the photograph.) Question: Foreign propaganda also claims that there are supposedly several thousand convicted members of the Greek minority in Albania. Could you tell us, Comrade Minister, how many people from the minority are currently serving sentences? Answer: It is hardly necessary to stress that, in this regard too, the imagination of anti-Albanian propagandists runs unchecked. In our country, members of minorities enjoy all the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution. They are equal before the law with all Albanian citizens and are not discriminated against in any way. As for your question, the answer is this: the total number of minority members serving sentences is 35. Question: [partial text] ... Answer: Criminal punishment in Albania ...