-- Comrade Ramiz Alia met with a group of young people from secondary schools and universities -- The First Secretary of the Party’s Central Committee and Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, from secondary schools and universities in one of the halls of the Palace of Congresses in the capital. After warmly greeting the pupils and students, Comrade Ramiz Alia began: - At this meeting I would first like to hear from you about how the youth organization works at school. Do you have any ideas—And our common opinion was: why shouldn’t the youth organization itself decide on the right to study at higher education institutions? - Who better than the organization of young people? When I was at school too, Comrade Ramiz says, I knew all the boys and girls, I knew how much each one knew. And the conversation flows openly; the pupils and students freely express their views on school affairs, as well as on the difficulties they encounter. The issues were raised directly. A student must constantly read foreign literature. Are your needs in this regard being met? - We have rather limited access to literature, Comrade Ramiz, replies Mimoza Kondo, a student at the Faculty of Economics. - There should be no hesitation about this, says Comrade Ramiz. - It is essential that you read as much as possible. To improve the situation, you need to have the books. We have made libraries and lecture materials available to you for this purpose. - Mimoza Kondo, a student at the Faculty of Economics. - - During this period, this factory had achieved satisfactory results. And why? Simply because he was demanding and persistent in establishing work discipline. This accountability immediately bears fruit, because tasks are accomplished and workers’ incomes rise. - You have understood the Plenum very well, Comrade Ramiz tells him. - Sometimes, in the name of the line the Palace of Congresses in the capital. After they had warmly greeted the pupils and students, Comrade Ramiz Alia began: - you about how the youth organization works, especially now in connection with the decisions of the 9th Plenum of the Party’s Central Committee. As you can see and follow through the press, the decisions of this plenum are being discussed everywhere and have created an enthusiastic atmosphere everywhere. People are trying to put them into practice, fight bureaucratism and liberalism, and move things forward. State and government bodies are also working to translate the tasks arising from the plenum into concrete action in the field of the economy, and particularly to determine how to strengthen the economic independence of enterprises and make workers more interested in production results. The decisions of the 9th Plenum have, of course, also shed light on the work of youth organizations and stimulated the creative thinking of young people. I would like you to tell me about this. And so begins the cordial conversation between the leader and the young men and women at school. - We listened to the plenum and were enthused, Comrade Ramiz, says Rezarta Meçe, a pupil at the «Çajupi» secondary school. - We are the sons and daughters of those who fought the war and emerged victorious. Our parents are proud, and rightly so. But we, today’s youth, are proud too, even though we did not live through those years. We are proud because we are working to advance socialism, to which our present and future are closely linked. These days, in the youth organization, we have discussed the decisions of the plenums. Among other things, we have focused on gaining a better understanding of situations. And the boys and girls in the organization say: «We are all agitators for the Party’s word». - What ideas did the young people have about further democratizing life at school? Comrade Ramiz asks her. - They put forward several ideas. For example, among the teachers there are some who are incompetent. We can gather the youth organization and openly state our opinion, even if that means calling for someone to be removed from their post. - Certainly, says Comrade Ramiz, you can express your opinion, but wouldn’t it be better for one of these matters to be discussed together with the teaching staff? ... Comrade Ramiz, when we met him, I saw that they were dealing with... [?] Youth, so-[?] Who better than the organization can know the young people? When I was at school too, says Comrade Ramiz, much one knew and how much another on other problems of life in the country. - How do you conduct the political education session? Comrade Ramiz asks Ardian Paci, a student at the Higher Institute of Arts. - There is some formalism, Comrade Ramiz, he replies. - Our interests are broad. We read and study various books ourselves—literary, scientific and professional. Then it happens that during the political session we are read a short excerpt from some book. We have not agreed with this. Recently we discussed it in the organization too, and we will improve things. For example, the other day we held a discussion about a foreign painter who is well known around the world. We all liked that. - And what have you thought of doing to enliven the organization’s internal life? Comrade Ramiz asks. - To increase the role of every member of the organization, to express our opinions freely, including on issues concerning the proper conduct of the educational process. And here your word should have a place. I would mention in this connection the apathy that is sometimes observed in the educational process. My friends and I think that, when curricula are drawn up, schools should have more authority. The Ministry of Education should not monopolize this, but should remain closer to the schools and seek the opinions of teachers and students. We often discuss with our friends which lecture attracts us more, or which one we did not like, adds Mirela Thana, a student in the philosophy department. - There are teachers who bring in new information, and we follow them with interest. - Here in our country, says Comrade Ramiz, but also in the world, changes take place. There are issues that require explanations other than those given several years ago. They must be considered in keeping with the concrete conditions. - We have a music textbook, says a pupil from the «Jordan Misja» secondary arts school, and it still says «during these 35 years of our music», whereas 45 years have passed. - The youth organization, says Comrade Ramiz, must state its position more forcefully on revising textbooks too. These days I read an article in the newspaper «Studenti» about... ... why shouldn’t the youth organization - Mimoza Kondo, a student at the Faculty of Economics. - - while it is the teachers’ duty to explain things to you as well as they can. - I am a pupil at the «Ismail Qemali» general secondary school, says Ledia Papajorgji. - After reading the materials of the Plenum, we told ourselves: The Party expects us to express our opinions freely; the Party wants us to be cultured people with sound knowledge. - Every step forward, says Comrade Ramiz, requires new knowledge. The times demand an educated youth, capable and possessing firm political and ideological convictions. The Homeland tomorrow will be what its youth is today. Do you attend, Comrade Ramiz then asks, the open meetings of the Party’s basic organization? - At first, replies Ledia, only the secretary of the youth organization attended. But now many young men and women go, and they do not hesitate to speak up there too about issues concerning the proper conduct of studies. - I wanted to raise a concern of my friends, says Zamira Cici, a pupil at the pedagogical secondary school. - We have been deprived of the right to discuss in the youth organization whether to continue on to higher education. Why should we continue only through the lower cycle? For example, I have a friend who is very passionate about literature, and we also have many others who are capable in chemistry, physics or other subjects. Why shouldn’t they go on to the corresponding fields of study?! Among those taking part in this warm and lively meeting were students from the Faculty of Economics. They expressed views not only on the proper conduct of the educational process and on further enlivening life at school and in the youth organization, but also on the issues addressed by Committee, such as further deepening the line of the masses in the economy, from drawing up and implementing plans to improving management methods and economic mechanisms and expanding the powers of the grassroots. - These days I was struck by an article published in the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit», says Artan Tushana, a student at this faculty. - It was about democratizing relations in enterprises. At the flour factory in Lushnjë, after four months they dismissed him from his responsibilities, while during the years (Photo: P. Kumi - ATSH)

- From the writer’s notebook - People from Elbasan used to say that to get to Gramsh you had to cross forty bridges and travel 20–25 km over [?] in whatever vehicle you owned. The agent of the [?] courier, therefore, contrary to the economy, would have to pay for the food. People are already talking about—or the idea has been put forward for—a new road that will start from the Banja dam and run along the reservoir basin. In our imagination it is a comfortable tourist road, one of the most beautiful, capable of competing with stretches of the coastal road or Lake Ohrid. Let us hope it will be built that way. At a goat fold Xhemal Hoxholli and Bektash are sitting by the fence, passing the flock of [?] goats through the milking pen. Milk streams from the goats’ udders into the galvanized sheet-metal pails, raising white foam. Evening is slowly falling over the hills planted with hasëlle. Beyond, the Hota gorge looks mauve; on a mountain slope the electric lights of the [?] of Porocan can be seen. Xhemal Hoxholli came down from there sixteen years ago to work as a livestock herder with the goat flock of the Gramsh Agricultural Enterprise. - And what do you do in the village? I ask him. - I look after goats in the village too, he says, then adds with a laugh: - My father taught me this trade when I was in primary school. A comrade from the district interjects and explains that Xhemal’s father is an outstanding livestock herder and still tends the flock. - I remember my father’s words, says Xhemal: - A trade requires knowledge, and you have to devote all your strength to it; otherwise you’ll get nowhere. If you do it reluctantly, as if it were weighing you down, drop the rope and get going [?]. His dark-complexioned face has the kindness and openness of a simple man who devotes all his strength and heart to his work. His working day begins at five in the morning and ends late in the evening. Many days each week he sleeps at the fold and stays beside the flock for twenty-four hours. His flock consists of 120 head. Over the past three or four years Xhemal has achieved record milk production, obtaining each year (Continued on page 3) signs: «Caution! Danger point!» «Sharp bend», «Steep slope». With this road we lived and left Gramsh in time, instead of doing the opposite, but we will leave a shameful legacy to the generations to come, «condemning» them to this road

IN THE PROJECTS OF THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN FIFTH FIVE-YEAR PLAN PROJECTS Fifteen years ago, Bushtrica in Librazhd was often mentioned in press reports. There, a monument to the work of the youth was being erected: a gigantic bridge. It was then the highest and longest railway bridge, over which trains loaded with ore and passengers now pass. A few years later Bushtrica was mentioned again: a new iron-nickel deposit was discovered there and a new mine was opened. Six or seven years ago, construction also began on the conveyor belt, running beneath the feet of the gigantic bridge. The idea of building it was put forward to connect the deposits of the Bushtrica mine and the Skroska mine, one of the richest deposits in this area, and to improve internal transport in these mines. So far the conveyor belt has reached a length of 3.5 km, and all the ore from the Bushtrica mine’s gallery is brought out through it. The savings on transport are considerable. Meanwhile, the working conditions of the mi- (Continued on page 2)

The youth organization of the Gjirokastër district has good experience in organizing educational and recreational activities with [?] in the village of Jergucat in Upper Dropull. Every Saturday, themed afternoons are held, along with discussions of books, discussions of new books, sports matches, joint visits to historic sites, etc. The competition “The 9th Plenum and Our Tasks” and the discussion of Diana Çuli’s book “The Distant Voice” were followed with interest in recent days. Sports events, such as the chess championship, also featured prominently in that day’s activities. The cultural and artistic life after work has also been further enlivened by young people in other villages of the district, such as Picar, Mashkullorë and Vanistë. In the latter, a discussion was held with the writer Spiro Xhai about the novel “A Dropullite Chronicle,” accompanied by artistic programs presented by young people and Enver’s pioneers. (ATSH)

Yesterday the Albanian delegation headed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Muhamet Kapllani, returned to the Homeland. He took part in the meeting Yesterday the Albanian delegation headed by Muhamet Kapllani, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, returned to the Homeland. He had taken part in the meeting of Senior Officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Balkan States, held in Athens. (ATSH)