AN EXAMPLE THAT INSPIRES For years, the Fier district has often been criticized for its livestock farming. The failure to secure livestock numbers, the extremely low yields from cows, low fertility as well, major deficits in milk production, and marked technical and organizational shortcomings, among other things, were the distinguishing characteristics of this district in the past, placing Fier among the most backward districts in the country. But 1990 has begun with a completely different picture and, if comparisons are now made with others, there is no doubt that Fier will help lead the way in meeting the targets for milk production, with a convincing basis for fulfilling this year’s plan. To make the turning point in livestock farming clearer, we think it appropriate to provide some comparative figures. So far, the Fier district has exceeded its corresponding plan by [text unclear/cut off]. Those whose concepts and attitudes were restrictive had been hindering the progress of this sector at the planned pace. Above all, the Party and state organs in the district emphasized changing the working method, giving livestock farming the place it deserves. This situation could certainly not be overcome so easily; it was the result of several years of work, beginning with the brigade and sector, continuing through the enterprise, and reaching the district. The feed base was one of the weakest links, and without improving it the livestock sector could not fully get going. Last year, about 100,000 tons of corn-ear silage were prepared in the Fier district, or 46,000 tons more than the year before. This is why the agricultural enterprises and most cooperatives have secured the livestock supply of this feed component through May. To… [text cut off at the bottom edge] …ensure normal feeding for livestock. Corn-ear silage, August clover and cabbage are present at every livestock complex. This combination of feed, together with concentrate and dry hay, has made it possible to produce 50 quintals more milk every day than planned. There have been significant changes in improving cattle breeds. Three years ago, more organized work began on herd replacement. During this period, more than 11,000 heifers were secured and moved into the cow category. As a result of this work, the structure of the cow herd and its average age improved considerably; the average age is now under 7 years, compared with over 8 years some years ago. Assessing the changes made as important measures for meeting this year’s targets, as well as those for next year, one can reach the conclusion as to which… [text cut off at the bottom edge] To make the change in livestock farming clearer, we think it useful to provide some comparative figures. So far, the district of Fier has delivered 6,000 quintals of milk above the period’s plan and 10,000 quintals more than in the same period last year, or nearly 25 percent of the increase in milk production nationwide. Also noteworthy this year is the fact that all agricultural enterprises are steadily meeting their planned milk-production targets, while the cows’ daily yield is on average 30 percent higher than last year. To get this far, many analyses have been carried out, the areas of work have been determined, and measures have even been taken against the people concerned. Nationwide, the district of Fier has accounted for, or nearly accounted for, have even been taken against the people concerned. of Fier has accounted for, or nearly accounted for, 25 percent of the increase in milk production nationwide. In the period we are going through, in most enterprises there is ...

This year, 3,200 apartments will be built for employees in the Tirana district. The collective of the housing construction enterprise, which has fulfilled its targets for this period, is working to build 850 apartments, against the 800 planned. It has completed 72 apartments in the city of Tirana and will hand over another 16 in the city of Vora in the coming days. Last month, in the Laprakë neighborhood, builders from this enterprise began constructing a new block of 600 apartments. Assigning the work on a contract basis has helped the construction and assembly brigades speed up the work. Thus, alongside the faster installation of cranes, the foundations were laid and the assembly of prefabricated elements began. The commitment is to hand over 48 apartments planned for the third month in June, and another 350 on 16 October, reducing the time needed to assemble the prefabricated elements by 15 days. (Photo: N. Xhufka) (According to ATSH)

Various vehicles with capacities from 1 to 7 tons have been made available to enterprises, agricultural cooperatives, institutions, etc., according to urgent production needs, mainly for the supply of technical materials, especially goods and materials that are not bulky. These vehicles have been issued circulation permits by the approved ministerial sector and the inspection directorates of the Ministry of Transport, allowing them to travel parallel to the railway and thus go from one district to another. For this reason, the ministry plans the quantity of fuel to be used during the year and the other funds needed for maintenance. However, a circulation permit is valid when accompanied by a tollon, as the permits for trucks to travel are called. This permit is issued by each vehicle-use [department/office; source unclear], which has a criterion for restricting the movement of these vehicles. Thus, last year 12 were issued for each vehicle per month, meaning that a vehicle had the right to travel only four times during the month, while 20 were issued for this quarter. We think that issuing a travel permit, or tollon, is a measure that does not serve production. Many enterprises have found themselves facing suspended production due to a lack of materials. Why? Because the lack of a tollon—that is, the authorization for the vehicle to leave the district—has obstructed the work. The question arises: when these vehicles have been approved by the ministry and judged necessary for the supply of technical materials at any time, perhaps even on the very day the need arises, why should work be wasted and unnecessary expenses incurred to produce these tollons, in addition to the time spent by inspectors, who have to sign, stamp and register them for each enterprise? Add to this the other steps, since in every enterprise the [unclear: “tullari”] also has to sign, etc., etc.; the result is that the work is put off until the next day. Removing these tollons from circulation does not mean that vehicles—or their capacity—will not be properly utilized. This can instead be achieved through inspections by dispatching and receiving agencies, which can verify the type of cargo, etc. Road traffic enforcement should also contribute positively in this regard. That is why vehicle travel permits are an unnecessary link in the chain.

From the workers’ quarter YOUNG PEOPLE FACED WITH THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE — A report from Vlora — Perhaps more than any other city, Vlora, with the sea and citrus groves all around it, reminds you that spring has now arrived. The movement of people along the broad streets, in front of Flag Square, or their ever-easy climb up the hill of Kuz-Babai reinforces that feeling somewhat. The pride of the people of Vlora (“Beautiful Vlora in a hollow, the first port in Europe”) seems more justified here, in their own place, than anywhere… “A hollow in your chest?,” Tatjana, the young mechanical engineer at the wood-processing enterprise, tells us with a laugh. “Well, the people of Vlora have a historical right to beat their chests.” Then she adds, seriously: “But our minds call for work, not oaths and words, but work, lots of work from everyone.” People who have made a name for themselves Together with Shkodër, Vlora has the right to be called one of the oldest cities of the theatre movement in Albania. Despite this long tradition, Vlora’s professional theatre has for some time been among the most backward… At last year’s national olympiad, the Vlora theatre had the fewest spectators and received the least enthusiastic comments from critics and specialists… Vlora is not short of talented actors (Albert Veria, Bujar Asqeriu) and directors who studied abroad (J. Tushe, V. Balla), or of other younger directors, passionate and full of creative imagination (I. Simoni). Nevertheless, the fact remains: Vlora’s professional theatre still has little prestige. The reason? At the theatre’s latest meeting, People’s Artist Albert Verria was chosen in place of the former director. People trust his professional abilities, personality and good name. And a leader who, instead of being called by the formal title “director,” is addressed by his own name because he has worked to become known offers an additional assurance that things will move forward. Naturally, the example of the Vlora theatre is only a tiny part of the broader discussion on the decisions of the 9th Plenum of the Party’s Central Committee. … The director of the [unclear: ku-Iotavë] enterprise, Gjikë Baka, appeared in person before the district executive committee. “I can’t be a director,” he said! “Believe me, there are plenty of younger, more energetic and more knowledgeable people than I am, who will know how to lead better.” And Gjikë Baka returned to his former profession, that of forestry engineer. “I’d missed my profession,” he told us confidentially, as if I were a friend he had not seen for a long time… “I’d spent years with my mind filled with my profession as a manager. Do you understand how far I’d gone?” But there are also cases opposite to that of Gjikë Baka. At the Vlora SMT, in the turning workshop, the workers are insistently demanding that the foreman be dismissed. The collective has proposed several times that he be removed, yet he has still not been dismissed. The collective wants him dismissed as an incompetent person… But someone in the management apparently has a special “affection” for the foreman. And so his dismissal is not so easy… It is interesting to see how persistently the incompetent cling to their positions. They seem to think that being a manager is part of their own body, just like their face, leg or arm. For years, a man without the relevant education managed the Trade Park. Naturally, things went from bad to worse. When the collective decided to replace him with a young engineer who had everyone’s support, the director who was removed said: — “All right, I’ve been removed, but how will the enterprise get along from now on?…” Sometimes bureaucratic ideas about managers infiltrate the Party’s primary organizations as well. This is what happened in the village of Velo, where the Party’s primary organization proposed as cooperative chairman the head of a sector, a man who did not enjoy the people’s respect. The people did not approve the proposal… “He has no name of his own,” people said in their discussions… “He has only ever been a sector head, and hardly anyone knew his name!”… He does not have the personality of a working person!… In Dhërmi, the cooperative chairman was removed solely because the cooperative had failed to achieve good results. Some said: “What a pity! He’s a good man; he never says no to anyone! It’ll be hard to find a better chairman!... But when a chairman was elected…” (Continued on page 3)

THESE DAYS IN DURRËS In the village of Gjuricaj, near the bank of the Ishëm River, on a hill, an archaeological site damaged by [text unclear] was investigated by archaeologist Halil Myrto, who discovered a new basilica, following the one discovered some time ago in Arapaj. It is 47 m long and 20 m wide, with walls reaching a height of up to 1.5 m. The monument was decorated with marble columns, marble capitals, an iconostasis slab and mosaic, as well as other details of decorative marble sculpture. Fragments of mosaic and fresco were also found. According to the information available, this basilica dates to the beginning of the 6th century AD. Architecturally, a new feature revealed by the discovery is a dome, indicating a roof with a dome at its center. Of archaeological interest is the fact that, after the monument suffered a collapse toward the end of the 6th century, a small chapel (church) was adapted within its ground plan. It was in use in the Early Middle Ages, about which little is known. This fact, together with other materials from the layer, such as weapons, coins and jewelry, shows that human activity there continued during the Early Middle Ages. Thus, the settlement did not disappear; rather, the population preserved its autochthonous tradition. Work is continuing.

During his stay in Bulgaria, Foreign Minister Reis Malile visited the beautiful coastal city of Varna yesterday. He visited the “Biotek” food-products enterprise as well as the city’s cultural center, where he learned about achievements in production and culture. At meetings with various workers, feelings of friendship toward Albania and the Albanian people were once again expressed, as was the shared desire for exchanges, contacts and the sharing of experience in these fields. In honor of Foreign Minister Reis Malile, Atanas Atanasov, first deputy chairman of the city council, hosted a reception at “Koshara,” a venue characteristic of Varna. A city folk-arts group presented a rich program of folk songs and dances on the occasion. Last night in Sofia, Albania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Reis Malile, in the presence of Bulgarian and Albanian journalists, answered their questions about the situation in the Balkans, and particularly in Kosovo. He said that where conditions are handled with wisdom, tolerance and justice, the situation is calm and life proceeds normally. The opposite happens when an incorrect policy is pursued. This is specifically the case in Kosovo, which has for a long time remained in a situation of constant tension. Inter-ethnic conflicts in Yugoslavia are a direct consequence of the actions of those chauvinist circles that want to establish hegemony over other nations and nationalities. The situation in Kosovo has recently worsened further, and violence and terror against the Albanian population have escalated even more. There are now open calls for the expulsion of settlers to the South, as well as for the mass expulsion of Albanians from their ancestral lands. Such actions carry great dangers. World public opinion, including the parliaments and governments of a number of European states, has expressed its concern and condemned the use of force in Kosovo. Attempts to place responsibility for events in Kosovo on others outside Yugoslavia, or efforts to invent nonexistent problems with others, are misguided. They do nothing to improve the situation. The right path would be democratic dialogue with the Albanians and calm, unbiased talks. Albania is interested in peace and stability in Kosovo and throughout Yugoslavia, and in living alongside it in good-neighborly relations. Finally, he stressed that, through joint efforts, the countries and peoples of the Balkans should work and contribute toward overcoming disagreements and obstacles for the benefit of peace, security and understanding.

ONE OF THE DAY’S INTERNATIONAL EVENTS In recent days, the Chilean people celebrated the official end of the more than 16-year rule of Pinocet’s military dictatorship. In place of Chile’s “all-powerful caudillo,” President Patrisio Alvin came to power; he won the majority of votes cast by the Chilean people in the December elections. More than the result of the vote, Pinocet’s and his military junta’s departure from power was the fruit of 16 years of opposition, revolt and anti-dictatorial struggle by the Chilean people. As such, it represents an important step toward the democratization of Chile. The official ceremonies marking the dishonorable end of Pinocet’s dictatorship were highly significant. His final speech as the self-appointed head of state was met with whistles and the Chilean deputies’ forceful shouts: “Murderer! Murderer!” As the “caudillo” was leaving the presidential palace, “La Moneda,” he was pelted with tomatoes and rotten eggs and heard the cry, “Never again dictatorship!...” Outside, at the mass rally of 11 September 1973, he and the fascist forces entered with tanks and drowned democracy in blood, hanging Salvador Allende, the president elected by the Chilean people. Such ceremonies are highly significant. There can be no other end for a criminal who pursues a policy of terror, addressing the people in the language of bullets and using state terror against the masses who demand freedom and human rights. Chile’s dictatorship and Pinocet’s figure were so deeply stained on the international scene. Even Italy’s prime minister, Khulio Andreoti; Spain’s prime minister, Felippe Gonzales; and other statesmen who attended the ceremony marking President Alvin’s accession to power refused to meet him. In these days of celebration for the friendly Chilean people, the Albanian people and socialist Albania share in their joy; they were the first to raise their voices and strongly condemn the tragedy of the coup and its perpetrators. Today they send the friendly Chilean people their best wishes for the realization of their aspirations to democratize life in their country, and for the martyrs of this violated country to be [text unclear] so that the lives of our two countries may develop without interruption in the future.