The main direction for democratizing the election mechanism in the country, as set out in the decisions of the Party’s recent plenums, was judged to be the more extensive screening of candidates for an elected position, which should not be confined to the discussion stage but should proceed further, all the way to voting. Encouraging a spirit of debate, as a necessary condition for the proper conduct of affairs, is also an expression of democratization. If discussion and debate should precede every problem that the times pose for solution, this is all the more necessary for the election of representatives or of leading cadres and various specialists. This can be achieved only when the masses are presented with not one but several candidates to choose from, with the final decision made at the ballot box. The election of candidates through the ballot box is a step of a distinctly democratic character, which will also have a powerful impact on improving the election mechanism. In this way, the effectiveness of elections will increase, eliminating certain formalities that had, to some extent, created a rift between the elected and the electorate. Fulfilling the requirements of the principles of electoral rights and scrupulously applying the procedure are important conditions through which one of the main avenues for the masses’ participation in governing the country is realized. Let us suppose for a moment that the electorate decides to go to the polls in some constituencies with only one candidate for each seat. In this way, the screening of candidates would be confined to the discussion stage. Consequently, the voting stage would become a kind of ratification of what had been decided by open vote during the discussion stage. For these reasons, the presentation of several candidates must continue through to the vote, from which the candidate who wins a majority of votes will emerge as the elected representative. Another important aspect of the institution of elections is the right of every voter to vote. The Constitution guarantees citizens the right to be elected or to elect at any time, without any restriction or privilege. Nevertheless, setting a maximum of two to three terms for the election of deputies and councillors, and stipulating that one third of the membership of representative bodies be renewed in each term, is a restriction of a democratic character, because its aim, as comrade Ramiz Alia emphasized at the 9th Plenum, is to make way for young, energetic and knowledgeable people to assume responsibility and take their place in elected bodies. The election or re-election of a person will be determined both by their work and activity and by whether that activity serves the interests of society in general, or of the group of individuals who elected them in particular. However, if candidates are selected by pre-electoral bodies and organizations, and the electorate has no choice but to vote for the sole candidate presented to it, then the role of the vote itself during elections is different: the election commission, in order to get the work done as quickly as possible, did not require the secrecy of the ballot to be respected. Yet the secrecy of the ballot is not a right but a principle. In this sense, it is not up to voters to apply it or not. On the contrary, the voter is obliged to uphold this principle, and the election commissions must play the leading role in this regard. Nevertheless, presenting several candidates at polling stations makes this important principle applicable in and of itself. It is true that people openly express their opinions on every issue, as well as on the candidates proposed during the election discussion stage. This was particularly evident in the elections for people’s councillors. But that does not mean that every individual can express their opinion openly. Therefore, the principle of ballot secrecy gives citizens every opportunity to express their will freely. The election mechanism was extended not only to the formation of representative bodies, but also to the selection of leading cadres and various specialists in state and social bodies and organizations. Naturally, the broader, active participation of the masses and collectives in electing leading cadres, specialists and bodies requires that appropriate, legally well-considered procedures be drawn up for all elections, based on the principles governing elections. This is essential, because otherwise conditions are created for diminishing the role of the masses, and opportunities are left open for actions driven by personal, subjective and bureaucratic interests. Therefore, improving the election mechanism in general, as well as the relevant procedures for electing cadres and specialists, is of particular importance, since it is linked both to the active role of the masses and to the activity of elected bodies. KRENAR LOLOÇI Lecturer at the Faculty of Political and Legal Sciences of UT «Enver Hoxha» ...and the faithful implementation of main forms of the masses’ participation in governing the country is achieved. For a moment, let us suppose some electoral districts with one candidate for a seat, and in other districts with two or more. At first glance, there is nothing wrong with this. The masses themselves decide on such a matter. But in reality, the principles of electoral law have been infringed: the principle of equality and that of direct elections, since the stages of the election procedure have not been followed. The absence of two or more candidates in all electoral districts would not only differentiate those districts, but, on the other hand, the voting stage in districts with a single candidate would become a formality. This is what happened, for example, in the selection of candidates for council members. In these elections, a good response was achieved in presenting and considering several candidates, but their final selection did not take place at the voting stage, as the procedure requires (an essential requirement). ...in general, or by the body of individuals who elected him in particular. However, if the selection of candidates is made it, then its role and actions during the elections are diminished, while the election procedure and its principles become a formality. It is precisely to avoid these tendencies that the decisions of the latest plenums shift the question of elections away from these bodies and organizations and place it in the hands of the working masses themselves, through the presentation of two or more candidates not only at the discussion stage but also at the voting stage. The new electoral mechanism also contributes to fully implementing the principle of secrecy in elections. Until now, only one candidate has been presented at the voting stage. This made it almost impossible for voters to justify entering the secret booth, not to mention that in some cases no secret booth was prepared at all, or in some...

OUR INTERVIEW — Interview with comrade Fadil Smajli, Director of Postal Services at the General Directorate of PTT, by editor Musa Ulqini — — Starting July 1, 1990, an Express Mail Service (EMS) will be organized in Tirana for the first time, initially with France, Turkey and the FRG. EMS items are accepted at the central PTT office in Tirana. (From the announcement of the General Directorate of PTT.) — Comrade Fadil, I believe readers would be interested to learn a little more about the Express Mail Service (EMS) in the world. What does this service represent today? — This year, postal services around the world are celebrating the 600th anniversary of their birth. The year 1490 is recognized as the year these services began. The postal service is regarded as one of the most notable reforms of the European Renaissance and represents the oldest of the PTT services. Over this period, postal services have developed rapidly throughout the world. Alongside traditional postal services, development needs gave rise to express postal services, intended to serve users as quickly as possible. Along with broadening the range of postal services, measures were also taken to mechanize and automate them. The time between accepting and delivering postal items is continually being reduced. The EMS service emerged in competition with private airline companies, which around 1970–75 began undertaking the delivery of postal items from sender to recipient, doing the job in a very short time. This service first emerged in England. It then spread very rapidly throughout the world and was greatly strengthened and modernized by postal administrations. The EMS service has been organized in many countries around the world. To provide this service, postal administrations, in cooperation with state-owned airlines, have used the fastest means of transport, among which special aircraft have an important place. For example, thanks to this service, an EMS item reaches its recipient from the sender within 48 hours, regardless of distance. This is the maximum time. The EMS service has made it possible to send various goods and documents that are needed much more quickly than through ordinary postal services. Although this special service costs more than ordinary mail, the number of users is steadily increasing throughout the world. In our country too, the state postal service is among the oldest PTT services. This year it marks 78 years since its establishment. Over these years, especially since Liberation, postal services have developed and expanded considerably. (Continued on page 2)

— TROPOJË — The workforce of the Tropojë Forestry Enterprise fulfilled and exceeded its six-month targets on schedule: afforestation, 210 percent; forest improvement and mountain land development, 101 and 105 percent; exports, 217 percent in collection and 116 percent in delivery. Among medicinal plants, by gathering Alicë flowers alone, against a plan of one ton, they achieved two tons. In auxiliary activities, without having a plan for it, this enterprise delivered 25 quintals of meat from its small-livestock herds. The Central, Tropojë, Pac and Dragobi sectors stood out in particular. “Besides these indicators,” says Zef Imeri, director of this enterprise, “we have also paid attention to beekeeping. During his visit to the Tropojë district in October last year, and at meetings with the cooperativists of the Pac area, comrade Ramiz Alia, among other things, instructed us to increase the number of bees. Thus, last year we had more than 250 beehives; by the end of the year we had reached 520. We set ourselves the task of giving this issue priority. So, in this six-month period, we added another 420 beehives. Thanks to the dedication of the beekeepers Hamit Madani and Zeq Dauti, today we have 960 beehives. We are doing this to help the agricultural cooperatives of the district. But there is room for improvement: the agricultural cooperatives are not paying enough attention to increasing the number of bees, particularly in the Bytyç area. So far, these farms have not collected a single beehive from our enterprise. The income it brings is well known, with little effort and very few hours of work.” HYSNI PRENGZI

— The Vlora painter Petrit Ceno is awarded the silver cup by the Italian league in Kampanjarino, in the region of Molise — Before the enthusiasm of art lovers in Vlora and Tirana for a solo exhibition by the painter Petrit Ceno had even died down, it was requested by the Arbëreshë of Italy. This happened several years ago. A powerful, undying reason: love of the homeland. Then, in Rome, visitors and people of the arts appreciated his distinctive painting technique. “Something magical, a dream...,” they said. But it was the dream of the exiled Albanians, a dream ...prompted this request. The exhibition consisted entirely of a series of paintings inspired by the famous poem “The Songs of Milosao” by the great Arbëresh, Jeronim De Rada. It was first exhibited in San Demetre Korona. It was very well received. In conversations with the painter and in the press, the Arbëresh expressed in strong terms their pride in the glorious history of their nation and their fervent longing, a call for the unification of Albanians as in the glorious days of Skënderbeu, so as to free themselves once and for all from the Turkish invaders. “I felt that I had succeeded in making De Rada’s wish—the idea of the greatest sacrifice for the freedom of the homeland—concrete and relevant to people,” the artist says. Pej-

Yesterday morning in Tirana, the expanded meeting of the Assembly of Sciences held its proceedings to determine the main directions of scientific work in the institutions of this system during the coming five-year period. Besides the members of the Academy, those present included members of its sections, directors of Academy institutes and higher schools, other research and design institutes, heads of scientific departments in ministries, officials from the apparatuses of the Party Central Committee and the Council of Ministers, and Party bodies from the district and Region No. 1. The meeting was opened by the scientific secretary of the Academy of Sciences, Prof. Luan Omari. The report, “The Main Directions for the Development of Scientific Work in the Institutions of the Academy of Sciences during the 1991–1996 Five-Year Period,” was delivered by the deputy secretary of the Academy of Sciences, Prof. Hekuran Mara. “The issues to be raised at today’s meeting,” he said, among other things, “are of particular importance because they are being considered in the spirit of the decisions of the 9th and 10th plenums of the Party Central Committee and the instructions of comrade Ramiz Alia. It is a moral and social obligation, a matter of honor and a foremost state duty,” the speaker continued, “for science to make its important contribution to putting into practice the new tasks set by the Party for further deepening the democratization of the country’s life.” “The field of science cannot tolerate a spirit of authoritarianism, bureaucratism or technocratism, or the imposition of opinions,” he stressed. “Therefore, the examination and critical re-examination of facts and concepts confronting our science, both at home and abroad, the unrestrained development of debate and criticism, and the struggle against mediocrity are indispensable conditions for it to fulfill its mission properly.” Turning to research activity in general, as well as to the group of individuals who elected him in particular, he said that: (Continued on page 2) ...put of science cannot be reconciled with the spirit of authoritarianism, bureaucratism or technocratism, or with the imposition of opinions, he stressed. Therefore, critical examination and re-examination of the facts and concepts with which our science is confronted, at home and abroad, the unreserved are indispensable conditions for it to fulfil well as to the body of individuals who elected him in particular, he said:

Even by strolling along the only promenade in the small working-class town of Fushë-Arrëz, you can become “well known” in a short time. There, regulars, singers, innovators and avid readers quickly become known, as do those who drink coffee and those who do not drink it without “mirkonxion.” People are different, but they also have things in common. It seems surprising that you came to know only recently one of this town’s residents, an electrical engineer passionate about his profession, books and work, and head of the electrical installation department. But it may seem even more surprising when you are told that he never sets foot in a café and never puts any kind of drink to his lips. “Well, he must be a withdrawn person, a bookish type,” you might say. But, ironically, just as you are talking about Haki Mustafa, he approaches with a group of comrades. He greets you, smiles and speaks with composure and openness, inviting you with dignity: “We’ve gathered tonight and will enjoy ourselves together, because we’ve completed a difficult job in the Tuç area.” He has joined his comrades for dinner. He keeps the conversation going in his calm yet decisive manner. He listens. He jokes. He clinks glasses. You might think Haki is “a bookish type.” But his glass never goes down: “You can’t drink even water unless you enjoy it,” he says, adding warmth to the good feeling shared with his comrades. As you spend the evening with them, you sense how relaxed he is among his comrades, even though he does not drink a glass with them. Some things passed off as popular wisdom are not always true. People are not brought together in conversation by cigarettes or drink. Other things bring them together. You have entered the workers’ rooms at the Fushë-Arrëz power station. You have never seen such order anywhere. Nor such comfort. Without listing everything, you can round off the inventory with the telephone in every room. Nothing has been removed by anyone; things have only been added. The rooms and the plumbing and sanitary installations are better than pharmacies. Everything is in perfect order. “We have a television here, too. When we go to the areas to repair power lines or do other jobs, we take it with us. We watch the news,” — (Continued on page 2)

The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia, sends this congratulatory telegram to the Governor General of Canada, Zhane Sové: “... your national holiday gives me the opportunity, on behalf of the Albanian people and in my own name, to send you warm greetings and my best wishes for the well-being and prosperity of the Canadian people.” (ATSH)

Yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Reis Malile, received the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), Gerald Hinteregger. During the meeting, they discussed several developments in the current international situation, focusing on economic issues and the growing role of the UN. Comrade Reis Malile expressed interest in Albania’s active participation in the activities of the Economic Commission for Europe and in other bodies of the UN system. Also present was the chargé d’affaires of the PSR of Albania to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Alfred Papuçiu. (ATSH)

In the district of Vlora, the new Vjosë-Selenicë-Llakatund irrigation canal was put into operation, the first phase of a major agricultural project being built in this district. On this occasion, a ceremony to inaugurate the canal was held yesterday in the village of Picar, at the Llakatund agricultural enterprise. It was attended by members of cooperatives and workers from the state agricultural enterprises in the Topallti area, workers from the mining town of Selenicë and from Vlora, deputies and council members, builders, specialists from the Institute for the Design of Hydraulic Works, young men and women, and Enver’s pioneers. Also present was the member of the Political Bureau of the Party’s Central Committee, the deputy chairman of the Kë- (Continued on page 2)

(Photo: N. Xhufka)