About a month has passed since Comrade Ramiz Alia delivered an important speech at the meeting of the General Council of the Democratic Front. Everywhere, a healthy atmosphere of work and civic mobilization has taken shape, to move resolutely along the path of the comprehensive development of our society and the implementation of the decisions of the Party Central Committee plenums. How many times have we heard people say: “What is it that the Front should discuss competently? What is the Front’s opinion?” Why does this happen? Because it is precisely here that responsible patriotic education takes place; here, some of the most important issues are raised and discussed responsibly; here, popular democracy is cultivated. And we look with pleasure at our fathers and mothers at the meetings of this great social organization, just as they are, gray-haired and furrow-browed. There is intense life in them, and therefore the Front, drawing on ancient and recent tradition and embracing a pluralist breadth of social strata and individuals, has become beloved. There are knots that activists resolve themselves, but there are also knots they bring up for discussion in the organization, because it is not an amorphous organization, but a living one; it is not an assembly gnawed by quarrels, but an organization full of political dynamism and democratic communication, inspiring people always to place themselves in the service of socialism, freedom and national independence. There are also organizations for drinking water and cultural amenities, the employment of available manpower, etc. The Front organization has never been, nor can it be, merely about holding a meeting, “just to be able to say we did it,” for propaganda effect; it is about work, indeed, major work. It must not allow itself to be indifferent to anything—to gossip, or to all those who want to throw stones into the process of revolutionizing life and unity. The idea that unity can be strengthened through formulas, through passionate calls for patriotism, or by repeating directives and guidelines that are often taken for granted, is extremely primitive. No Party organization has the right to dictate to the Front. The opportunism of someone who holds both Party and state functions (elected here or appointed there) is open to criticism. As an individual or as a forum, you may have specific duties concerning a political, economic, cultural or social issue, but that does not mean you should assume paternalistic responsibilities for the Front organization as well. In this regard, perhaps the question should also be considered of some leaders of Front organizations at district level, who have been given a responsibility greater than the one they had before and now regard it as a burdensome chore: “I’ll do what I have to until I retire.” The Party has said, and now emphasizes, that we must not confuse unity with unanimity. One person’s opinion need not be the opinion of the majority, or vice versa. [text continues beyond the image boundary] At the same time, neither need it be the opinion of someone else. People are not cut from the same cloth. But, in all honesty, we must acknowledge that opposing opinions and votes have sometimes been politicized and judged malicious. To cover up differing opinions with applause or political interpretations means proceeding with the sleepy, outdated mindset of some. For example, there are many opinions about the new economic mechanism; a pluralist approach can be observed to the paths for achieving the desired objective, as well as the achievement of a logical consensus and a conscious mobilization to put the decisions into practice. Yet there are also disagreements, and in some cases distrust. The task at hand is to draw these opinions in ever more effectively. The warmer we make this atmosphere of honesty, this democratic culture, at a meeting of the Front organization, a collective meeting, a scientific council, or a meeting of any body, the more unity will be tempered and strengthened. The broad mass of the people has supported and been inspired by Comrade Ramiz’s words Front, just as it has strongly supported the important and vital decisions of the Party Central Committee’s most recent plenums. But there are also those who feign surprise and say: “What can the Front organization do? What does it mean that we should no longer be a lever and a mere transmitter?” These peo- that it is not an assembly eaten away democratic communication that inspires freedom and national independence. But there are also Front organizations and corresponding district-level councils that have little to say for themselves. And as a result they remain silent, meet formally and sometimes “get on with it when a comrade from the committee comes.” It does not help Front members when someone gathers them to teach them something they have already seen and heard on the radio and television. Therefore, organizers too, when they meet and speak in order to hold an “assembly,” have a duty to show political insight and professional ability, casting aside templates in their interpretation and starting from the facts suggested by life. At today's stage, only real problems capture everyone's attention. In such cases, a meeting of the Front organization must truly be a platform for the voice of the masses. This, of course, does not mean that this voice must necessarily be in unison, Comrade Ramiz Alia said. “If there were only one voice, then there would be no need for the Front at all. The Front exists to hear different voices...” In this sense, unity is not mechanical: “tell me, do it,” “the Party has spoken and there is no need for discussion.” Unity comes through debate, criticism, self-criticism, and the confrontation of ideas and opinions: how to make the block and the neighborhood thrive, how to make the enterprise a vanguard, how to overcome difficulties, how and why to make changes, how to increase and strengthen young people's love for the Homeland. By discussing with a sense of responsibility for oneself and others, solutions will also emerge, for the [unclear], for ensuring [unclear] of work in offices or beyond them, in plants and factories; what society itself brings to light, what comes to their attention and stigmatizes the necessity of a [unclear] time, stigmatizes the necessity of a connection, thieves, those who are acting deceitfully toward this people, toward this freedom won with blood. It is for the Front organizations to make a special contribution also to strengthening and democratizing the government. It is true that elected cadres are devoted people, bearers of the people's interests, justice and democracy, but there are also not infrequently some who are incapable, weighed down by age and inclined toward personal comfort, and in some cases even compromised. Therefore, the people's oversight has no reason to remain silent, but must act; it must criticize and assist them, but when the general interest demands it, they themselves should resign or be recalled and dismissed. The people's oversight of its representatives is, and must be, strong. And when it is seen that a cadre at any level has become known as someone who should work somewhere else, the notion of “wait and see” harms the work and harms the economy. Today, more than ever, national unity is needed, that unity in the face of which all those who have not wished Albania well have been routed. For our people, unity is vital. As such, it is cultivated and strengthened through knowledge, culture, determination, and a feeling of love and mutual respect. And there is no doubt that members of the Democratic Front organization, the organization of great unity, regardless of class, age, sex or education, will join forces even more in every sphere of life. Constructive work, genuine patriotism, vigilance, and love for the Party of Labor and for the beloved leader of our Party and our people, Comrade Ramiz Alia, will stand out even more. work in plants harms the work and harms the economy.

The events of the evening of July 2 in Tirana have aroused the deep indignation and justified anger of our public. The events of the evening of July 2 in Tirana have aroused the deep indignation and justified anger of our public, which is working with perseverance and enthusiasm to implement the decisions of the recent plenums of the Party Central Committee and the instructions of Comrade Ramiz Alia. Everywhere, the working masses have condemned with indignation and anger such actions, which affect the interests of our people, seek to tarnish the respect enjoyed by the PPS of Albania in the international arena, and harm our country’s friendly relations with other states. On this occasion, many workers’ collectives have sent letters to the Party Central Committee, expressing their steel-solid unity around the Party, with Comrade Ramiz Alia at its head, and their unwavering determination always to move forward along the road of socialism.

Yesterday I met almost all the boys in my apartment building. Almost none of them smiled at me as usual. What could I say to them? I wanted to talk with them about the actions of some hooligans 300–400 meters from our building, but the words seemed unnecessary. They, too, had experienced the previous night’s events with an inward anger; they were indignant, just like you and me, dear reader. What did they tell me? Kelmendi, who finished high school this year: “People without scruples like these want no law or rule to apply in our society. The decree is as clear as daylight: anyone can travel abroad freely with a passport. Their concern is not that they fail to understand the law correctly; they want to muddy the waters, damage friendly relations with other states and peoples, and harm Albania’s good and honored name. I am convinced that, like parasites and [uruguajë], they could earn their bread for themselves nowhere.” Andi, a student: “A child is a mirror of their parent. I learned this saying, like everyone, when I was little. Don’t you think some parents bear a heavy responsibility when they spoil their children and twist their character, and then are surprised when these bad people put the knife to the bread they eat, to their family and their homeland?” For many years, 15 families have lived together in apartment building 61/9 on “Naim Frashëri” Street, here in the capital. When our building was put up, many of these young people, whom we call “our boys,” were just a handspan tall. Today, some of them, like Eduardi, have graduated from university and work as an economist in Burrel; others, like Arbeni and Andi, are attending higher education; some are high-school students, while Drini started work a few months ago in a repair shop. In any case, in the afternoons our building buzzes with their voices. I see the boys from the building in the evenings too, when they discuss sports and every other topic of the day. What mature judgments they make, how thoughtfully they speak! Then they hurry inside, one to continue an unsolved trigonometry problem, another to prepare for the next day’s exam. From their parents’ example they see that life is a struggle, and that one must persevere in it every day. Yesterday the boys in our building were worried, just like us adults. Drini put it well: “Some hooligans want to attack what is most sacred to us—the freedom of our Homeland and our lives. As always, we tell our enemies: we will never allow you to!” KASTRIOT KRUJA

“At the textile combine,” Party Committee secretary Perlat Muçaj tells us, “many workers spoke up. First and foremost, they called for everyone to make every effort, and for all workers to take concrete action to implement the decisions of the 9th and 10th Plenums of the Party Central Committee; everyone had to begin with themselves.” “At the textile combine,” Party Committee secretary Perlat Muçaj tells us, “many workers spoke up. First and foremost, they called for everyone to make every effort, and for all workers to take concrete action to implement the decisions of the 9th and 10th Plenums of the Party Central Committee; everyone had to begin with themselves. They said this is a demand of the day for every worker, but it is also a demand that time places forcefully before every communist and cadre, whatever their duty or function. By democracy and its deepening, we mean strengthening public order and the peace we enjoy, and safeguarding the secure life we have. The hooligans know well the strength of the working class, so we tell them: ‘Work, because only work guarantees you everything. The good things come from the sweat of your brow.’” [text continues beyond the image boundary] The workers at this combine express many opinions, full of optimism about the future. “I,” said seamstress Violeta Musabelli, “work here at the combine together with my husband; I live by the sweat of my brow. I do not enjoy riches and abundance, but when we go home, we sleep peacefully because we owe nothing to anyone—not to our work, nor to society. We have nothing to do with hooligans and people who lead bad lives on the streets. Several young people have been detained by the police from our workplace. We know well who they are: [unclear] communists and cadres, whatever their duty or position. the tranquility we enjoy, and because only work guarantees you everything. Good things come from the sweat of your brow.’” optimism about the future. workplace. We know well who they are: [cut off] I had a genuine desire; I encountered no obstacles. I saw everything with my own eyes and would tell some people: They have lost their minds. There is no place like your own country! Everything is here, so let us get down to work. Good things do not fall from the sky. Bread and ashes at home, [unclear]—the people used to say this wise saying when Albania did not have a single factory, when it did not have a school, when it did not have a hospital, when it did not have... Not today! Have you got eyes? Look and think, and get everything into your head. With the Party, with Comrade Ramiz at the helm, we will achieve everything. “One of our workmates,” said the minority member Sokrat Sotiri, “has entered an embassy. He does not tarnish the honorable name of the minority. Here, 300 workers from the Valias underground mine are discussing these ugly actions by certain people whom we rightly call ‘the dregs of society.’”

“The Party has the people with it!” With these words Selim Dedej concluded his remarks at a meeting organized in block no. 4 of neighborhood no. 38 in Tirana to expose the disturbing actions of some vagabonds and hooligans. “The families of Agron Elmazi and Afrim Dula are primarily responsible for failing to educate their children, but we must also seek our own responsibility as members of the Front organization,” says Ymer Qosja. “I am indescribably angry about their actions. We will protect our power and socialism even with our blood, just as we shed much blood to win them.” Everyone—veterans, workers and young people from this block—indignantly and also with a sense of responsibility condemned the ugly actions of these ku-marxhinjëve. [text continues beyond the image boundary] kulakëve. “They are out of step with our youth,” said the young Namiz Meta. Petraq Papadhimo stated: “Actions like these play into the enemy’s hands, and for this reason the people have demanded, and continue to demand, that the laws be enforced.” When Avni Boçi, Lulëzim Begolli, Xhemal Gashi and others spoke, they said that our ill-wishers had sought to create disturbances by setting the river of society in motion. So should we not review our daily work, including those manifestations of indifference in applying norms and laws? MEHDI KOXHAJ

In the economic enterprises and institutions of region no. 2, the working class and the intelligentsia are expressing their deep indignation at the actions of some hooligans in Tirana, ATSH correspondents report. “The joyful atmosphere of life (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday afternoon, many residents of blocks no. 1 and no. 3 of Neighborhood no. 55 in the capital gathered and, deeply indignant, discussed and condemned the ugly actions of some vagabonds who took advantage of the ugly incident of recent days. Who are these people? What is their work and life background, and what is their conduct within their families and society? And where does our responsibility lie? These are some of the questions the speakers answered. Here is what some of them say: “We, the young people of this block, condemn with indignation the actions of these people our age, who are the scum of our society and do not represent the youth of the capital.” Worker Petrit Ismaili, a milling-machine operator at the “Dinamo” plant, said: “Their gesture has outraged us. They were lazy people who think they can live without working! Happier and more fortunate is a— (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, sent the following congratulatory telegram to the President of the Republic of Venezuela, Karlos Peres, on the occasion of Venezuela's national holiday, on behalf of the Albanian people, the Presidium of the People's Assembly and myself. I convey my sincere greetings and my best wishes to the friendly people of Venezuela for progress and happiness. (ATSH)

Yesterday, Muhamet Kapllani, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, returned to the Homeland after making a short working visit to the Swiss Confederation. (ATSH)

The collective of the corrugated cardboard department is among the most distinguished at the «Misto Mame» wood-processing combine in Tirana. IN THE PHOTO: A moment at work in this department. (Photo: N. Xhurka) The collective of the corrugated cardboard department is among the most distinguished at the «Misto Mame» wood-processing combine in Tirana. IN THE PHOTO: A moment at work in this department. (Photo: N. Xhurka)