An expression of mobilization and a high sense of responsibility for our duties — The Gjirokastër district produced 15,200 kv of wheat above plan — TO COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA FIRST SECRETARY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY TIRANA Dear Comrade Ramiz! In the revolutionary atmosphere that has swept the entire country for the implementation of the important decisions of the Party Central Committee’s recent plenums, we are pleased to inform you that the workers of the Gjirokastër district have achieved an important success: they fulfilled the wheat production plan at 109 percent, producing 15,200 kv above the target, and fulfilled the delivery plan at 105 percent. Across the entire area, a yield of 35 kv of wheat per ha was obtained, or 2.8 kv per ha more than planned. This is the highest yield achieved to date in the Gjirokastër district. Your valuable instructions during your visits to our district have inspired us, and we are making them a reality. We have achieved and exceeded wheat production for five years in a row, producing 28,350 kv of wheat more than the five-year plan. With special effort and mobilization, work was carried out throughout the district to bring the campaign for the new bread harvest to a successful conclusion. All 22 agricultural enterprises in the district [text continues beyond the edge of the image] [Continued column:] ...are directed by Aristidh Muzha and Gligor Çaço. Across the entire area, it achieved a yield of 45.5 kv per ha, or 4.4 kv per ha above the plan target. The mountain cooperative of Fushëbardhë, and the cooperative of Lazarat, where Banush Nora, Kalo Koro, Petrit Brahimi and Besnik Manga are in charge, also achieved significant overfulfillment in wheat production. These enterprises obtained, respectively, 6.7 and 6 kv more wheat per ha than the planned yield. During the harvesting and collection campaign for the new wheat crop, the concern and responsibility shown everywhere by all the workers, managerial staff, skilled mechanics, and workers in collection and transport stood out, as they worked to gather the crop on time and without losses. All the wheat was collected directly from the fields and taken to storage. Moral and material incentives, the piece-rate system, and new forms of work and production organization were used as a priority, bringing this important campaign to a successful conclusion. With unwavering confidence in the Party line and your instructions, dear Comrade Ramiz, we also inform you that for the first six months ... of the people’s ... However, we are never, at any time, complacent about our achievements. We continue to see that there are opportunities and reserves everywhere for increasing production. New horizons have opened up for us through the decisions of the Party Central Committee’s recent plenums, especially those concerning the new economic mechanism, which we have already begun implementing in four economic enterprises. We are working to be prepared to introduce it everywhere on January 1, 1991. The decisions of the 11th Plenum of the Party Central Committee and your speech at that Plenum have further increased the optimism and mobilization of the working masses to make real the commitments we have made to the Party. We are aware that, in order to fulfill our duties everywhere, we will have to face difficulties and obstacles, which we will overcome with militant commitment by strengthening unity, work, and effort. In the future as well, we will work continuously and on all fronts to fulfill our economic tasks. The achievements we have attained and are consolidating are [text continues beyond the edge of the image] The all-round revolutionization of the country’s life and its further democratization are a sure means of ensuring sustainable development and an impetus for advancing the economy, culture, and the whole of social and political life.

IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUTIES SET BY THE 11th PLENUM — Around 5,000 workers in the industrial system alone will receive 2.5 million lekë in the second half of this year through pay according to workplace category — The head of the industry sector at the executive committee of the district People’s Council in Durrës, Fadil Gripshi, told us that, as instructed by the 11th Plenum of the Party Central Committee and Comrade Ramiz Alia, immediate action was taken to implement the decisions adopted concerning workers’ wages. At a meeting held these days at the executive committee, they discussed what had been done so far. Enterprise managers reported there that work had begun and that, in the industrial system alone, around 5,000 workers would receive a total of 2.5 million lekë for the second half of this year through pay according to the category of their workplace. Specifically, at the bread-and-pasta factory, 175 workers will receive 350,000 lekë; at the chemical enterprise, 180 workers will receive 300,000 lekë; at the Manzë mine, 350 workers will receive 157,000 lekë, etc. Meanwhile, specialist Engjëll Jaho says that the payment of 20 percent of workers’ wages when they have no supply of raw materials was also welcomed as a very important measure that helps workers avoid any decline in their standard of living. During this month, for example, several enterprises in the district have experienced shortages in material and technical supplies. But, in implementing the decision, enterprise administrations have become more active in carrying out their duties as effectively as possible. Thus, following the example of the rubber factory, the UMB, the wine factory, the mechanical unit, etc., necessary changes are being made and will continue to be made to the production structure so as to prevent interruptions; a stronger spirit of innovation in organization is being fostered, and sources of supply both within and outside the district are being monitored more closely. Only through greater effort, better organization, stronger discipline, and a creative spirit, the workers said, can they repay the Party and the state for these important measures, which significantly benefit our workers. We have not mentioned here the hundreds of workers in construction, transport, etc., who, according to the calculations made, will also benefit from this decision by hundreds and thousands of lekë. SOTIRAQ GJORDENI

FROM DECISION TO IMPLEMENTATION — KUKËS — On these hot July days, on the main streets of the city of Kukës, every so often you will see an old man in a white apron pushing a cart—a refrigerator. There are always four or five people gathered around him, buying various refreshing drinks. [text continues beyond the edge of the image] ...are satisfied with this kind of service. But for several days now, Mujdin has been joined by more companions. The people of Kukës have known skilled craftsmen in this field; who does not remember the “Gegs” who sold sugar products everywhere, even beyond the country and throughout the Balkans? The cooking masters are no less well known. But for some [text continues beyond the edge of the image]

— LEZHË — We were talking with Genc Palushi, director of the Paper Factory in Lezhë, about the Council of Ministers’ decision to raise wages. We immediately carried out a study. It shows that 370 employees, or around 40 [text continues beyond the edge of the image] ...influences that today

in the district fulfilled the wheat production plan, while 17 of them significantly exceeded it. On an area of 1,500 ha in the Drinos valley, yields of 45–55 kv per ha were obtained. Leading the way in exceeding wheat production were the Jergucat cooperative, directed by Vangjel Ngjelo and Mihal Tavo; the high-type cooperative of Glinë, directed by Gjergjalia Mishko and Koço Besho; and Vrisarë, whose managers are Thodhori Konini and Ilia Jorgji. The highest yield among the enterprises was achieved by the «Muzo Asqeri» Agricultural Enterprise, directed by- inform you that in the first half of the year, the workers of the enterprises and agricultural enterprises fulfilled and exceeded their plan targets across the board. Thus, total industrial production was achieved at 105 percent; exports at 114 percent; the turnover of goods and services at 100 percent; budget revenues at 100.7 percent, etc. In agriculture, milk production and deliveries were achieved at 104 and 110 percent; egg production and deliveries at 125 and 124 percent; meat deliveries at 120 percent, etc. The fulfillment of economic tasks has everywhere been accompanied by improvements in suppl- achievements we have attained and are consolidating are the fruit of the Party’s correct leadership, our work, our sweat, and our sacrifices in the name of freedom, sovereignty, and the Homeland. We will continue forward without stopping, follow your instructions, fulfill every task to complete the five-year plan, and heighten our readiness and vigilance to defend our victories. Long live our Party of Labour, with You at its head, Comrade Ramiz! Gjirokastër, July 13, 1990

— LUSHNJË — The land-reclamation enterprise in Lushnjë has undergone this ... in the district. It builds works that have already made irrigation easier, extending over thousands of hectares ... — Duties cannot be fulfilled without discipline and strict accountability, says the enterprise director, Astrit Kodrasi. — Soon, more than 900 ha of land will be irrigated for the first time. ... — for the first time. ... for the first time. ... him, buying various refreshing drinks. Mujdin Bajraktari, as the owner of this cart is called, is ready to serve you, and with a level of service culture to be envied. — Cli- craftsmen in this field; who does not remember the giant «Gegs», who sold sugar products everywhere, even in the lands of But for some time, as they told us, in Kukës only the masters of pro- (Continued on page 2)

We were speaking with the director of the Paper Factory in Lezhë, Genc Palushi, about the Council of Ministers’ decision to raise wages. We were speaking with the director of the Paper Factory in Lezhë, Genc Palushi, immediately carried out a study. It turns out that 370 employees, or around 40 percent of the workforce, will benefit from a pay increase. After all, work is work for everyone! Whereas until now I paid 80 factory workers at Grade 3, now they will be paid at Grade 5. This will increase their sense of responsibility. Under these circumstances, my job as a manager is not becoming any easier—the director continues: Work has measurable results. There are many people who, when things go well, take the credit themselves. Otherwise, they have become “masters” at shifting the blame onto their subordinates. But now they can’t do that, because the other person won’t let them, since it affects his pocket. There are difficulties, too: the raw material is un- (Continued on page 2)

Among the outstanding work collectives in the Mirditë district, notable for consistently fulfilling their tasks, is the [cut text] processing [enterprise]. Since the beginning of this year, the industrial raw-materials enterprise has exceeded its target by 428 thousand lekë. Further achievements are based on efforts to organize and manage the work, exceed quotas, and implement new ways of speeding up operations. The payments into the budget have been exceeded, while the enterprise’s net income has exceeded its target by 29 thousand lekë. With better organization and management of the work, as well as [unclear] and the movement of the mining enterprise in Spaç, total industrial production for this period exceeded the target by 1.2 percent. Dozens of tons of copper ore have been obtained through a 5 percent increase in its quality. (According to ATSH) At the Korçë Milk Processing Plant, worker Naskë Jovani at work. (Photo: N. Xhufka)

AROUND THE EDITORIAL TABLE Our discussion around the editorial office table with comrades Çesk Zadeja, People’s Artist; Tish Daia, People’s Artist; Vaçe Zela, People’s Artist; Ferdinand Deda, Merited Artist; Zhani Ciko, artistic director at Radio - Tirana; and Aleksandër Peçi, composer. — Preserving our national character is a vital matter for our song. It remains an acute current issue. First, it would be useful to recall the tradition our song created after Liberation in preserving its national character. Çesk Zadeja: — From the past, we inherited only folk song, the people’s sole means of joy and consolation. The people preserved their singing tradition, but not in a rigid form. The expression of the development of authentic folklore music is urban song. During the war, revolutionary song was also created. In the first years after Liberation, a generation of composers created mass song. Light music began to be composed in the 1950s. At first, it was influenced by Italian song (canzonetta) of the tango type. But, taking from it only the technical side, the composers did not mechanically imitate it; on the contrary, they introduced Albanian folk melodies into light music. These composers had a good knowledge of folk music, which entered their creative work consciously or spontaneously. This made it possible for our light song to be recognizable as Albanian from the very first festivals. Later, this characteristic became increasingly pronounced. Tish Daia: — Folk song continued its own life. But now it began to be cleansed of elements borrowed from other cultures. Outstanding contributions to preserving the purity of folk song were made by such virtuoso singers as B. Ndoja, F. Rexha, D. Ziko, A. Ndreu, L. Mjolti, M. Doda, N. Shyti, as well as by characteristic folk-song groups such as “Lira” of Korçë, etc. Is preserving the national character of song a problem today? Çesk Zadeja: — Our finest light-music songs continue to follow the path of national tradition even today. But in many songs at festivals in recent years, this spirit has grown faint. This phenomenon is connected with several reasons for the development of son- Zhani Ciko: — Until the 1960s, in world music too, melody was central to light music. Later, for various reasons, rhythm began to dominate. This also influenced our light music. Tish’s songs, for example, were richer in rhythmic nuances than those of other composers. This also prompted certain reactions among people in the music world and among the audience, who thought that song was being ruined. When a composer had a solid professional education, the problems of harmonizing melody and rhythm were successfully resolved, creating light music with a folk spirit and modern technical elements. The opposite happened with composers who were not properly trained: they “poured” foreign rhythms into songs and eliminated melody completely. This can still be seen in many songs today. Çesk Zadeja: — From world music, we will take what is best. Rock initially emerged as protest music, whereas today it has turned into sex music. Often, in our songs, we have not known how to distinguish what is good and what is bad in foreign music. Tish Daia: — Rock and folk music have also had difficulty gaining a place in the music of other countries. And even when they have, they have been given a national character. One can tell the difference between a rock song sung by an English singer and one sung by an Italian, etc. This shows the resilience of national music in the face of what comes from abroad. The problem is that influences (Continued on page 3)