— For the third consecutive year, the Korçë district fulfilled and exceeded its wheat production and delivery plan — COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA FIRST SECRETARY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE ALBANIAN PARTY OF LABOUR TIRANA Dear Comrade Ramiz, Amid the enthusiasm and mobilization to put into practice the decisions of the recent plenums of the Party’s Central Committee and Your highly valuable directives on the comprehensive democratization of the country’s life, the implementation of economic reforms and the improvement of the welfare of the working masses in town and country, it is a legitimate pleasure for us to make you happy with the news that we have fulfilled the plan for wheat production and delivery, while threshing has not yet been completed in the mountainous area. We are continuing to deliver wheat in excess of the planned quota, with the aim of also fulfilling the rye delivery plan. With these results, for the third year in a row our district has met and exceeded the wheat production and delivery plan. Among the factors that contributed to these results for this important crop, we can single out serious work and strict attention to the implementation of every stage of the technology, combining many years of experience in cultivating this crop with the findings of agricultural science. Genuine scientific work has been carried out by the district’s specialists, who this year obtained more than 35 quintals per hectare, against a plan of 34.6 quintals per hectare—a yield higher than any achieved to date. On 7,800 hectares planted in the plain, a yield of 55.8 quintals per hectare was obtained, while on 2,200 hectares under more intensive cultivation in this area, more than 65 quintals per hectare were obtained. During this campaign, many farms, sectors and brigades distinguished themselves, but we think we should single out the cooperativists of the Devoll area, who, working with dedication and optimism, produced more than 30,000 quintals of wheat above plan, thus also making up for shortfalls at some agricultural farms in the district. Likewise, this year the workers of the “Enver Hoxha” agricultural enterprise in Plasa are once again standard-bearers: across the entire area of 844 hectares, they achieved a high yield of 68 quintals per hectare. Also at the forefront are the workers of the agricultural enterprise of Dritashtë, of its first cooperative in Pojan, with a yield of 64 quintals per hectare across the entire area; those of the Lumalas cooperative, with 58 quintals per hectare; and several mountain cooperatives. Among the best brigades were the ninth brigade in Sheqeras, with 87.3 quintals per hectare; the seventh brigade in Pojan, with 78 quintals per hectare; the third brigade in Vloçisht, with 77.6 quintals per hectare; and the first brigade in Drithas, with 76 quintals per hectare, etc. The results achieved this year in wheat do not make us complacent; on the contrary, they strengthen our conviction to state with complete confidence that they do not represent the ultimate limit. We are working to gain a thorough understanding of the experience of the record-breaking farms, sectors and brigades and, by generalizing it, to apply it under comparable conditions throughout the district, with the aim of consolidating wheat yields and ensuring their uninterrupted progress. In response to the Party’s care for the continuous improvement of the people’s welfare, our cooperativists, bound to the Party like flesh to bone, and to its Central Committee, with you at its head, dear Comrade Ramiz, are responding with extraordinary drive and mobilization in order to cope with the extraordinary situation created by the prolonged drought and to minimize its negative effects as much as possible. Among the factors that have contributed to these results with this important crop, we can single out the serious and energetic work to implement in cultivating this crop with the findings of contemporary science. The specialists of our district have carried out genuine scientific work to improve the varietal structure, based on experimental data from farms and from a wide range of different areas. In this way, it has been possible to minimize the negative effects of climate and, consequently, to increase yields from year to year. This year, across the entire harvested area of more than 19, 166.5 quintals per hectare of wheat, etc. 844 hectares yielded a high amount the agricultural enterprise of Dritashtë and the higher-type cooperative of the entire area; the cooperative of Lumalas, with 58 quintals per hectare; and several mountain cooperatives, such as Ligenas, Gorica and Gurshqipe, which exceeded their plans for wheat production and delivery. Among the most advanced sectors in our district, we can mention the Burimas sector of the Plasë agricultural enterprise, Vashtëmi in N.R. Gjedhi, and Pojan (1), which obtained 76, 75, 70 and 66.5 quintals of wheat per hectare, respectively, etc.

FROM THE ACTIVITIES OF THE MINISTRIES These days, intensive work is under way at the Ministry of Mineral Industry and Energy, under the motto: “Put the decisions into practice.” The aim is to find solutions to specific problems related to the implementation of the new economic mechanism. NEW PRICES ARE BEING REDRAFTED The Party’s and government’s latest decisions changed the criteria for setting prices so that they would come closer to the value of products. However, the new prices had been approved before these decisions were issued and did not create conditions for implementing the new economic mechanism. At the prices then in force, many enterprises continued to incur losses on their products. The director of the Finance Directorate, Comrade Arben Isufi, explains that the Ministry’s staff, together with specialists from the enterprises, recalculated once again the wholesale prices for 40 enterprises in the chrome, copper, charcoal, chemical and other branches. Thus, through a fairer distribution of accumulation among branches, the loss of 177 million lekë previously incurred by these enterprises as a result of applying the former prices is eliminated, and a higher profitability, of up to 15 percent, is ensured. For example, the redrafted prices eliminate losses of 25 million lekë in the chrome branch. Under the new criteria, prices in the extractive industry are set on the basis of the full average cost of the poorer deposits. Applying this criterion, separate prices have been drawn up for each enterprise in the coal and oil-extraction branches, and will be put into effect. In this way, losses amounting to 130 million lekë are eliminated, and resources are created for material incentives for workers and for expanded socialist reproduction. FINANCIAL INSTRUCTIONS The Finance Directorate prepared and sent enterprises specific instructions on bonuses under the new mechanism. One of them explains the possible ways of rewarding workers from net income, depending on the level achieved: what the bonus is when net income is exceeded; what it is when net income is fulfilled at 100 percent, but the enterprise had planned an increase in this indicator; and what the effects on wages are when net income is not achieved, etc. These and other aspects of wages are explained in the instruction prepared. The other financial instruction, drawn up and sent out, concerns subordinate units of enterprises which, depending on their circumstances, maintain economic and financial statements, draw up a separate balance sheet and open (or do not open) a settlement account at the bank, as well as subordinate units which maintain economic and financial statements but do not draw up a separate balance sheet. AUTHORITY DEVOLVED TO THE ENTERPRISES The Planning Directorate, in cooperation with the Production Directorate, approved and sent enterprises the authority to sell up to 20 percent of their marketed output, including centrally allocated items. Valued in foreign currency, this output amounts to around 10 million dollars’ worth of exports (not counting the value in lekë of domestic sales). Enterprises in the chrome branch will sell directly—that is, export themselves—22,500 tons of ore and 5,300 tons of concentrate. The foreign-currency value of the copper wire and cables to be produced from 60,000 tons of ore will be counted as an export plan for the copper-mining enterprises. Against this plan, the mining enterprises have the same rights and benefits enjoyed by other exporting enterprises. Similarly, the oil-extraction and processing enterprises will be credited with an export plan equal to the foreign-currency value of the by-products obtained from 23,000 tons of crude oil and 2.4 million m³ of gas, etc. The same approach will be applied to metallurgical, chemical and woodworking enterprises, factories, depots, etc. This authority has been granted to enterprises with differentiated limits (mostly up to 5 percent), primarily to recognize and encourage their material interest in solving their own foreign-currency problems. Other factors have also been taken into account, such as the importance of the product to the economy, the extent to which its needs are being met, etc. The question has now arisen regarding this authority: is this percentage too high or too low? There are differing and opposing views on this within the Ministry as well. Some say that the export plan is being undermined. Others say that this opens up prospects for further increasing production and exports. The enterprises have welcomed it. ESAT BASHARI

On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Naval Combat Fleet, various activities were held yesterday morning at unit «N» in Durrës, including a meeting of outstanding participants in Comrade Enver Hoxha’s «Standard-bearers of Learning» movement, fighters for the implementation of the decisions of the Party’s 9th Congress. Sailors and officers of the Naval Combat Fleet, veterans of this branch of the armed forces, young men and women, and other guests attended. Also present were Comrade Kico Mustaqi, member of the Political Bureau of the Party’s Central Committee and Minister of People’s Defence; Nazim Skëqi, First Secretary of the District Party Committee; and other comrades. The meeting was opened by serviceman Çapajev Smokthina. On behalf of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia, Comrade Kico Mustaqi conveyed greetings and wished them even greater success in defending the country. Among other things, he stressed that the Naval Combat Fleet, as an inseparable part of our People’s Army, is the work of the Party and Comrade Enver Hoxha. The creation of this important branch of the armed forces immediately after the victory of the people’s revolution was another factor in strengthening the defensive capacity of our socialist Homeland and guaranteeing the freedom won through blood and countless sacrifices. Over these four and a half decades, generations of capable officers and sailors have served in this branch of the armed forces, educated in the Marxist-Leninist ideology of our Party and distinguished by their unwavering loyalty to it. The work of the sailors, officers and employees of this branch in implementing the decisions of the 9th, 10th and 11th Plenums of the Party’s Central Committee, concerning the further democratization of our country and society, has been of clear importance; they have drawn conclusions from current situations in order to remain ever vigilant and alert in defence. Various orders and medals, awarded by the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, were presented to several units, subunits, sailors and officers of the Naval Combat Fleet for their distinction. A telegram was sent from the meeting to the First Secretary of the Party’s Central Committee and Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces, Comrade Ramiz Alia. (According to ATSH)

IN POGRADEC: The people’s councils of the neighbourhoods and the People’s Council of the city of Pogradec have so far registered 130 applications from residents to build private homes. Applying the established criteria, 87 of these applications have so far been approved. Of these, 47 construction permits have been issued, and work has begun on 24 of the homes. These houses are being built entirely at the expense of the interested residents. But a question arises: Why is the number of approved applications twice as large as the number of construction permits issued, and, moreover, why is the number of permits greater than the number indicating that foundations have been laid and actual construction work has begun? The chairman of the executive committee of the city’s People’s Council, Llazi Lako, says that these ratios will improve as a result of several organizational measures now being taken. Here, for example, is one good organizational measure: the construction enterprise has opened shops selling building materials to residents building homes, such as sand, bricks, gravel and lime. That is certainly a good thing. Residents wishing to build their own homes now know where to go for materials. But the construction enterprise’s responsibility should not end there. So far, it has undertaken to build homes for only two residents, whereas we believe it could shoulder a greater share of the burden together with the municipal housing enterprise. The idea has emerged that, to expand and speed up the construction of residents’ private homes, the masons’ brigades from the surrounding villages, which are currently available, should also be widely mobilized. Naturally, this should be done through agreements between the cooperatives and the interested residents. This is a method worth putting into practice.

Since the beginning of the year, the working class of the Durrës district has supplied more products than required by the export plan. The workers of the «Iliria» tobacco and cigarette factory in Noga supplied exports worth 8.4 million lekë above the quota. They thus delivered 6 percent more cigarettes of various brands, such as «Tirana» and «Apollonia», and 49 percent more tobacco. The export targets of the workforce at the «Dumil-mike» plant are also increasing. In addition to exceeding the overall production plan by 1.5 million lekë, it fulfilled its export target at 102.6 percent. It supplied 130 tons more than planned of the spun product alone. More products for export have been supplied by the oil-and-soap enterprise in Rrogozhinë, the carpet and decorative building-material enterprises in Kavajë, the radio and television factory in Elbasan, etc. (According to ATSH)

Reportage On the left bank of the Seman River, a few kilometres before it empties into the Adriatic, stretches a string of villages on the plain. No hills catch your eye in these parts except the Pojan hills, far away on the horizon. The inhabitants are Myzeqar, with the same customs and traditions, the same outlook and way of thinking found in Great Myzeqe, with the sole difference that their lives, especially in the past, were connected with the sea and the river. The advanced-type cooperative in Seman comprises six villages, about three kilometres apart from one another. Seman itself and Topoja, each with more than 300 houses, are the main settlements, where life is also seen in its fullest form. I visited all the villages on these two banks, laid out with houses close together, broad-shouldered men, and straight, asphalted roads and lanes. There is truly a striking overall beauty to the appearance of the villages along the Seman banks. The houses are covered with vines, and the crowns of the many trees grown by Myzeqar hands fill the front gardens. Just a low, light wall, and the fragrance of flowers along the steps. Inside, the house, with three rooms and a kitchen, surprises you with all the comforts that bring city apartments to mind. It is even more surprising when Jani says he started from nothing, like all the Myzeqar. Once, the Seman basin was only marsh and forest. “We would go freely into the forest, clear a patch of land and put up a hut. A hut for ourselves, a hut for the livestock. We built them with reeds, mud and straw taken from the marsh. But we would not stay in one place for even ten years. We moved with our flocks and the manure from the huts’ floors, worked the land and planted corn and beans. We did not even have drinking water. We dug wells in front of our huts, but more often than not we had to salt the water. And we would start all over again. We built our huts from roots and reeds. ‘For us, the forest and the marsh were the whole world...’” “Why didn’t you build the huts with bricks and cover them with tiles? There was plenty of clay in Myzeqe.” “We didn’t know how; we didn’t know the craft of making bricks and tiles. And even if there were craftsmen, they wouldn’t let us do it ourselves. Only he lived in a house with brick walls. Only he had a chimney, as if smoke came from a chimney... ‘We weren’t born with goat’s legs,’ he would cut us short. The first to learn how to make and fire bricks and tiles was Kristo Stroni. He learned the craft from a certain man assigned to be in front of him. We learned it later too. It was precisely when Xoxi Koti from Gjokailla built the first house with bricks and tiles. The masons came from Golloborda. The Seman native Tush Jano built one too, and then others followed. We learned to build our houses on foundations. To make the walls strong, we slaughtered a lamb or a chicken in the foundations. We also learned the mason’s trade. Todi Gjegi, Llupi and Ngjelo Shopa were the first masons. They and others built the houses of Seman. ‘Would you believe it—we built all this in less than 30–40 years...’” Material well-being is more or less the same from one house to another. Only a few young families still lack a television. Take, for instance, the family of Vlladimir Gjecit, secretary of the cooperative bureau. Lazdi’s house is new, but as welcoming as all Myzeqar homes, like the house of the teacher Gjerko Lenna. If you stay for lunch or dinner in these homes, (Continued on page 3)

Moments from work at the shoe factory, Gjirokastër. (Photo: N. Xhufka)