Interview with Mynyr Maska, director at the State Planning Commission — In implementation of the recent plenums of the Party’s Central Committee, the Council of Ministers has adopted several important decisions for the benefit of the peasantry. Specifically, what measures are set out and what obligations arise from Decisions Nos. 201 and 232, adopted recently? — These decisions, which raise procurement prices for certain agricultural and livestock products, are intended to achieve several objectives: to encourage an increase in agricultural production and the fulfillment—and exceeding—of state delivery obligations; to increase the incomes of agricultural cooperatives, giving priority to mountainous and northeastern areas and to the cooperatives in the Gramsh and Librazhd districts, which face unfavorable economic conditions; and to provide better support for the new economic mechanism. The new purchase prices further improve production relations and exchange between the state and the cooperatives, and ensure a fairer distribution of national income, both among agricultural cooperatives and within them. — What will agricultural cooperatives gain from the new measures? — They will have a net economic gain of around 50–60 million lekë per year, achieved through higher purchase prices: the price of cattle and small livestock meat will rise by around 350 lekë per quintal, with increases varying by area. For example, the purchase price of cattle meat will increase by 30 lekë per quintal in all areas, while in the northeastern area and in Gramsh and Librazhd, milk will be purchased at an additional 50 lekë per quintal above current prices. Meanwhile, cow’s milk will also see an indirect increase, with an effect worth over 10 million lekë, through lowering the base fat content from 4 to 3.8 percent. Sheep’s milk will also increase by 40 lekë per quintal in the three areas and by 60 lekë per quintal in the northeastern area, and so on. — What price changes will there be for other products? — There will be significant improvements in the purchase prices of cereals and certain other field crops. In mountainous areas, wheat will be purchased for an additional 20 lekë per quintal, and in the northeastern area for an additional 50 lekë per quintal. The purchase price of rye will rise by the same amounts, while the increase for corn will be 40 lekë per quintal in mountainous areas and 80 Beans, an important and traditional food for the people, will be purchased at highly favorable prices depending on the area: 700–720 and 750 lekë per quintal for Grade I quality, compared with the current retail price to the public of 550 lekë per quintal. — Can you give us specific figures for how much the value of a workday will increase as a result of these gains? — With the actual deliveries made in 1989, the northeastern area would gain a net amount of around 28–30 million lekë, while the districts of Di- ... [The source text is corrupted here.] The value of a workday, according to the 1990 delivery plan, will increase by 1.9 lekë for the Dibër district and by 1.5 lekë for the cooperatives in the Mat district. In addition to the direct gains from higher purchase prices, starting this year agricultural enterprises can earn supplementary income by exceeding their state delivery targets: 50 percent for first-quality corn, 40 percent for second-quality corn and 30 percent for third-quality corn; 30 percent for cereals, 25 percent for beans, 25 percent for milk, and similarly for cotton, tobacco, olives, vegetables and fruit for export, and so on. — Procurement prices have increased; will retail prices on the market also change? — All these increases in purchase prices will not affect the current retail prices of these products, even though meat, milk, cheese, butter and gjizë are bought at prices higher than those at which the state sells them at retail. The state will cover these expenses. — Where will the state obtain these funds? — Since these improvements will ensure an increase in production, they will themselves generate the financial resources needed to cover their cost. For example, increased meat and milk production will raise state revenue and lower costs per unit of production. On the other hand, reducing imports of certain agricultural and livestock products and using the resulting funds to bring in consumer goods will create new financial resources. This will also be achieved through a fairer redistribution of income, transferring it from industry to agriculture. “Can you give us a specific example of how much the value per workday increases as a result of these benefits?” “The northeastern region, based on the actual deliveries in 1989, would have received a net benefit of around 28–30 million lekë, while the districts of Dibër and Kukës, as the main potato-producing districts, benefited by only 8 and 5 million lekë respectively from these alone. With the new prices, they will increase their income by around 6 million lekë ...”

At the University premises Everything is ready for a good start to the new school year This year around 3,000 new students will come to the University, leaving work to study. There has also been a significant increase in the part-time system. Before September 1, in addition to the existing dormitory and faculty facilities, 11 new dormitory buildings with 3,000 places will be ready for students. This will significantly improve their living conditions. The arrangement itself, with three people to a room and all the necessary amenities—including running water and showers on every floor—speaks clearly to this. A new services complex will also be ready on September 1 to serve the residents of the “Student” City. It will include dedicated municipal-service units, retail outlets, a bookstore, a pharmacy, postal services, game rooms, and more. A new dining hall with 1,300 places will also begin operating on the first day of school. Thus, good living conditions will be available throughout the Student City facilities for more than 9,000 students who will be accommodated in dormitories. This school year, changes and improvements have also been made to the lecture halls, and the laboratories and subject rooms have been equipped with new teaching materials and equipment. A completely new building will be in service for students of the Faculty of Economics. ARBEN MUKA

— VLORË — At the education section of the Vlorë district, we learn that this school year more than 45,000 pupils and students will attend schools of various types. One new secondary school is being added, opening in Vranisht; others will be added in Qeparo and Dhërmi, as well as in the city of Vlorë, along with eight-year schools and kindergartens. Work has been stepped up to provide all schools with the necessary material resources. Textbook distribution has also begun. Alongside this, work continues on the professional development of school administrators. VANGJEL STEFA Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

At the Ministry of Education , comrade Niko Mitrushi tells us that our country has around 200 students studying, receiving training or specializing abroad. This year, meanwhile, 20 people are scheduled to go on long-term specialization programs, mainly in the FRG, Italy, France, Switzerland, Egypt, Greece and Turkey. Ilir Paluka, an inspector in the Personnel Directorate of this ministry, gives us the following information as well: “We plan to arrange 12 postgraduate study placements in France under UNESCO and UNDP, and 3 with the FAO. That is, during this year and the following period, around 51 people from the Ministry of Education system alone will go for postgraduate studies.” What about nationwide, including people under the authority of other ministries? The comrades here provide us with the following additional figures: “As part of our country’s cooperation with other states, 75 people have been scheduled for long-term postgraduate studies; under cooperation with international organizations, 65; and under cultural exchanges, 8. In addition to these figures, the number will grow as further placements are processed.” In response to our question about whether students would go directly from school, we received the following answer: “Today our education system is moving towards full consolidation. Under these conditions, it is more effective for specializations to take place after completing one’s studies, and even after a period of work experience. This does not rule out the possibility of sending particularly talented people directly from secondary schools for practical training in various fields.” Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

— DIBËR — It happens almost every year that, as the new school year approaches, enterprises in the trade system consider themselves exempt from their obligations for September 1. This is borne out by the fact that, of the 26 areas in the Dibër district, teaching materials and new textbooks have so far been delivered to only 7. The Peshkopi NTSH, and especially the one in Shupenzë, are dragging their feet on distribution. It has become common practice for these teaching materials to be distributed in some remote areas, especially in Lurë, Gollobordë and Kala, in the last days of August or even after the school year has begun. Another cause for concern is that, now that September 1 is very close, some items are completely missing from trade warehouses, such as pens, rulers, spare supplies, etc. Very little thought is also given to children’s school clothes, forcing parents to go from one shop to another, even outside their area and district. FRANO CAKA

— ELBASAN — Pupils from 5 villages in the Elbasan district—Dushk in the «Dumreja» state farm, Çengelaj, Polis i Vogël, Topojan and Idrizaj—will begin classes in the new buildings of their eight-year schools. In Shushicë, too, the new secondary-school building will be completed in the coming days. At the end of September, pupils in Mengël and Shkozë will also have their new eight-year school, while the secondary school in Gostimë will be completed. This year, extensions were completed at the «Bardhyl Popa» eight-year school in the city of Elbasan and at Qafë - Shkallë, making it possible to increase their pupil numbers further. This year the state invested 3.9 million lekë in the construction of new schools and the renovation of other buildings. SEJDIN CEKANI Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

— LIBRAZHD — At the education section, we learn that the required staffing has been completed. However, a worrying problem remains: securing qualified staff for the natural sciences, particularly mathematics, which affects the quality of education. This year as well, there are 40 mathematics staff members without the relevant qualifications, mainly in remote areas such as Kostenjë, Neshtë, Gurakuq, Rrinas, Vilan, Sopot, Farrat, etc. This year, 48 senior-level staff members and 11 mid-level staff members from other districts were appointed to Librazhd by the ministry. The education section has no assurance that they will arrive. Only 3 female comrades have reported, and they say they are married... XHEVDET ALMETA Volunteer correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

— PËRMET — Around 12,000 students will take their places at school desks in the district of Përmet for the new school year, 2.5 percent more than last year. This figure also includes students in higher education, as one in every three continues their studies. More than 90 percent of pupils leaving eight-year schools go on to secondary education and vocational courses, while the number of students who will begin their first year at higher education institutions has increased by 23.3 percent compared with last year. Pupils from the village of Pagrí attending the lower grades, and those from the village of Matlas attending the eight-year school, will begin lessons in new buildings completed this year and equipped with the necessary materials and appropriate facilities. Repairs and the provision of teaching materials have been completed at the other schools, and they are ready to begin the educational process in accordance with the tasks set out by the 11th Plenum of the Party’s Central Committee. PREPARIM MUSTAFAJ volunteer correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

During this period, the population of the district of Kukës has been supplied with 2,500 quintals of vegetables, 7,500 [?], 170 quintals of milk, 150 quintals of cheese, etc., more than in the same period last year. A network of private commercial businesses has also recently opened in the town. Work is under way in 8 villages in remote areas to build, by the end of the year, 8 new commercial outlets. In some sectors, such as Kalmash and Gjalica, which have been supplied with goods separately, this indicator was exceeded by more than 10 percent. (According to ATSH)

Yesterday, August 18, 1990, at 4:48 p.m. (local time), our seismological network recorded a seismic shock with a magnitude of 4.2 on the Richter scale and an intensity on the MSK-64 scale. The epicentre of this earthquake was in the Ionian Sea. The earthquake was felt at around 6 on the scale in Dhërmi, Himarë, Qeparo, Borsh, etc., and at 3 in Sarandë and Gjirokastër. There was no material damage. (ATSH)

Reportage “How many towns are there in your district?” a visitor asked Myllim Hoxho, an employee of the Berat museums. “Three towns: Berat, Qyteti Stalin and Ura Vajgurore.” “Why can’t the textile combine be called a city too?” This comparison, this observation, took Myllim by surprise. Then he smiled and, patting the visitor lightly, told him that he completely agreed with him. Today the textile combine in Berat has around 10,000 workers. Nearly 7,500 are women and young girls. Every day, this giant industrial enterprise sends people out onto the city’s streets, which means that beside the looms you can find the operators ... . Working side by side, mother and daughter, father and son—and not infrequently half a family, or indeed an entire Berat family. In this sense, we could say that the combine is present everywhere: in the streets, in homes, in parks and on promenades; everywhere the life of this city, the life of these people, moves and thrives. And that is not all: the combine is “present” in other towns too, throughout Albania, wherever people wear beautiful blue clothes. In this constant dynamic, parents pass on to the younger generation the wide world of textile work. Young men and women go to the combine without preconceived ideas or a concept of the work they are undertaking; their convincing example is not words or slogans, but their own parents. “This year, around 100 young women got married at our combine,” Dhespinia Naqellari, chairwoman of the professional committee, tells us. “They have already given birth, and around 400 children are expected to be born this year. Fifty-seven apartments have been allocated. This year the new juice factory will go into operation, while a new weaving factory is ready. This year, hundreds of new machines and combinations were produced, or, out of 15 studies completed, 7 were authored by women textile workers. More than 78 percent of the managerial and administrative work at the combine is carried out by women comrades. You will also find among us Heroes of Socialist Labour, deputies to the People’s Assembly, and even members of the Party’s Central Committee.” These facts alone make it easy to form an accurate picture of life at this industrial combine, one of the largest in our country. When calculations are made for the looms, specialists often find themselves faced with figures ... (continued on page 2) Here is what this 45-year-old woman says: “I am a member of the minority, from Dropull,”

At the superphosphate plant, Laç. (Photo: N. Xhufka) At the superphosphate plant, Laç. (Photo: N. Xhufka)