After an inspection of several institutions and enterprises in Tirana Increasing productivity, savings, income, improved welfare, etc., are closely linked to the use of working time. This thought comes to mind both while working and when you see people walking slowly and unconcernedly along the road, cars standing idle for hours, spewing carbon fumes, with their hoods together, office workers occupying the tables and chairs of clubs and cafés instead of their desks, and people wasting time outside a shop, waiting for the saleswoman while looking at the sign, “I’ll be back shortly.” Then, whether one wants to or not, one thinks of discipline, of those rules and state sanctions that organize production and do not allow someone to do as they please. And so a quick look at work discipline becomes necessary. Here is what this observation found in several enterprises and institutions in Tirana. Work begins in the morning Morning, 7:00. At Study and Design Institute No. 4, 33 employees have not reported for work. That means nearly one fifth of the institute’s employees are not arriving on time... At Study and Design Institute No. 1, located in the same place as the first, another 20 arrive late for work. Untroubled and unchallenged by anyone, others arrive five, ten, fifteen or more minutes late and expect to come in and take their places at work. It seems to be considered natural for someone to arrive late for work, since people are used to it and offer the usual excuses: “I missed the bus,” “My child was sick,” or “What difference do five minutes make?” What difference do five or ten minutes make? In the institutions we mentioned, as well as in others, there are economists and statisticians who can give you figures that will astonish you about what can be done in five or ten minutes! But there is another side to the coin. These five or ten minutes are also part of the total working time for which you receive a wage. In other words, part of the time is paid for, but not actually worked. Inspections carried out by various Party, state and economic bodies show that “these five minutes” lost in reality amount to much more than that, because they include coffee and cigarettes, social conversations, sports, jokes and, often, gossip. “I’m here” and “I’m there” It is 2:30 p.m., just half an hour before the end of official working hours, and a crowd of women and girls carrying bags is coming out through the open door of Food Trading Enterprise No. 1. At the enterprise’s directorate, I ask its deputy director how many people are at work now. He replies: “Right now, besides me, there is only... Dhurani. We’ve just had a meeting and sent everyone out to do inspections...?” This service half an hour before the end of work seems somewhat suspicious. It is more likely that they had finished earlier. Even if we cannot say this with certainty, we can say with certainty that an unplanned, surprise inspection would have been effective. Both of these are ways of wasting time. Next to this enterprise’s offices

In these days, when the prolonged drought has brought water reserves to an extremely critical level, to about 9 per cent of their capacity, we went to the water enterprise in the district of Berat to learn more about the situation. Skënder Jonuzi, the director of this enterprise, says: “We have faced situations like this for years. They have taught us that it is not the water, but the increased demand for order and discipline at work that makes it possible to cope. Production demands this discipline of us, because agricultural production is at risk of being lost, and we too feel responsible for this vital resource. Discussions about such matters as how much water we have supplied today, how it was used, etc., take place several times a day, early in the morning and late in the evening. All the pumping stations are operating. Thanks to high technical discipline, breakdowns are eliminated quickly. In this way, we have supplied agricultural enterprises with nine and a half million cubic metres more water than the total amount supplied last year. Inspections by day and night, and fines for wasteful use at places such as Poshë and Fushë-Peshtan keep us constantly on the move, always on our feet as administrators. None of our employees has asked to leave on regular vacation, etc.” This is how order and discipline are established: by understanding them not simply as an optional matter, but as something linked to the production of material goods and to problems that cannot wait. To underestimate them means to wrong work and production. (Continued on page 2)

(Photo: ATSH)

Yesterday, the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Comrade Ramiz Alia, received at the Palace of Brigades the delegation of the U.S. Congressional Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, headed by the Commission’s chairman, Denis de Koncini, and comprising Senator Pol Sarbanes and Congressman Xhim Moody, as well as other dignitaries accompanying them. Deputies Rolanda Dhimitri and Drejtore Agolli, and Deputy Foreign Minister Muhamet Kapllani, took part in the reception. During the meeting, Comrade Ramiz Alia gave an overview of the situation in our country and spoke about the historical traditions of the Albanian people and their freedom-loving, peace-loving and democratic spirit. He said that Albania had pursued its own path of development and progress, a path chosen by the people themselves and expressing their aspirations. He discussed the transformations that had taken place in the life of the Albanian people, emphasizing that our country was now moving forward optimistically on the path toward further democratization, in a powerful process. This process, which is a requirement of our development, opens up new and broad prospects for the progress and prosperity of the people and for strengthening relations of friendship and cooperation with different countries and peoples of the world. As a European country, Comrade Ramiz Alia said, Albania pays particular attention to new developments in Europe and is seriously interested in participating in the process of security and cooperation in Europe, in order to make its own direct contribution to this process. For his part, Senator Denis de Koncini thanked him for the warm reception and cordial conversation with Comrade Ramiz Alia, and recognized the value and importance of normalizing relations between the USA and Albania, as well as Albania’s full participation in the CSCE. He also expressed his pleasure at visiting Albania and at the discussions and numerous contacts he had with Albanian officials and ordinary citizens. (ATSH)

Yesterday, the delegation of the U.S. Congressional Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, headed by the Commission’s chairman, Senator Denis de Koncini, left our country. At Rinas Airport, they were seen off by Rolanda Dhimitri, deputy chairman of the Permanent Committee on Foreign Affairs of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania; Driton Agolli, secretary of this Committee; Petraq Pojani, director for Multilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; etc. Yesterday morning, members of the delegation of the U.S. Congressional Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe also visited the “Enver Hoxha” University of Tirana, where they met and talked with students and lecturers. The University’s rector, Prof. Dr. Nikolla Kononi, briefed them on its educational and scientific work in training new cadres and specialists, on the measures taken and being taken to further democratize work and life at the institution, and on the cooperation and relations our University maintains with universities in Europe, the Mediterranean and the Balkans. (Continued on page 4)

The day before yesterday and yesterday, on the basis of the agreement reached earlier between representatives of the “Agroeksport” enterprise and the management of Skopje’s import-export firm “Makimport,” talks were held in Tirana to finalize its implementation. The two enterprises first contracted for the goods that “Makimport” will obtain from “Agroeksport” for sale in Yugoslavia. Later this week, representatives of our foreign-trade enterprise will go to Skopje to determine the goods—which include household appliances, electronic and electrical goods, cosmetics, shoes, etc.—that, under the contract, will arrive from Tirana during September of this year. How will Yugoslav goods be marketed in Tirana, and Albanian goods in Yugoslavia? To learn more, we spoke at the Ministry of Foreign Trade. According to the agreement, goods from Skopje’s “Makimport” will be sold in Tirana through retail outlets that “Agroeksport” will open. Our foreign-trade enterprise will sell the goods at prices in lek equal to those of comparable goods on our domestic market. For new goods, of types not previously sold, “Agroeksport,” together with the relevant bodies, will set prices in lek according to the current criteria for establishing retail prices. The Ministry of Foreign Trade told us that it is particularly important for Tirana’s industrial trading enterprises, despite the orders they have received and the promises made, to ensure the work is carried out... Likewise, over the next four months, they will prepare to market “Makimport” goods as soon as they arrive in Albania. Albanian goods obtained by Skopje’s “Makimport” will be sold in Yugoslavia by the firm itself, at local market prices. The purchase and sale of goods between “Agroeksport” and “Makimport” will be based on prevailing market prices. Profits earned from the sale of Yugoslav goods in Tirana and Albanian goods in Yugoslavia will be divided proportionally between “Agroeksport” and Skopje’s private firm “Makimport.” We also learned at the Ministry of Foreign Trade that its enterprises, including “Agroeksport,” “Teknoimport,” etc., have further plans to develop cooperation with foreign firms and with Albanians living abroad, to conclude agreements and implement them as quickly as possible, and to open retail outlets for consumer goods. MEHDI KOKHAJ

— On the eve of Berat’s 2,400th anniversary — Berat’s 2,400th anniversary is not an ordinary celebration. Perhaps, if it had been remembered two or three years earlier, Durrësi would have celebrated its 2,600th anniversary. Nevertheless, Berat managed to “find” the date of its founding. The international symposium on cultural monuments, to be held in September, provided the occasion. In good time, the Party and state authorities in Berat planned the work to bring the preparations for this special celebration of patriotism to completion. It truly is a special celebration. We are used to celebrating an anniversary of liberation or another significant date, but rarely has so much history been uncovered in its entirety to make known so many dates and events marked by such a high spirit of patriotism. Thus, 1990 is also the 800th anniversary of the founding of the illustrious Muzaka family in Berat, just as Albania is celebrating the 800th anniversary of the formation of this group of Arbëreshë. The first question that arises is this: How should preparations for such an occasion begin in Berat? How are they preparing for this rare celebration? We can find out from the cultural section, from its director, whose name is mentioned here... There is historical value in the work of the group of painters, in the theatre and in sculpture, as well as in folk creativity. The celebration has not been planned as an ordinary one, with flags and banners and just a rally. It is intended to be quite exceptional. The painter Agron Breçu is working on the emblem that will symbolize the many-sided character of the event... [passage unclear in the source] Another question: How will Berat’s 2,400th anniversary be represented? How can it be given a symbol that reflects both its history and the city’s long, uninterrupted life? Two models have been prepared for this very purpose. One is more beautiful than the other. Both will be retained. Whichever is approved by the others will be a beautiful emblem and will occupy a special place. But it is somewhat awkward — the work of a painter, Aleksandër Filipi. How can the arch at the entrance to the city be represented? The city’s first life above the city... The entire sculptural ensemble should express the visibility of the city’s history and life. But there is also the question at the forefront: whose eyes? The sculptors are to pass along the road as an example. Nevertheless, the authors of the sculptural group are working with imagination and care. One of the beautiful and special features of the cultural monuments included in the celebration will be the international symposium... as well as the symposium on the various crafts of the castle; from painters, reliefs and trade columns to buildings and large squares, the city’s architecture, cultural objects of the parties... both indoors and... A great deal of work is required to get everything done. The patriotic celebration of Berat’s 2,400th anniversary has also involved various enterprises and institutions. The four-part poetic concert of the professional theatre, directed by Sokol Propi; the closing concert of the cultural society, with artistic director Valentin Veizin; and Rexhep Qosja’s play, “The Death of a Queen,” directed by Foto Vangji, are being prepared for presentation with dignity and in a wholly distinctive manner. We could list all those involved in this celebration. And still, the list would be far from complete. The castle of Berat, ancient Antipatrea, although archaeology has not yet given its definitive verdict on this. But this cannot be done amateurishly. Nor can it be settled by a mere article. Many foreign scholars have come to Berat. Especially in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, they carried out studies... [passage unclear in the source]. And so they identified Berat with the same ancient Antipatrea. As for old Berat, it has also been called Bargul (the researcher apparently forgot that this castle, Barguli, became the present-day village of Beratin, on Mount Tomorr), and Parthia, but without any argument; it has also been called Patra, which is clearly connected with Antipatrea, supported by convincing arguments and by the publication of images bearing the names of the ancient sites. When we speak of Antiquity, the date that comes to mind is 200 BC, when it became involved in a confrontation with the Romans and gave... The Romans, however, wrote that [partially illegible]. From the city he was... [partially illegible] One of the painters is preparing a composition, “Dasura,” for an exhibition. (Continued on page 3)

In cooperation with foreign firms As we learned yesterday, work is under way at the Ministry of Construction, and agreements have been made with new partner firms. Their links will bring changes and introduce technology for producing various materials. These arrangements concern the sale of exports, the reduction of imports and the introduction of raw materials for use. Through work with the firms and improvements in raw materials, including those available in countries where they are produced in greater quantities than in our country, we have obtained products better than those of other countries, for systems and infrastructure. Every measure to be carried out, Dardhik Gjata, director of the Export-Import Directorate at the Ministry of Construction, told us, is based on the economic effectiveness of investments and on the mutual economic benefit, under contractual terms suitable to and approved by both parties. Following the signing of the agreement with the Italian firm “Nuova Id-press,” which will produce the machinery needed for the new polystyrene plant to be built in Tirana, confirmation was given the day before yesterday by the Albanian State Bank. This means that the agreement is guaranteed and comes into force immediately; the firm will begin manufacturing the machinery for delivery within the deadlines set by both parties. Construction work will begin in September, while on December 6–10 of the first year ... (Continued on page 2)