Working as usual during a prolonged drought is simply not enough. Indeed, the needs of agricultural crops for cultivation work in state farms and agricultural cooperatives are being met through extraordinary efforts, with people working day and night. There are so many examples from all over the country that it would be impossible to list them in a few lines. We would not be exaggerating[?] if we said that people, with communism at the forefront, are doing the impossible to save the crops, and even to take a sure step toward fulfilling next year’s tasks. But in the face of this situation, which truly calls on everyone to rise and help in some way to overcome the drought, agriculture too is not infrequently marred by examples that are objectionable, harmful and deserving of punishment. Here and there one sees disorganization among people, a kind of slackening which, intentionally or not, is causing income to be lost and a whole year’s work to go to waste. We were recently at the agricultural cooperative of Himarë in the district of Vlorë. Himarë is a relatively large cooperative, mainly engaged in fruit growing and the production of olives, grapes and other fruit. There is so much work there that, as the cooperative’s leaders told us, it is difficult to cope with the available workforce. Yet, in the face of these daily needs, it is striking that many cooperative members do not go to work for no reason at all! We say “for no reason,” bearing in mind the level of income as well, because in Himarë a workday is worth 15 lekë, a relatively high amount. Compared with the same period last year, 15,000 fewer calendar workdays have been recorded! That is a lot. What if those workdays were put into the work that is the Party’s concern? Perhaps someone has a “sleeping” lump and does not show up for work. Someone else may have a “full” pocket and have no need of income. But that does not mean one can do as one pleases, abandon work, and take it up or leave it whenever one feels like it. All the more so when there are rules and laws about such matters. There is also a statute for the agricultural cooperative. The basic Party organizations must fight for these rules to be enforced and call to account those who do not want, or do not like, the norms and rules they themselves approved. “There is nothing the organization can do; the cooperative members themselves are in charge of the work,” says Koço Bala, secretary of the cooperative Party bureau. We quote this opinion because, in this particular case, it takes on the proportions of a harmful conception. The basic organization and the communists who make it up are not there merely to be “in order” themselves and then say, “let whatever happens, happen.” How can the communists of Himarë be at the forefront of work and social problems when not even 40 percent of the able-bodied workforce is being secured? How can they fail to sound the alarm when the fig crop is not being picked (out of 100–120 quintals, only 70–80 quintals are picked each day), when [unclear: crops] need water immediately, when the olive groves and vineyards are at risk and need differentiated care, and so on? Among those absent there may be no communists, but there are their children, their relatives, members of the collective in which they work and hold positions. From this point of view, the basic organization, the committee, and individual communists cannot be let “off the hook” for everything that has happened and is happening before their eyes. Persuasive and explanatory work is not carried out through formulas and routine meetings of the youth and other mass organizations. Naturally, this does not rule such meetings out, and they are appropriate. Meanwhile, responsibility also rests with the district Party committee. “They have come; indeed, the secretaries stay here,” we were told. We do not doubt this, but it seems to us that some of the methods being followed are outdated. Work with people changes from time to time. What was called “effective” yesterday can no longer be fruitful. Secretaries and instructors come and go, but what have they put right? Has the situation changed? They can call not only the young people together, but also the other mass organizations, and speak to them in mobilizing terms. Would it not be right simply to tell the cooperative members: “Listen, this produce is ours. These olives and citrus fruits sustain us and provide our income. Are we going to let them burn and dry up? Do you realize that failing to do certain tasks today will ‘come back to haunt’ our income tomorrow?” They should also demand an account of where one person goes and what another does, what responsibility a parent and a communist bear, and then what responsibility the mass organization to which they belong bears. That is where opinions and prejudices will emerge, along with people who have unwittingly been misled[?] and perhaps someone else who has “pricked up his ears” in order to damage common property. This will make it easier for the basic organization to raise the level of mobilization and eliminate what has been caused by a temporary gap in its work. They say that the basic organization is working, and that it has done nothing less this year than last year. That may be so, but it is worth remembering that life goes on and develops. One cannot work today as one worked yesterday. Opinions change, concepts change. In this sense, the basic organization—and, in turn, the Party committee—must change its working methods. All the more so when the problems and concerns are plain to see. Indiscipline is overcome not through formal analyses, but through work that makes people stop and think about the burden they have placed on themselves and society. Intervention to change the situation is now necessary—indeed, as soon as possible. BASHKIM KOÇI cooperative members do not go to work without any reason! We say “without any reason,” taking into account the level of income as well, because Himara has a workday rate of 15 lekë, which is relatively high. workdays have been recorded! That is a lot. If calculated, they would be enough to meet the plants’ most urgent needs. Why is the situation like this? In our opinion, responsibility lies with the Party’s basic organizations, which apparently have let the situation get out of hand. We are not talking about peripheral or unimportant matters, but about something fundamental: working with people. How can the organizations remain silent, with communists acting as if they know nothing in the face of these developments but they have been formed and are capable, equipped with a sense of collective responsibility, and able to work and lead. From this perspective, the organization cannot be let off the hook, still less the particular community, where everything has happened and is happening right before their eyes. Convincing and explanatory work is not done with formulas and routine meetings, or with topics approved at the beginning of the year, as has been the practice. People want things discussed openly and with arguments. You have to reach them where it hurts most. Really reach them, rather than speaking in formulas or holding “standing” meetings just so you can say, “we have done everything.” There, many services are now not being provided. But who sat down with the people and heard them say “no”? Unfortunately, meetings are not being held normally either

Those achieving the best results are the ones applying the new economic mechanism FACING THE TASKS, FACING THE COMMITMENTS - SHKODËR - Several enterprises in the district of Shkodër have made good progress in fulfilling their production plans. At the forefront are those that have begun operating under the new economic mechanism, with independent accounts, such as the tobacco and cigarette factory, the municipal housing enterprise, NTUS, the fishing enterprise, and others. These collectives have a steady work rhythm and are assured of fulfilling their plans not only in economic indicators but also in financial ones. Here are a few examples. The improvement of the organizational structure has had a positive effect. Specifically, ten specialized brigades for fishing have been formed at the fishing enterprise. One economist monitors the entire activity of these brigades. His position was created by cutting another administrative post. Structural changes have also been made in other enterprises. At the tobacco and cigarette factory, for example, the entire technical department has been transferred directly to production, while a new department has meanwhile been set up to deal with the protection and administration of property. The best preparation for entering the new economic mechanism is fulfillment of the plan, since this is a foundation on which new management and organizational possibilities can be built. In other words, being advanced makes it possible to apply the new form of economic development better. That is why many enterprises are making every effort to complete not only the eight-month period successfully, but the year as well. In this regard, we can mention the enterprises in the trade system, where, apart from NTI, all the others are substantially meeting their targets. These enterprises have increased all their indicators compared with last year, particularly turnover and quality of service. The new structure of the market, the opening of independent-account units and, not least, competition with the other market structure are having a positive effect on this performance. There are also enterprises that have not made the necessary progress in fulfilling their plan targets, such as the electric-wire plant, the textile-knitwear factory, the construction enterprise, the goods depot, the railway district, and others. The reasons for the shortfalls vary; there are problems with material and technical supplies, as well as organizational and management problems. The example of several enterprises that are completing their eight-month plans ahead of schedule—the electromechanical plant, the leather and footwear factory, and the flour-milling plant—should spur those lagging behind to work harder. RIFAT DAJTI correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

- DURRËS - Two trends: there are achievements in some sectors, and many enterprises—which make up the majority—are meeting their plans. This shows that they have assessed the situations correctly, taken strong technical and organizational measures, strengthened discipline and remained on the offensive. But there are also quite a few shortfalls. At a meeting held some time ago by the executive committee of the district KP, the heads of many enterprises that were failing to meet their targets were called to report. Alongside objective difficulties, attention was drawn to identified shortcomings, deficiencies in work discipline and organization, and inadequate monitoring of supply sources, among other things. Twenty-eight enterprises failed to meet their seven-month targets. A shortfall of 37 million lekë was recorded in industrial production. What happened after the executive committee meeting, where tasks for improving the situation were also set? August, too, is not looking promising. In the first ten days of this month alone, shortfalls continued; specifically, 37 enterprises deepened the industrial production deficit by a value of 44.3 million lekë. This is the overall picture. As a result, the financial indicators are also unsatisfactory. A deficit of ten million lekë[?] has arisen in budget revenues, and likewise in enterprise revenues. Forty-five of them have not made their planned remittances. (Continued on page 2)

- GRAMSH - These days, the figures from the planning section of the Executive Committee of the KP of the Gramsh district have begun to indicate that the eight-month targets are being met. To see which enterprises have moved faster than time, it is enough to look back at the past months and years. The collection and processing enterprise, headed by Natasha Jaho, has always distinguished itself in fulfilling and exceeding its targets, and is now moving toward the next five-year plan with a strong, positive pace and a sound foundation. The forestry enterprise, headed by Hyser Bega, and the SMT enterprise, headed by Perikli Mali, are following the same path. These examples are also being followed by the other collectives in the district, which are working with a strong sense of responsibility to meet the targets for the period. Sixteen of the 17 enterprises and branches in all met and exceeded their seven-month targets, and the same pace is being maintained for the eight-month period. For this period, total industrial production is being exceeded by 4 million lekë; mechanized work, goods circulation and municipal services for the population are also showing good results. In addition, livestock breeders, working to honor their commitment to complete the annual milk-production plan by September, have already produced 3,300 quintals of milk above the eight-month target. Significant overfulfillment has also been recorded in egg and vegetable production, and so on. These figures we have mentioned serve as sure steps toward completing this year and the entire five-year plan. The opposite is true at the construction enterprise, which has achieved only 76 percent of its target. It has had results of this kind before, so its five-year balance cannot be positive, because if you do not meet targets steadily, you fall behind the times. PIRO VERUSHI

- KOLONJË - We would not be wrong at all to say that, as the year draws to a close, workers in the district of Kolonjë are proceeding with confidence toward fulfilling the targets for total industrial production, exports, and the production and delivery of milk, meat, eggs, and so on. The overfulfillment recorded so far in these indicators, as well as in budget revenues and centralized net revenues, is a reality. Yet there are also two weaknesses that no euphoric veil of overall overfulfillment can conceal. To be specific: many items in physical terms have not been achieved. Is it acceptable for a small market such as that of Kolonjë—with the two towns of Ersekë and Leskovik and the inhabited centers together numbering around 9,000 people—to experience shortages of [unclear: “përllokume”] and [unclear: “anarkata”]? This is all the more troubling because the raw material for these products has been sitting in the warehouses. From the beginning of the year to the present, several items at the wood-processing enterprise have also not been fulfilled. There is some justification for not meeting the timber targets, since all the output has not been transported out of the forest. But what can be said about the other three items? Here is another weakness in Kolonjë: the construction enterprise has fallen significantly short of its construction-volume target. The whole shortfall cannot be justified by the well-known lack of manpower. Let us consider productivity: it has not been achieved. But if construction productivity had been achieved, the volume of work would have increased by as much as 500,000 lekë. Likewise, spreading work across many sites, alongside delays in delivery, has caused problems with the quality of the work. This enterprise can offer no justification for failing to meet items such as doors, windows, lime and cement tiles, when there has been no shortage of materials for them. Following the criticism made at the meeting of the district People’s Council, movement is evident. Thus, the wood-processing enterprise is now working by the campaign method. Daily targets are also being exceeded for some items that had not been achieved at the collection and processing enterprise. At the construction enterprise, 38 bricklayer specialists, made available from other sectors of the economy, were sent in. Change is under way, but these are only the first days. The full fruits will be better demonstrated at the end of the year. KOSTAQ DUKA correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

Yesterday morning, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Adil Çarçani, received at the seat of the Prime Minister’s Office Istanbul Deputy Governor Erdogan Izgi, who has come to our country on a friendly visit at the invitation of the Albanian Committee for Cultural and Friendly Relations with the Outside World. Comrade Adil Çarçani spoke to his Turkish guest about the traditional friendship linking our two peoples, who share many things, and about the possibilities for continuously expanding cooperation in various fields between Albania and Turkey. Recalling the fond memories he has of his recent visit to Turkey, he expressed his conviction that relations of friendship and cooperation would be further developed in the future. Istanbul Deputy Governor Erdogan Izgi thanked Comrade Adil Çarçani for the warm reception and for the opportunity he had been given to visit Albania. Speaking about the impressions from this visit, he noted the traditional hospitality of the Albanian people and expressed his desire to further strengthen relations between our two countries and peoples, who are bound by close friendship. Also present at the reception was Jorgo Melica, chairman the Outside World. The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to our country, Teoman Surenkok, was also present. (ATSH)

- Official talks held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, the Deputy Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Tian Zengpei, arrived in our country yesterday for an official and friendly visit. At Rinas Airport he was received by Sokrat Plaka, Deputy Minister and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also present were Justin Papajorgji, Ambassador of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania in Beijing, and Gu Maoxuan, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Tirana. Yesterday, official talks also began at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between Deputy Foreign Minister Sokrat Plaka and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Albania. (Continued on page 4)

Yesterday afternoon, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Reis Malile, received the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Tian Zengpei, and held a warm and friendly conversation with him. Yesterday afternoon, the Minister Reis Malile, received of China, Tian Zengpei, and held a warm and friendly conversation with him. During the meeting, Reis Malile noted that relations between Albania and China had experienced friendly growth in recent years. He emphasized the importance of the two countries continuing their undertakings in the political, economic and trade, technical, cultural, and other fields. Reis Malile spoke about the foreign policy of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania and its desire to expand relations and strengthen friendship with other peoples. He noted the importance Albania attaches to positive developments in the Balkans and Europe, and that it supports all steps that serve to strengthen cooperation, peace, and security on our continent and beyond. The reception was attended by Albania’s ambassador in Beijing, Justin Papajorgji, as well as the ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Tirana, Gu Maoxuan. (ATSH)

Beyond the mountains, where the districts of Mirditë, Dibër, and Kukës meet, there is a small but very beautiful village, Lajthiza. All along the long road to get there, people talk about it. You stop at Shkalla e Drobavë, where the highlands of Orosh end, and another rare view opens before you. “There is Guri i Kuq, Kunora e Lurës, the Lakes of Lurë, Fushë-Lura, Rumia, Pregj-Lura, Arrë-Molla, Tejmolla, Barqa e Artnit... Far away you can see Korabi, Radomia, Kalaja e Dodës, Kalisi, Vila... ‘Down there opposite us, the little place with two neighborhoods, is Lajthiza,’” says Kola, a man from Lajthiza who is guiding us along the road through these mountains. Xhetil Marku, the Mirditë telegraph operator, is captivated by one view as he walks, then a little farther on is captivated by another, which he captures on film. Lajthiza appears and disappears along that stubborn path that takes us down there through the pines. We keep looking down at it, as if we were flying above it. And it clings to the mountainside, about 1,200 m above sea level. It is connected to Dibër by the electricity grid, and to Mirditë by telephone and a motor road... Its nearest village, Konaj, with which it belongs to an agricultural cooperative, is three hours away. How did life begin here, and how is it sustained? Surely, this is the most interesting thing to find out. The village is recent. There used to be summer pastures here where the people of Orosh came to spend the summer. Someone would winter here once in a while. A little land was cleared, just enough not to let the manure go to waste. The shepherds’ huts became houses, and other shepherds came. That is how life climbed up the mountain. Some came as shepherds, others left the plains.

so that they would not be sent as “nizam” to Anatolia and the like. The stories about this subject are full of interest. While the mountain ridges reach greedily toward the sky, their inhabitants have cherished the desire to be free, proud, and lofty like the mountains. For this, they have endured the harsh winter and borne life’s burdens with great difficulty, with a special, inspired love for these nests where they were born. We were seated at Zef Kola’s table, and the conversation turned to those who covet another person’s table. Wouldn’t the mountains be left silent and lifeless, and wouldn’t other places be deserted if everyone rushed greedily to other people’s tables? Besides, those places too would be emptied,”—[?] “of the good things, which you cannot buy from people even there? The people of Lajthiza, the neighboring highlanders of Dibër and Kukës who live on the slopes of Dibër and Kukës who live on the slopes (Continued on page 2) Reportage