Forty-eight years have passed since the distant day when the first issue of «Zëri i popullit» appeared, this tireless fighter for freedom, independence, socialism and its defense in our new Albania of September. We celebrate August 25, the Day of Our Popular Press, together with the army of journalists and publicists, correspondents and contributors; the readers of dozens of central and local newspapers and magazines, and the listeners to radio and television broadcasts in every corner of the country. The broad, daily communication between readers and listeners and the Party’s press and propaganda organs is proof of the truth that the masses have always regarded and valued them as a tribune of the creative thought of workers and cooperativists, intellectuals and young people, our military personnel and honored veterans; as a tribune where the Party’s inspiring and guiding voice has been heard and will continue to be heard. «Zëri i popullit», and all the other press and propaganda organs, were born, tempered and perfected their character in the struggle for the liberation of the homeland, and in the great transformative work the Party has led for the rapid development of our economy and national culture. The country’s all-round progress has found and continues to find concrete expression in strengthening the press’s informative, formative and mobilizing role, and in raising the quality of its work, just as it has in the material and spiritual development of Albanian society and the daily interconnection with the press’s militant work. This is both a reality and a tradition known to our tireless leader, Enver Hoxha, the first editor and editor-in-chief of «Zëri i popullit», a contributor to our popular press, and teacher to so many generations of journalists and publicists. Our popular press, headed by «Zëri i popullit», the organ of the Party’s Central Committee, has always worked to reflect reality and the entire process of the country’s life, every field and sector of productive and creative activity; to present, in every instance, the truth, the Party’s line and directives, its thinking, and that of the masses. The press’s role in quickly and truthfully informing the people about everything concerning the Party’s and our socialist state’s domestic and foreign policies has steadily increased. This task remains on the agenda today, because, as an organ of the Party, the better informed the masses are, the more their optimism grows. In today’s useful economic and social activity, there are daily notable achievements that bring joy to the Party and the people, but there are also problems that arise and need to be solved promptly. The press, as the Party’s committed interlocutor, must not delay or wait for concerns to arise; it must reflect all needs and guidance. This is the Party’s requirement and its duty for the press, but it is also a spiritual need of the masses. Emancipated and cultured people, closely bound to the fate of the Homeland and socialism, are interested in learning everything and in giving the press their own views on solutions needed in one field or another. Journalists and all press contributors have met this demand of society with dignity. For the regular development of the work we have begun, and are carrying forward, in our country—work linked to the further democratization of life—people require this information to be as realistic, prompt and comprehensive as possible. This desire becomes more urgent and pressing when we also bear in mind the efforts of certain malicious and ill-intentioned people, at home and abroad, to distort the truth about our current developments, to spread slanders and attack the achievements to date and the future opened up by the decisions of the 8th, 10th and 11th Plenums of the Party’s Central Committee. Raising the quality of the press’s work is the most essential task facing the workers of this front today and in the future. The mission of journalists and the press is as delicate and difficult as it is honorable and respected by the people and the Party. Fulfilling this mission requires daily adaptation, knowledge of living conditions, and constant communication with the masses; it calls for broad study and knowledge in every field, especially those that hold promise for the Homeland’s development. The press’s educational and mobilizing influence will grow further by strengthening the substance of its work through more convincing arguments and perfecting the craft and art of writing, avoiding thoughtless stereotyped phrases, literary embellishments, and bureaucratic styles that stifle life in press articles, ATSH bulletins, or radio and television broadcasts. Only in this way will the press respond properly to the country’s current political, ideological, economic and cultural developments and to the level of today’s reader, who is more interested in seeing other viewpoints on the page, finding and seeing directly with their own eyes how they themselves can contribute to the work, and in the masses’ comprehensive mobilization to implement the Party’s directives and guidance. By carrying its revolutionary traditions forward, our popular press will become dearer to and more sought after by the masses. Like all the working masses of the country, the creators of our popular press organs face major tasks connected with fulfilling plans and numerous commitments, bringing success everywhere in the final year of the Five-Year Plan, and preparing intensively for 1991, during which our socialist economy will enter the new economic mechanism, intended to accelerate the development of the whole country by encouraging the initiative and creative work of the masses, cadres and specialists. Our press has taken, and will take, a more central role than before in addressing in greater depth the complex problems connected with implementing the new economic mechanism, through which economic activity and the country’s entire life will be further democratized. It has always championed the new and recognized people distinguished for their militancy and sacrifice; at the same time, it has criticized and will criticize every manifestation of bureaucratism, passivity and indifference, and delays in carrying out decisions. The spirit of sacrifice must stand out everywhere so as to meet the demands of the times on every front. «The current circumstances,» Comrade Ramiz Alia emphasizes, «require today, more than ever, a heightened revolutionary élan in the Party, a militant spirit in every communist, and unprecedented patriotism from every citizen of our country.» Such is, and will remain every day, our press: a fiery, wise and cultured agitator of the Party line among the masses, inspiring them to take action, to do concrete work and to accomplish the great tasks facing every collective and every individual. In this way it will successfully fulfill its noble mission and, today and in the future, receive the wishes of the whole people and the Party: Happy Press Day, and continued success to you, architects of the revolutionary thought of the masses!

The extraordinary drought this year, the hot summer and the complete absence of rainfall, particularly in the northeastern part of the country, have caused the energy situation in the country to worsen day by day, along with the harmful consequences this has for all sectors, especially the most important sectors of the economy. Yesterday the Presidium of the Council of Ministers held a special meeting to analyze the situation and take the urgent measures necessary to address it. Among other things, it was decided that, in addition to the very large quantities of electricity that we have been importing for months, we will buy several tens of millions more kilowatt-hours of electricity, worth over 2 million dollars, as well as around 11,000 tons of mazut, worth 1.7 million dollars, for the thermal power plants. Since no other suitable means or arrangement is available, the additional electricity will be purchased with cash foreign currency, while the foreign-currency cost of the mazut will be around 30 percent higher than it was a week earlier, because oil and petroleum-product prices on foreign markets have risen as a result of the Iraq-Kuwait conflict and other developments in the Persian Gulf. Despite these substantial imports, our energy capacity is below the minimum level at which it is currently operating. The Presidium of the Council of Ministers therefore decided that electricity consumption nationwide should be reduced from 9.5 million kilowatt-hours to 8.8 million kilowatt-hours per day. As a result, it was decided, among other things, to shut down the last two furnaces at the ferrochrome plants in Elbasan and Burrel. Because of this measure, which [??] economic losses, at least 3,000 tons of ferrochrome will not be produced by the end of September, equivalent to a further 1.5 million dollars in losses in foreign currency. The knock-on effect of these mandatory measures is also estimated: around 1,100 workers and metallurgists at the last two ferrochrome furnaces, etc., will be paid 80 percent of their wages while they are not working. This is a considerable sum of money, to be added to the other millions of lek paid at 80 percent to several thousand workers at furnaces, workshops and other sectors that had previously been shut down as a result of the extremely severe energy situation. In the face of this situation, in the face of these figures weighing on our economy and current and future plans, the call must now ring out more forcefully than ever: everywhere, conserve energy with [??] for every watt of electricity; everywhere, show a deep sense of civic and socialist responsibility; everywhere, mobilize our strength to the utmost to deal with the situation as created, with as few negative effects as possible! These are the moments when, more than ever, every sector of life and activity, especially the productive sectors, must fulfill and exceed their plans; conserve energy and every other kind of material resource; increase productivity and quality; and reduce costs and expenditure to the utmost. Through our sweat, let us make up as much as possible for what the dark forces of nature deprive us of! With the strength of organization and proletarian discipline, with a caring spirit and mind, and by making the most effective use of the levers of the new economic mechanism, let us ensure that wherever possible new sources of income and worthwhile, effective jobs are generated, those who save energy are rewarded, and every excess burden is eliminated. Faced with the situation, let us further increase our mobilization and make everyone aware that there is no room for indiscipline or disorder, no room for unjustified demands or procrastination. This is the time for patriotism and a working spirit, for the mental and physical abilities of workers and cooperativists, specialists and cadres, and all the masses, under the leadership of the Party, to act in unity and harmony to overcome every difficulty and obstacle and preserve and advance our achievements in the economy and culture, in defense and in every other field. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

LET US DRAW ATTENTION The rainfall in recent days in some parts of the country was not sufficient to «close» the large deficit in water reserves caused by the severe drought. The rain was light and was absorbed almost entirely by the soil. It helped cool the soil and increase the relative humidity of the air, which is the main condition for reducing plant stress during summer. With the continuation of rainfall and high temperatures, we must in no way think that the situation has been resolved. On the contrary, even more comprehensive measures are needed to make use of every water source. Nevertheless, proper protection, bearing in mind that 10 or 15 mm in some places, and 20, 30 or more elsewhere, has created new conditions for agricultural workers. On this basis, a fresh assessment and improvement of the situation are required. Depending on local conditions, let us make use of all the rainfall that has been «stored» in the soil. There is no room for any manifestation of complacency. The rain was light and was absorbed almost entirely by the soil. It helped cool the soil and increase the relative humidity of the air, which is the main condition for reducing plant stress during summer. With the continuation of rainfall and high temperatures, we must in no way think that the situation has been resolved. On the contrary, even more comprehensive measures are needed to make use of every water source. Nevertheless, proper protection, bearing in mind that 10 or 15 mm in some places, and 20, 30 or more elsewhere, has created new conditions for agricultural workers. On this basis, a fresh assessment and improvement of the situation are required. For second crops already sown, the rainfall provides an opportunity for vigorous growth. Therefore, intensifying crop care, together with a dressing of nitrogen fertilizer—which is much more valuable at this time, especially for newly emerged and growing plants—will yield excellent results. This should certainly be done for forage cabbage and stubble maize. Suitable conditions have also been created for the [unclear] and alfalfa fields, which must under no circumstances be grazed by livestock, as well as for the grassy plants of pastures and meadows. Along with caring for the pastures, it would be beneficial, where possible, to apply small doses of nitrogen fertilizer to them. The end of August and September are the best times for sowing autumn stubble crops, intercrops and other wheat crops. Wherever conditions have been created, move without delay to a broad campaign to sow them, with the motto: «Plough, prepare the soil and sow within the day». We emphasize “within the day” so that we do not let the available moisture escape through evaporation. The autumn sowing campaign is also approaching for hilly and mountainous areas. Soil preparation, securing phosphate fertilizers and seeds according to the cropping plan are required now, because the first days of September are the most suitable time to sow rye in zonal pastures and then wheat, to ensure their establishment at the end of summer and in autumn. Not a single hectare of wheat should be sown without superphosphate. But in the other districts too, preparing the land for autumn sowing is now essential, because suitable conditions are being created for sowing seed. The work must be done carefully, and specialists must not allow SMT mechanization workers, as they have until now, to carry out operations that do not meet technical standards. Deep and unnecessary tillage does no good; it only wastes time and fuel and increases production costs. At the same time, all machinery and equipment used to prepare the land by SMT and NB mechanization workers must be coordinated. Such preparation, to meet the autumn sowing campaign on time, is also required of other enterprises in the agricultural system: district seed departments, supply directorates, the water and land-reclamation directorate, etc.

We hear on radio and television and read in the press that this or that district has fulfilled and exceeded its export plan by such-and-such a percentage; figures, information, reports, etc., are provided. But can and should we be satisfied with that alone? To answer this question, we will share a few examples from Durrës. In the second quarter of this year, this district received the flag for exports from the Central Commission of the districts. It also fulfilled its obligations for the entire six-month period. Why? This question should prompt us to ask more than whether the plan was fulfilled. It leads to another question: where did the goods go? How much money was collected? In other words, what were the export earnings of the enterprises, and how much revenue did the enterprises and agricultural economies concerned with exports receive? We hear everyone asking us for all kinds of things, but so far, they told us, no one has asked for this indicator. Since they have it, perhaps the foreign-trade enterprises report these figures directly! Perhaps... But are the section itself and the district’s executive committee and governing bodies not interested in how much revenue the enterprises or agricultural economies collected from exports, or in their overall balance? Or are they waiting for someone else to bring it to them? Do the governing and economic authorities in the district know how much money was not collected, and how much was lost even when it is reported that the export plan has been fulfilled? We cannot find the answer in the executive committee. A recent inspection by the district prosecutor’s office of several foreign-trade enterprises and enterprises producing for export in Durrës helps us answer this question. The first conclusion is that during the first six months of this year production increased and the distribution of goods for export improved, accompanied by an improvement in quality. It is true: there have been gains, and that is good. But within the figures, within the total, there is «dragging of feet». In export operations, violations of rules, guidelines and legal provisions have been observed. For example, goods for export must be insured if the buyer so requests. This legal requirement was not known and has not been implemented. Albkontroll in Durrës was supposed to receive the relevant income for services provided when requested by foreign firms. But it did not follow up the matter in a timely, consistent and determined way and, as a result, did not submit the claims or secure collection of the sums! Consequently, besides hundreds of thousands of «fresh» dollars that have not been paid by some foreign firms, there are also 106 [figure cut off]. (Continued on page 2)

At the mechanical plant of the «Çeliku i Partisë» Metallurgical Combine, in Elbasan. Workers Kosta Terziu and Met Shkënderi measuring a gear. (Photo: N. Xhulika)

Yesterday a delegation of the People’s Republic of Albania, headed by the Minister of Justice, Enver Hoxha, left for Havana to take part in the 8th Congress of the United Nations on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders. At Rinas airport, the Minister of Education, Skënder Gjinushi, the Prosecutor General, Rrapi Mino, and other comrades were present to see the delegation off. On the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the first issue of the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit», organ of the Party’s Central Committee, and the Day of Our Popular Press, various activities were held. At the cinema in the [unclear], readers’ views were gathered on raising the qualitative level of the press and expanding information from all fields, in implementing the decisions of the recent plenums of the Party’s Central Committee and the instructions of Comrade Ramiz Alia, with emphasis on the tasks facing the press today in further democratizing the country’s life. Such activities were held by the newspapers «Zëri i Popullit», «Bashkimi», «Puna», and local newspapers in the districts of Elbasan, Mirditë, Korçë, etc. (According to ATSH)

Yesterday the Deputy Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Tian Zengpei, left. He had come to our country on an official and friendly visit at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Albania. At Rinas airport, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Albania, Sokrat Plaka, and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present to see him off. Also present were Albania’s ambassador in Beijing, Justin Papagjoni, and China’s ambassador in Tirana, Gu Maoxuan. During his stay in our country, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Tian Zengpei visited the National Historical Museum in Tirana and Durrës. (ATSH)