IN TEPELENE: During 1986–1988, the district-wide plan for handing over homes was fulfilled by only 61.8 percent. As a result, the population’s housing problem became more acute. Under these circumstances, the Executive Committee of the district Party Committee, with the support of the relevant department as well, decided that 515 residential apartments would be built and put into use in 1990–1991, of which 215 with voluntary assistance. Implementing this project will resolve most of the requests. How is the work progressing so far? The construction enterprise has begun work on 300 apartments, of which it plans to hand over 164 within this year. “We,” says the director of the construction enterprise, Mojs Islami, “will make every effort to complete and hand over the apartments within the planned deadlines.” Naturally, optimism is necessary, but the pace of completing the homes must be faster. There have indeed been good results in fulfilling investment targets overall, but there are few buildings that have been completed or are on the verge of completion. To explain this, construction managers point to several shortages and difficulties, such as a lack of glass and sanitary equipment, which are holding up the handover of homes that have been completed. But there are also many cases in which work at sites stops for 4–5 hours, sometimes because of a shortage of medicine, sometimes because of a shortage of prefabricated components. Better organization will make it possible for the construction enterprise to fulfill the plan for handing over apartments. Meanwhile, work on homes being built with voluntary assistance is progressing poorly: the good pace of the first six months is not evident in these recent months. It is therefore necessary to tackle the considerable volume of work through a work campaign. JORGO ZHONGA

OBSERVATION Tropojë plums are renowned for their delicious fruit. They have been sought after in both the foreign and domestic markets. Until the fruit begins to ripen on the trees, there is no problem with it. Everyone—producers and consumers, transporters and processors—is optimistic that everything will go well to the end: the plums will be picked on time, transport will proceed according to schedule, and the market will make no complaints. But, just as with pears, it seems plums also have a snag. The plums are in Tropojë, on the road... The «Përparimi» cooperative in Tropojë’s Rustem Berisha tells us: “Our produce is being held up because of a lack of transport. The contracts are not being honored. At first, we signed a contract with Eksimagro for August 6–10. But as soon as we began picking the plums, a telegram arrived: ‘Pick them after August 10’ (in other words, the plums should ripen whenever the Eksimagro comrades want them to). We notified them that ‘from August 10–20 we would pick 36 tons of plums a day, so three vehicles should be sent each day.’ ‘We’ll send them,’ they replied. Eksimagro officially confirmed that ‘36 tons of plums will be collected per day.’ By today (August 27), 500 tons of plums should have gone for export. In fact, only 180 tons have gone.” “Who is responsible for this?” we asked the director. “Well... the Eksimagro comrades. We speak on the phone with them every day, exchanging telegrams, and they shift the blame to transship, to which they have sent the schedules, but it does not send vehicles to Tropojë. They say: ‘Those at transship are deceiving us...’” What kind of game is this? How long will this bureaucratic game with the produce, with the sweat poured out by workers and peasants, continue? Could it be that plants and trees, too, must adapt to the «zucchini game», the «sha... transshqipti... game»? The reply: “Under the current conditions, it was stressed at the activist meeting, the foremost duty of young people is to live intensely with the political situations the country is going through. An incorrect political understanding of these conditions, circumstances and situations has left its mark here and there even on some young workers who know only how to make demands and not carry out their assigned duties. At the activist meeting, the poor educational work with these young people, from the basic organization up to the Central Committee of the Youth, was criticized. It was stressed that we must love the Homeland as it is: its progress and prosperity are in our own hands, and no one else’s. The future of the Homeland is in the hands of the younger generation, under the leadership of the Party.” The first secretary of the Central Committee of the BRPSH, Lisien Bashkurti, also spoke at the activist meeting. He emphasized the tasks facing youth organizations in implementing the decisions of the Party Central Committee’s recent plenums and the instructions of comrade Ramiz Alia, so as to achieve and exceed the objectives of the movement «As the youth is today, so will the Homeland be tomorrow». (According to ATSH) and the consignees and transport workers are plums will be picked on time, transport will follow the schedules, with the pears, the plums have a snag too! The plums are in Tropojë, but their trail stretches all the way to the fine offices of the Eksimagros enterprise and Transshqip in Tirana. What exactly is the issue? The plums in Tropojë are being spoiled and nobody is lifting a finger. The director of the current enterprise, ... [text unclear] ... The primary task here and there meeting, the poor educational work with these young people by the grassroots criticized. It was stressed that we should love our at the Comrade Ramiz Alia’s instructions, in order the youth are ... had set the dates as August 6–10. But when we began picking the plums, the the plums should ripen whenever the Eksimagros comrades want). We informed them: «From August 10 to 20 we will pick 36 tons of plums a day, so send three vehicles every day.» «We’ll send them,» they told us on the phone every day. The result: the 80 tons of plums earmarked for export ended up at the district processing plant. We thought that would be the end of the trouble,» Rustemi continues his account, «but it was not to be. We signed a new contract for August 21–31. bureaucratic game with production, with the sweat shed by workers and peasants, go on? Do plants and trees, too, have to adapt to the “zucchini game,” the “watermelon game” or the “plum game,” as in the case above?! The plums are going bad in Tropojë; telegrams go back and forth until the comrades in charge of exporting them are left holding the stems! NAIM ZOTO

IN MIRDITË On January 18, the district Party Committee’s plenum approved the year’s main objectives and campaigns, including those for supplying the population. To see what has been implemented so far, let us look at two «areas» covered by this decision: the NB and the commercial enterprise for the production and sale of meat, eggs, milk and vegetables. It is good that the meat supply is on the right track. The NB, for example, has exceeded its meat delivery target for the first eight months by nearly 10 percent, as has its production and sale of eggs, an indicator that has consistently been surpassed. “As for the plan, there’s no question about it,” says brigade leader Prenga and the members of the brigade. “But what about implementing the Plenum’s decision? In the greenhouses we have organized the hand planting of cucumbers, tomatoes and some other vegetables. But we want to measure our work not by percentages, but by what is available in the market. There have indeed been improvements. But why does the market sometimes ‘cry out’?” “The NB, besides having some shortcomings in meeting its vegetable-production delivery obligations, has another ‘shortcoming.’ It is not acting responsibly, and this is slowing the pace of supplying the market.” Meanwhile, from Prosek we learn that okra, although absent from the market, has become woody there because the NT collection branch and the cooperative’s specialists are not monitoring the situation. It is precisely this irresponsible attitude that also explains why the district’s cold-storage facility has hardly begun storing vegetables! And

A moment from the work in the technological bureau and in the foundry department of the UMB in Fier. (Photos by N. Xhufka) A moment from the work in the technological bureau and in the foundry department of the UMB in Fier. (Photos by N. Xhufka)

In Tirana Region No. 2 It has become a tradition that, on the eve of September 11, a half-year review of innovative work is held everywhere, including among the work collectives of Tirana Region No. 2. What are some examples of this work? During this period, 472 proposals were made in 14 enterprises in the region (out of 33 engaged in economic activity); 413 were put into circulation with a stated value, and 296 of them have been implemented so far. The balance sheet also records new machinery, equipment and products yielding 1 million 695 thousand lek in savings. The collectives of the «Stalin» textile combine, the «UEM», the OAT, the Mëzezi mine, the OAK, etc., have distinguished themselves for better achievements in the field of innovative thinking. The innovators at the textile combine deserve particular mention for producing plastic bobbins, though care must be taken to increase their variety. Also of interest at the combine is the production of loom-machine combs for the fine-cloth factory by the innovator Vel[o], as well as the study aimed at improving the velvet factory’s technology. At the electromechanical plant, 99 proposals have been put into practice, yielding 650 thousand lek. Also commendable is the work of the innovators «Petrika» Begari and Ilir Demi at the «Misto Mame» wood combine. They designed and implemented a redesigned scheme for supplying steam to the combine, which had been one of the most pressing problems for years. This innovation raises the condensate percentage from 30 to 62 percent and saves thousands of kilowatt-hours of electricity, etc. FLAMUR BËRDELLIMA

— National activist meeting of working youth — Yesterday morning, a national activist meeting of working youth was held in one of the halls of the Central House of the People’s Army in the capital. The meeting was attended by leaders of youth committees from districts and regions, combines and the largest plants, social activists, distinguished young workers, and others. The main report, on behalf of the Bureau of the Central Committee of the BRPSH, was delivered by the committee’s secretary, Minnoza Jazo. Its theme was «For a more active and militant stance by the working youth organization in the process of democratizing the life of the country». The report, discussions and debate pointed out that working youth are at the forefront of efforts to implement the instructions of comrade Ramiz Alia. This is evident in their proper understanding of the process of democratizing the life of the country and the major role working youth have in supporting these processes, in the struggle against both outdated, conservative attitudes and liberal ones, etc. Under the current conditions, it was emphasized at the not carry out their assigned duties. At the spoke at the ATSH)

● At the cultural palace in the town of Laç, a performance was given for young workers and was followed with interest. In this fine performance, the amateurs Artur Nuredini, Ardian Scuraj and Eduard Zhupa were especially appreciated. ● In recent days, the cultural center of the town of Milot has presented the musical-literary montage «The Heroes of Vigu», with songs and works that echo their heroism; a concert was also given for outstanding young people, where the amateur singers P. Mera and Sh. Veseli, etc., were appreciated. ● The cultural center in Fushë-Krujë recently organized a themed program with outstanding young people from the procurement enterprise, the opening of an exhibition of new books, etc. Volunteer correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

At the invitation of the General Directorate of State Archives of the People’s Republic of Albania, these days the director of the Secretariat of Information on the Historical Resources of the Library and Homeland (CIBAL), Dr. Zhilko Kabadaliev, paid a friendly visit to our country. During his stay, he was received by the director of the General Directorate of State Archives, Prof. Dr. Gazmend Shpuza, and in the meetings he held, Dr. Zhilko Kabadaliev praised the achievements of Albanian archival science and historiography during the years of people’s power. The progress to date in relations and cooperation between Albanian archival institutions and those of CIBAL in areas of mutual interest was also praised, and the desire was expressed to develop them further. Dr. Zhilko Kabadaliev also visited museum sites in the districts of Tiranë, Krujë, Korçë, Berat, etc. (ATSH)

Alongside the harvesting of maize for grain, the autumn silage-preparation campaign has also begun in the district of Shkodër. So far, 16,000 tons of silage made from maize ears have been produced out of the planned 52,000 tons, in addition to other quantities made from maize stalks. Nineteen vehicles and hundreds of cooperative members are working on this front to ensure a steady pace and accelerate the work while sufficient silage material is available in the fields. A good example, as in previous years, is being set by the zootechnical station, where 45 percent of the planned quantity of silage has been prepared. In the brigade led by Fejzie Vathi, they are achieving a yield of over 570 quintals per hectare, aiming to produce 200 tons more silage than planned from the same area. The cooperative members of Koplik, who have completed 45 percent of their task, those of Postribë, at 60 percent, and those of Mjedë and elsewhere also stand out for producing ample silage material and maintaining a high pace in its preparation. In some of the farms of Mblikësra, ensiling with maize stalks has also begun. (According to ATSH)

1. - Can this be done? I wouldn’t want a greater treat... 1. — Can this be done? I wouldn’t want a greater treat... A hot August day in this year’s summer. Very hot. We enter the villages of Pukë: Gjegjan, Shkozë, Gojan... «A fresh breeze begins to rush in from every direction. It wells up from the earth. Descends from above? Rises from the river? Spreads from the pines and birches? Comes from the fields. Sometimes, around the green of their foliage, the maize has grown like trees. You can’t see the maize tassels; the ears have been curled up by the heat. Then come the gardens, row after row. Beautiful, fresh, abundant. Dewdrops glisten on ripe tomatoes, or you see their red skins washed clean; cucumbers hang from the shoots on the trellises, and the heavy pumpkins have each been placed in a basket up on the terraces... The freshness comes from the houses. Where are the houses? The only thing that seems to hide the highlander’s house is its greenery. The houses are now among trees, beneath grapes and fruit that ripen invitingly. They are white, completely white. Who could fail to notice the arrival of the houses? I have always heard people say they want a house, a house for a white dove. At least for warmth. At least... to find, to fi... ... thus, along the paths, through the presses. Friends pass along the same path, as do the householders; people often pass carrying loads of ripe cornelian cherries or plums, people carrying hay, and livestock. The paths between the fields are very narrow. Why are they so busy now? Or is it because we often compare them with the road? The village has a road too, just a little farther down. Strangely, the asphalt cannot be seen these days. Have they covered it so it won’t give heat to the trees and plants in the gardens? They have covered the asphalt with sheqema, which the local farmer gathers in the forest as a medicinal plant for the state. The sheqema lies spread out drying on the asphalt all day. Then the vehicles pass: Skodas carrying ore, buses full of people and cars. Everyone does a second job too: they both hear and see the sheqema and the hoes. The villagers are in the fields irrigating, while a second task of theirs is being carried out on the road. 2. Can a person be treated to a piece of road? A road—I wouldn’t want any...» The conditions are hidden, so small that until today it has not been possible... (Continued on page 3) ... it makes the seasons, in the smaller towns, with grass and so even in a chronic manner. A wonder! Could it be that here in the village whiteness is dictated by the color of milk? Milk which now, after the harvest and the decisions and work of the Party’s final meeting, has begun to fill the kneading bowls, the cheesecloths and the cheese vats. Or does the white harmonize with the women’s snow-white clothes and contrast beautifully with the men’s black felt caps and waistcoats? White goes well and looks beautiful with everything here. Freshness drips from the answers. The answers have spread their wings and are seeking new spaces; they have become weighty. In the ... they are heavy. In the ... the big ... wait, hungry. The sungu, beyond the grape arbors, sends out a murmur every day, releasing it like a spell to bring us freshness too. Freshness rushes in from the paths. — These paths are tended so carefully. Water gurgles along them all summer long. Some water comes from the canals and hurries toward the fields and the maize. Then it gathers beneath the sloping fields and sets off toward the gardens. Walk carefully, don’t break the water channel. Who knows, some humble craftsman may have repaired the canal himself...» 2. Can a person be provided with a piece of road? A road could not be «I would want some...» The conditions are secret, so small that, up to