FACING THE TASKS, FACING THE COMMITMENTS LEZHË When economic thinking gains ground For many years, the greenhouse brigade in Zejmen, in the district of Lezhë, has been outstanding. This year too, it fulfilled its production plan for tomatoes for export and the market, while revenues reached 103 percent. Once again, brigade leader Terezë Malshi kept her commitment. After the task had been fulfilled, the idea was raised of planting a second crop of tomatoes on the three hectares of glass greenhouses. “What?” said some brigade members, and they “voted” against the idea. “Why, we’ve never tried it in any year. That’s like throwing our efforts into the river for nothing.” Nevertheless, the sector supervisor, the tireless agronomist Luigj Kola, together with the brigade leader and several other comrades, began discussing it and working out the figures. In previous years, after August the brigade would go to help other brigades, with work such as tending the corn, and only when it was time for spinach would they bring some workers back to the greenhouses. This year, following the experience of the Sukth Agricultural Enterprise in obtaining two crops a year from its greenhouses, soil cultivation began and preparations were made for planting. The small seedlings grown in the seedbed were planted on August 15–16! Here is what the brigade leader tells us: “We made a rough calculation, and it showed that the brigade’s revenues would increase by about 40 percent. However, opposing views meant that not the entire three-hectare area would be planted, but only three dynym!” Nevertheless, when you enter the greenhouses, you can see that the tomatoes are healthy. On the second tier, the fruit is large. The temperature is at the right level. If the Food Agricultural Enterprise had not hindered us by failing to collect the tomatoes for sauce on time, people in the brigade say, we would have had our first tomatoes by September 22. The problem of “lack of temperature” (!), as some officials on the cooperative’s presidium put it, does not hold water. Naturally, it is difficult to break an old tradition and introduce a new, timely and productive one. Of course, it takes work and sweat; we found the cooperative members thinning the plants and hoeing them for the last time. The brigade expects to harvest its first quintals from October 15! Here is another economic development: every year, from the beginning of November, the brigade planted spinach in the greenhouses. Sometimes they also planted winter lettuce. This year they will do things differently. They will plant the spinach in the fields. It may not seem like much. One kilogram of spinach sells for 1 lek, whereas with the second crop of tomatoes the brigade earns 4 lek per kilogram! That is the advantage, not forgetting that late tomatoes are supplied to the market. And why not for export, too! So, tomatoes, spinach and lettuce alike. But the departure from the old work practice had to be discussed. It is the only brigade in the district applying this form of work, following the Sukth Agricultural Enterprise step by step in making the fullest possible use of the land to obtain two crops a year. This requires the completion of the mining operations task, a task that the mine’s managers have still not properly taken in hand. That is why, in this situation, the Party’s primary organization has an urgent duty: together with the cadres and specialists, it must first of all fight against mistaken ideas and hold them accountable for supporting, through studies and concrete work, the search for new reserves in the mine. VANGJEL STEFA

VLORË Only one of its seven types of production keeps the Selenicë mine “in good standing” for the eight-month period. Thus, overall industrial production meets its target with the help of a single indicator: second-grade concentrate. Considerable shortfalls have arisen in natural and refined bitumen, the extraction of bituminous gravel, its processing, first-grade concentrate and dolomite. These shortfalls, however, carry significant weight in the district’s total industrial production. Why is this happening? It is true that the mine has long been operating irregularly, sometimes meeting and even visibly exceeding its targets, and at other times falling short. But in most cases, the “pushes” at the end manage to make up for the previous situation. What does this show? It shows that opportunities have been held in reserve to meet the tasks more consistently. September has been declared a month of intensive effort, so that the situation will change in the nine-month period. Specific targets have also been set. What does the first 15 days of this month show? There has been good progress in the extraction of bituminous gravel, where the target has been exceeded. Will the target be reached—will the eight-month deficit be eliminated? That depends on whether the current pace of work is maintained, as well as on dolomite production. The situation remains almost unchanged in the various types of bitumen. Foreign researchers were also present: An Raid], director of UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage Directorate; Juka Jokileto, Secretary-General of ICCROM (International Organization for the Restoration of Monuments); Teodor Paskal, director of the Institute for the Restoration of Macedonia (Yugoslavia); Henri Faulín (France), a researcher of folk architecture; Erika Rihter, employee of the Stuttgart Monuments Institute (FRG); and Guntram Koch, researcher (FRG). The symposium was opened by the chairman of the Committee for Culture and Arts, prof. Alfred Uçi, who noted, among other things, that this event would make it possible to present the achievements of our sciences in the development, study and preservation of the Executive Committee of the district People’s Council, Stavri Rista, and many others. preservation of

— The symposium “Berat, its values and their restoration” began its proceedings — As part of the celebrations marking the 2,400th anniversary of the founding of the city of Berat, the symposium “Berat, its values and their restoration,” organized by the Committee for Culture and Arts and the Institute of Cultural Monuments, began its proceedings at the “Margarita Tutulani” House of Culture and Folk Creativity. Scientific staff from the Institute of Folk Culture, the Institute of History, the Institute of Linguistics and Literature, the Center for Archaeological Research, the Central State Archive, the National Library, staff from the district’s institutions and scientific circles in the fields of history and archaeology, creators and enthusiasts of artistic heritage from this city and other districts, etc., took part. Also present were member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, comrade Foto Çami; member of the Central Committee of the Party and chairwoman of the General Council of the FDSH, Nexhmije Hoxha; Chairman of the Committee for Science and Technology, Ajet Ylli; member of the Central Committee of the Party, Spiro Koleka; Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences, Hekuran Mara; First Secretary of the District Party Committee, Hysen Shahu; and Chairman Rista, with whom intensive contacts were held during the past [unclear]. The participation of researchers from other countries, he continued, testifies not only to their growing interest in the values of Albanian culture and history, but will also help us benefit from the scientific achievements of other countries. The outstanding values of this museum city and their scholarly study, as well as the major effort devoted to their restoration and preservation, have made it natural to complete the documentation needed to include the museum city of Berat on the lists of the world’s cultural heritage. The Albanian side is now waiting for the competent UNESCO bodies to examine and decide on our request. Restoration work in the museum city of Berat, he went on to say, began in 1961, not counting some minor interventions made even earlier. The years 1960–1970 can be described as a period [text incomplete] of artistic and environmental [values] created in this city throughout its history, and of the major work that has been and is being carried out to study and restore these values, such as the Castle, which is the origin of the city, religious monuments, folk architecture, etc. as the period of of history and archaeology of Berat, other districts, etc. He also addressed issues concerning the organic and functional links between the old and new city; expanding the functions of museum monuments and the information available about them, which would increase public interest; and explaining the shift from restoring individual building units to larger units and even ensembles, in order to respond appropriately to the complexity of their urban-planning, architectural and environmental values. Several papers were then presented. Shuajp Mane, head of the Berat cultural monuments department, presented the results of research and discoveries at the Castle of Gorica, concerning dwellings dating from the Late Bronze Age to the 2nd century BCE. The director of the Center for Archaeological Research, senior research associate Neritan Ceka, in his paper “The antiquity and ancient name of the Castle of Berat,” argued that historical analysis no longer supports identifying the Castle of Berat with the Illyrian city of Antipatras, and that the information about the Illyrian city of Partha is a better fit for Berat, a view also supported by archaeological finds. (Continued on page 2) Their preservation has made it natural to complete the necessary documentation of world competent UNESCO bodies to review and decide on our request. The treasures of our people’s cultural heritage help them understand themselves, their creative cultural strength and the history of their lives; they help them harness their energies to advance our culture further. The paper “The City-Museum of Berat: Achievements and Prospects” was delivered by the director of the Institute of Cultural Monuments, Emin Riza. Among other things, he pointed out that the preservation of cultural heritage in general, and of monumental and artistic heritage in particular, has been a constant concern of generations of our nation and of the creators of these values over the centuries. After speaking about the many-centuries-old history of the city of Berat, which began around the 4th century BCE, he turned to its diverse and great cultural, civilizational, architectural—

THE SYMPOSIUM BERAT, ITS VALUES AND THEIR RESTORATION September 21–22, 1990 (Photo: ATSH)

PËRMET Shortfalls are “eating up” previous overfulfilments With the exception of municipal services, during September 1–15 the other indicators showed a decline in the pace of plan fulfilment, and most enterprises did not even meet their plans. As a result, the percentage of previous overfulfilments is also falling. The enterprise managers cannot excuse these shortfalls by citing new difficulties. This emerged at a review held at the executive committee of the district People’s Council. Resolving the problems that have arisen now, as the fourth quarter begins and the whole year draws to a close, requires better organization, management and mobilization of everyone. At the construction enterprise, the pla- (Continued on page 2)

The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, comrade Ramiz Alia, sent the following congratulatory telegram to the President of the Republic of Malta, Vincent Tabone: “Celebrating the anniversary of Malta’s Independence Day gives me pleasure, on behalf of the Albanian people and in my own name, to extend my warm greetings to you and my best wishes to the people of Malta for happiness and prosperity. I express my conviction that the friendly relations between our two countries will continue to develop, in the interests of both peoples, peace and cooperation in the Mediterranean and Europe. (ATSH)

At the invitation of the Albanian Committee for Cultural and Friendly Relations with the Outside World, a delegation from the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples, headed by the Institute’s vice president, Eva Seaone, paid a visit to our country. The delegation was received at Outside World by its chairman, Mr. Zef Malica, with whom they exchanged views on the progress of cultural exchanges between our two countries and their prospects. During their stay in our country, the Cuban guests visited educational and cultural centers in the districts of Tirana, Gjirokastra and Saranda. They were also received by the deputy chairman of the Committee for Culture and the Arts, Çapajev Gjokutaj, and by the First Secretary of the Court of the Ministry of Education, Bardhyl Golemi, who acquainted the guests with the development of culture and education in our country. (ATSH)

– Travel notes – A sailor’s life unfolds between two emotional peaks. It holds the joy of returning to the Homeland and family, as well as the longing brought on by being far from everything dear that you have left behind. But have you really left precious things behind? This expression makes sense only in terms of physical distance, because within you lies everything dear: the Homeland, family, comrade, friend. And more besides. The farther we travel, the more we feel that Albania belongs to this whole person. And each one of these sailors here, through his life, brings and draws close to you, in a very concrete way, the life you lived there on the beloved soil of the Homeland. A Radio-Tirana broadcast. The pilot who guides us into the port of Gibraltar, saying with great respect and affection, “Mr. Alia is a contemporary leader,” or the fact that, during port inspections, the only ships the drug-sniffing dogs do not approach are ours, makes the presence of your land, and pride in it, course through your heart and your whole being. Here, off the coast of Portugal, a few miles beyond Lisbon, the ship has resounded with songs, with the popular songs of a family celebration. Sailor Vasil Pjetri is celebrating his birthday aboard ship. Two radiograms arrive almost simultaneously, within a few minutes. The crew sends its wishes to Vasil’s family, and Vasil’s family sends its wishes to the father and his comrades! “Happy birthday, have a good voyage!” At this celebration in the ocean, the songs being sung bring Albania here. They bring our people, the epic North and the song of Vali Zake, which seems so fitting here amid the ocean’s waves. It is the end of August, and many sailors are waiting for radiograms about their children’s study placements. And then, one after another, day after day, the radio brings news: study placements in pharmacy, foreign languages, engineering. Another fragment of Albanian life, of its beauty, comes and settles here among the people at sea. And nowhere else as much as here on the ship can joy belong only to the person who experiences it. It becomes everyone’s joy. This is not merely poetic or figurative; it is very real and concrete. Today, for instance, the comrades go to Enver Mazhij’s cabin to congratulate him, even though on September 1 he begins the Faculty of Medicine, in the pharmacy department. It was a pleasant tradition. With this long service, sailor Rustem Sharka risks missing the first wedding in his family, his daughter’s wedding. The ship’s navigator is counting down the voyage minute by minute. The whole crew is living through the wait in a deeply human way, as the ship “Durrës” is due to arrive on Saturday afternoon. Rustem is calm; he feels a deep longing and is more worried than the others, but he knows well that wherever men go, when we get there, she will say: “Son, come here and let your mother kiss you.” On the return journey, in the “Bay of Biscay,” I saw with my mind’s eye how Captain Pandeli Golemi stayed at the helm on the bridge for around 30 hours straight, without sleep, while food rations piled up below and he felt no hunger. It was a misery like black smoke, and the captain told me: “This fog blinds the radar too. There have been many collisions here, and the place is called the ‘Ships’ Graveyard.’ I can’t move, because every crew member working on a ship ultimately wants to…” Come on, we have the captain. Their trust and affection sustain them here, not just for so many hours, but for longer too, as has happened to us… Pandi is now an old sailor, devotedly attached to the ship and the sea. He does not express this in declarations, but through the whole subject matter of his conversations; one might say he never quite comes ashore—his stories are always about the sea, the ship, the ports, the cargoes, and so on. This is one of the reasons the crew of the ship “Tirana” has established its many-year tradition of fulfilling and exceeding its duties. It enjoys the fleet’s confidence. Of course, it is not alone; it has many companions, such as “Arbëria,” “Vlora,” and others. Life aboard ship is truly a concentrated fragment of contemporary Albanian life, with all our efforts, concerns and hopes. (Continued on page 3)