A CONTRIBUTION TO STRENGTHENING THE SPIRIT OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION The address delivered by Comrade Ramiz Alia, Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the PSRA, at the 45th session of the UN General Assembly has aroused wide interest and resonance both within and outside our country. Before the highest international forum, the head of the Albanian state set out Albania’s just and principled positions in the field of international relations and foreign policy. The profound and dialectical analysis of today’s international situations and developments, the accurate, realistic and objective interpretation of problems and of the various political forces on the world stage, and the valuable and sound conclusions and lessons drawn from the changes and transformations that have taken place in Europe and the world constitute the solid platform of our socialist state’s foreign policy, which guarantees our success, security and national interest. Albania is a small country, but one with a great history. The centuries-long heroic wars and struggles waged by our people for freedom, national independence and their very existence impel them to constantly seek and fight for the strengthening of the spirit of international cooperation, for friendship and peaceful coexistence with the peoples of the whole world, and for peace and stability everywhere in the world. This is also the great message conveyed by Comrade Ramiz Alia’s historic address to the UN General Assembly. “We come to this meeting to ensure for all our countries that the interests of peoples and of the peoples themselves, whether small or large, are upheld.” By rightly appreciating the democratic processes unfolding in the world today and by actively participating in them, Albania has consistently committed itself to establishing equal international relations, to democratizing and humanizing these relations, and to eliminating practices of dictation, pressure and threats against sovereign peoples. This is clearly expressed in Comrade Ramiz Alia’s address to the UN, in which the process of easing international tensions was assessed as a positive achievement and an aid to the establishment of new international relations—an achievement that can be given concrete form and advanced further through the joint efforts of all peoples and countries. Our country has welcomed this process and is making every effort and using every means at its disposal to deepen it further, overcome the policy of blocs and closed alliances, and eliminate the factors and causes that lead to the outbreak of conflicts and wars. Our country proceeds from the unshakable conviction that peace and international security are values that serve the interests of all peoples and can become forces for greater international cooperation and understanding. Comrade Ramiz Alia once again publicly and emphatically confirms that the foreign policy of our state is a dialectical policy, which takes into account the changes that [Part of the article cut off at the top edge] to repeatedly call for strengthening the spirit of international cooperation, for the well-being of coexistence with the peoples of our country and of the whole world, speech at the UN General Assembly. “We come to this important meeting,” said Comrade Ramiz Alia, “with the desire to contribute, to the extent of our capabilities, to strengthening the spirit of international cooperation, so that peace and security [Continuation of the article cut off at the top edge] of non-interference, of opposing the use of Albanian territory against other peoples, etc. On this basis, Albania has also joined the process of European security and cooperation, the CSCE, expressing its desire to participate with full rights in the CSCE summit meeting to be held in Paris at the end of November and expressing its commitment to work in the spirit of the obligations that will [be] ... (Continues on page 2)

— “Standard-bearers in implementing the new economic mechanism, based on increasing productivity and strengthening work discipline” — Yesterday morning, in one of the halls of the National Historical Museum in the capital, the plenary session of the People’s Council of the Tirana district held its proceedings. It reviewed the work carried out and set tasks for strengthening discipline, improving workers’ working conditions, and so on. Those attending included invited guests, chairmen of People’s Councils from all the country’s districts, social activists and distinguished figures, managers of enterprises and institutions, and others. Also present were a member of the Political Bureau, the secretary of the Party’s Central Committee, and the first secretary of the District Party Committee, Comrade Xhelil Gjoni, candidate member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee (Continued on page 2)

Comrade Ramiz’s address at the current session of the UN fills us with pride and optimism and, at the same time, places great responsibilities upon us. The development of science and technology, as Comrade Ramiz emphasizes in this speech, is one of those global problems that cannot be solved without the contribution of the entire international community. Increasing cooperation in these fields with international and specialized organizations, with regions and individual states, has become a necessity at this new stage of our development. Our research, scientific and design institutions, and the entire scientific and technical intelligentsia, will intensify their efforts and have the capacity to address these matters at a high level. We will seek to increase technical and scientific cooperation with United Nations bodies, with which a tradition has already been established, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), FAO, UNESCO, INATOM, UNIDO, the Economic Commission for Europe, and others, and establish ties with other organizations. The fields in which we will cooperate more extensively will include research and increasing the value of our underground resources, agriculture, industry, administration, and so on. Among other things, this cooperation will aim to open the way to economic and technical cooperation with foreign companies and countries. AJET YLLI Chairman of the Committee for Science and Technology

Comrade Ramiz Alia’s address has also aroused great enthusiasm and pride among army personnel, because the idea that every effort, every task and every action serves the country’s development and progress, the improvement of its well-being, and the safeguarding of its freedom and independence runs through it. In this context, the personnel of our defense structures are increasingly finding their role, putting everything to better and more effective use in the service of the homeland, to guarantee its creative and constructive work, and to ensure a peaceful and free life. Yet despite our good intentions and wishes, dangers and problems in the present time (Continued on page 2)

— An article and a photograph that arrived at our editorial office yesterday — The newspaper’s longtime contributor Jorgo Zhonga sent us a letter yesterday by hand from Tepelena, along with a brief note and a photograph. Here is what he writes: “Listening to Comrade Ramiz last night reminded me of an event from several years ago, more precisely, a conversation with 80-year-old Izet Saliaj from Maricaj. ‘I was the only person around here who knew how to read and write,’ the late old man used to tell us. ‘There were many occasions when people came from the surrounding villages so I could read them a letter or write something they needed. I remember the case of a mother from Selcka who, in the middle of winter, knocked on my door one evening. She was delighted because she had received a letter from far away, from beyond the sun, as we say around here, written by her son. But I felt terribly, terribly distressed. Two fellow villagers of the boy had written to his mother about his death. At that moment I cursed myself for knowing how to read and write.’ That detail came to mind at the moment when Comrade Ramiz said that in Albania, ‘Changes are like night and day. This is a figure of speech, but it is a reality that can be seen with one’s own eyes. And I, like every fellow citizen, see this reality every day in Tepelena. The district has a population of over 50,000, but 13 secondary schools. Every student in Kurvelesh, Dukaj, Sinanaj—the most remote areas of the district—goes to one of these schools after completing eight-year schooling. But such evidence is not found in education alone. In 1945, the district’s health service consisted of one doctor and one nurse. Today, in the town of Tepelena alone, with a population of 7,000, more than 40 doctors in various specialties serve. Our district now has a thousand trained personnel and specialists, almost all of them from Tepelena. In this academic year alone, more than 160 students went on to higher education, and dozens of others enrolled while continuing to work. Among them are the young people you see in the photograph, which is why I am sending it to you for publication together with this article.’”

Comrade Ramiz Alia’s address to the UN General Assembly is, from beginning to end, an appeal for understanding and cooperation among the peoples of the world, large and small. From beginning to end, Comrade Ramiz Alia’s address to the UN General Assembly is an appeal for understanding and cooperation among the peoples of the world, large and small. It welcomes all that is being achieved, especially on our European continent, while also emphasizing what more can and must be done to restore a healthy atmosphere of peace and détente, so that peace may be secured and guaranteed for everyone and everywhere. On this shore of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, even during the most difficult periods of their lives, Albanians have never regarded themselves as cut off from Europe. Quite the opposite. They have always striven to participate actively in the mutual and fraternal solidarity of the Balkan peoples, for the safeguarding of peoples’ freedom and well-being. Understanding and cooperation among the Balkan peoples are today, more than ever, a historical imperative. The peoples of our peninsula are even more aware of this, though there are anti-democratic forces working zealously in the opposite direction. National oppression and the incitement of chauvinistic disputes among peoples are anachronistic; concern for peace in the Balkans is essential. The peoples need greater understanding and cooperation, and their shared history offers no shortage of examples. In the European community, too, the Balkan peoples must understand one another better, so that they can make there the valuable contribution that is theirs to make. Comrade Ramiz Alia’s address urges us, activists working for understanding and cooperation in the Balkans, to make these efforts even more tangible and effective. We are certain that his address will continue to find a favorable international response, especially among Albania’s neighbors. Prof. DIMITER S. SHUTERIQI Chairman of the Albanian Committee for Balkan Understanding and Cooperation

NEW YORK, September 29. – The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia, met yesterday afternoon at his residence in New York with the President of Romania, Jon Iliesku. NEW YORK, September 29. – The People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia, met yesterday afternoon at his residence in New York with the President of Romania, Jon Iliesku. During their talks on this occasion, they exchanged views on Albanian-Romanian bilateral relations and expressed their shared desire to develop them further, which serves the interests of both countries and our region. Both heads of state noted, in particular, the problems currently concerning the Balkans and highlighted the interest of both sides in advancing the process of Balkan cooperation. They noted that both countries would make their contribution so that peace and security in the Balkans would continue to grow stronger and become consolidated without interruption. The meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere of mutual understanding. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Reis Malile, and the director of the Institute for the Study of International Relations, Prof. Sofokli Lazri, took part in the meeting. (ATA)

NEW YORK, September 29. – Today the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania met at his residence in New York with the Prime Minister of Finland, Harri Hokeri, with whom he held talks on the further development of relations NEW YORK, September 29. – Today the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania met at his residence in New York with the Prime Minister of Finland, Harri Hokeri, with whom he held talks on the further development of bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields of mutual interest. The talks focused mainly on issues relating to the process of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Finnish Prime Minister expressed to Comrade Ramiz Alia his government’s support for Albania’s full participation in this process. The talks also examined [continues on page 2]

NEW YORK, September 29. – Last night, at the headquarters of this organization, UN Secretary-General Havier Perez de Kuelar hosted a dinner in honor of the heads of state and governments of various countries around the world who are leading their delegations at its 45th General Assembly session. The People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia, also attended the dinner. UN Secretary-General Havier Perez de Kuelar delivered a brief speech in which, among other things, he said: The General Assembly of the United Nations is meeting this year at a time of rapid evolution of events, which has become an almost daily fact of life. (Continues on page 4)

— Review of the fulfillment of the plan and the state budget for 1990 and the draft plan for 1991 — The day before yesterday, under the chairmanship of Comrade Adil Çarçani, a meeting of the Council of Ministers was held to examine the report of the State Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance, “On the fulfillment of the plan and the state budget for 1990, and on the draft plan for the development of the economy and culture and the draft state budget for 1991.” The report and discussion showed that great efforts are being made this year to overcome difficulties and fulfill the targets of the plan and the state budget. Even under conditions of exceptional drought and its severe consequences for energy, agriculture, the foreign-currency balance, industry, etc., many enterprises, cooperatives and institutions have recorded achievements in economic and financial indicators and laid a sound foundation for advancing them further in the coming year. Particular recognition was given to efforts to mitigate and manage the impact of these negative factors by further strengthening the austerity regime. The Council of Ministers focused especially on an analysis of certain subjective factors and criticized state and economic bodies in ministries, districts and local units for failing to meet, in particular, plan targets for oil extraction, chromium production, agriculture, exports, etc. It called for comprehensive organizational measures to be taken so that the plan targets set for the fourth quarter of this year would be achieved. Regarding culture for 1991, following its review of the work carried out by the economic bodies of the Ministry of Finance and the ministries, the Council of Ministers focused particularly on further improvement [of] ... (Continues on page 2)

Our policy is a demand of development and responds to the needs of the country; it is a fundamental component of our socialist ideal for building a just and democratic society.