From the writer’s notebook Knowledge of local history is just as necessary for the people as its discovery is for the researcher. Through its varied events and aspects, it forms part of the great history of the nation. With countless happenings and distinctive features, it unfolds its treasures. Generations have always wanted, and longed, to know their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, their village and region. And the more educated they become, the greater their interest in what is closest to them. Among us, it is especially the oral tradition, so vivid and full of emotion, that carries out this communication with the past. Old documents present events more concretely, make the characters more real, bring accuracy and enrich our knowledge. Museums, too, do a great deal—when they are truly museums. We have created museums even in villages, and there are quite a few. Every village has a small history, which means it may have a great one. The trouble is that museums in villages, and in the district as well, have been left very neglected. Often we have too many of them. We use them for every other purpose, as storage rooms. This was also shown by the national seminar held last month on this issue. I asked in Librazhd whether there were any village museums that were “really maintained.” They mentioned, as they had another time, the one in Berzheshtë, which could also be a regional museum. Berzheshta is one of the best-known centers of ancient and recent history in the Shkumbin Valley. If the museum there is kept as it was a year ago, it is not satisfactory. There is the potential for a model museum in that village. The district museum is good. With its outdoor section, it is original and appealing. Inside, however, it gives us much the same as the museums of other districts, which copy one another. The archaeological exhibits (mainly accidental finds) are impressive, but this museum in Librazhd does not do enough to represent the great Albanian 20th century, when the highlands of Shkumbin were among the most notable anti-communist centers of the time. This time I came to Librazhd to speak about the Aranites. They are the oldest known feudal family in Albania, the longest-lasting and one of the most deserving of recognition for their historical role. They are mentioned as early as 1010 (and are even older) and disappeared only in 1551. The first uprisings against the sultans; Gjergj Araniti Golem; and, as a child, he traveled around Europe. In the 1430s, he defeated the two armies of Murat II, one near Berzheshtë, the other in Labëri. Moisi Golemi, his nephew, is regarded by Barleti as the Albanian military commander second only to Skanderbeg. Most of the wars won by Kastrioti took place on the borders of the Aranites’ territories, from Dibra to Ohrid, or even farther east, beyond the Drin (Stejggrad, Mo-; drejtë, Oteneç, Librazhd; Polog, etc.). It was only in 1466 that the Janissaries and akıncı cavalry first managed to break through the Shkumbin Valley, but barely a year later, the people of this area, terribly maimed and devastated, would again face Mehmet II’s army of 150,000. Tens of thousands were killed and massacred across the Shkumbin region; “another thousand were put in chains and dispersed as slaves throughout the empire.” This is exactly as the oral tradition tells it about Gjorg Golemi (Gjergj Araniti) and the fall of his uprising at Sopot (remember the famous song of the people of Sopot). Here is an instance in which local history is an important part of national history. Librazhd showed interest in learning the fullest possible details. Oral traditions enrich the history and the chroniclers; the documents preserved in archives enrich them, just as oral tradition enriches those documents. Let the Shkumbin Valley resound with that oral tradition: “Shkumbin of my heart, Shkumbin!” I could not make it up to Berzheshtë this March. From Librazhd to Manastirec—the border of Mokra—for nearly 30 km, the river looks as if it could be forded by car. The ford was impassable, even with this year’s drought. The left bank of the Shkumbin, with its many villages in the Librazhd district, is not fortunate enough to be connected to the national highway. This time, I could not drink water

EARLY SPRING WITH MAJOR TASKS Moving quickly is not rushing. - KORÇË - The rainfall a few days ago in the Korçë district created very good conditions for planting. But how are they being used? “To move quickly is not to rush; it means taking a sure step in planting,” explains the district chief agronomist, Gëzim Kuqo. After the intensive completion of sugar beet planting, attention is now turning to potatoes. By yesterday, 900 ha had been planted across the district, out of the planned area of 1,800 ha. It should be said that this year’s special conditions make the ten-month period—which for several years has been considered the most appropriate deadline for completing this task—seem outdated and invalid. It is possible for potato planting to be completed in all the farms by the end of April. The fact that, compared with the same period last year, when twice as much had been planted by yesterday, supports this new deadline. But in some farms, such as the cooperatives of Pojan and Progrit, and the state farms of Plasë, Sheqeras, Vreshtas and Drit-

thas, higher planting rates are needed. The rainfall also made tobacco planting an extremely urgent task. Nearly all the farms have a good supply of seedlings that have grown in recent days. Within a few days after the rain-

- FUKES - Last year, potato cultivation in the Kukës district achieved high results. Last year, high results were achieved in potato cultivation in the Kukës district. As a result, following the increase in the state purchase prices, interest in increasing production and yields grew. Shishtavec, Novosej, Topjan, Caja and Borja earned 50–60 percent of their income from this crop. One result of putting the economic incentive system into operation was an increase in cooperative incomes; in Shishtavec and Cajë, the value of a workday rose to over 15 lekë, mainly thanks to the good work done with potatoes. Under these circumstances, this year work by contract and task plan has been applied from the very start of planting this crop. As a result, daily planting rates are high. Every day, 50–60 ha are planted. As Shefqet Murati, chief agronomist in the agriculture section, says, this task began almost a month earlier than in previous years. The district has 1,238 ha to plant. So far, around 600 ha have been planted. The Vila cooperative has worked best, planting 80 ha, as have Bushtrica, Borja and Zapod, which are close to completing the work. Shishtavec, Caja and Topojan are further behind, and also have larger areas. Potato seed has been secured in good time. The necessary organic fertilizer has also been distributed. But there is a concern: every day, telegrams arrive at the executive committee from agricultural farms, which are being prevented from continuing planting because of a shortage of fuel and phosphate fertilizers. Apparently, as a result of the weather conditions in March and the advancement of the planting season, supplies of materials and equipment are not keeping pace. NAIM ZOTO

(Conversation with the head of the agriculture section, Vath Maloku) - KRULE - - Now that the spring planting campaign has reached its busiest point, what have you identified as the key link in achieving earliness? - This year’s conditions helped us advance the planting. By the end of March, 60 percent of the grain maize and 20 percent of the silage maize had been planted. This means we will not be under as much pressure in April as in previous years. Nevertheless, 5,100 ha remain to be planted. We need to maintain a daily pace of 250–300 ha to meet the deadlines we have set. What is special about this campaign is that we have secured the necessary material resources, mainly fertilizers and pesticides. - Given the conditions this spring, what is being done in your district to ensure early germination? - There can be no earliness without ensuring early germination. The prolonged drought had an adverse effect, forcing some farms, such as the Gjorm state farm and the cooperatives of Nikël and Laç, etc., to slow down planting. But that is not the right solution. In these conditions, we believe early planting must be accompanied by organizing irrigation work. Otherwise early planting makes no sense; it makes no sense at all if germination can only be ensured a month later. So far, we have irrigated 1,500 ha planted this spring. - Does the agricultural machinery guarantee that planting will proceed at a steady pace? - The machinery is over 85 percent ready. Nor are we concerned about the progress of ploughing, since around 20 percent of the land remains unploughed. The important thing now is for the fuel department to ensure a steady supply that keeps pace with the rate of planting, not with its schedules. Otherwise, rapid growth will be ensured through irrigation, not by those schedules—this is the link that will guarantee earliness. THANAS SAHATÇIU

- SHKODËR - Tobacco planting in the Shkodër district is proceeding at a good pace. So far, planting has reached 29 percent of the planned area. The cooperatives of Oblikë and Hajmel stand out: they have planted 46 and 42 percent of the area under this crop, respectively. The major tobacco producers, such as the Koplik agricultural cooperative, which has 610 ha to plant, and the Gruemirë cooperative, with 480 ha, etc., are not lagging behind either. So far, the greatest difficulties in planting tobacco under current conditions have been encountered by Bajza, where 28 of the 48 brigades responsible for planting this crop have already planted. To get the tobacco fields planted, other farms, although they have greater capacity than Bajza to grow tobacco, are lagging behind. You should know that in the farms of Mishkodra, to plant tobacco seedlings in the fields, they are bringing water in automobiles and other vehicles—the only way to get them planted within the optimal timeframe. RIFAT DAJTI

They decided to make Serveti a production specialist for the whole cooperative. That meant he had to leave the brigade. A young, energetic man was therefore appointed brigade leader, so that he could further develop Serveti’s experience. A comrade from the sector headquarters had also come along with the new brigade leader. “Hey, Servet, shall we start?” “Yes, whenever you like.” “Good, then let’s start with the number of work tools, the documents, and finally the land.” “Ah, I don’t agree with that,” Serveti interjected. “The first thing, I say, should be to start with the brigade members!” “What’s that?” someone asked in surprise. “Why change that order? The brigade’s records first? No, I’m saying that, as the former brigade leader, I should make the new brigade leader aware of some of the qualities of each member of the brigade. To me, that’s the handover. So let’s start with the people!” And it was done as Serveti said. He pointed out who was skilled at irrigation, who at hoeing, and so on. He gave an intimate introduction to each person. As for the tools and the land, you can see those whenever you like. The sketch map, let’s say, and a few documents, if you are interested; but my concern is with the brigade members. This story was told to us the other day by the dedicated specialist Ahmet Oja. MUSA KERTULAJ

For almost a year, all the shops in the town of Tepelenë have had their display windows stocked with eggs. This is the result of the good work of the district’s agricultural farms, particularly the poultry farm cooperative of the “Polo Bezhani” agricultural enterprise. For years, this preferred consumer product had been in short supply on the market. With the construction of the poultry farm at the agricultural enterprise and poultry units in nearly all the agricultural cooperatives, egg production at the end of 1989 was 13.6 times greater than in 1985. “With the quantity of eggs now supplied to the market,” says the head of the trade section, Aqim, “have you dealt with the shortages? Rusto—now we have definitively met the people’s needs for goods in the shops themselves…” In 1989, cooperative members’ yards had 10,000 more poultry than in 1987. JORGO ZHONGA (Photo: Dh. Kokolji)

…tion section, Aqim, have you dealt with the shortages? Rusto—now we have definitively met the people’s needs for goods in the shops themselves… In 1989, cooperative members’ yards had 10,000 more poultry than in 1987. JORGO ZHONGA

Yesterday, an agreement on cooperation in the field of health for 1990–1995 was signed in Tirana between the government of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania and the government of the Republic of Hungary. On the Albanian side, the agreement was signed by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health, docent Lutf(i) Alia, and on the Hungarian side by the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Affairs, prof. Illes Bela. The agreement provides for the exchange of experience and technical-scientific information in the field of health, cooperation between the institutions, faculties and medical associations of the two countries, the exchange of experience with scientists and specialists, and participation in various medical activities organized by each country. The agreement also provides for patients to be sent by both parties for diagnosis and medical treatment, etc. During their stay in our country, the Hungarian delegation, headed by the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Affairs, prof. Illes Bela, was received by the Minister of Health, Ahmet Kambo. They exchanged views on ways to develop further relations and exchanges between the countries in various sectors of health and medical sciences. Also present at the reception was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Hungary to the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Mihail Kornidesz. The delegation also visited health institutions and social and cultural facilities in Tirana, Krujë, Durrës, Berat and Fier. Yesterday, the Hungarian delegation departed from our country. (ATSH)

Every month, the terraced fields of Lukovë in the Sarandë district welcome and send off young men and women from all over the country. During March, 200 young volunteers from Tirana, Mirdita, Kolonja and Pogradec worked at this action center, fulfilling and exceeding their tasks, especially in the seasonal work among the olive trees. “No volunteer brigade has returned to its city without exceeding the daily quota,” the action’s commissar, volunteer Kimete Kupi from Tirana, told us. The volunteers of the “Pal Mëlyshi” brigade from Mirdita, for instance, achieved an average of 130 percent of their monthly quota, while those of the “Petro N. Luarasi” brigade from Kolonja achieved over 115 percent, etc. Leading the competition were Qendruar Kastriot Veshi from Mirdita, Gerta Pandeliu and Vasil Angjio from Pogradec, etc. After work, the young volunteers spend their free time taking part in various activities. (According to ATSH)

This time we will not discuss the Institute’s pedagogical work, but the efforts being made to encourage new talent. A future teacher should be a person with a broad cultural outlook, not merely a specialist in the subject they teach. A life outside the Institute? That is why it is rightly noted that the students of this Institute are very fond of painting and have taken part in activities with the city’s artists, who teach them oil painting—landscapes, portraits, still lifes—along with textile work, copper repoussé and even sculpture in the round. These works reflect student life, the work of our young people in volunteer campaigns, their leisure time, and so on. This exhibition opened at the district art gallery. Visitors praised the work of students Leonard Radoja, Ledinë Alija, Nesti Koçi, Yllkë Kolqiqi, Astrit Deda, etc. Exhibitions of visual art, collective or individual, are being held everywhere, even in small districts—and often with considerable success. Among them, one can pick out the exhibitions of young talents, who have been recognized not only by public opinion but also at national competitions. The exhibition of student painters in Shkodër is especially valuable as part of an important artistic center. Alongside its genuine scientific activities, the Institute also brings some color to the school’s life and nurtures young people with broader interests in the arts. This is a responsibility of the young people in society. Photo: A. Bekteshi