URBAN TRANSPORT SERVICE FAR FROM MEETING CITIZENS’ NEEDS (The press brigade of “Zëri i popullit”) URBAN TRANSPORT SERVICE FAR FROM MEETING CITIZENS’ NEEDS PASSENGERS WAIT AND WAIT... (The press brigade of “Zëri i popullit”) Urban transport has become part of the intensive life of the capital. Tens of thousands of people travel on it every day, at every hour, bringing life to factories and plants, schools and institutions. It is enough to say that in Tirana this service operates 21 hours a day, from 4:30 in the morning until 1:30 after midnight, to understand the increasing attention being paid to this vital urban need, alongside health, retail, municipal and other services. For this reason, over the past two years a large part of the passenger-transport fleet has been renewed, which has clearly improved the quality of the service. These measures have been very well received by citizens. Today, the service covers 12 routes within the city and nearly 40 other intercity and suburban routes. Recently, the management and the Party’s base organization of the passenger-transport depot have made efforts to organize the service more effectively, extending it further into industrial and residential areas. What we have described reflects the attention being paid to creating favorable working, living and communication conditions for our people everywhere, as an integral part of the intensive life of the capital, which now has nearly a quarter of a million inhabitants. But the facts show that shortcomings and weaknesses in Tirana’s urban transport service are also significant. A few small coins in his pocket. It is bus 06 465, with conductor Ramiz Osmani. I draw the conductor’s attention to this irregular conduct; he smiles as if caught in the act and continues working indifferently. We get off to board the Ring Road route. Here, too, there is a “surprise”: conductor Shkëndie Muça takes half a ticket from a passenger. “That’s irregular. Why do you accept it?” we ask. “I want to meet my quota! I’ve collected only 500 tickets so far.” We do not understand this reasoning. Why should this happen? Are tickets not available for sale? Let us clarify. We go to the depot. The enterprise director, Fode Daci, repeatedly tells us about the indifference of the trading enterprises—food, social catering, industrial goods, and even bookshops—in implementing the Council of Ministers’ decision requiring them to sell 0.3-lek tickets at all sales outlets. This concern is entirely justified. But it absolutely does not justify the laxity and the highly punishable irregular conduct of some conductors, who fleece people left and right, casually taking money from passengers or, as the depot managers worryingly acknowledge, even selling half-price counterfeit tickets, which they themselves then accept as valid! The cause of this problem lies within the depot itself. Ask them: when the entire administration went out to inspect and, as is claimed, revenues increased considerably, where did that money go? Can unreasonable abuses and the desire for easy gain be repeated not once, but two or three times, at the expense of passengers, only for people then to come out with the slogan: “It’s not our fault; the ticket book hasn’t arrived”? On the appointed date, this long list also ends with Lutfije Ibro, who was likewise given the disciplinary measure “reprimand with warning” because three passengers were found without tickets. It is striking that this “vigilant” inspection of all those conductors and drivers caught breaking the rules allows such violations to go unaddressed—from unauthorized absences from work to cases where three to six citizens have been caught without tickets, and even cases of taking money. Nevertheless, the meeting proceeds as usual; the “damage” is small, and everyone disperses as if nothing had happened, with reprimands handed out here and there. You could hardly find a more lenient attitude toward oversight! Imagine two depot employees meeting on the day the technical council is due to convene and saying to each other: “Where are you going?” “I’m going before the committee to be disciplined. And be disciplined too.” “Come on, then—we’re going the same way. Let’s take a stroll to the depot.” It is this weak oversight, resigned to the situation, that turns a blind eye to the unacceptable conduct of some conductors. And when it comes to finding out whether there are any outstanding conductors, they mention only the names Qefserë Como, Rahime Hysi and Ismete Shahini, even though the depot has more than 530 conductors. We believe that this large group of people does not want to be included among those who so badly tarnish its reputation. But clearly, little is being done at the depot to promote the example set by those who stand out. Single tickets, or, as the park’s managers acknowledge with concern, they manage to sell the counterfeit ticket at half price, then accept it themselves as valid! The root of this problem lies inside the park. We ask: when the entire administration went out to carry out inspections and, as claimed, revenues rose significantly, where were the tickets found?! Of course, this does not stop them from loudly complaining about other people’s indifference. “We have taken quite a few disciplinary measures. We have even disciplined communists,” says Lulzim Zela, secretary of the park’s Party bureau, almost boastfully. And the disciplinary measures taken really are striking: during 1988, more than 450; almost as many in 1989; and measures have continued to be handed out intensively during the first months of this year as well. Let us consider only the meeting of the technical council—the commission, as they call it at the park—held on March 26 of this year. A full 50 disciplinary measures were issued that day. They begin with Napoleon Dume, a ticket collector disciplined with a warning and reprimand; to mention only three names: Qefserë Çomo, Rahime Hysi and Ismete Shahini, while the park has more than 530 ticket collectors. deserve to be included on the list of those who tarnish its image so badly. But there is clearly no effort to publicize outstanding examples, and at the park they are content to cite three or five names; an outstanding worker is found only on some faded emulation board, or is satisfied with a proposal for a decoration, which does not serve to encourage others. Inspection that does not inspect There are 12 people on the staff at the passenger park who draw a salary solely to carry out inspections. To see what sort of inspections they perform and how busy they are, it is enough to recall what we said a few lines above: within a month or more, they submit a list of 50 people who have committed those “minor violations,” that is, (Continued on page 2)

DAILY NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT WHAT THE INNOVATORS PROPOSE They save, but the reserves are not exhausted — DIBËR — “For the quarter, you exceeded the production plan in many indicators. What about saving raw materials?” “We have many products for export. We are saving 20 quintals of wicker, which is one of the most important raw materials for our enterprise. From this wicker, the workshop managed by Nadire Tollja will now make various export goods worth 70,000 lek in foreign currency. This saving resulted from making full use of the wicker and its waste, finding new designs that put even the smallest scraps to use. Besides the wicker, we also saved 120,000 lek worth of clothing. The workshop managed by Mensur Selami, which uses imported raw materials, has also made savings.” “Let’s stop here for a moment. Are the savings in these materials significant?” “Very much so, and there are plenty of opportunities. We saved 24,000 lek from sheet metal, leather and other materials brought from abroad alone. And it is not just raw materials. Everything connected with imports is being looked at more carefully, with an economist’s eye. By extending the service life of the cutting tools we use, we achieved savings of several thousand lek. At the January plenary meeting of the district Party committee, our collective pledged to exceed the annual export production by 100…” (Continued on page 2)

At the Bank, at “21 Dhjetori,”

Outstanding mechanic Besnik Litja at work maintaining machinery at the Lezhë food enterprise. (Photo: N. Xhufka)

— BERAT — Fatos Tusha, scientific secretary at the district executive committee of the KP, says that last year 15 studies were undertaken in enterprises within the industrial system and are being put into practice, with annual benefits of 4 million lek. For example, the textile combine has set up a production line for porcelain components, the production of buckets made from cardboard by the paper factory in Lushnjë, and the repair of imported combs, with annual benefits of 1.8 million lek. At the oil-processing plant in Qyteti Stalin, working with the chemical-processing scientific sector, they replaced 20 percent of the imported essence used in the production of washing powder with locally produced essence. The oil mechanical plant and the textile mechanical plant are also cited for good work in replacing up to 95 percent of imported steels with domestic ones. Meanwhile, it should be said that the so-called “small” enterprises have looked for ways to reduce the use of imported raw materials. Thus NPA, NPN and NPD have replaced varnish, diluent and shellac with domestic varnish, etc. Many studies are being put forward, but not all are implemented, even though it is implementation that matters. For example, the studies being conducted in the chemical-processing scientific sector in Qyteti Stalin on producing transformer oil, spray oil for agriculture and a type of grease are worthwhile; they would yield 435,000 lek a year. Why are such studies being delayed? Sometimes enterprise or institutional directors think that implementing studies is the responsibility of the authors alone. They are undoubtedly the first to contribute, but these are studies that benefit the entire enterprise, and no one has the right to consider themselves exempt from helping put them into practice as quickly as possible.

At the Bank, at “21 Dhjetori,” at the railway station, at Selvia, at the stop near the hospitals, and at many others, at various times of day, large crowds gather for many minutes at a time, sometimes for as long as half an hour. As a citizen, you wait at the Bank stop for the route to Kombinat. You see that there are buses that are supposed to serve this route, but they do not move. Meanwhile, hundreds of people gather. You do not understand why these “rallies” form, or what responsibility lies with the depot management, dispatch office, drivers and conductors. Eventually you force your way onto a bus, pushing from side to side. But it makes a very bad impression that, within a single stop, two citizens give the conductor not a full ticket but half of one, while another slips in with… are also significant.

At the invitation of the National Committee of Veterans of the Albanian People’s War, Paolo Emilio Taviani arrived in our country for a friendly visit. He is a prominent political and social figure, president of the Italian Federation of Freedom Volunteers (FIVL) and vice-president of the Senate of the Italian Republic. He is accompanied by Senator Mario Ferrari-Aggradi, National Administrative Secretary of the FIVL; commentator Dr. Karlo Turrio Baldassari; and the Chairman of the Association of Freedom Volunteers of Georgia, commentator Mario Merni. At Rinas Airport, the senior Italian personalities were welcomed by Shefqet Peçi, chairman War; Bashkim Dino, Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and many others. Also present was Xhorxhio De Andreis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania. (ATSH)

MEETING AT Yesterday afternoon, the chairman War, Shefqet Peçi, received Paolo Emilio Taviani, president of as well as the senior political and social figures accompanying him. Members of the Presidium and the Executive Committee also attended the reception. (Continued on page 4)

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 Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe: “On the occasion of Your election to the post of President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, it is a pleasure for me to send You my warm greetings and best wishes for success in carrying out Your high office, for the well-being of Your people and the prosperity of Your homeland. I take this opportunity to express my conviction that the relations of friendship and cooperation between Albania and Zimbabwe will continue to develop and grow stronger.” (ATSH)

Yesterday, to the homeland from Tunisia. It was headed by Vjollca Kallajxhi, secretary of the Council, and had made a friendly visit to the headquarters of the Palestine Trade Union Federation in Tunis at the Federation’s invitation. (ATSH)

In the capital’s arts and sports venues A question many people ask as the weekly day off approaches. And Sunday, as always, offers us a variety of activities. Some of the district’s tourist spots, such as PEZA, DAJTI, PETRELA, etc., will welcome groups of young people and workers today, who will enjoy part of the day with songs, games and dancing. The “Sport for Life” Association will hold a MASS CROSS-COUNTRY RUN in the capital’s Grand Park, with the participation of all those who consider exercising through sport a condition for health and longevity. In the afternoon, football fans will watch the “17 NENTORI” – “LUFTETARI” match from the stands of “Dinamo” Stadium. The Tirana revue company is enjoying success these days with a premiere: the comedy “SHE WILL NOT MARRY,” written and staged by Leka Bungo. The leading roles are performed by Tinka Kurti (People’s Artist), Rabije Hyka, Agim Bajko, Skënder Sallaku (People’s Artist), and Marikë Kallamata (Merited Artist). The personality and defense of women’s dignity—this is the message of the show, which is attracting keen interest. Another production continues to attract the interest of art lovers. This is Ruzhdie Pulaha’s drama “THE STAIRS,” which is also being performed today at the People’s Theatre. Today has been declared the Day of Symphonic Music in the Open Air. In “Rinia” Park, in the square in front of the University, by the monument to the Frashëri brothers in the Grand Park, and in “Skënderbej” Square, the orchestras of the Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Higher Institute of Arts, the artistic lyceum, and the “Dëshmorët e lirisë” and “Kongresi i Përmetit” music schools will perform well-known pieces by Albanian and foreign composers. This evening at the Opera and Ballet Theatre, classical ballet enthusiasts can see “ZHNJEL.” Meanwhile, the French film “THE GODS UPSIDE DOWN” is showing in the capital’s main cinemas. VIRON GJYMSHANA From the comedy “... marries.” F. SHEHU From the comedy “... marries.” F. SHEHU

— Based on a conversation with Zhani Ballauri, head of the technology bureau at the metal-products enterprise in Korçë — Lightening structures is a wide-open and highly fruitful field for saving basic materials, especially imported materials, and for replacing more expensive materials with less expensive ones. Innovative thinking and creative courage uncover considerable reserves. Specifically, by changing the shape of some components and joints in the 10-, 30- and 40-ton vehicle scales at the metal-products enterprise, the following benefits were achieved: in one year, 20 tons of imported sheet metal were saved, yielding a benefit of 65,000 lek. But what is important is that these improvements not only made the structures lighter (they weigh 40 percent less), but also made it possible to extend the service life of replacement parts with the new shapes by about three times, which in itself constitutes a saving. Attention has also been directed to using less expensive materials instead of higher-priced ones. Thus, in the 250 kg, 500 kg and 1,000 kg scales, and in various conveyors used by the food industry, we replaced steel sections of various dimensions, procured separately and imported, with less expensive sheet metal. (Continued on page 2)