— In the town of Kavajë, in addition to the state market and the farmers' market, 12 shops of the trading enterprise were put at the disposal of 5 agricultural economies — At the 10th Plenum of the Party's CC, Comrade Ramiz Alia, among other things, called for the people's supply to be the priority of priorities. This task is also at the center of attention of the Party, state and economic bodies in the district of Durrës. To accomplish it as well as possible, the demands of the times require a creative spirit and initiative. What experience is there in this field in Kavajë? For several days now, in addition to the farmers' market opened in the town, 12 shops of the NTAN have been transferred to the administration of 5 agricultural economies for the sale of fruit and vegetables. Such new forms are very valuable. The conditions for this are broadly created by the new economic mechanism legalized at the latest session of the People's Assembly. They are dictated by the times, by the need to move to new, more productive practices for the benefit of strengthening the economy and raising the level of the people's supply. In trade, in relations between trading enterprises and agricultural economies, problems have also arisen in collecting fruit and vegetables. Complacency and a certain bureaucratization are evident in the trade system, expressed as: «I am the master of the goods: take them if you want, leave them if you want». As a result, the agricultural cooperatives were not very interested in producing as many vegetables, and as wide a variety, as possible. A pile of telegrams, orders, complaints and grievances would then accumulate, with responsibility passed from one person to another. Recently, efforts have been made in this area to improve the situation. On the basis of the new economic mechanism, between state enterprises and cooperatives, between the debt. «We would be ashamed, say the trade comrades in Kavajë, if the cooperative shops next to ours were better and better stocked». «We would be ashamed, say the agriculture comrades, if we saw that our shops were not frequented by the people as they should be». Thus everyone is becoming more active, being spurred on more, and working more responsibly toward the same goal—the market should be as full as possible. Specifically, whereas 10 days ago, before this new form of trading began, 5–6 quintals of vegetables were sold daily in Kavajë, now 23–24 quintals are sold. And this is only the beginning. «Last year we had problems, with hardly any collection at all at the offices of the Party Committee and its executive committee; we sold small quantities of vegetables, whereas now we sell 8 quintals a day in our three shops,» says the chairman of the agricultural cooperative Kryetari, Gjergj Gjeli. Etem Rraklli, chairman of the cooperative in the town of Kavajë, says that in three days we have earned 7,200 lekë. What about the whole year? We feel our responsibility growing, and are convinced that things will go well for us. How has the work been organized? For the farmers' market in Kavajë, within a week a new, two-story market building was erected and equipped as needed, where cooperative members come, if they wish, to sell produce from their household plots. For the economies, between state enterprises and cooperatives, trading on credit can be used. and cooperatives, trading on credit can be used. the people as they should be». The direct link between production and the market has been welcomed by the people. Town resident Isa Rraklli says: «It's a pleasure to the eye. The shops are full. These days I haven't seen even one rotten tomato, because the cooperative brings them fresh. Good for us, and good for them too». Naxhije Kanapari, a housewife: «This kind of supply makes us happy. I can buy wherever I want: either at the farmers' market or at the cooperative's. The prices are reasonable; they are not all the same, and you can buy according to your preference». To review the results of this work and set new tasks for its further improvement, a meeting was held in one of the halls of the district Party Committee, with Party, state and economic leaders, agricultural cooperatives in the area, trade workers, and others. Also present were Political Bureau member and Party Central Committee secretary Comrade Hekuran Isai; Political Bureau member of the Party CC, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Agriculture, Comrade Pali Miska; first secretary of the district Party Committee, Comrade Muho Asllani; chairman of the district People's Council Executive Committee, Luan Babameto; and others. Speaking, Comrade Hekuran Isai could not do it himself. can buy according to your preference». Comrade Hekuran Isai, speaking ... at the meeting, said, among other things, that other towns too should take as an example Kavajë's positive experience in properly coordinating state, cooperative and farmers' trade. This qualitative change in the way trade is organized, he stressed, came about gradually. At first, agricultural economies sold only their surplus in town, whereas now they will be directly responsible for supplying the people. This makes the agricultural economy more interested in the fate of its production, since the economy's profit and the cooperative members' income depend on its sale. The Party CC's 10th Plenum and Comrade Ramiz Alia's speech at that plenum opened new horizons, caused thinking to evolve and further democratized work in trade. This new form will shake trade free of the bureaucratic working methods that caused delays and shortages in the market, dogmatism in setting prices, etc., and will put it in closer contact with the state of the new channels for the rapid and quality collection of agricultural and livestock products from the state agricultural enterprises, other districts, as well as individuals' surpluses. the trade system, which used to declare: “I’m leave them if you don’t.” As a result, vegetables, or as wide a variety, as possible. Then came piles of telegrams, orders, complaints and concerns, with responsibility being passed around. This was reflected in the market, where various kinds of vegetables and fruit were sometimes missing, and also in the processing industry; it was reflected as well in the agricultural economies, where production targets were missed in quite a few cases. The new way of marketing vegetables and fruit in Kavajë seems interesting to us. Until yesterday, Kavajë was supplied by a single cooperative, the Kavajë town cooperative, with some produce also coming from Synej. Now it will be supplied directly by five agricultural economies (which, in addition to the six shops they already had, were given twelve more by NTAN-I), by the farmers’ market, and by NTAN itself through its shops, which will obtain produce from the agricultural enterprises and cold-storage facilities. The selling prices of fruit and vegetables depend on supply and demand. Each agricultural economy sets its own prices, some higher and some lower, according to its production. No orders are awaited to change prices; instead, there is self-assessment and concern. In other words, this means fresh fruit and vegetables in abundance in the shops at all times, regular and complete supplies for the people, and greater benefits for the agricultural economies. On the other hand, emulation is being further invigorated, and why not, healthy competition among the—

Prepared for greater tasks — Conversation with Adem Vuçinin, director of Artistic Products Enterprise No. 2, Shkodër. — The new economic mechanism requires industrial production to be reported as goods sold. This means fulfilling contracts. We are working toward this, first of all by ensuring that every product we make is included in a contract—that trade accepts it as a product of value to consumers. If our product is not liked by buyers, that is, if it does not sell, in the first year this becomes a worsening financial problem for trade; after that it becomes one for us, because nobody will agree to sign a contract for that product the following year. We are an enterprise with a good record in meeting the production plan and in economic and financial indicators. Our production range includes 200 mass-produced items. We are increasing this number by a further 12 items by the end of the year, so as to produce more and more items that are well received on the market. We are organizing several meetings with trade managers and following the fate of our products down to the smallest retail outlets. The observations and suggestions we receive, and our evaluation of them, will make our contracts more feasible. We are an enterprise that obtains a good part of its production from raw materials made from industrial waste. This makes us more interested in selling our products, which is also what the new economic mechanism emphasizes. (Continued on page 2)

For years, the contract with Tirana's Timber Distribution Enterprise (NSHLD) has not been fulfilled. The same is happening this year for the January–March period. Specifically, 66 percent of sawn boards, 44 percent of seasoned pine boards, 62 percent of plywood, 66 percent of particleboard, etc., have been supplied. It should be said that these levels have been achieved largely thanks to our enterprise's own efforts, collecting the materials mentioned above with our own vehicles from the production facilities, such as the wood-processing combine in Elbasan, NPD in Laç, the Tirana wood-processing combine, etc. Without these efforts, our supplies would have reached only 20 percent. Failure to fulfill contracts also means failure to carry out production tasks, as happens with furniture, export crates, etc. The problems have often gone as far as arbitration, but there has been little change. A fine solves nothing for the enterprise; what it needs is raw material. We believe that resolving problems caused by failure to fulfill contracts requires not only arbitration, but also greater responsibility for organizing supplies from producer to user. In our case, for certain materials such as seasoned beech boards, seasoned pine boards, plywood, fibreboard and particleboard, there is no reason for us to be supplied by Tirana's NSHLD; we should receive them directly from the producer, where these materials are made. This would eliminate the intermediate links and ensure the raw materials we need to meet the plan's targets. materials we need to meet the plan's targets. VEli VELIU, NIKO LAKO, BAJRAM RUSHTI workers in the sorting and crate-making department at NPD, Berat

— VLORE — A season is about to begin that greatly increases the workload of the collectives at the «E. Telman» Cannery Combine in Vlorë. This concerns preparations and worries about procuring, processing and distributing agricultural produce and canned goods. The quantities of materials needed are clear: more curved tinplate sheets are needed. The plan has been fulfilled to 55 percent, which means a shortfall of more than 200 tons of tinplate. This shortage does not hamper only this combine, but also the fish and mussel processing factory in 5 other districts, because the corresponding packaging is prepared here. From here, from the combine, food factories in 26 districts are supplied with lids for various jars. However, the supply of aluminum strip, from ... It is the start of a season that adds to the workload of the collective at the «E. Telman» cannery in Vlorë. These are the ties of responsibility and concern involved in collecting, processing and distributing the agricultural produce it cans. Agricultural produce is always needed in large quantities for distribution. What emerges from the discussions and the comparison of supply contracts? Since the beginning of the year, the cannery has not been regularly supplied with the permitted 35 percent, which means a shortfall of more than 200 tonnes of tinplate. This shortage affects not only this cannery, but also the fish-processing factory for mussels in five other districts, because the fish packaging is prepared here. From here, from the cannery, food factories in all the supply of aluminium strip, from the— (Continued on page 2)

«Vllaznia» and «Skënderbeu» cyclist Renato Telhai lead Yesterday the third stage of the 46th Tour of Albania was held, Burrel–Durrës, 110 km long, a road race. The first to arrive in the city of Durrës was cyclist Selim Celmeta of «Dinamo», who covered the distance in 2 hours, 46 minutes and 42 seconds. Gëzim Kuçi of «Partizani» placed second, one second behind, while Dashamir Paja of «Dinamo» came third, one second behind the second-place rider. After the third stage, cyclist Renato Telhai of «Skënderbeu» leads the individual standings with a time of 9 hours, 18 minutes and 58 seconds, while «Vllaznia» leads the team standings in first place with a time of 27 hours, 54 minutes and 22 seconds, followed by «Dinamo» and «Partizani». Today the fourth stage, a team time trial from Durrës to Fier, 82 km long, will be held. (ATSH)

THE NEW ECONOMIC MECHANISM IN PRACTICE Which conversation, impression, proposal or concrete action in implementing the tasks of the 10th Plenum could the article begin with more aptly? Perhaps, more than ever before, you notice that people in conversation do not care to put “introductions” and “conclusions” to their words. And you can take such a thing only as an expression of emancipation and cultivation. Chief engineer Nikollë Gega and the head of the planning department, Lekë Mandibik, at the copper plant in Rubik, get straight to the point, too. Almost all the preparations have been completed to put the enterprise on a self-financing basis in the second half of the year. Workers and specialists from five departments have had their say, including refining-smelting, rolling, electrolysis-slime, the copper-ore smelting plant, etc. Understanding grows, as responsibility increases, while implementation of these measures begins immediately with the drafting of the new project plan, so that the new economic mechanism will first and foremost become a “mechanism” for what is planned for tomorrow, says Nikolla. — I remember how, at meetings, we used to complain: “Raw material! Raw material!”—“You specialists, think harder!” the workers told us. “There’s no shortage of minerals, nor of transport...” Your thinking is also the “raw material” that is being so heavily burdened. They were right. “We are finishing the work so that the raw material will come from deposits in the district,” says Leka. — We feel that we need to take a serious look at the flux materials, which are not ores but without which copper cannot be smelted in the converter. We use quartz for this purpose. But it turns out that this practice now introduces material with zero percent copper into the smelting process and reduces the copper content by 0.3 percent. This is no small loss. Under these circumstances, a solution must necessarily be considered: could it be replaced by copper-bearing quartz? — Yes. There is a gallery in the Thirrë mine that contains this material, although it is now abandoned, Nikolla continues. In such a concrete conversation, a thought naturally occurs to you: if the economist’s pencil does not move with ease over every figure, tomorrow the task will be difficult. The plant is a Hero of Socialist Labour enterprise. Its collective has earned this title through much hard work, but a fine thought is very much alive in the minds of these good people: “The title has to be earned every day.” The geological enterprise is making smoother progress. The enterprise’s director, geological engineer Dode Shtjefënaj, speaks like an economist. — We have spoken before about costs, but often the market also— (Continued on page 2) We feel our responsibility growing, and we are confident that things will go well. How is the work organized? For the farmers’ market in Kavajë, a new two-storey market building with the necessary equipment was erected within a week. Cooperative members can come there, if they wish, to sell produce from their private plots. A person in charge has been appointed for each shop taken over by the cooperatives. This person keeps in touch with consumers’ needs and conveys them directly to the vegetable-growing brigades and sectors. The shops are open all day and are supplied twice a day so that the vegetables are as fresh as possible. The cooperatives’ vehicles have been put into service, and new tasks have now been set to expand all kinds of transport, including motor vehicles, horse-drawn carts, and so on. Each agricultural economy will ensure storage facilities for its produce, including refrigerated warehouses, and is drawing up a year-round supply chain. After this step, serious consideration is being given to selling products and by-products from the livestock operations of the agricultural cooperatives, such as milk, meat, butter, cheese, gjizë, etc. Each agricultural economy will open its own slaughterhouse and process its own milk. The Ministry of Agriculture is providing, and will continue to provide, assistance with some vehicles and equipment. But where will the surplus produce go? The cooperatives will send it to processing industries, as well as to other districts that need fruit and vegetables, just as Kavajë will also receive those that are needed... the individual’s third-place finisher, cyclist Renato Telhai of «Skënderbeu», seconds, while in the team standings «Vllaznia» leads Fier, 82 km long, takes place.

Tahiri Diho is the outstanding livestock brigade leader at the «Josif Pashko» agricultural cooperative in Selenicë, in the Kolonjë district. (Photo: N. Khufka)

— GJIROKASTËR — The managers and work collectives of several enterprises are right to raise concerns about supplies from enterprises outside the district—fuel, timber, textiles, etc. But what effects have resulted from the failure to fulfill some contracts within the district? The debts between them concern alfalfa seed, plastic sacks, dried onions, various small items, the range of industrial products, fruit and firewood. Part of the impact falls on trade, the market and the consumer. Why should the work be done in a way that leaves farmers dissatisfied? This really seems unacceptable. Of the 27 tons that the cooperatives of «Asim Zeneli», Vrisërasë, Sofratikës and Jergucatit were supposed to produce, they have not supplied a single ton. Is it so difficult for their managers and brigades to master the technology for cultivating broom? Naturally, differentiated assessments, preferences for some things and disdain or underestimation of others are obstacles. Last year, fruit production reached only 50 percent, and the consequences are still being felt in the market and in the plans of processing enterprises. All these matters, specialist Fejzo Islami tells us, have been referred to the district arbitration board; penalties have also been imposed, including disciplinary sanctions, but that is not everything. What matters is that the consequences be felt and that measures be taken so that this is not repeated and is not felt again this year. Once these contracts have been fulfilled, the right to make demands of others should be strengthened further.

● MARKET FORMS THAT IMPROVE THE PEOPLE'S SUPPLY. (P. 1) ● WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE? (P. 2) ● TO THE ONE TO WHOM IT BELONGS— (P. 3) ● CONSTITUTION DAY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY. (P. 4)