Yesterday, the people of the district of Përmet, amid revolutionary enthusiasm for putting into practice the decisions of the 9th and 10th plenums of the Party’s Central Committee, joyfully celebrated the 46th anniversary of the First Antifascist National Liberation Congress, which laid the foundations of the new Albanian state of people’s democracy. This is the 46th time we have celebrated this distinguished event, at which the will of our sovereign people, masters of their own destiny, was expressed. This was the work of our heroic Party, of its founder and leader, the legendary commander, architect of the new socialist Albania, Comrade Enver Hoxha. The town’s residents and those who came from the district’s most distant villages—from Frashëri, Miçani, Odriçani, Çarshova, Bubiçi, etc.—talked with affection and warmth with the former delegates to this historic assembly. The first tribute was paid to the fallen. Tributes were made and wreaths laid at the district’s war martyrs’ cemetery on behalf of the Party’s Central Committee, the Party Committee, the Executive Committee of the People’s Council, the War Veterans’ Committee, the district mass organizations, etc. Then a rally was held in the town’s main square. Also present were the candidate member of the Political Bureau of the Party’s Central Committee and Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Comrade Kiço Mustaqi; the chairman of the district Executive Committee of the People’s Council, Bashkim Xhakollari; as well as leading cadres and other guests from neighbouring districts. The rally was opened by Skënder Kuçi, first secretary of the district Party Committee. On behalf of the Party’s Central Committee, the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, the Council of Ministers, the General Council (Continued on page 2)

At the village assemblies in the district of Tirana, with admirable discipline and order and without delegates, decisions were taken concerning yearling livestock and veterinary care. In the agricultural enterprises, measures to achieve self-sufficiency through small flocks and garden plots are being increased. Around 12 agricultural cooperatives, which form Tirana’s surrounding belt, have in recent days organized the direct sale of vegetables in 60 shops distributed across different neighbourhoods of the capital, accounting for almost one third of the vegetable shops. The enterprises of Tirana Region No. 4 are working carefully to move to a system of management based on independent accounting. All this has created a highly suitable and concrete ground for the Party’s work, so that the entire community, the basic organizations and the forums can better assume their respective roles. But despite the good work, there are many shortcomings rooted in a somewhat rigid working method that has taken hold among many, and in reluctance to abandon what is outdated. The regional Party Committee summoned the secretary of the Party bureau of the Vora Agricultural Enterprise and the secretary of the Kuc village basic organization over the unsatisfactory state of workers’ supplies, among other things. Disciplinary measures were taken against them, even though the distribution of livestock products is not their direct responsibility. But the committee considered this appropriate because it is the genuine and functional duty of the secretary and others at work to take responsibility for the sector, the brigadier and the organization until the problem is resolved, through the oversight that the organization or bureau must exercise. To promote what is new requires sensitivity to what is old, study and culture, and the emancipation of oneself; this is an open field for everyone. What is new is first being supported by the forums and offices of the Party committees, by communists and by basic organizations. Efforts are being made to conceive and implement more correctly in practice the requirement that the forum better assume the Party’s leading role in the region, and that each of its members feel more fully responsible for all the work. Meanwhile, we still need to work more on the instructors’ level so that they have a fuller, more comprehensive vision of all the areas covered by the Party’s work. On this basis, 11 people, or 26 per cent, were cut from the regional political apparatus and the full-time secretaries at the grassroots, and work to implement this decision began immediately. Nevertheless, this is the technical side of the problem. What we consider most important is the practical implementation of a body of work that ensures the forum’s greater leadership role and increases the effectiveness of the apparatus’s work, without bureaucratic formalities and with as little duplication as possible of state apparatuses, and with closer ties to the grassroots, the communists and the masses. It is being insisted upon that everyone take charge of the work and feel fully responsible for resolving it. Emphasis is being placed on these two aspects so that the role of the Party worker is felt. These are qualities that distinguish many communists and leaders in the work of the Party, the government and the economy at NRSH and SMT, in Petrelë, Ndroq, Baldushk, Laknas and Zall Bastar, where social problems and economic tasks are at a better level, work is managed on more up-to-date foundations, and technologies, advanced experience and innovative thinking are conceived and applied more fully. But this level of work is not found in Kllojkë, Kamëz, Kurorë and Kashar, or at the collection enterprise, where there are shortcomings in understanding and carrying out tasks. Both in the apparatus and at the grassroots, we emphasize that the focus is being placed on everyone doing their job well and managing delays, duplication or tutelage. Since problems are solved where they arise, work is under way to ensure a more proper approach by leading cadres, so that the voice of the masses, and the requests and complaints expressed at meetings and gatherings or in letters—which are not few—are listened to carefully. Requests from the people are not infrequently undervalued, and they are dealt with hastily, often burdening the apparatus with matters that could easily be resolved at the grassroots. RAMADAN GARO, first secretary of the Party Committee of Region No. 4, Tirana

Finding solutions to problems tests the ability of every leader and cadre, and their dedication to work. Whoever waits for ready-made solutions and formulas, for instructions from above on how to act on their own front, not only does not… for every topic or group of issues, to… for months cannot find the desire. But can the person in charge of the course be a specialist in every problem, and what horizons can they open up for the audience? Of course, the course took on a schoolroom character. What was done? With all the secretaries… with a few notes in their pockets, because a discussion lasting 3–4 hours obliges you to make serious preparations before such an audience. What does this example show? Among other things, that what could have been gained in several weeks was gained in a few days, simply because there was a departure from such stereotyped programmes, about which the women on the Librazhd women’s committee have rightly raised objections. Let us focus on one of the many points in this programme, which says: “The women specialists in the district should explain to the mass of women the need to strengthen new relations in production, and attitudes toward work and property,” as if this matter had not been included in the programme at all in Librazhd, and as if the women of that district had not taken part at all

A moment at work in the «Enver Hoxha» Auto-Tractor Combine in Tirana. (Photo: M. Progonati) A moment at work in the «Enver Hoxha» Auto-Tractor Combine in Tirana. (Photo: M. Progonati)

Finding solutions to problems in particular is the difficulty faced by every leader and cadre, and a test of their dedication to work. Anyone who on how to act in their own area, not only remains trapped in bureaucratic thinking but seeks to find a new, comfortable groove. Discussing this subject during a conversation, Agim Leka, secretary of the Elbasan district Party Committee, tells us that recently they abandoned the practice of holding the Party course in the district once every three months. When this idea was first proposed, there was no shortage of objections, and even some grumbling. But if one calculates what was gained during the three months of this course, it turns out to have been very little. In most cases, the topics presented there were taught by the course supervisors, because there were not enough lecturers to cover every topic or group of issues over three months. open up for the audience? The course inevitably took on a schoolroom character. What was done? For three consecutive days, discussions were held with all the secretaries of the Party’s basic organizations, and later with activists from mass organizations and others, not only in the Party course but also in large lecture halls. They discussed the new economic mechanism, legislation and our country’s relations with the world; the discussions were led by the district’s most capable specialists. The debate during these discussions showed that they were not only of interest, as participants themselves said, but also brought to light many things that are presented in lectures in a formulaic manner. The lecturers, for their part, did not arrive lasting 3–4 hours requires serious preparation before an entire in a few days, simply because the method of work changed, the issue was viewed from a new perspective, and people were better prepared. Conversations with small groups of people in production brigades, institutional collectives and elsewhere are also being replaced by discussions with larger groups and audiences, and by prepared lectures with few or no questions or debates. From this perspective, a work programme heard by the General Council of BGSJ at the women’s committee in Librazhd (and, we can be sure, also in Elbasan and elsewhere) sounds extremely anachronistic. It offers guidance on how the women’s organization should act in the present circumstances. The old approach has not yet been abandoned, because planning and coordination of work still proceed in the following way: mass of women the need to use as if this matter had not been included in Librazhd’s programme at all, and as if the women there had never taken part in the discussions and meetings that have long been held at enterprises and agricultural cooperatives(!) We have given only one example, but everywhere there is room to free ourselves from the hold of outdated methods. Replacing them with new ones requires sound reasoning, solid education and initiative. In this regard, the attitudes of certain cadres or leaders are revealing: they continue to sit silently with their hands tied, offer partial judgements and solutions, and wait for the telephone to ring or for an envelope to arrive telling them what to do.

The President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Karamanlis, sent the following telegram of thanks to the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia: “I wish to thank You warmly for the congratulations and good wishes You sent me on the occasion of my election as President of the Hellenic Republic. I share Your confidence that the relations of friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation between our two countries will develop further in the mutual interest of our two countries, as well as for the benefit of peace and security in the Balkans.” (ATSH)

the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia, sent the following congratulatory telegram to the President of the Republic of Argentina, Karlos Menem: “It is a pleasure for me, on the occasion of Argentina’s national holiday, on behalf of the Albanian people, the Presidium of the People’s Assembly and myself, to send You and the friendly Argentine people my heartfelt greetings and best wishes for their happiness and the progress of the country. I take this opportunity to express my conviction that the relations of friendship and cooperation between Albania and Argentina will develop without interruption.” (ATSH)

«Vllaznia» continues to lead Yesterday the fifth stage of the 46th Tour of Albania cycling race was held: Fier - Gjirokastër, 124 km long. The first to enter the city of Gjirokastër was cyclist Spartak Mua of the «17 Nëntori» team. After five stages, «Vllaznia» is once again in the lead, with a time of 40 hours, 59 minutes and 50 seconds, followed by the teams «Traktori» and «Partizani». In the individual classification, cyclist Xh. Manka of «Traktori» is leading. Today the individual race Gjirokastër - Jergucat - Gjirokastër will take place. (ATSH)

These days, the cultural center of the Kurdari agricultural cooperative in the Mat district organized its first music contest. Ten songs were performed, mainly by creators from Mat, on a variety of themes. They were dedicated to the Party, Comrade Enver Hoxha, the new and happy life in our socialist village, etc. At the end, the jury, also taking into account the views of music lovers, awarded first prize to the song «Let Us Defend Freedom», with lyrics and music by Shefqet Merça, performed by the singer Festime Allaj. The songs «The Fish in the Lake, the Hearts [for] the Party», «Billbill Wants the Word», etc. were also well received.

One of the most frequently discussed topics in people’s informal conversations is passports and the law adopted by the People’s Assembly, under which every citizen has the right to travel abroad for personal needs or tourism. The adoption of this law is one of the important factors in the process of deepening socialist democracy, inspired by the decisions of the 10th Plenum of the Central Committee of the PPSH. All citizens have understood and continue to understand it in this way. Meanwhile, the agencies responsible for implementing this law are putting it into practice through their work, with a greater sense of civic responsibility. To learn more about this subject, we spent several hours at the visa department, where Comrades Vait Rexhepi, Rexhep Balla, Bari Zibo and Margarita Vogolli are working extended hours at a fast pace. They are also being assisted by other comrades, who will soon become regular staff members of the visa department. The head of this section, Ilmi Muharremi, after hearing our request, tells us: “Our section was already busy before, because visitors—tourists or people on various kinds of business—were constantly entering and leaving. But now it is quite natural that this section has a different appearance. Since the People’s Assembly adopted the law, our section has issued around 1,000 passports for our citizens to travel to other countries, such as Greece, Canada, Yugoslavia, Australia, the FR of Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, etc. After receiving a passport, a citizen has the right to keep it for 5 years and travel to any country without having to obtain the relevant visa. There is another convenience, too: whereas previously several months could pass between a citizen’s application and receiving a passport, we now have a duty—and are making efforts to put it into practice—to ensure that this process takes no longer than one month. The shortening of procedures and formalities, which sometimes led to subjective delays, has been achieved through more intensive work and a proper understanding of this responsibility. This is a concrete implementation and a correct interpretation of the adopted law. Meanwhile, unlike previous practice, the visa department also grants visas at the border crossings where people arrive, in order to help those who wish to come to Albania. In addition, for visitors entering our country on special occasions, such as weddings, various misfortunes, etc., the visa-issuing process is quick and takes about one day. We also learn here that, in cases where visas are requested for tourism or urgent services in support of economic development and cooperation with foreign countries, a passport is issued within two hours. Meanwhile, as we learn here, the visa department is introducing the practice of delivering passports to the respective districts where the citizens who applied live; this is another convenience for them. For all these matters, communication and cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have increased in order to coordinate actions, and this has been achieved to such an extent that over the last two months the visa department has received letters of thanks from both Albanian and foreign citizens. At the same time, other ways and faster solutions are being sought to help citizens, save them time and meet their requests.”

Today, «Cultural Monuments Week» opens throughout our country. During it, numerous activities will be organized, such as visits to museum and archaeological sites, meetings and discussions about the value of monuments, etc. As part of this programme, yesterday afternoon an exhibition entitled «The Restoration of Medieval Works of Art» opened in one of the galleries of the National Historical Museum in the capital. It features around 60 restored icons by anonymous artists from the 17th–19th centuries, of great artistic value, from places of worship in various districts of the country. The materials on display testify to the valuable experience gained by the art section employees of the Institute of Cultural Monuments in restoring works of art, particularly in recent years. Restorers and painters, employees of the Institute of Cultural Monuments, the Institute of History, the Archaeological Research Centre and the Institute of Folk Culture, as well as lecturers and students of the Faculty of History and Philology, etc., attended the opening ceremony. Also present were the chairman of the Committee for Culture and the Arts, Prof. Alfred Uçi, and other comrades. The commemorative address was delivered by the director of the Institute of Cultural Monuments, Doctor of Sciences Emin Riza. (According to ATSH) Hoxha», in Tirana. (Photo: M. Progonati)

● FROM THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PARTY COMMITTEES. (p. 1). ● THEY ABANDONED SCHEMATISM: HERE ARE THE RESULTS. (p. 2) ● ISMAIL QEMALI’S DIPLOMACY IN THE SERVICE OF NATIONAL INTERESTS. (p. 3). ● THE NEW HUNGARIAN CABINET AND ITS PROGRAM. (p. 4)

Albania.