– Comrade Ramiz Alia and other Party and state leaders attended – For 10 consecutive days, the May 1990 Concerts, organized by the Executive Committee of the People’s Council of the Tirana district, were held in the hall of the capital’s Opera and Ballet Theatre. Last night, a concert featuring selected numbers from the groups participating in these events was given at the Palace of Congresses and central institutions. Comrade Ramiz Alia and other Party and state leaders were present. Comrade Ramiz Alia’s entrance into the hall was warmly greeted with applause by the concert participants. Also present were officials and representatives of diplomatic missions accredited to the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania. The concert opened with the cantata «Në-» by Aleksandër Peçi, performed by the Opera and Ballet chorus, with soloist Merited Artist Edit Mihali. Those present watched the dance with Pogradc motifs «Spring in the Heart», with music by Merited Artist Agim Krajka and choreography by People’s Artist Panajot Kanaçi, beautifully performed by the folk dance group of the Folk Song and Dance Ensemble; the polyphonic song «The Time of the Brave», sung by the polyphonic group; and so on. The village ensemble brought optimistic tones to the hall, performing orchestral melodies with folk instruments to a high standard, as well as the Përmet folk dance-song «Poshtë çajreve», arranged by Bujar Aliaj and skillfully performed by the dance group of the shoe factory, among other pieces. The young artists of the Enver Pioneers’ Palace brought joy and merriment to the stage. The Vullkat, fatosat and pioneers earned the audience’s applause with the song «Gëzimi 1 Qershori» by Sebastian Guralumi, with lyrics by Agim Doçi. Also distinguished for their high-standard performances were the students of the ballet department in the choreographic piece «Our Sunday», with music by David Tukici and choreography by Ilir Qoses; and the string ensemble of students from the «Jordan Misja» arts secondary school, who masterfully performed Caprice No. 24 by Nikolo Paganini under the direction of their teacher Zhani Ciko. The concert concluded with a scene from the ballet «Don Quixote», with music by composer Ludvig Minkus, which was presented a few days ago by the Opera and Ballet Theatre company, with People’s Artist Agron Aliaj as ballet master and Merited Artist Ermir Kranja conducting the symphony orchestra. Present were also representatives of the Opera and Ballet Theatre company, artists and cultural workers, representatives of the People’s Council, workers from work and production centres and ministries. (ATSH) (Photo: ATSH)

30 square metres of greenery per resident - PERMET - Greenery gives the city of Përmet room to breathe more fully. Its residents feel this keenly. The rich tradition of the people of Përmet in cultivating different kinds of flowers has been preserved as the city has developed. Greenery and environmental cleanliness are linked to the life and culture of the citizens. Shpresa Luandhi, responsible for the cultivation and maintenance of parks and gardens, explains with passion that this is thanks to the city’s residents, who have adorned the natural environment around them with their own hands—at home, at work and throughout the city. The green area in the city of Përmet amounts to more than 30 square metres per resident. In these parks and gardens, the eye can rest on 70 kinds of ornamental trees and shrubs and more than 30 kinds of flowers. A cultured person wants a cultured environment everywhere. Such are the workers of the fuel branch, NPN, and others. The workers themselves have turned their premises into a real park, with beautifully built, clean and well-kept paths, ornamental trees and abundant flowers. No funds or equipment were requested for this. Every Saturday, NPD holds a voluntary work action to clean the workplace and the enterprise’s grounds. Professional organizations at the construction enterprise, the goods depot, SMT, the food enterprise and elsewhere can learn from their example; they have much to put in order on their premises. In the neighbourhoods too, the Front organizations have designated days for cleaning their area. An example worth following is the Front organization of the «Hajredin Tremishti» block, chaired by Stavri Zhamo, which worked with the municipal enterprise to landscape and green the newly built block. We are now in the period when the Vjosa River is used for bathing. There is one problem that needs to be studied and resolved: the discharge of the city’s sewage. Residents complain that some rubbish-dumping sites and certain areas in the neighbourhoods are unsuitable, and that the municipal services need to address them. PËRPARIM MUSTAFAJ

- OBSERVATION - Coastal Durrës is beautiful. But, given some ecological and environmental problems, much remains to be done. There are, so to speak, several hot spots that seriously damage the environment and also affect people’s health. The smell of waste discharged by the paper factory in Kavajë can often be detected as far as Durrës, as can the stench of a stream flowing into the sea. Residents of those areas say that where this pollution is discharged, it is hard to see any sign of fish. Some efforts have been made to improve the situation, but they are still insufficient. Waste from the plastics enterprise and the rubber enterprise is burned near the former old brick factory, right in the middle of the neighbourhood, and the polluted smoke spreads into the air. Can no other place be found for this, farther from people? Although measures have recently been taken at the chemical enterprise, especially the planting of various ornamental trees that are creating a kind of belt of woodland around it, problems remain there. The chemical enterprise is close to the city, and its materials, which contain harmful elements, find cr[?]cks through which to escape into the air. At the bolt gas plant in Kavajë, pools have formed where sulphur waste is deposited, and its vapours pollute the environment. In the nail-making department at the same plant, the noise of the machines is completely unbearable; when people go to work, the electricity had to be cut off—that is, the work [?]—so that they could talk to the workers. We have been unable to resolve this problem for 10–15 years. The sewage system also does not honour Durrës. It is not that no work has been done, but the work must be completed properly. In the neighbourhoods, residents have witnessed countless cases of blockages— (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday, American congressman Tom Lantosh, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House of Representatives and chairman of the permanent delegation of the American Congress to the European Parliament, former congressman Xhozef Dioguardi, and their companions departed our country after making a friendly visit to Albania. At Rinas airport they were seen off by the director of the Institute for the Study of International Relations, Prof. Sofokli Lazri; Rolanda Dhimitri, deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the People’s Assembly; Jorgo Melica, chairman of the Albanian Committee for Cultural and Friendly Relations with the Outside World; and other comrades. Yesterday morning, American congressman Tom Lantosh, accompanied by his wife, and former congressman Xhozef Dioguardi visited the University of Tirana “Enver Hoxha”, where they were received by its rector, Prof. Dr. Nikolla Konomi. A warm meeting between the students and the American congressmen was held there. Prof. Dr. Nikolla Konomi briefed them on the teaching and scientific work carried out at the institution to prepare new and capable professionals, as well as on the cooperation and relations our university has with universities in European countries. During a conversation with students, Tom Lantosh said he was enthusiastic about the visit and praised the work and achievements in the university’s teaching and scientific activities. Xhozef Dioguardi, meanwhile, praised the great attention paid in our country to educating the younger generation. They said they were pleased by the welcome from the university’s young people. Also yesterday, they went to (Continued on page 4)

The 4-kilometre water supply system was inaugurated in the village of Burimas, in the Verri agricultural cooperative in the Tirana district, improving the residents’ supply of drinking water. To build the water system, 4,000 cubic metres of earth were excavated and moved, 12 tonnes of pipes were laid and installed, and a water reservoir, a chlorination room and other facilities were built. Alongside the cooperative members, members of the trade unions at the municipal water-supply enterprise also helped through voluntary work. (According to ATSH)

- DIBER - In the home of Zeqi Shezhari, in the oldest neighbourhood of the city, one finds the Dibër tradition of a cultured way of life, well preserved. A beautiful balcony, a yard full of flowers, vines growing green around the house, clean and well-furnished rooms—as if they were part of a genuine ethnographic museum. The same impression of tradition is created in the homes of Veli Vraniçi, Sherif Kallaja and Muharrem Kadriu, and in every old house in the «Dubletë» neighbourhood. But thanks to persistent effort, tradition is also preserved and renewed in the new neighbourhoods, in apartment blocks. We go to visit Mother Fete Pahumi. The square in front of the apartment buildings is full of greenery. There is litter nowhere. At the entrance to the building, it is clear that shoes should be wiped, as they say. The mothers and brides do not leave the cleaning of the stairways and courtyards solely to the municipal services. «Our help is needed too, especially that of the children, so that cleanliness becomes a habit,» says Mother Fetja. We also sat in on a lesson. A teacher, Arlet Kurti, who came from Shkodra two years ago, often mentions in conversations with the pupils his impression of the cleanliness of the city and the homes of Dibër. The pupils are future educators, and they, more than anyone, need to become aware of this environment so that they can instil this culture in their own future pupils in the village. Just over 200 apartments have recently been completed in the «Aksioni» neighbourhood, without pri- (Continued on page 2)

The delegations that took part in the meeting of the energy ministers of the Balkan states left our country: : the delegation of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, headed by Nikola Todoriev, minister and chairman of the Energy Committee; the delegation of the Greek Republic, headed by Georgios Apostolakis, secretary-general of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Technology; the delegation of Romania, headed by Adrian Georgescu, minister of Electric Power; the delegation of the Republic of Turkey, headed by Fehretti Kurt, minister of Energy and Natural Resources; and the delegation of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, headed by Stevan Santo, member of the Federal Executive Committee and federal secretary for Energy and Industry. The delegations were seen off by Engjëll Leskaj, minister of Industry, Mines and Energy of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, and other comrades, including Dr. Besnik Bekteshi and others. During their stay, the delegations visited economic facilities and social-cultural centres in the districts of Tirana, Durrës, Berat and Krujë. (ATSH)

Spring in the highlands has its moment, its week, and the highlander is especially sensitive to it: the days when the oak puts out its first leaves—a few days of springtime filled with joy. Right at this moment, since pagan times, the people have set aside a day to celebrate with growth and songs, remembered at least in the villages of Dibër as the Festival of Çetjithit. Mothers took the new clothes out of the bridal chests for their children. That day the women and brides filled the bulierat only with days and mushi. When the water comes down from the mountain. And with this water, the whole little house was made clean inside. For the festival table, the lamb of the leaves was slaughtered, raised only on sheep’s milk, while the meat was seasoned with the fragrant herbs of the oak flowers. Bread was taken along, and lunch was prepared in the mountains. One of the beautiful girls would be dressed by her friends in bridal garments, and here the festival had truly begun. Krihologë kori, the famous hora of these parts, an ancient theatrical dance. The song mingled with the rites; the folklore elements of the festival alternated with those of the wedding. «Here comes summer to us! Summer comes with many flowers! It wanders through the paths and the mountains, and to the ...» The magical songs of this day have so often been brought to us by the voice of Liri Rasha. The Festival of the Leaves, or of renewal? It seems that spring at the festival renews everything: the songs and clothes, the springtime and fields, the people and houses. The blood is renewed on this day too, the elders say. Society, too, is renewed through development. But rites, traditions, and customs also have just as much need of renewal. In Fushë Cidhën. Amid the people’s enthusiasm is also the 10th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Party. From Kastriot, Shumbat, Guri i Zi, Arat, Renzi, from eight villages in two or three cooperatives, long columns of young people dressed in folk costumes descend along the mountain roads. The white qeleshe imitate the snow on Korab’s peak. From every direction come the sounds of horns made from walnut bark. The ancient rite that marks the beginning of the festival. The highlanders’ procession descends from both sides of the Drin. The plain of Cidhën fills from end to end with people. «We were mistaken when we called this day the youth sports festival,» laughs Defrim Methasani, the teacher who came up with the idea of reviving an ancient festival as a youth festival, because although many young people have indeed come down for the festival, there are just as many elders and children. The greenery of the leaves, the tradition, the pastoral games, the lodra and qëtelina must surely have stirred memories in the older generation. Sali Krashi and Sadik Buci remember well those moments of amusement for the young people and the new generation. The young watch and rejoice with the younger ones, recalling a song or rite to teach the next generation. But the scene is so captivating that they have no time to turn to their memories. Girls and boys, young people dressed in the folk costumes of the area. Each has brought some ornament or ritual object for the festival (let us call the new sporting activities that, too). Girls hold willow branches, a rope, the milk vessel, the cheese container, and, loveliest of all, little lambs following the children. Perhaps they are there, too, to make the ancient festival’s pageant more beautiful. The boys hold the stone disk used in the game and balls for the sporting contests; a group of 14 horsemen from different villages, with their horses, are warming up before the race. We are all delighted, and few know that the idea for this event was born in conversations between Defrim Methasani and his fellow villagers. A young physical-education teacher and passionate contributor to the sports press, a young man who knows how to gather all the youth of Kastriot and Cidhën around him. Comrade Ramiz’s conversation with the school students from the capital set his work in motion. He wanted an assembly hall, young people who complained about the lack of support for sports activities, who complained that sports activities were being neglected. «We have no balls. We have no playing fields. Nobody helps us...» Meanwhile, Comrade Ramiz, at the latest inauguration of the Party Central Committee, instructed that in everything «we should start with ourselves». «Let’s stop complaining! What can I do— (Continued on page 3)

● WE WENT TO THE PEOPLE; WE DID NOT MAKE PROGRAMS ON PAPER. (p. 2). ● THE PATRIOT AND THE DEMOCRAT. (p. 3). ● IN THE WAKE OF INTIADËS (p. 4).