A tribune for the free thought of the masses – SPEECH BY COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA – Dear comrades, This is a meeting of the General Council of the Democratic Front held with the widest transparency, and also one of the meetings with the largest number of invited participants. This is a very meaningful phenomenon. Indeed, the development of democratic relations in our country does not take place every day in this way, but it does testify to a significant growth in the masses' interest in various social problems. I say this because only a few days ago, at the meeting we held with voters in Tirana and in other cities of the country, people clearly expressed their readiness and desire to discuss various issues freely, to offer opinions and to become acquainted with them. This is undoubtedly a natural interest. Our people will increasingly want to know the fate of the country, the steps being taken, and every important issue in our life. This is linked to the very nature of socialism and socialist democracy, to people's political and civic awareness, and to the demands of our times. However, I want to emphasize that interest should not be seen only as a passing curiosity. It must be understood as a more active and more responsible participation of the masses in the political, economic, and social life of the country. It is precisely in this sense that the Democratic Front has a major role. It is a broad social and political organization, a voluntary union of citizens, where everyone should feel that he has his own place, that he can speak his mind, that he is listened to and respected. Our Front was not created merely to accompany the activity of the state bodies and the Party. It is, and must be, a living tribune of free thought, of healthy debates, of concrete proposals, and of civic initiatives. If it fulfills this role properly, then it serves better the strengthening of the people's unity, the growth of confidence in the Party's policy, and a fairer solution of problems. Important processes are unfolding in our society. We have entered a stage in which more courage in thought, more responsibility in action, and more openness toward problems are required. We must not be afraid of differing opinions; on the contrary, we should welcome them whenever they are honest, well argued, and inspired by the desire for the good of the country. Democratization is not a fashionable word. It is a need of our socialist development, a means of liberating the creative energies of the people, of fighting bureaucratism, formalism, and every manifestation that hinders progress. Democratization does not weaken the people's power; it strengthens it, because it ties it more closely to the people and makes it more responsible before them. Therefore, the Democratic Front must be further invigorated. Its organizations at the center and at the base must listen carefully to people's voices, encourage free discussion, identify real concerns, and convey them faithfully to the competent organs. It is not enough to hold formal meetings; in them, ideas must be debated, new concepts born, initiatives encouraged, and the solution of concrete problems assisted. The media also have a special responsibility here. The press, radio, and television should reflect real life better, different opinions, successes, but also difficulties and shortcomings. Transparency should not be understood as sensation, but as the public's right to be informed and as the duty of institutions to account for themselves. In this framework, healthy criticism also has its indispensable place. It must be principled, constructive, based on facts, and aimed at correcting shortcomings. When criticism is made in this spirit, it serves socialism and not its enemies. The Democratic Front should contribute more as well to strengthening new social relations, to civic education, to defending the norms of socialist coexistence, and to affirming the morality of work. In today's conditions, when we are facing economic difficulties and unhealthy foreign influences, this role takes on special importance. We must all understand that socialism does not move forward by itself. It requires work, dedication, creative thought, and broad participation of the masses. Its strength lies precisely in the people, in their consciousness and mobilization. The Democratic Front is one of the most important instruments for expressing and organizing this strength. We have great confidence in our people. They have given many proofs of maturity, wisdom, and patriotism. Even now they will know how to find the best ways to overcome difficulties, to defend the gains of socialism, and to move the country forward. Let us therefore work so that the Democratic Front will increasingly be a tribune of the free thought of the masses, a school of socialist democracy, and an active force in the country's life. (To be continued on page 2)

From the report of comrade Nexhmije Hoxha – Yesterday, in one of the halls of the National Historical Museum in Tirana, the General Council of the Democratic Front of Albania held the work of its third session. The Chairman of the General Council of the Democratic Front, comrade Ramiz Alia, delivered at this session a programmatic speech of special importance on the problems that are being widely discussed by the masses of the people, by organizations and by various forums in the country. The proceedings of the session were opened by comrade Nexhmije Hoxha, vice-chairwoman of the Democratic Front of Albania. She presented the report “Let us increase the role of the Democratic Front in the process of further democratization of life in the country”. The report emphasized that, in today's conditions, Front organizations must be closer to the people, know better their concerns, opinions and proposals, and help them find fair solutions. The Front must be a place of free speech, healthy debate, and the uniting of the creative energies of the people. It was also stressed that there is a need to increase the effectiveness of the work of the Front's organs and organizations, overcome formalism, improve working methods, and further enliven internal democratic life. The report also dealt with problems related to civic education, strengthening the unity of the people, defending the norms of socialist morality, and involving youth, women, and intellectuals more actively in social life. Members of the General Council, invited guests, representatives of social organizations, state institutions, as well as press workers took part in the session. (To be continued on page 2)

The all-round revolutionization of life in the country, its further democratization, are a sure basis for stable developments and an incentive to move the economy, culture, and the entire political and social life forward.

Today, in Tirana, a conference of the national commissions of the Balkan countries for UNESCO will conclude. Delegations from Albania, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Yugoslavia are taking part in this meeting. The conference will discuss problems of cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture and information, as well as the possibilities for further expanding ties among the countries of the region. (ATSH)

To examine the contribution that the countries of Europe, the United States of America and Canada should make to the progress of the CSCE process, a relevant conference of 34 countries will meet tomorrow in Madrid. At this conference, in which Albania will take part for the first time with observer status, our country is represented by comrade Ksenofon Nushi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. (ATSH)