Yesterday morning, the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Ramiz Alia, received at the Palace of Brigades the Turkish government economic delegation, headed by the Minister of State, Ishin Çelebi. Comrade Ramiz Alia, after welcoming Turkey’s Minister of State, Ishin Çelebi, stressed that relations between Albania and Turkey are warm and fraternal and are based on the old traditions of friendship between our two peoples and countries. He said that Ataturk was a great man and a good friend of Albania. But even today, this friendship has grown stronger still. There are many shared relations and interests in the political, economic, cultural and social fields. Your arrival in Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia said, is also a new foundation for our traditional friendship. In New York I met with President Ozal, and we had a very fraternal conversation. He showed great interest in Albania, and we agreed to meet again in Tirana. We welcome your visit as an envoy of President Ozal. It will contribute to the further development of relations in all fields, and particularly in the economic field. We desire a comprehensive expansion of economic cooperation between our two countries. After thanking his hosts for the warm reception, Ishin Çelebi conveyed President Ozal’s regard for Comrade Ramiz Alia as one of the most distinguished statesmen of our time, who will contribute to strengthening peace. My visit to Albania, Ishin Çelebi continued, will contribute to further strengthening our traditional friendship. As our two presidents expressed their mutual desire at their meeting in New York, we are working with the Albanian delegation and have finalized agreements to expand economic cooperation. We consider these steps a good beginning for taking things further in the future. He went on to express a positive assessment of the democratization processes under way in Albania and his confidence that they will produce beneficial results. Comrade Ramiz Alia praised the contribution being made during this visit by the Turkish government economic delegation to the development of economic relations, and expressed his conviction that they would develop further. He also spoke about the democratization processes undertaken in our country and the foreign policy of the Albanian state, which expresses and defends the interests of the people, the freedom and independence of the Homeland, to the benefit of stability and peace in the Balkans and Europe. Also present at the meeting were Farudin Hoxha, Minister attached to the Council of Ministers’ Presidium and Chairman of the Committee for Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries, as well as Turkey’s Ambassador to Tirana, Teoman Surerhkoc, and Albania’s Ambassador to Ankara, Nespip Kaçi. Comrade Ramiz Alia also met with journalists from the Turkish central press and television accompanying Turkey’s Minister of State, Ishin Çelebi. In response to their questions, among other things, he stressed that the reforms undertaken in our country, which aim to further democratize every aspect of the country’s life, will be deepened further in the service of the people’s interests. Also, regarding relations between Albania and Turkey, he noted that our country attaches particular importance to them and is prepared to take them further. (Photo: ATSH)

The presentation of candidates for deputies to the People’s Assembly continues At the «Hysen Hoxha» cinema in the city of Gjirokastër, the presidium of the Democratic Front of the «Palorto» neighborhood, whose residents are included in electoral zone no. 88, organized a meeting to present the candidacies for deputies to the People’s Assembly of several electoral subjects. The representative of the district Party organization, Manxhar Binaj, first secretary of the district Party Committee, presented as a candidate for deputy to the People’s Assembly, jointly with the district Council of the Democratic Front, Comrade Adil Çarçani, member of the Political Bureau of the Party’s Central Committee, Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Chairman of the General Council of the FDSH. Among other things, he said that this distinguished son of Labëria and Gjirokastër, one of the leaders of the women partisans of the National Anti-Fascist Liberation War, a student and faithful collaborator of Comrade Enver Hoxha, has always been characterized by loyalty and determination in defending the interests of the Homeland and the people, and is a resolute fighter alongside Comrade Ramiz Alia for the further democratization of the country’s life. Other voters who had known Comrade Adil Çarçani personally during the war years and the socialist construction of the country then spoke as well. Voter Isuf Zhuli said that it was a great honor for the residents of our neighborhood to be represented in the highest organ of state power, the People’s Assembly, by Comrade Adil Çarçani. They wholeheartedly approve his candidacy because he has always been among us, with his words and tireless work in the service of the people and the Homeland. Voter Kanarina Çeka, a worker at the «Bu-le Naipi» clothing enterprise, said: We women were brought into the light by the Party of Labour. We will put its program into practice, and in the February 10 elections we will go united, as one family, and cast our vote for its candidate. The representative of the district organization of the BGSNH, Kristina Miho, proposed as a candidate for deputy to the People’s Assembly Vitori Muça, a lecturer at the «Eqrem Çabej» Higher Pedagogical Institute, who is respected by the residents of the neighborhood and by the collective where she works. The candidates presented were approved unanimously. At meetings organized in the villages of Majkallë, Dovolan, Çernen, Majtar and Klobçisht in the district of Dibër, which are included in electoral zone No. 22, two candidacies were presented. The first secretary of the district Party Committee, Osman Murati, presented Comrade Xhelil Gjoni as the Party of Labour’s candidate for deputy, a member of the Political Bureau, secretary of the Party’s Central Committee and first secretary of the Tirana District Party Committee. The voters who spoke expressed the view that the candidate presented was worthy of representing them They emphasized that Comrade Xhelil Gjoni is a son of this area and that, wherever he has worked, in Krujë, Dibër and Tirana, he has distinguished himself through devotion and militancy in solving the problems of the residents of the «Egrem Çabej» neighborhood. Vitori Muça, by the collective where she works. (Continued on page 2)

Workers from the state agricultural enterprise and cooperative members, voters in electoral zone no. 59 in Fier, gathered in Seman. Candidates were to be announced for deputies to the People’s Assembly, the highest organ of power. And, on such occasions, along with responsibility, each person quite naturally recalls the path traveled over the years. In this zone, the Party of Labour announced the candidacy for deputy to the People’s Assembly of Anastas Pones, chairman of the district executive committee of the People’s Council. His life is the life of a son of Myzeqe, who has always, in every position, remained modest and close to the people’s troubles and work. He is being proposed as a deputy for the first time. Kind words were also spoken about the candidacy of Llazi Mines, proposed by the Democratic Front organization. As a veterinary specialist, but also as an activist of this organization, he is well known in this area. But the deputy’s task, Thoma Nushi said, must not be reduced merely to meeting us during the current election campaign, as has happened with some deputies up to now, or to attending only the meetings of the People’s Assembly. We want him to be constantly among us, to share our problems, for us to help him in his work and for him to help us with ours. VANGJEL STEFA Activists and voters of electoral district no. 59 in Fier gathered in Seman. The candidates power, were to be announced. And on this occasion, along with the responsibility, each person quite naturally recalls the path taken during the years of people’s power, in every legislative term. The life of the Myzeqean, that short life, dragging on amid mud and misery, compared with today’s levels of civilized interests and aspirations. And, as they also expressed at the assembly organized on this occasion, they are convinced that with the Labour Party and people’s power, revolutionized and renewed, they will move further forward. The houses and villages, entirely new as a whole, the many schools, the paved roads in every village, etc.—everything achieved over these years gives a clear picture and an optimistic outlook for the coming legislative term. This optimism was expressed—and everyone’s words bore it out. Many voters spoke, including Shamo Haxhia, Elmaz Doku and Refat Gllogjeri, Fidal Fusha, etc. Naturally, at this meeting those who took the floor also put forward higher demands of these candidates, because there have also been those who, without knowing the people’s hardships, have rarely raised their voices on their behalf. Nobody needs deputies in name only. Sejdin Arapi had this in mind as well when he mentioned his family’s difficulties concerning their housing conditions. But there are others in a similar situation. The deputy for whom they had cast their votes—what does he feel? (Continued on page 2) behalf. Nobody needs deputies in name only.

GRAMSH Members of the Front in the «Holta» neighborhood, who belong to electoral zone no. 84, also gathered and discussed the candidates presented: Natasah Idrizi, proposed by the Party of Labour, the Trade Unions and the Women’s Organization, and Sadete Çoha, as the candidate of the Front organization.

— From a conversation with Abdyl Sinani, director of the Grain Procurement Directorate at the Ministry of Food Industry — In addition to 15,000 tons of wheat previously contracted with the Swiss company «Finagreain», during the final months of last year a further 135,000 tons were contracted, with payment due after nine months. The day before yesterday, in response to our side’s request regarding the delivery schedule for the wheat purchased from the aforementioned company, the first 6,000 tons arrived at the Bajzë railway station, out of a total of 10,000 tons that will continue to arrive from this direction. The Grain Procurement Directorate at the Ministry and the district enterprises have made arrangements for the rapid distribution of the wheat to the northern districts, such as Shkodër, Pukë, Tropojë, Kukës, etc. This work began yesterday. Also, 17,000 tons of wheat from the same company arrived by ship at the port of Durrës. Preparations have been made for the goods to be unloaded quickly and sent to the districts of Tirana, Krujë, Durrës, Lezhë, Pogradec, etc. We learned that wheat purchased from the «Finagreain» company will continue to arrive by this route as well (that is, by sea), to complete the quantity stipulated in the contract. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

Our interview SIMULTANEOUS IMPROVEMENTS TO PRICES AND WAGES — Interview with Bujar Kolaneci, Chairman of the State Commission for Prices and Wages; given to editor Mehdi Koxhaj. — — Readers are already aware of the establishment of the State Commission for Prices and Wages. Can you tell us something about its aims and duties? Conducting a comprehensive study of price and wage issues and, on this basis, improving them is an integral part of the economic reform undertaken in our country, which is rapidly taking full shape. The improvement of prices, which is required by the new economic mechanism, aims to bring them closer to the value of goods and services. This will give every enterprise fuller opportunities to earn the profit due to it, to self-finance, and to better ensure workers’ incomes from profits. Improving prices in this respect opens up wider scope for the operation of market laws. The improvement of prices will inevitably be accompanied by an upward revision of wages, so that not only will consumption and the people’s standard of living not be affected, but opportunities will also be found to make improvements for some social groups and to eliminate certain anomalies in the wages of specific categories of employees. [The source text is damaged here: «qishëm që nxit shtimin e prodhimit dhe të frytshmërisë së tij. Zgjerimi i marrëdhënieve me botën e jashtme, përmes tregtisë, investimeve të huaja, ndërmarrjeve të përbashkëta, zhvillimit të turizmit, etj. është një arsye tjetër që shton nevojën e rishikimit të çmimeve për të mbrojtur ekonominë e vendit.»] — Some people are concerned that these measures will devalue citizens’ deposits in the savings banks. What is the truth? — The task assigned to the commission can be carried out in different ways and in different proportions. We will therefore have to develop various options and then choose the best and most suitable one. One thing should be clear to everyone: whichever option is chosen, its basis will be not only the protection of workers’ interests, but also the creation of conditions for a more rapid rise in the standard of living. It is difficult for me to give details now, because we are at the stage of organizing the work, but I can tell you with certainty that the study and the decisions to be taken on its basis will have no negative effect on pensioners or students: their pensions and scholarships, like wages, will increase. Likewise, employees who have deposits in savings banks will not be harmed in any way. The state will increase those deposits (the amount of savings) to the extent that the rise in prices and wages actually affects them. The rumors circulating that zeros or ones will be added to wages or prices are completely untrue. This is an economic reform, not a mechanical operation. So the widespread concern has no basis at all. It has been fueled either by uninformed and unqualified people or by ill-wishers. I can add that the commission’s work will also include finding the most appropriate ways to protect the interests of workers with lower incomes and, in general, to provide social assistance. — When is this study expected to be completed? — This is very extensive and complex work, dealing with issues that encompass the entire economy. Work will proceed intensively, with the aim of completing it during the first half of this year. In addition to the commission, a large number of specialists from various fields, including sociologists, from local bodies and ministries will be involved in carrying out the study. Before being submitted to the Government, the study will also be reviewed by a qualified opposition.

ROME, January 9. — Italian Prime Minister Xhulio Andreoti met yesterday with Albania’s Ambassador in Rome, Dashnor Dervishi. During the meeting, which took place in a friendly atmosphere, Prime Minister Andreoti spoke positively of the processes of democratizing life in Albania and of its constructive policy in relations with its neighbors. They also exchanged views on the traditional relations of friendship between Italy and Albania and expressed both sides’ desire for a meeting at a new, higher level. In this context, Italian Prime Minister Xhulio Andreoti stressed that after the February 10 elections in Albania, in addition to an exchange of visits by the foreign ministers of the two countries, he would be pleased to come to Tirana on a friendly visit. (ATSH)

The Albanian delegation, headed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sokrat Plaka, was received by Finland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pertti Passio. The meeting discussed friendly relations between Albania and Finland, as well as their further development in areas of mutual interest. Speaking about the processes for ensuring European cooperation, Finland’s Foreign Minister emphasized his country’s support for Albania’s participation in the CSCE with full rights.

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