For several months, the pace of economic development has been declining. This is evident in the basic sectors: coal, chrome, the chemical industry, building materials; and in the very low export figures, which are nevertheless surpassed by imports. The most telling fact is that significant shortfalls are appearing where the procurement of raw materials is not an issue at all: vegetables, for which only about 10 percent of the target for this year has been met. It is plain to see that little is being done, very little. There is a slackening that puts a huge question mark over everything: where are we going? By now, every economic concern has taken on great political significance. This is truly a moment when politics has an undisputed precedence over the economy. Political groupings must feel this strongly. Political realism, and unblocking this situation, constitute the only possibility for an economic solution. Poets have taken up their pens and, ironically, are writing essays about economic difficulties, wasted time, even acknowledged mistakes. Where are the political economists? Sadly, some indoctrinators are around when the storm is at the door. A whole range of economic systems is being paraded, presented to the country almost like a national costume! Meanwhile, the economy is feverish today. There is no coal for kindergartens and nurseries. There is not enough milk and eggs for the cities. Is there anything more painful: a completely disoriented parent puts pressure on their own children with reckless actions and barren political passions. Under these circumstances, wise economic policy is that which gets people working. There is no greater reproach than when the people say: “May your work grow cold!” Above all, we need a national economy. The time has come to base all our work on daily contact with people. And what are these contacts? Plenum member Kostandin Hoxha mentioned that, while warehouses are full of oil and some other food products, they are absent from retail outlets for days and weeks. Why? The trading enterprises know; the trade department knows, in the district and in the regions, as does the administration paid to monitor or resolve problems with the transport of packaging and other difficulties. But meanwhile, communists too, without interfering in the work of these bodies, when they work in these sectors and see empty shops, must not remain silent, because someone bears the burden ... conformity brings pressure to bear on one’s own children through rash actions, with passions and political ... at home... Under these circumstances, a wise economic policy is one that gets people to work. There is no greater shame than when the people say: “work has gone has come for economists to take on a great burden. The economy is not a train carriage that can be so easily coupled to the powerful European locomotive. Before reaching this great step, there are other uphill stretches that must be climbed with our own strength and means. Economic history is founded on the legacy of the work of every generation. In economics, nothing starts from scratch. Whoever does not understand this, or is ashamed to admit it, tramples the people’s sweat underfoot. ... however... As for, bodies, when they work in these sectors, when they see empty shops, should not remain silent, because someone is spreading false information that prompts citizens to buy large quantities of products, creating disruptions in the market, while others, when they go out on their own, are not very concerned. Thus, contact with people is not just conversations or observations about problems that arise. Connections with people are also built through concrete actions. A month ago, at the previous plenary session, it was said that the reduction of the apparatus would begin... ...the district, the administration that is paid to supervise or to solve transport problems, [unclear] or some other difficulty. these bodies, when working in these sectors and seeing empty shops, should not remain silent, because some people spread products, creating disorder in the market, while others, when they look after their own interests, are not very concerned. Thus, contact with people does not consist only of the previous plenary meeting, it was said that the downsizing of the apparatuses would begin...

In the canned-food production section of the Peshkopi food-processing enterprise. (Photo: A. Ashiku) In the canned-food production section of the Peshkopi food-processing enterprise. (Photo: A. Ashiku)

Some notes from the Tenth Plenum of the Tirana Party Committee. Like every citizen, and even more so, communists too are trying to find their bearings in recent developments; every day each one strives to help the democratizing developments. This was also the spirit of yesterday’s discussion at the Plenum of the Party Committee of the Tirana district. “If we do not establish democracy first of all within the Party, we will not succeed by demanding everything from others,” said Plenum member Prof. Besim Elezi. “This is what the day demands of a communist. The views and suggestions of many communists in recent days still show freshness. But meanwhile, as was said, there are also attitudes of standing still, because there are communists and cadres who do not understand that all their work must be based the burden ...sh, and with... such as El... This is the demand of di... tis for the communist. The thoughts and suggestions of the communist left these days also show freshness. But, as was said, there are also positions are not understanding in time the stage we have entered, namely pluralism, with agreement and disagreement of opinions, a variety of demands, but also common goals. Since the Party itself initiated these processes, it was said, and since pluralism was enshrined in law for its values, it was discussed that our Party members themselves should be the first to be disciplined, to respect it, to enter debate with knowledge and wisdom, and to show more than anyone else... ... should rise... first of all, in ... of the slope while seeking elsewhere», ... said the plenary surface, prof. Be...sin Elezi. The thoughts and suggestions of the communist left these ... also positions of demands, but... ...the trade [sector], in the district and throughout the regions, transport problems, [unclear] or some other difficulty. shops, should not remain silent, because some people spread contact with people does not consist only of are also built through concrete actions.

In recent days, candidates for deputies to the People’s Assembly were also presented in the district of Durrës. Unlike previous times, one distinctive feature is that candidates were presented to the people not only by the Party of Labour but also by other independent electoral entities, such as the trade unions, the Democratic Front, the Women’s Union and the Youth Union. This is a major step in giving political pluralism concrete form and in the electoral field. What else can be observed? The people, with their broad judgment, are not mere spectators; conscious of the role their representatives have in the country’s highest governing body, they spoke with particular responsibility, approving those they knew best, liked most and trusted most. In electoral zone No. 30, the candidacy put forward by the Party of Labour was rejected and the physician Fatbardhë Dyrmishi was proposed. In zone No. 34, the candidacy put forward by the Democratic Front was rejected and the jurist Emrir Dobjani was proposed. Specifically, in several electoral zones, the people rejected a number of candidates. Among them were candidates put forward both by the Party of Labour and by other entities. We heard some voices expressing concern: how did this happen, why should it happen this way? There is no reason for alarm. Those who voice such baseless concerns apparently have not understood the new democratic processes undertaken by our Party of Labour; they are accustomed to old practices, whose time has passed. The rejected candidates’ own concern was also evident. If the people did not want him, he really should be concerned and reflect on himself, but he should fully explain why the people did not want him; he should be less concerned. The people are rightly concerned to find the most worthy candidates, those who will represent them most worthily. In other words, they are concerned that, figuratively speaking, the people themselves should be in the People’s Assembly. Thus it was right for the people in several zones of the district to propose other candidates. They proposed them using their broad judgment. They knew them better, valued them more, respected them more, and felt greater confidence in them. These new candidates are again from both the Party of Labour and other organizations. It is the people who decide. What else does the fact that some candidacies were rejected show? The people who proposed them are not at fault for putting them forward. The candidates may have had their own individual shortcomings, which the people pointed out in specific cases, but the greater responsibility lies with the entities that put them forward. Durrës has a powerful intelligentsia: 5,000 highly qualified specialists and 20,000 intermediate-level specialists. It has energetic, well-prepared people, with knowledge and culture, who have made a name for themselves at work, in production and in management. There are people distinguished by an innovative spirit and bold thinking, who make concrete efforts to contribute more to the economy and the people. Because the work of selecting from among these thousands was rushed and not fully studied, several not particularly suitable candidates were put forward. It was the people who, from among these thousands, found and proposed the candidates they liked best; they also fully supported and approved other candidates who had been put forward, carefully considered and enjoyed their respect. We must make this observation: our concern is not only this particular case; we believe that the foundation for the work, for its complete renewal in all ...with the workers. Connections that would speed up the resolution of requests and the fulfillment of needs. There may be other requests everywhere, even justified ones, but everything is reasonable when assessed against the real possibilities of the economy. Any request that falls outside this logic has extraordinary consequences for the economy, slows democratic processes, creates great difficulties, hinders cooperation with foreign countries, and takes from one at the expense of the whole country. Finally, the Plenum relieved Comrade Xhelil Gjoni of his duties as First Secretary of the District Party Committee and elected Robert Koli in his place. Ismail Lleshi was also elected secretary of this committee, while Pirro Kondi was relieved of this duty because he was retiring. ...he chose the candidates he liked best, but carefully considered and enjoyed his respect. In making this observation, we are concerned not only with this particular case; we believe that a broader examination is needed of the work as a whole, for its complete renewal in every field, so that it may be as creative and successful as possible.

WORK HAS BEGUN Yesterday, the representatives of the two committees formed in Valias, Thanas Dede and Agim Hyseni, after presenting the workers’ demands to the Government and arguing their case, brought back the response concerning the miners’ final demand. Meanwhile, the workers’ meetings with representatives of the political parties had also concluded. After receiving the response, the workers headed for their work faces. Preparations were made and work began in the four longwall faces that were in good working order. As engineer Shpëtim Kabashi told us, yesterday afternoon, only longwall face 26-08 will need two or three days of preparation before work can begin. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

Every city, large or small, is inconceivable without a “green belt,” whether natural or created later. This is all the more true of cities with extensive industrial development and a high degree of environmental pollution, such as Elbasan: surely the creation and protection of forest belts, these artificial “lungs” extending deep into the outskirts, is an essential task? Of course. This concerns the destruction of more than 10 hectares of forest at Polis-Valë, on the bank of the Shkumbin River, under an order issued by the agriculture section and the executive committee. The order was justified by a request from the agricultural cooperative, on the grounds that productive land could be obtained there. After much debate, the forestry enterprise was asked to provide arguments for why the forest should not be destroyed. Here are some of our arguments: first, this oak, willow and other-tree forest covers an area four to five times larger than the beech, pine and other forests, and every year it yields construction timber worth 30,000 lekë. Second, even when exploited in sections through selective thinning, this forest has a rapid capacity for regeneration. Third, and most importantly, during the summer, in the afternoons and on Sundays, hundreds of citizens of Elbasan come here, to Xibrakë and Labinot, to relax. Apparently, these calculations were overturned by other “arguments” put forward by an employee of the agriculture section, himself a forestry specialist by profession, but working in the fruit-growing group. The result? The executive committee did not change the decision it had made back in April last year, as it had promised; instead, it recently ordered that the forest be cleared. And the order came right after December, when there had been a campaign to plant saplings; now, in January, they have turned on the forests! Everyone understands that there is a need to increase the area of arable land. But there are criteria for this too. Just because an agricultural economy or even an agriculture section has an interest in farmland, can one of the finest forest belts be destroyed? Before issuing such orders, should the executive committee not assess needs not only with forestry engineers but also with specialists from other fields? Is it not considered that, in an immature country, pursuing immediate interests is unpredictable in the long run? Forests are easy to destroy and very difficult to create. For more than 10 years, people in Elbasan have talked about creating a forest near Zaranika; several planting campaigns were also carried out in past years, but the forest was not created so easily, even though the citizens would very much like one. And the citizens need somewhere to go. From this perspective, the situation would be different for the forest we mentioned if it were just any forest, or deep in the mountains. When it is right on our doorstep, how can one remain silent? Various people in Elbasan believe that such a forest, 8–9 km from the city, also helps regulate polluted air. Above all, tomorrow it could become a multifunctional park, with a beach beside it, since the water of the Shkumbin there is also very clean. So what is better, and where is the gain: to continue destroying the forest in order to obtain a few dozen hectares of wheat later, or to stop those who are uprooting the trees, so that it can remain a natural monument and an important element in preserving ecological balance?

TIRANË, January 16. This morning, the secretary of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Sih at Tozaj, the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Tirana District KPT, Llambi Begolli, Deputy Foreign Minister Muhamet Kapllani, and the secretary of the General Council of FDSH, Leka Shkurti, went to the embassy of the State of Palestine in the capital and conveyed their condolences to the ambassador of the State of Palestine in our country, Montaser Abu Zaid, for the murder of the Vice-President of the State of Palestine, Salah Khalef Abu Ijad, and Hail Abdelhamid Abu El-Houl. Officials of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other departments, as well as also signed the embassy’s condolence book. (ATSH)

Within the framework of cultural relations between the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania and the Republic of Turkey, and cooperation between the PTT administrations of the two countries, yesterday afternoon the General Directorate of Posts and Telecommunications opened the Turkish Philatelic Exhibition in one of the largest halls of the National Historical Museum in Tirana. It features postage stamps issued in the Republic of Turkey between 1954 and 1990. Their themes comprise complete series and FDC envelopes depicting the development of Turkish folk art, its history and nature, as well as distinguished national figures, among whom the outstanding personality of this nation, Mustafa Kemal Ataturku, stands out. Stamps depicting fauna and flora, various objects, sporting activities, etc., are also included. (continued on page 3)

We’re doing well with the “plan” for rallies (!) The day before yesterday, a notice was put up on the outer door of the League of Writers and Artists. It announced that on the 15th, at 15:30, a rally would be held in front of the square by the «Qemal Stafa» stadium, organized by cultural and artistic institutions on the occasion of the establishment of Democratic Party sections at this institution. A few people gathered there. As usually happens on such occasions. “Here we go, another rally!” “With everything else going on,” another person chimed in, “we’re not doing well. Only with the ‘plan’ for rallies, thank God, are we doing well!” That was all he said. Someone smiled. Someone left. Shabani and I left too. We completely agreed with the unknown citizen. We agreed completely because an unpleasant observation is familiar to everyone: work has declined everywhere; work has ground to a halt; many people are engaging in fruitless talk; people are sitting around at rallies, by loudspeakers, and so on and so forth. People are talking about democracy, while plans are not being fulfilled not only in Valias but in many other enterprises as well. What is going on? Where are we headed? These are questions we all ask, every day, every hour. And yet the democracy of talk is “flourishing,” advancing according to a geometric progression, while the democracy of work seems to be found among few people. Let me pose a question. I may be wrong. The question is this: since we are all interested in getting the work done, and since all the parties and other organizations are saying sincerely and publicly that they do not want anarchy and destabilization, wouldn’t it be better, for the time being, to step back a little from rallies and bring the people closer to work? I was recalling these thoughts, as well as the many posters for rallies, a few hours later that evening, when a Mexican magazine came into my hands. The magazine is called «Vision» Mexico. One contributor writes: “As I was watching a rowing competition (with boats), a question occurred to me: Would crews whose members call out through megaphones, while only one person agrees to row, ever qualify? This is more or less the situation in some democracies, where most people spend their time proclaiming their points of view, while only a very small minority has to sweat to move the boat forward.” That’s it! And one more thing, reader: in case you have noticed, both I and some of my colleagues, especially lately, have sometimes used a proverb in our articles, sometimes a philosophical saying or a quotation from a world figure, and so on... “We tell you sincerely: this is not intended to show off erudition. The sole purpose is to listen to wise minds too, to great wisdom, so that you may adapt to these situations as well as possible and with the greatest awareness. Let us listen to them too, because it is not I, or my colleague, who is speaking, but an esteemed and respected mind. And I believe it has always spoken in favor of work as well.” siran, Far... the past ... defended... Trakun, if...li. SEEKS O... INTERMEDI... ...n of the express... the effort... the struggle... that it... United... one...

The representatives of the Party of Labour of Albania, the Democratic Front of Albania, the Democratic Party of Albania, the Republican Party of Albania, the Ecological Party of Albania, the Trade Unions of Albania, the Labour Youth Union of Albania, the Women’s Union of Albania, and the National Committee of Veterans of the Albanian People’s War, at a meeting held on the initiative and under the direction of the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Comrade Ramiz Alia, agreed as follows: Taking into account the grave economic and political situation in the country, and with the aim of averting the dangers of further escalation of social conflicts that lead to disruption of production and anarchy, to address the entire people—workers, peasants, youth and intellectuals—with an appeal to suspend strikes and demands for wage increases until 1 May 1991. They should bear in mind that, in order to hold truly free, pluralist and democratic elections, it is necessary to create a calm situation and maintain public order. This situation is also necessary to give the Government time to study and formulate the relevant laws concerning wages and prices, which will resolve the problems that have arisen in economic relations between employees and the state, as well as those created by the new economic reform in relations between enterprises and citizens. The representatives of the above-mentioned parties and organizations agreed to recommend to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly that, in view of the situation created and in order to give the newly formed parties an opportunity to present their candidates in the forthcoming elections, the election date be postponed to 31 March 1991. Tirana, 16.1.1991.