- Comrade Ramiz Alia addresses the people via television - Yesterday you were informed about the announcements concerning the agreement reached by the country's political and social parties and organizations regarding the elections to the People's Assembly and the call to avert social conflicts. Today you were also informed about the decree of the Presidium of the People's Assembly postponing the elections until 31 March 1991. The conclusion of the agreement and this decree are a valuable contribution to the successful implementation of the democratic process. Reaching consensus on such important issues must also be considered proof that the problems facing the country can be resolved through constructive dialogue. But the agreement is only the beginning of the work. Its validity must be demonstrated through its proper implementation. It can be put into effect only through honest work, sincere contribution, trust and mutual assistance. If you are guided by concern for the grave situation in which the country finds itself, by the desire to establish a truly pluralist democracy; if you wish to see the country ranked among civilized nations in the struggle for progress and well-being; if we place the interests of the Homeland above those of parties and individuals, then there is no reason for the determination and will to achieve the objectives set out in the agreement to be lacking. It is natural that among you, dear comrades, different opinions should be expressed about what would be better: holding the elections as planned or postponing them. There may be many arguments for and against. But what matters in such matters is finding the best solutions—those that lead to agreements, not divisions, to the unity and not the disunity of the people. Stubbornness and selfishness, whatever their nature, are poor advisers on such matters. Albania is currently in a tran-[the rest of the line has been cut] At times there are also frictions. It depends on political wisdom whether these tensions will ease or turn into conflicts and fires. It is precisely this wisdom that must characterize and guide all those in whom the people have placed their trust and hopes. Everyone must become aware as soon as possible that destabilization of the country, whether political or economic, would have very serious, even catastrophic, consequences. Albania is a small country, with limited material and foreign-currency reserves and little room for maneuver in the economic sphere. One dry summer is enough to upset the balance built up over many years. The situation would be worse if we did not work and produce. The irresponsible statements of some people that, if things are done one way or another, foreign aid will pour in and, without our needing to work, others will bring us a ready-made lunch are empty dreams. The economy is at the center of many problems. Its recovery must be everyone's foremost concern, that of every worker and citizen. The emergency situation prevailing in the economy is reflected in shortages of raw materials and the low utilization of production capacity in many branches of industry; in tens of thousands of workers being left without work while being paid without producing; in visible shortages of certain consumer goods; and in declining exports while demand for imports is increasing. This is not the time to discuss the causes of this situation. The urgent task now is to find ways to overcome it as soon as possible. Confusion, the dispersal of forces, and the promotion of organizations for partisan political gain will lead us into a dead end from which it will become increasingly difficult to escape. We must be realistic: well-being can be achieved only through work. Every source of income at our disposal, from within or abroad, must currently be used to secure raw materials for industry and basic consumer goods. Workers need work and wages. Therefore, in the present situation, every worker is called upon to reflect, as a patriot and a citizen, on the difficulties we are going through. It is not difficult to understand that when production and productivity decline, demanding wage increases means fueling inflation and unemployment and narrowing the possibilities of emerging from the emergency situation. Meeting the demands of particular work collectives, even when justified, at a time when the general study of wages and prices has not yet been completed, can be achieved only at the expense and to the detriment of other workers, in the city and the countryside. The lack of financial and foreign-currency resources and inflation do not, for the time being, allow the state to meet demands for wage increases on the basis of categories or social strata. Therefore, the only alternative is to mobilize people for work and increase production. Dear comrades, women and men, Let us set to work with the honesty that has characterized the Albanian people, convinced that we work for ourselves and our families, that we work to safeguard our homeland and advance it; let the debates and political dialogue, as well as the election campaign now under way, serve to strengthen the unity of our long-suffering people, not divide them; let this stage we are entering serve to further develop Albania's culture and civilization, and to make its voice clearer and more respected in the world. I have great hope that the country will overcome the difficulties we are facing, because I trust your wisdom and determination, your great creative energies. Above all, I trust the ardent patriotism of our people, who have always placed the supreme interests of the homeland above everything else. Allow me to express my confidence that, at this present moment, this will be the sure compass guiding us in avoiding bitter conflicts and building a peaceful future. [The bottom part of the text has been cut off] [The text on the left-hand page is cut off and mostly illegible.]

How did the workforce at the Durrës shipyard start work this year? To say that everything was and is going smoothly would not be realistic. What do I mean? First, there were and still are some shortages of raw materials, as is the case in the woodworking section, as well as some imported materials, etc. Second, the workers have made several demands that are being studied quickly and carefully. But the most important thing is that all efforts were and are aimed at ensuring work does not grind to a halt, and that people are not disoriented by leaving undone tasks that they are fully capable of completing. And at the shipyard, despite some concerns, the overall outlook is promising. For example, absences from work, as the shipyard's chief engineer Agim Buka told us, are not a cause for concern. Look, as we speak together, I have several workers in my office and we are discussing our problems together. They say that not only will we continue working, as we started on 3 January, but we will work harder to make use of all the internal resources available to us in order to increase the efficiency and productivity of work at our shipyard. They also have some criticisms and demands, which they do not link to stopping work; they say that as these are gradually met, work too will go better. We are discussing things and reaching good understanding: first and foremost, we must stay on top of the work. The demands that we ourselves at the shipyard can address will be met gradually, with the workers also expressing confidence that in the future, as production increases and the Council of Ministers’ decision on the revision of prices and wages is issued soon, things will go better for us. Thus, as can be seen, the situation at the shipyard is being viewed realistically and without euphoria, but also without an inflexible attitude that offers no solutions for the future. In the language of (Continued on page 2) …were postponed. matters in problems of this kind is how to find the unity, not the fragmentation, of the people. Stubbornness and egoism, whatever their nature, are poor advisers in matters of this kind. Albania is currently undergoing a major political, economic, social and cultural transformation. This also gives rise to tensions and…

Albania has followed with particular interest the efforts of the International Community to resolve the Gulf crisis by peaceful means. With the beginning of military operations, the grave Gulf crisis has entered a new and more dangerous phase. The continuation of the war in such a volatile region risks fueling conflict and international destabilization. Albania is in favor of averting any war, of peace and of resolving issues by peaceful means. Albania is in favor of averting conflict and of efforts of peace and of resolving issues by peaceful means.

Report from the start of work in Valias Valias, 17 January. — A working day has passed since the strike. They say the situation has crossed a threshold and is extraordinary. Now in a different sense. 1,029 people on the first shift alone, brother. This has never happened before. We can’t handle the output coming out with the wagons, Agim Hyseni, the mine’s chief engineer, tells someone on the phone. “You want to know about the miners’ enthusiasm? I’ve got it in my notebook. I’m Shefqet Çerrezi, distribution chief. Eight hundred tons of coal have come up to the surface. From a situation where I had zero. Look after the nurseries, kindergartens, hospitals, enterprises. Let Lezha get some too, since we saw it on television last night. We’re in trouble with the vehicle fleet. Now we need transport.” Together with Gezim Hatibi, the head of mine-rescue operations, we descend by elevator into the depths of the mine. There a person can be seen more clearly, with his feelings and his soul. Gezim has left his parents, his wife and his two young daughters at home. The glass top of his table is covered with their photographs. Ah, a parent. A parent who has spent a full 18 years in the mine. For some reason, he wants to talk about his father, who spent his life in the mines of the country. In the mines of Mirditë, Tira-

…nes, the people of Memaliaj know Xhavit Hatibi. When his son talks about him, he’ll go off somewhere, bring up one of his pieces of advice… Let’s leave that for later. Let the miners of Valias speak for themselves. Two hours to get to one mining face. Who knows how many days it takes to get to them all. The underground of Valias is not Skanderbeg Square. Along the underground passage you meet Ardian Shashaj and Nikolin Radovani, both engineers. You meet miners again, maintenance workers, prospectors, builders, — Timshkrimtar, artist, journalist and …

I don’t know whether you’ve heard it, but I heard it. In a report on the nomination of candidates, “Voice of America” quotes an Albanian citizen who says: “Well. The Professional Unions proposed the director of ‘Misto Mame’ as a candidate. He’s a good man, all right—we’re not saying otherwise—but he hasn’t produced quality work.” To complete the picture even further, he adds: “The matches barely light. How can this man be a deputy?” Just look at how concretely they sympathize with our problems! When they wanted to sentence Pinocchio to a full 50 years, they asked him: “Why have you never shone in the bar?” It is true that there are criticisms of the quality of the work. It is also true that the matches do not light properly. Criticism has been made about this in “Zëri i popullit” and other publications, too. But are they trying to bring down Sali Toro’s candidacy with these arguments? Let us remember that Sali Toro is one of the best wood engineers we have. For years he worked at the sawmills of Kukës, although he was a boy from Gjirokastër. As chief engineer at “Misto Mame,” he gave the enterprise new impetus, and last year it was declared one of the best in the Republic. The workers themselves proposed him and made him director. One more thing: as a deputy, he will contribute even more effectively to improving our light industry, because the deputy’s powers in the rule-of-law state will now increase, etc., etc. But… whom are we reminding of all this?! “Voice of America” is not even interested in who Sali Toro is. It is interested in using jibes about matches and other barbs to make its way through… Correspondent / “Zëri i popullit”

At the Memaliaj mine in the Tepelenë district, mechanic Kastriot Nela is also distinguished for his good work maintaining machinery. (Photo: N. Xhufka) At the Memaliaj mine in the Tepelenë district, mechanic Kastriot Nela is also distinguished for his good work maintaining machinery. (Photo: N. Xhufka)

At the request of the parties and social and political organizations as electoral subjects, in view of the situation that has arisen and which also gives newly formed parties the opportunity to participate with their candidates in the elections of deputies to the People's Assembly for the 12th Legislature. Pursuant to Articles 68 and 77 of the Constitution and Article 45 of Law No. 7423, dated 13.11.1990, “On the elections of the People's Assembly”; THE PRESIDIUM OF THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY OF THE PEOPLE'S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA DECIDED: 1. 12th Legislature are postponed to Sunday, 31 March 1991. 2. The Central Election Commission and the commissions for electoral districts and polling stations shall enable representatives of new political parties to participate, at their request. 3. This decree enters into force immediately. Tirana, 17.1.1991. Decree No.: 7456. FOR THE PRESIDENT ALBANIA SECRETARY Sihat Tozaj CHAIRMAN Ramiz Alia

The Council of Ministers today reviewed and sent to the Presidium of the People's Assembly its opinion on four draft decrees, which establish and complete the necessary legal framework for the activities of certain state institutions under the new economic and social conditions. 1) The draft decree on strikes recognizes workers' right to stop work for a specified period in order to meet their demands relating to their relationship with the employer (enterprise). This draft decree sets out the legal rules for declaring strikes, their duration, location and number of participants, as well as the circumstances in which a strike is not permitted or is terminated. It also defines the powers of the courts to resolve disputes between the parties and the measures an employer may take in cases of illegal strikes. The draft decree provides that the Presidium of the People's Assembly shall have the right temporarily to suspend strikes in certain situations, when this is required to protect the interests of the entire people. 2) The draft decree on establishing a financial police force provides for the strengthening of legal regulations under private conditions. The financial police being established will be tasked with implementing the tax system and regulating the market so as to block the activities of speculators and profiteers. 3) The draft decree concerning certain changes to social insurance provides for the early retirement of workers who express a wish to do so, regardless of age. In such cases, their pensions will be differentiated according to years of service. This creates concrete opportunities to free up jobs and employ new workers in many enterprises. 4) The draft decree providing for the expansion of private activity in trade, services, crafts and mass consumption creates the legal conditions for the breakup of centralized state enterprises in these fields. The normal development of these activities independently of state enterprises will also be supported through the state selling or leasing key assets to private individuals and collectives. This draft decree makes it possible for these activities in the future to develop and expand mainly through private and collective enterprise, in the form of small businesses [the remainder is cut off]