The elections have been postponed. But why should the work be postponed?! As has become known, all the electoral subjects agreed that the elections should be postponed. They will no longer be held on February 10, as provided for by the electoral law approved by the People’s Assembly, but on March 31, as stipulated in the latest decree of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. The country’s paramount interest called for such a decision. This action truly benefits national unity, and not this or that political force (as we read in some newspaper). Why were the elections postponed? So that political stability, so essential for achieving truly free solutions, can be strengthened. So that the further deterioration of the extremely serious economic situation, so necessary for every democracy, can be prevented. So that, above all, work that has been so badly disrupted lately can be set back on track. The election campaign was not extended so that work could be abandoned; on the contrary, we must all throw ourselves into it. What value would elections have in the end, however free they might be, if we replaced work with speeches, warnings, strikes, protests, etc.? Who would welcome such elections if, because people have abandoned work, they can find almost no open shops; if there is no milk to warm for the sick in hospitals, no buses to take children to school and workers to work; if raw materials arriving from abroad go unused because the workers at the port of Durrës do not handle them; if even for bread one has to wait for hours, as has happened and is happening these days in some cities, because workers have stopped work with this ultimatum: unless you meet these or those demands, we will not produce a single kilogram of bread. The call of the day is this: everyone back to work! Communists, conscious of the great historic test they are going through, must show every day through concrete work that they stand for true democracy, which they themselves initiated and are leading. To be a democrat today means fighting for economic and political stability; it means striving harder than ever to overcome the many economic difficulties, which we are adding to with our own hands when we abandon work without any political, economic, or national logic. Therefore, wherever they may be, Communists must set an example of discipline, quality work, and perseverance in overcoming difficulties. At this moment of crisis, calling for work to be abandoned in order to meet this or that demand, however justified it may be, is a breakaway, it is suicide, it is an attack on the country, and is just as condemnable as the act of someone who abandons the front in wartime. Albania today calls on everyone to work, work, and work again, with all the abilities and possibilities each person has! If the Communists are making this appeal to Albania to mobilize all its forces and do everything possible to overcome the grave crisis we are going through with as little pain as possible, by working together with all forces, this demonstrates their profound awareness that in this election campaign, given its particular circumstances, national interests come first, and party interests second. The Communists openly proclaim their genuine democratic spirit before the entire people. Anyone who calls themselves a patriot and a democrat has the chance to prove it through deeds. The times we are going through are a test for everyone. True patriots and democrats are those who buckle down to work, not those who engage in talk and speeches in cafés, offices, streets, and elsewhere. The true place for an honest person is where work is done: in enterprises, cooperatives, administrations, schools, etc. Almost two and a half months separate us from election day. Through their work, Communists also have a chance to show who they are: people who want to advance the irreversible democratic processes by the most effective methods. Meanwhile, Party bodies have another opportunity to critically review the candidates who will stand for election. During the first phase of the elections, there were also candidates put forward by the Party of Labour whom the people rightly criticized. This is a serious warning to those who proposed such candidates. They must therefore be immediately removed from the list of parliamentary candidates, regardless of who they are or what position they hold. The Party must put forward as candidates, without fail, the most capable people, those truly wanted by the people, those who embody the finest qualities of a militant and honest Communist, a Communist with moral authority.

TELEGRAM TO COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA TELEGRAM TO COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA TIRANA On January 20, 1991, a rally was held to establish a branch of the Democratic Party in the district of Dibra. Everything had been arranged for the rally to proceed in an orderly manner. But less than 12 minutes after it began, when we saw that the ihtatarët [?] also included people from several families of Dibra’s aristocracy, known for crimes during the National Liberation War, etc., we, the people, erupted. We distanced ourselves from a crowd of people and, from every street, thousands of us—from the city of Peshkopi and Bulqizë and from the villages—began chanting in support of the Party of Labour of Albania: “Party-Enver, we are always ready,” “Party-Ramiz—Red Dibra will not move.” We went to the Party Committee; groups of young people, children, and elderly people seized the flags and portraits of Comrade Enver and yours, Comrade Ramiz, and began an enthusiastic demonstration through the city streets lasting more than two and a half hours. At the request of the participants in this rally, we are sending you this telegram, which expresses the deep patriotic feelings cultivated throughout the history of the people of Dibra, and their bond with the PPSH, dating from the first days of the war and continuing today, when the pages of political pluralism and the democratization of the country’s entire life have opened, so that we may continue without stopping along the path of progress. The freedom and independence of our beloved Homeland, and the life that the people themselves have built and are fighting to make secure and advance, are linked to the name and image of Enver Hoxha. Whoever tries to throw mud at this struggle, as the people say, only covers themselves in mud. Albania has its centuries-old history of struggle and work, courage and wisdom, and these Albanian virtues were elevated only in the Party’s epoch. Whoever tries to deny this concrete fact denies their own existence as an Albanian. With the sweat of our brow, with work, knowledge, and culture, and with a vigilant eye, we people in power, always with the Party at the forefront, have overcome every obstacle and difficulty, found solutions, and, through work and discipline, with ranks closed and strong unity, have advanced along the path of progress without panic. With confidence, faith, and optimism, we will also overcome the economic difficulties our country is currently experiencing. The main way to carry out all our tasks is for everyone to shoulder the work, and to develop democratic processes through dialogue and tolerance, not political excesses. Your words and your stance, Comrade Ramiz, give us wings and strength to move forward. Long live the Albanian people! Long live the PPSH! Red Dibra will not move. FROM THE SPONTANEOUS RALLY OF THE DISTRICT OF DIBRA

January 21. From early morning, all the streets of Tirana are full of pedestrians. Not a single bus is to be seen on the roads. The drivers of the passenger transport depot have stopped work. A strike. Even though all the political parties called for strikes and any other action that harms the city and the economy to be suspended until May 1. But what do the citizens of Tirana say? Aurora Mujo, 9 years old: I go to the “Jeromin De Rada” school. I went to the bus stop as I do every day. I waited a long time. It didn’t come. They told me there would be no bus. I set off on foot. The other interviews continue in the same vein. Two girls from the “Avni Rustemi” school talk about their parents, who set off on foot for the brickworks combine and the Textile combine. A driver from Vlora described the long line of workers he had seen along the entire route. A mother keeps looking for a busy shop. a busy shop. bus. I set off on foot. These passages are part of the text in the visible columns; the continuation is on page 2. (Continued on page 2)

What the capital’s workers told us yesterday At the geological plant: We meet Julian Balço, head of the instrument workshop: “Work is continuing normally,” he says. With a few exceptions, our employees live in the area near the plant premises. The enterprise management has made arrangements to transport workers using our vehicles. At the mechanical workshop, shift A, its supervisor Saimir Lezha says: “We learned with indignation that the drivers had stopped work. How far removed their action seems from the President’s sincere appeal to the people!” SOKOL GRUDA At the bread factory: At 8 p.m. last night, we were among the workers at the bread factory in Tirana. Work was proceeding normally in all departments. We are surprised by the news circulating in Tirana that our workers will strike today. The truth is that this news led to a considerable increase in the amount of bread made today above the daily average, but by producing more, we are avoiding these anomalies, says Koci Kola [?]. During the second shift, we gathered the following information: At the new mechanical plant, about 50 percent of the workforce was working; at the time of pahutjes, no workers were present, while at the metal foundry, ... We will not solve them by striking, as the drivers of the bus depot did, but through dialogue and understanding. Because if we acted otherwise, we would leave our children and families without bread. At the “Enver Hoxha” tractor-and-automobile combine: present, while at the metal foundry, ... “The transport workers’ strike hindered our work. Here is a concrete example: our plant is very far from Tirana, and almost half of the workers have failed to get to work solely as a result of this strike.” “This is no way to do things. We must ... (Continued on page 2) The director of the enterprise has taken measures to move the workers, which makes the news spreading in Tirana that our workers will go on strike in the coming days surprising. The truth is that this news meant that today the amount of bread was once again increased considerably avoiding these anomalies, says Koçi Komiçelli, director of this enterprise. Even though most of the workers live very far away, says Zamira Meta, supervisor of shift II C at Bread Factory No. 1, they all came in for the second shift, without exception. Each of us knows what problems would arise if we did not work for even one day. The loading and unloading worker Haki Kuka joins the conversation: We too have our problems and demands. In the mechanical department, shift A, its supervisor Samir Lezha says: “We learned with indignation about the drivers’ work stoppage. How far people!” The lathes are humming in the department. We are all at work, Isuf Dani tells us. My 22 years of work as a lathe operator condemn the strikers’ thoughtless action. We all want prosperity, but abandoning work will not give it to us. We received many answers yesterday at the geological plant, but the best answer was given by the workers’ actions themselves; many of them reported for the shift yesterday at ... ... Strike ... Struggle ...

Work stoppages seriously harm the economy At its special meeting yesterday, the Council of Ministers reviewed the increasingly tense situation developing in the economy as a result of continuing strike-related work stoppages at several transport enterprises and networks— At its special meeting yesterday, the Council of Ministers reviewed the increasingly tense situation developing in the economy as a result of continuing strike-related work stoppages at several transport enterprises and networks in Korçë, Durrës, and Tirana, which have a major impact on the normal functioning of the country’s economic life. It was informed that the failure to heed the political forces’ call not to hold strikes until May 1, 1991, has harmed the supply of food products and other necessities to the population, first and foremost; disrupted urban traffic, preventing employees from getting to work; and caused irregularities in the supply of raw materials to enterprises. The Council of Ministers called on all state bodies and the country’s political entities to act responsibly so that the consensus reached is put into practice, and for participants in these strike activities to become aware of the need not to create further difficulties in the situation we are experiencing. The local authorities and ministries, in order to ensure the normal operation of enterprises and the daily lives of citizens, have taken and are strengthening measures to cope with the situation, using their own vehicle fleets as well as those of the army. The Council of Ministers recommended that the Presidium of the People’s Assembly promptly approve the law on regulating strikes, which establishes the necessary legal framework for state bodies to respond more effectively to people’s widespread concerns by eliminating such restrictions and irresponsible excesses, which create insecurity and instability for normal life and work. The Council of Ministers once again stressed that any ultimatum demanding an immediate increase in workers’ wages cannot be met without continuing work and a substantial increase in production. Any wage increase outside this logic would immediately raise prices and significantly reduce the people’s purchasing power. Therefore, the interests of individual collectives must not be set against those of all workers. At the meeting, after reviewing the situation on the Albanian-Greek border, which continues to be crossed illegally by Albanian citizens, it was decided that the southern districts sharing a border with Greece would be declared border zones. To travel there, citizens will first need to obtain a travel permit from the local authorities in their own districts. (ATSH)

Yesterday afternoon, in “Fitorja” Square in the city of Fier, the Youth Committee of this district organized a rally in support of Comrade Ramiz Alia’s message to the people. Men and women from workplaces and production centers, agricultural enterprises, institutions and schools, etc., took part. The first secretary of the district Youth Committee, Koco Këdhima, spoke. Among other things, he stressed that we, the young people of Albania, fully support the democratic reform in enterprises by Comrade Ramiz Alia, al, and his message to the people. We will face the country’s difficult situation— (Continued on page 3) ...participants in these strike activities should become aware of the need not to create new difficulties in the situation we are going through.

The Greek news agency ANA reports that, in a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece points out that Albanian citizens cannot enter Greece without a valid passport bearing a visa from the Greek Embassy in Tirana. (ATSH)

TIRANA, January 21: - Asked about the situation on the southern border, the spokesperson of the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that, on January 21, 19 Greek border authorities handed over to the border posts of Kakavi-ç, Qafëbot, Kakato and Zminec 111 Albanians who had crossed the border illegally. The Greek border authorities also told our border authorities that in the coming days they would speed up the handover of other people who had crossed the border illegally. (ATSH)

Interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Reiz Malile, given to our editor, Sokol Gjoka, on the eve of his visit to the People’s Republic of China. Question: What is the purpose of this visit? Answer: Relations between different countries are characterized by a broad spectrum of cooperation. They can touch on political, economic, trade, cultural, and other fields. There are cases where these fields intertwine, but there are also cases where one aspect stands out more than another. A visit by a delegation such as ours has a complex character, in which, in addition to the political aspect, the economic aspect also holds an important place. Question: Is it in our interest for this visit to China to take place now? Answer: This is in the interest of our foreign policy, but also of our domestic policy. Visits of this kind should pursue all directions where our national interests require it. We must aim for Europe, without neglecting relations with other states outside our continent that are of interest to us. These interests are both immediate and long-term. I would like to add that any cooperation takes place between the interested parties, so not everything depends on us alone. Question: From an economic standpoint, what interest does your visit to China currently represent? Answer: It must be borne in mind that economic relations with China have left their mark on our economy. And our economy today needs raw materials and the replacement of existing technology... Question: Replacement with outdated or contemporary technology? Answer: Over the past decade, China has experienced new developments. It has also made progress technologically, competing with various industrial goods on the world market. And what is most important, the renewal of our technology, which, as is known, is based to a considerable extent on Chinese technology, is taking place at a time when our financial resources are limited. Question: Let us continue the interview with economic cooperation... Answer: I think that, first and foremost, the volume of ongoing exchanges of goods with China is to be welcomed; it has increased by around 40 million dollars a year. On the other hand, our goods find a market in China, and China has been very reliable in delivering the goods included in the exchange protocol for 1990, within the deadlines set in the contracts concluded. It should also be noted that the new bridge plant in Fier was built in record time, six months ahead of schedule; at the end of last year, 1,000 agricultural tractors were imported with deferred payment, to be used both in the state sector and in the small private sector. A contract has been signed to establish an Albanian-Chinese joint venture, whose purpose will be the production of mechanical and hydraulic equipment and drums. I would also like to add that in July of last year, at the first session of the Joint Commission for Economic and Technical Cooperation with China, a protocol was signed covering the reconstruction and completion of seven important facilities built by the Chinese. During this visit, the possibility of obtaining various types of credit for raw materials for different branches of our industry, such as construction, chemical, and food industries, is also not excluded. Repayment for the facilities covered by the cooperation will be made after they are put into operation, using their finished products or other goods for export.

20.25 What weather on Wednesday morning? ... 2.00 News Football ... 23.00 Closing ... January ... 22.45 ...