. The Party of Labour renews itself through its members. On these winter days, with very low temperatures, we meet Shkëlzen Dollapi, the mechanic at the vehicle fleet depot in Bajram Curri. As he worked, the drivers of this depot came and went, among them Isuf Llamnica, Ndoc Kola, Ibrahim Mustafa, Fran Prendi, etc., bringing and collecting the vehicles’ batteries at this facility. “Well done,” they said, “not only for working with the wrench, but for keeping your word and meeting the deadline.” These are precisely the drivers who speak passionately about their own work too, about how they overcome the difficulties they encounter in transit, on mountain roads up to the foot of the mountains covered with snow and ice. Shkëlzeni is a good comrade; his work has earned him authority, and so he enjoys the respect of the collective. A year ago he was an instructor at the Party Committee, and later secretary of the Party bureau at the Babinë agricultural cooperative. As an aside: for its results, this enterprise was declared one of the best cooperatives in the district. Among other things, the Party’s renewal called for streamlining the apparatus. There was concern: where would this comrade go? He was offered several managerial posts. “Don’t worry about my name,” he said. “I’ll go closer to production and work as a labourer. My trade is battery repair; I’ll strive to master it as well as I can. I’m capable of doing this job, so I’ll go to the vehicle fleet depot.” “I’m satisfied; are you?” he asked the cadres of that committee, some of whom expressed a certain lack of confidence. The Party of Labour renews itself through its members. Isn’t this an example for some Party official who is waiting? At the Tropojë District Party Committee, among the staff members of the apparatus, the need is to act more swiftly and concretely against bureaucratism and to streamline staffing structures. The obstacle is hesitation over where to send these cadres. The answer provided by Shkëlzen’s example is: everyone should find a job as close as possible to production. Being idle is unjustifiable at this moment. HYSNI PRENGZI

At work in the basket-making production department of the artistic enterprise in Berat. (Photo: N. Xhufka)

OUR INTERVIEW A working group from the University of Bari (Italy), consisting of Prof. Girone, dean of the Faculty of Economics and Commerce, Prof. Dalmato of the Faculty of Law, and Prof. Di Comite of the chair of studies on Mediterranean societies, made a visit lasting several days to our country. Our journalist KRISTAQ ÇOKA met them at Rinas Airport as they were returning to their homeland and asked them for an interview. The Italian professors gladly agreed and chose Prof. LUIGI DI COMITE as their spokesperson. Question: Professor, what impressions are you taking away from our country? Answer: First, I would prefer to speak about the impressions with which we arrived. We were aware of the democratization processes that had taken clear shape in the first months of 1990. Now, a year later, we had the opportunity to observe them at close quarters. Far from being subjective, I believe that these changes are very important. At the Faculty of Economics in Tirana, we were extensively and competently informed about the economic reforms undertaken and now being put in place, which we consider very important and positive. We also saw some of the textbooks currently in use. To be honest, it must be said that they no longer correspond to the economic realities now taking shape. The course content must be adapted without delay to the reforms undertaken. We are ready to offer our cooperation and assistance in this regard. Textbooks should reflect, above all, the new economic mechanisms. Question: Since you mention it, what is your opinion of the new economic mechanism? Answer: Bearing in mind the practice of the Albanian economy up to now as a centralized economy and the current directions for the future of the Albanian economy? Answer: With the reforms undertaken and the directions given for its system, I connect this with the new economic mechanism. The current changes in the economic field represent a potential for development. Development itself, however, depends on the availability and commitment of workers in all fields, as well as Albanian specialists and labourers. If you desire development but do not accompany that desire with a concrete and sincere contribution, you will be disappointed. Question: It seems that the Albanian economy shows that Albania needs development. The economy of every country has its own specific features. Therefore, you should not simply show curiosity about the economic models of this or that country. Naturally, you should refer to them, but never transplant them; adapt them instead. By building an Albanian market economy and by each person working hard, you will soon feel the efficiency of the system you are pursuing, achieve economic growth, and in a few years your economy may measure up against the economies of other European countries. Question: What message would you like to— (Continued on page 2) Are they leaving the impressions we had when became clearly apparent we had the opportunity to see them firsthand. Far from being subjective, I believe these processes are real and moving in the right direction. In my view, this is due to the successive steps taken carefully and thoughtfully throughout the past year. And if you continue at this pace and with this approach, your success is assured, and it will not be long before democracy, from being merely functional, becomes fruitful. Question: You made a working visit here. What conclusions did you reach? Answer: From the conversations and meetings we had with officials and lecturers especially with regard to the new economic mechanism. the new economic mechanism? Answer: Bearing in mind the hitherto practice of the Albanian economy as a centralized economy and the current orientation toward a market economy, I consider the new economic mechanism, both in conception and implementation, necessary and entirely appropriate. I say this because a centralized economy cannot transition to a market economy by crossing an empty beam, by going through “a void in the air.” This would lead to unbalanced economic accounts and conflictual economic and social situations. For this reason, there must be a connecting link, a junction, a bridge. Question: How do you see the present and future of the Albanian economy? Answer: ... ...in a profound restructuring of the economy in line with the trends and requirements of achieved by significantly limiting investment in heavy-industry branches, so as to create real opportunities to develop more rapidly and as a priority, as well as the expansion of individual and family private businesses the protection of citizens’ interests. and to establish as many medium-sized and small units as possible, will expand productive employment, relieve the state budget of administrative expenses, soften and eliminate the monopolistic position of large enterprises in the market, and pave the way for competition to achieve and gradually eliminate activities with (Continued on page 4)

The Secretary of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Shaht Tozaj, and member of the Presidium Eleni Selenica received yesterday representatives of the Democratic Party concerning several requests that the Party had recently addressed to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly and its Chairman. 1. Although on 17.1.1991, on the basis of a consensus among all electoral subjects, an agreement was reached to postpone the election date and make no changes to the law “On Elections to the People’s Assembly,” except for allowing all new political parties to have representatives on the election commissions—a matter resolved legally—the Democratic Party has once again raised the issue of reviewing this law. Regarding this request, the representatives of the Democratic Party were told that the law “On Elections to the People’s Assembly” was adopted by the People’s Assembly and that no other body has the right to make changes to it on fundamental matters. Under the Constitution, the People’s Assembly is now dissolved. Nevertheless, the law is fully democratic and guarantees free, general, secret, equal and direct elections, based on the will of the citizens. Therefore, no amendment is necessary. 2. The Democratic Party has raised the issue of the “depoliticization” of the army, the internal affairs bodies and the justice bodies, as well as the release of all political prisoners. Regarding both these issues, Presidium members explained, action has been taken and will be taken solely in accordance with the Constitution and other laws in force, taking into account the changes that have occurred, as well as the aim of preventing divisions and disruption of unity and guaranteeing social peace. 3. The following answer was given to the Democratic Party’s request to organize public demonstrations whenever and wherever it wished: the Presidium of the People’s Assembly advises all subjects to avoid rallies and demonstrations in streets and squares during the election campaign, always with guaranteeing social peace. If any of the subjects, notwithstanding this advice, wishes to organize public meetings and demonstrations in the streets, it must coordinate with the public order authorities regarding their time and place. Decree No. 7408, dated 31.7.1990, “On meetings, gatherings and demonstrations by citizens in public places,” has granted these authorities full powers to assess and decide. It is not the Presidium’s duty to intervene and determine where and when a particular rally or demonstration should take place. 4. As for the Democratic Party’s requests for certain equipment, technical devices, etc., these are matters to be resolved with the state executive bodies. The Presidium of the People’s Assembly will recommend to the Council of Ministers that it consider resolving them as soon as possible, within the available means. Tirana, 5.2.1991

The Directorate of Press and Information at the Council of Ministers considers it necessary to clarify the report about the Council of Ministers’ meeting of 25 January this year. This report has been interpreted as saying that by 15 February the shops would be stocked with all the necessary food and industrial goods, and that all factories would be supplied with imported raw materials. As is known, at that meeting the Council of Ministers called for arrangements to be made by 15 February for better distribution and redistribution of the food products available. For this purpose, it assigned tasks to coordinate the work of producers, carriers and sellers of these goods, in order to prevent their poor management, which resulted from goods not being placed on the market because of a lack of packaging and transport. On the other hand, some enterprises do not lack raw materials, or do not obtain them domestically. The Council called for weak organization and laxity in the work of employees at these enterprises to be brought to an end. The Council of Ministers called on the ministries for greater oversight and discipline to improve the situation, and to find ways to ease conditions at enterprises lacking imported raw materials. Thirdly, with regard to firewood, the Council of Ministers instructed the Ministry of Transport and the General Directorate of Communal Economy to eliminate the irregularities observed and resolve this problem as soon as possible. In recent days, the Council of Ministers also ordered the Ministry of People’s Defence to assist in transporting firewood using its vehicles. It also instructed foreign-trade bodies to ensure the timely delivery of the planned food products. According to the information available so far, based on the Council of Ministers’ monitoring, the assigned tasks are being carried out as planned, both for domestic food products and for imported ones. Funds worth 27 million dollars have been released for food products for the first two months of this year. Secondly, at that meeting the Council of Ministers assigned another task: by 15 February, to stabilize— The General Directorate of Communal Economy is also ordered the Ministry of People’s Defence to help transport fire-wood using its vehicles. As regards the supply of seasonal vegetables, milk, eggs, etc., the executive committees of the district people’s councils were given specific tasks to intensify services for vegetables and livestock, increase their production and deliveries, and meet the needs of their own district and their contracts with others. While monitoring the implementation of its assigned tasks, the Council of Ministers has continually drawn attention to the need to intensify work in the directions mentioned above, both by central bodies and by the executive committees of the districts.

The scheduled session of the Forum on Albania was held in Davos, attended by political figures, businesspeople and press representatives from various countries. At the Forum, Albania’s Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Fatos Nano gave a brief presentation of the course of reforms in Albania. Among other things, he said: “Today’s Albania is undergoing comprehensive reform in order to eliminate everything made outdated by time and to generate new driving forces for its development. Its path of reform runs through democratization, stability, political pluralism and a market economy, the national unity of the country, and planned international cooperation. On the reality we are restructuring, the foundations are being laid for a more advanced, modern society, in which the new demands of the country’s intensive development are being addressed. All this is supported by a new legal framework, embodied in the draft of Albania’s new constitution. “Constitutional amendments further expand and deepen the democratic rights and freedoms of citizens. Alongside the rights and freedoms recognized and guaranteed by the previous constitution—such as equality before the law; the right to vote and to be elected; the right to work and rest; to free education and schooling and health care; to work in safe and hygienic conditions; to protection of life and property; freedom of belief and the practice of religion, including the establishment of religious institutions; citizens’ freedom of movement within and outside the country, including the right to work abroad; the right to strike when workers’ rights recognized by law are not fulfilled; and the right of citizens to form political parties—material and procedural safeguards for the inviolability of the person, etc., are further expanded and completed. The new legal provisions fully comply with the international standards recognized by the Helsinki Final Act and other CSCE documents, including the Paris Charter. “Speaking about economic reform, he said that its essence lies in replacing the wholly centrally planned system with market-economy mechanisms, creating conditions in which the state, cooperative and private sectors can compete and coexist, the state can play a balancing role alongside the free initiative of all economic entities, and domestic entrepreneurs can operate alongside foreign ones. “Economic reform aims to adapt the development and structural orientation of the economy and to continuously raise the people’s standard of living, which currently amounts to around 800 dollars in national income per capita, 45 percent of which is created in… [text incomplete] …the material and psychological conditions of our country, so as not to destabilize life in the country. The reform envisages a profound restructuring of the economy in line with trends and demands for integration into the European market and beyond. This will be achieved by significantly limiting investment in heavy industry, creating real opportunities to develop more rapidly and with priority agriculture, the food and light industries, transport, tourism and services, as economic activities with high profitability and rapid returns. This restructuring will be supported and implemented on the basis of self-financing, participation in profits and employee co-ownership in state enterprises, as well as through the expansion of individual and family private activities and partnerships in production and services. Through the tax system, legal regulations and other social measures, the state will ensure the protection of citizens’ interests. “With the measures being taken to decentralize production, construction and services and establish as many medium-sized and small units as possible, production employment opportunities will expand, the state budget will be freed from administrative expenses, the monopolistic position of large enterprises in the market will be eased and eliminated, and the way will be opened for competition and greater efficiency. To increase the overall profitability of the economy and gradually eliminate activities with… [The beginning of the visible part of the interview is cut off.] ...the new Constitution once again enshrines freedom of belief and religious practice, including the opening of religious institutions; the right of citizens to move freely law are not met; and the right of citizens to join political parties. The material and procedural guarantees and strengthened. including the Charter of Paris. Question: From the conversations and meetings we had with agricultural officials and lecturers. The implementation of the reform aims to ensure that the transition to a market economy is accompanied by a measured social policy, so that the cost of this transformation does not further affect the people’s standard of living. In recent years, Albania has experienced considerable disruptions in the market for consumer goods and in the circulation of money, in the supply of raw materials, materials and energy to the economy, and in providing people with employment. Although our state is taking extraordinary measures to normalize the economy and the domestic market, in the case of a small country like Albania assistance is also needed from international economic organizations such as the IMF, the World Bank, the new European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, alongside private capital. Adequate legal guarantees have already been established by the Albanian state for this purpose, and it has undertaken the necessary initiatives. We reaffirm them and are ready to develop contacts and hold open and fruitful discussions on their implementation at this forum as well. There is a strong willingness in Albania to cooperate with foreign partners, while respecting the interests of mutual benefit. Economic reforms, he went on, are based on adapting the basic principles for moving the economy toward a free-market economy, away from a market economy...

— From an inspection organized these days at Tirana’s retail outlets In conversation with Kujtim Kaceli, Agim Penga and other members of the inspection team, we learn: Producers have their shortcomings. Foreign trade is not without difficulties either, but it is not responsible. Nevertheless, the district trade section rightly thought, “let’s start with ourselves.” And many shortcomings were found in numerous outlets. The outlet near Shkolla e Kuqe was found with a note on the door. It was taking a break. Just one outlet, after all… Yet one outlet serves around a thousand families. At outlet no. 5/2, the shopkeeper takes ten days off, the outlet stays closed and hundreds of shoppers mill around, because the enterprise takes no measures to arrange their supply. At outlet 23, residents complain that the saleswoman has not given them their January allocation. “It’s been burned,” she tells them. Then she shifts the responsibility to the enterprise. Shoppers are right to be suspicious. Reserves of food products were found at all the outlets. Those stored in some warehouses were put on the market. One source. In addition, calculations were made to determine fair allocation rates for sugar, oil, rice, etc., etc. Supplies to private outlets were also increased. Temporarily dissatisfied, during this difficult period. The distribution system was also reorganized, so that citizens can collect their allocation whenever they wish, including during the first week of the following month. On the other hand, full knowledge of the reserves mobilized both the enterprises and the district to seek other sources of supply. Several hundred quintals of food products were added, and they are also drawing an additional 450 quintals of sugar from Maliqi. The allocations are guaranteed. They are also getting 200 quintals of vegetables from Lushnja, but we have only enough potatoes for the nurseries, adds Adrian Mërtiëri of the trade section of Region 3. Similar additions have been made in the sections of the other regions too. A quantity of powdered milk is being added to the supply. A consignment of imported eggs is expected to arrive soon, and they will be distributed according to the ration. Thus, inspections and a full understanding of the situation prompted a search for different sources of supply. Why should inspections from above be needed to resolve the problems that are being resolved? Is help from above also needed to inform citizens? Citizens are asking that the supply… (Continued on page 2)