The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Comrade Ramiz Alia, last evening received in one of the halls of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly the chairman of the Democratic Union of Albanians in Croatia, Tom Berisha, the deputy chairman of this organization, Muharrem Nexhipi, and member Zef Marku. A warm conversation took place between them about the new processes of democratic development in Albania and the progress of political pluralism and electoral strength. It was also pointed out in the conversation that a politically and economically stable Albania is a strong support for the cause of Albanians in Yugoslavia as well. The meeting took place in a brotherly atmosphere. (ATSH)

A look at the fields TODAY’S CALL: LET US RETURN TO WORK Something is moving in the right direction, but it is only the beginning ... — KORÇË — The farmers in the district of Korçë, with its harsh mountain climate, have always recognized the importance of the facts, even in winter. This winter, however, something different happened, contrary to all experience. No work was done on preparing the wheat fields, which were left under the threat of frost, nor on collecting manure, cultivating the soil, etc. And yet, while the fields were left deserted, debate was lively in the villages: how should we organize ourselves? Village by village and cooperative by cooperative? Two or three villages together? We do not mean to say that these debates have no value. But wheat, beet fields, beans and tobacco do not need “sand” of democracy, but wind and sweat. Let us make this situation more concrete. In the wheat fields, if by the end of December the situation was good—better than at the same time the previous year—today, after the frosts, the picture is different. The latest inspection assessed 74 percent of the area as being in average condition and 26 percent as poor. Is this the result of the frost? No. Its negative effects could have been mitigated if the cooperative leaders, specialists and all the cooperative members had not sat idle. The frosts, wheat specialist Kristaq Teneqexhiu explains, lasted from January 15 to February 8. As in other years—for example, in 1989, when we achieved very good results with wheat—the fields should have been rolled and treated with organic fertilizer. These operations were not carried out almost anywhere because of the frost. There is a very serious delay in preparing tobacco seedbeds and planting them. Whereas at this time last year 30 percent of the area had been planted, this year only 10 percent of the area has been prepared, and mass planting has not yet begun. The collection of organic manure and preparation of the land for planting beets are also at a low level. This sluggishness at work was acknowledged at the district meetings organized a few days ago by the district agricultural department. But what value do such acknowledgements have, or the statement that in Kamencë cooperative members received 80 percent of their pay while sitting idle? What matters is how to overcome the standstill. Today, the tasks facing agricultural workers in the district of Korçë are urgent. The improved weather in recent days, with rising temperatures, has created suitable conditions for intensifying work on the wheat, ploughing, and planting tobacco seedlings and fruit trees within the deadlines. At the district meetings it was stressed that, with comprehensive organizational measures, there are opportunities everywhere to overcome the delays. The reports from the past few days point to some movement, but it is still only the beginning. KOSTAQ DUKA

By Prof. Dr. Lufter Xhuveli When the first autumn rains come late, all kinds of weeds sprout along with the seed that has been sown, and the farmer has to work and toil hard to weed and nurture the plants, and finally to thresh and separate the darnel from the wheat. Today’s welcome processes of democratization and pluralism are likewise generating new impulses and reshaping our entire economic and social life. Many problems have accumulated, others are being added; the crossroads are multiplying, but so are the alternatives. Now, as general democratization proceeds, the intimate attitudes of individuals and different political groups toward the reality of yesterday, today and tomorrow are beginning to emerge. Among the problems that have arisen are some that are sharper and more urgent, affecting people’s economic, spiritual and psychological balance, especially that of people in the countryside. In this climate, many of the most important matters have reached a crossroads, been called into question and require discussion. These include: should the land be privatized or remain state property as a national asset? What will happen to the agricultural cooperatives—will they be retained or dissolved? How will the cooperative household plot be dealt with from now on? What changes and improvements should be made to agricultural economic policy? How will the problems that have arisen for agricultural specialists be resolved? And so on. These issues are highly complex, and opinions and interests concerning them are extremely sensitive. It is difficult to find ready-made solutions; the point is to seek, propose, discuss and move forward. Who should own the land? Land is the basic and irreplaceable means and object of work and production in agriculture, while ownership of it constitutes the fundamental problem of economic relations in this field. In Albania, for well-known reasons, the land was declared state property by law. Now, as the economy is being restructured and reshaped, one of the alternatives under consideration is the privatization of land. Naturally, as the saying goes, “Nothing is impossible,” and land too can be privatized. But I believe everyone would ask, if we did this, which way would the scales tip—as a consequence, for better or for worse? Anyone even slightly familiar with this issue would link the discussion to the history and present state of the land and its ownership, as well as to demographic changes among the rural population. Let us set out the issue more concretely. In 1945, one year before the agrarian reform (1960 statistical yearbook), Albania had 393,000 hectares of agricultural land, of which only 237,600 hectares belonged to medium and small landowners (129,000 families), while the remaining more than 155,000 hectares belonged to the state, wealthy landowners and foreigners. Through the agrarian reform, the state distributed the latter lands free of charge to more than 70,000 families, nearly half of the rural households of that time. Today (1990 yearbook), the area of agricultural land has almost doubled, increasing by a further 313,000 hectares. This land was reclaimed by draining swamps and marshes and clearing fallow land and scrub, all of which had been exclusively state property. The significant changes in cadastral categories and demographics, as well as the many investments that have been made (Continued on page 2)

— SHKODËR — At the beginning of this year, dozens of new tractors also arrived in the district of Shkodër. Dozens of new tractors also arrived in the district of Shkodër at the beginning of this year. It was rightly thought that work would now progress even better, the pace would be faster and tasks would be completed more quickly. But that is not what is happening. Half of February has passed, and it is now natural to ask how the ploughing of the land is progressing, since planting depends on it. The possibilities are comparable too, but in the second case six times as much has been ploughed. In all of Mbishkodër, Kopliku has the largest area to plough. But out of the planned 528 hectares, only 10 percent of the task has been completed. Gruemira, Dedaj, Reçi, etc. are in the same situation. Why is this the situation, especially when there has been no shortage of supplies of materials and equipment? The supply of fuel has been regular, [Text cut off at the top edge and illegible] ... new tractors. It was rightly thought that things would now go even better, that the pace would be faster and the tasks would be completed sooner. plowing is progressing, since the coming sowing depends on it. We stopped in the Mbishkodra area, also because the opportunities for work there are much greater than elsewhere. Generally, the picture is the same: an unusually slow pace of work. Work has only just begun, when the figures should have been several times higher. We all know, of course, that the early planting, so essential for high yields, starts now. Alongside it is the agricultural economy ... ...[Text cut off at the top edge] ... which has been hit hard here is Kopliku. But out of the 528 ha planned, this the situation, when, moreover, there has been no shortage of supplies of material resources? Fuel supplies have been regular; some difficulties in obtaining spare parts have now been overcome; new tractors have arrived and gone out into the fields. The managers of the SMT and the agricultural enterprises are also saying that they have taken responsibility for the work precisely here. We do not understand this reasoning. The figures that have started coming in again will make plowing more difficult. The important thing is that as soon as the weather clears, all agricultural machinery should be out in the fields. BEDRI ISLAMI

— GRAMSH — — Based on a conversation with the specialists of the agricultural department, Avni Kroi, Osman Malaj and Fidaj Sadiku. — — This is the most suitable time to increase the pace of ploughing in all our agricultural cooperatives. How does the situation stand in this work process? — So far, around 800 hectares have been ploughed for planting spring crops, or 30 percent of the total planned area. — Is this the maximum amount of work that can be done? — No. If we had not been without fuel for two weeks during January, if the equipment had been more fully operational, if the cooperative members had been mobilized more effectively, then ... (Continued on page 2)

On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the killing of the distinguished pioneer, the commissar of enlightenment and education, People’s Teacher Ndrec Ndue Gjoka, at the hands of Gjon Marka Gjoni, the National History Museum and the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology in the Faculty of History and Philology at the University of Tirana “Enver Hoxha” organized a cultural afternoon yesterday in the lecture hall of this museum. Teachers and lecturers, veterans, students, contemporaries, fellow travelers, members and relatives of his family, and young men and women attended. (Continued on page 3)

The Minister of Justice, Enver Halili, summoned representatives of the initiative group for the establishment of the Patriotic Political Association “Çamëria” to the Ministry of Justice, regarding their request for approval of this Association under Decree 7442 of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, dated 17.12.1990, on the establishment of political organizations and associations. After reviewing the program and other documents, which comply with the Constitution of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania and with the above-mentioned decree of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, he communicated his order approving the request to permit the establishment of the patriotic association “Çamëria,” as well as its registration in the appropriate register and the deposit of its documents in the archive of this Ministry. A copy of this order, which enters into force immediately, was handed to the founding committee of this association. (ATSH) ... which they made for the approval of this Association, pursuant to Decree No. the program and the other documents, which are in accordance and the aforementioned his order approving the request to authorize its registration in the relevant register and the deposit of its documents in the archives into force immediately, was handed over to the organizing committee for the establishment of this association. (ATSH)

The Minister of Internal Affairs informs the Albanian public as a whole that the state authorities have complete information indicating that sinister forces with specific destructive aims are preparing to cause serious unrest among the population in the coming days, in the capital and in the country’s other cities. The information indicates that these forces are mobilizing criminal and terrorist elements equipped with instruments of repression such as firearms, explosives, bladed weapons, etc. Their aim is to act against citizens and the people’s property in order to destabilize the political situation in the country. In their plans, these sinister terrorist and fascist forces intend to exploit rallies, demonstrations, and other mass, cultural, sporting, etc. events. Abusing political pluralism, this important achievement of democracy, they are acting by throwing stones and hiding their hands, with the aim of harming the people and turning the masses against the organs of power, the forces responsible for maintaining public order, and the political parties. They are spreading warmongering, fratricidal, and anti-national slogans. Their tactics include drawing in as many children and school pupils, women, and young people as possible, to use them for their nefarious purposes. This endangers people’s lives and health, disrupts public calm, and undermines public safety. In this situation, fraught with dangers and tensions for the entire population, it is the duty of all honest people—workers and peasants, intellectuals, pupils and students, state authorities, and political parties—to remain vigilant and not fall into the monstrous traps set by terrorist forces that want to destroy Albania and ruin the lives of its people.

The delegation of the Albanian State Bank, headed by its Director General, Niko Gyzari, who is in Washington, held meetings and talks with the President of the International Monetary Fund, Kambesu, and the Deputy Director of the World Bank, 8tera. The talks addressed our country’s membership in these international financial organizations and the possibility of cooperation between our country and them. It was agreed that these issues would be discussed further during the visit to Tirana, in early March, of a delegation from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. (ATSH)

A warehouse of industrial goods burns down The Executive Committee of the People’s Council of the Elbasan district and the Ministry of Internal Affairs report that last night, on 13.2.1991, a warehouse of industrial goods and household appliances, such as stoves, furniture, etc., burned down in Peqin. With the help of firefighters and the people’s civil-defense forces, the fire was extinguished, thereby preventing several other nearby warehouses from catching fire. The damage is estimated at around 100,000 lek. (ATSH)

Workers Lafije Kapllani and Dhurata Duro are among the most outstanding on the bottle-filling line at the beverage factory in Çorovodë. (Photo: N. Xhufka) Workers Lafije Kapllani and Dhurata Duro are among the most outstanding on the bottle-filling line at the beverage factory in Çorovodë. (Photo: N. Xhufka)

— Statement of the Albanian Sociological Association — The Albanian Sociological Association feels it is its duty to address all Albanian public opinion with an appeal to understand and truly appreciate the importance of the times our country is passing through, and to follow the irreversible democratic developments with composure, prudence, culture, and realism. The Albanian Sociological Association addresses all workers in the country, regardless of their political convictions or party or religious affiliation, with an appeal to put their shoulders to the work in every sector of life, to face the very difficult economic situation, and to close ranks around national and democratic ideals. We, the Albanian people, and we alone, can and must hold the fate of our country in our hands, resolutely following the path of integration into the family of the civilized nations of Europe. Today we need love and respect for one another, tolerance, and democratic culture, which lead to the creation of a democratic and humane society. The road to democracy runs through dialogue and respect for the law, not through violence and destruction. We believe, and will strive, for social justice to acquire new and lasting value in our pluralist and democratic society... The Albanian Sociological Association addresses all political parties with an appeal to properly appreciate the great historical responsibility they bear at this time in our country’s life and, through loyal and democratic dialogue, to contribute together to reaching consensus and political stability, so necessary and indispensable today, especially during this election campaign. The Albanian Sociological Association addresses in particular all Albanian intellectuals, asking them to understand the special role they are called upon to play at this historic moment, to commit themselves throughout society, and to contribute their democratic and patriotic ideas, talent, and experience toward finding the most realistic and rational solutions to all the major problems of our country’s present and future development. The Albanian Sociological Association addresses all the youth of our country, especially student youth, who have played a special role in the democratic processes, urging them, in these difficult and complex circumstances, once again to show the culture and maturity expected of them and to follow the most appropriate path toward realizing their aspirations by working and studying regularly, and not to allow any political force to instrumentalize them for narrow party purposes to the detriment of stability, social peace, and national reconciliation. We stand for democratic dialogue and respect for the interests of the entire nation, of all strata of the population, and not for narrow party interests. We respect history as a value belonging to the entire Albanian nation. History must be assessed with scientific objectivity, not through the partisan passions of the day. Its lessons should help us avoid mistakes and find the path of national progress more justly. The Albanian Sociological Association supports the efforts, initiatives, and reforms undertaken by the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Ramiz Alia, confident that they serve the vital interests of all the people of our country. National unity is the only sound foundation of democracy today. ALBANIAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION Tirana, February 14, 1991