By Përparim Xhixha The neuralgic point of our democratic developments is the economy and the market. This, along with solutions to the many problems arising in various production sectors or in the sphere of distribution, is set out in the electoral program of the PPSH. Implementing economic reform requires that, despite the difficulties, cadres forge ahead, move forward and make progress, and become an economic and financial «bridge» for the enterprise, sector and branch; become promoters of technological progress and exceptionally diligent stewards of communications, prices, the raw-materials market, profit and efficiency in transport, etc. The pace of work is dynamic where there is a sense of responsibility, but above all where there is competence at work, ability and initiative. The non-party person adheres to the bureaucratic canon: «Ask seven times and lead once.» This is the mindset not only of the incapable, but also of some capable cadres, entangled in careerism, who think that «you can go ahead only if you ask the “master” first»; who will not budge unless they are assured from the same quarters that their own actions and «wisdom» will not go to waste if someone up above does not know about them. This bureaucratic ego psychology is harmful to the core! Can economic situations be put right in an enterprise or in any production center or unit where people manage and work in a «come what may» style? Anyone who has not woken up even today—the times demand that they get moving, with the whole cart. The people have raised and educated wonderful young men and women, who love Albania with all their hearts, whose minds are full, whose judgment is sound, and who have awareness and a sense of responsibility. These are young and middle-aged people who work and make progress courageously and enthusiastically. [?] The bureaucratic web spun by certain officials and certain personnel and nomenklatura offices has blocked their way with all kinds of labels, politicizing everything. The new cadres are people like everyone else; we do not idealize them. They, too, have some «flaw» of their own, which, according to bureaucratic standards, has been exaggerated beyond measure and described as almost a disgrace to the image of a new cadre of the people’s power! In such cases, society and the people have always been the losers. One answer to the many questions being raised today about how work is progressing in various sectors of the economy, in education, culture, science and cultural, scientific, diplomatic activity, etc., is: open the way to the energy and wisdom of the new cadres! Decisive in every job and in carrying out every task is the action of the masses, the mental and physical strength of the people; but in the present moment our country is going through, the role of cadres, their abilities and competence, takes on marked priority. The day before yesterday, the people learned from TV the operational results for the fulfillment of tasks during the period January 1–February 15. With two or three exceptions, all sectors were in deficit, at achievement levels matching those of the same period last year. Allowing such a situation to continue means not merely failing to improve the market, but much more than that. Stop for a moment and think, comrade and worker brother, comrade and Communist brother, comrade and intellectual brother: where are we going like this? Where are we taking Albania? Where, then, are we in the economy—? A burden that belongs to the specialist cadres. The saying «Without work, without economic stability, there can be no deepening of democracy» is becoming the slogan of the day, as it is repeated again and again while the path to economic failures remains unobstructed. Old or new phraseology is extremely harmful and dangerous. Everyone must distance themselves from it. The only alternative is: we support democratizing processes through work, fulfillment of tasks and militant creativity! For the sake of this alternative, to which the present and future fate of the country must be devoted, among other things, the greatest attention must be given to opening the way to the energy, talent and wisdom of the new cadres. No trace of sentimentality, no legacy of unhealthy social friendships, no bureaucratic office calculations must be allowed to stand in the way of the appeal made by the times. The most capable people must take charge of the work; the most able people of the country must be placed at the forefront of its efforts to develop and enrich the homeland. Much has been done in this field, not only recently but over the last few years, yet there is still hesitation that has not been overcome: managers with secondary education are still being retained; cadre transfers are still being made that «astonish» public opinion; and obstacles still impede production while also heightening the political and social tensions of the day. If these incapable managers do not remember this themselves (and that would be to their credit), then others must remind them: the Party’s grassroots organizations, the Communists, the devoted and honest people who implement the decisions... ...

ONCE AGAIN ON THE SUBJECT: WHY IS THE COOPERATIVE NECESSARY? Lately, quite a few discussions have been stirring up, causing concern among cooperative members. All kinds of opinions are being put forward. People express concern that «the cooperative system impoverished them», that «the peasant was reduced to dire straits». All sorts of things are being written and opinions offered, even categories and categories: «Collectivization in the mountains is not absurd», «the village should be privatized, both in the mountains and on the plain», «the cooperatives should be dismantled»—as though these authors had created them and had the right, whenever they wished, to dismantle them, disperse them, privatize them, give away the land, livestock and means of production for free; and, as they also believe, afterwards the land could be leased, sold and bought. Anyone born and raised in the countryside, anyone who has dealt with the problems of the village, cannot fail to acknowledge that work in the cooperative brought peasants out of their huts, removed the oil lamp and kerosene lamp from the hearth, freed them from hunger, familiarized them with the necessary agricultural practices, created the opportunity for a more cultured life with social and cultural facilities, and brought them together and made them friends, and so on. These are the changes and advances which, among many other reasons, have made the cooperative part of the life and consciousness of every peasant. The peasant invests his future in the agricultural cooperative. He works and produces, and enjoys the fruits of his labor together with his family, relatives and fellow villagers. No one imposed the cooperative system on the peasant. Collectivization took place on a voluntary basis. First, the initial cooperatives were established. Their superiority became evident. A new life began in them. Fellow villagers support this path of development. We who were born and raised in the countryside, or who live in the city but work directly with agricultural cooperatives and know the troubles and concerns of the peasant, say to those who undertake to address the problems of the countryside: first get to know the countryside. The situation in the village is not as you portray it. The countryside has visibly progressed during the 46 years of people’s power. During these years the socialist state has not stood aloof from the countryside. On the contrary, it has kept it under constant care. It has made colossal investments. It has established machine and tractor stations, introduced mechanization into agriculture, casting aside the wooden plow; it has built reservoirs and irrigated tens of thousands of hectares of land. It has drained marshes, thereby gaining new land; carried out major land-reclamation projects; brought in livestock breeds with high yields; secured selected seeds; trained cadres and specialists in every field to help the countryside; and invested in social and cultural facilities to make peasant life more joyful and to narrow ever further the gap between village and city. It has done so much that it is impossible, in a newspaper article, to mention everything accomplished to make peasant life increasingly happy and prosperous. If you want us to recall just a few of the achievements, some of which certain people cannot see, we say this: compared with 1960—to go no further back, since the differences would be much greater—app- (Continued on page 2)

The Albanian Telegraphic Agency correspondent visited several districts yesterday and, where [they] were informed about the situation created by the snowfall. On the left, [it] reports that by the end of November last year in the ent...[?] As a result, in these areas there have been and will be no interruptions in the supply of fats, sugar, rice, pasta, flour, soap, salt, cigarettes, etc., as well as kerosene. Industrial goods needed for the winter season have also been sent to these areas. In the towns and district centers—

— Appeal by the Presidium of the Union of Women of Albania to the Albanian people — Dear sisters and brothers, Our people are today going through a si- tuation that has stirred mixed feelings in us—from one side we are happy, all of us, about the path of demo- cracy Albania has embarked upon, about the establishment of pluralism and all the other democratic processes; on the other hand, we are also concerned about the various manifestations of de- stabilization in our country. This concern is felt more keenly by us women, mothers and sisters, because it is under- standable that the hearts of mothers, wives and sisters always seek love, peace and happiness among people. Who today does not wish for our beloved and cherished homeland to flourish and to compare favorably with the countries of Europe? For us to have good living conditions in our homes and to see the results of our work and sweat? It is precisely for this that all our people are striving to establish democracy in every sphere of life. We would wish to achieve this democracy in a civilized and dignified manner, without opening wounds that will be difficult to heal later. We appeal to the people, the young, workers, students, members of the various parties, to listen to the voice of reason, understanding, logic and love for one another, and not to descend into immoral and blind clashes that would harm our newly born democracy. The political parties can play a major and important role in this, by leading the strata of society toward free elections with prudence and maturity. We have faith in the strength of mothers and sisters to restrain their loved ones from outbursts and hasty actions, which will only bring bitter consequences and will in no way help strengthen our national unity, so essential in this period. Every woman, using the natural authority that comes from being a mother, wife or sister, must strive, with wise words and advice, a compassionate heart and a patriotic spirit, to help ensure that things go well; to promote the rapid development of active participation in all current processes. THE PRESIDIUM OF THE BGSH

The Albanian Telegraphic Agency correspondent went yesterday to several ministries, where [they] were informed about the situation created by the snowfall and the measures being taken to overcome the difficulties as quickly as possible. CHRONICLE After the snowfall The Albanian Telegraphic Agency correspondent went yesterday to several ministries, snowfall and the measures being taken to overcome the difficulties as quickly as possible. The Deputy Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Lavdosh Hametaj, told us that the snowfall had caused problems with the electricity supply in several isolated areas. In Burrel, Klos, Bulqizë and Peshkopi, from 8:30 in the morning until 13:30, there were power cuts, which made work in the mines difficult, particularly at the Bulqizë mine. Following the measures taken, including sending emergency crews to these regions, the situation was stabilized at 13:30 and the electricity supply is now operating normally. In the Pogradec, Korçë and Ersekë areas, where the electricity supply was interrupted, the fault was identified and repaired, and by 18:40 the entire area had electricity again. Meanwhile, repair crews are inspecting the lines to remain on standby, while mine enterprise emergency headquarters have been set up to oversee the work and prevent any consequences of the snowfall. Special teams from the mine-service unit and from the ministry have gone to assist them. Hasan Allkja, director of a department at the Ministry of Food Industry, informs us that by the end of November last year, 16,000 tons of goods had been sent to all villages and inhabited centers that become snowbound in winter, an amount equal to The snow that fell yesterday over almost the entire territory of the country, with the exception of Sarandë and Gjirokastër, has caused difficulties for people and serious problems for the economic authorities. In Tropojë: The most serious problem is ensuring the safety of livestock. As far as possible, moving it closer to cooperative-member families, on the basis of the established rules of the agreement, etc., is one way to overcome the situation. In Pukë: The main concern is damage to the electricity network serving all the villages of the district, which hinders not only people’s normal lives but also production. There are difficulties obtaining firewood in Fushë - Arrëz and Pukë, even though this district supplies many others. In Peshkopi: Livestock remains the most acute problem. The shortage of fodder reserves can be overcome not only through rationing but also by appealing to the masses to keep their livestock according to the rules. and was the reserve plan for this season, sufficient to last until the end of March this year. As a result, in these areas there have been no interruptions, nor will there be any, areas. In the towns and district centers, where the road closures in recent days are temporary, measures have been taken to ensure that supplies are delivered according to plan, with transport and goods allocations provided. Every effort is being made to resolve as quickly as possible certain problems in some towns in the northeastern region. The road route Mjedë - Pukë - Fushë - Arrëz to Kukës is impassable for vehicles, Andon Llambushi, director of the Roads Directorate at the Ministry of Transport, informs us. In Mesararët, more than 1 meter of snow has fallen, and in particular places such as Luf, Rrapë and Qafë - Mali, there is 1–2 m of snowdrifts piled up by the wind. The road maintenance directorates have begun clearing the roads with the machinery available to them, such as bulldozers, snowplows, etc. Emergency headquarters have also been set up in the districts of Pukë and Kukës, and agricultural machinery and vehicles from other economic enterprises have been made available to help clear the roads. The Milot - Burrel - Peshkopi road route: The section from Klos to Bulqizë and on to Peshkopi is currently impassable. An average of more than 80 cm of snow has fallen, and in (Continued on page 2) more positive with open doors new hope discussed that when as life activation, television • Jordanis diplomacy 1 for further I think that was stopped that it may mene i [The following passage is incomplete/fragmentary in the source:] [They] corrected the economic situation in that enterprise or in every production center and unit where they lead and work in the «whatever happens, happens» style? Whoever has not woken up even today—the time demands that they move with all their strength. The people have raised and educated wonderful sons and daughters, who love Albania with all their hearts, who stand firmly on their feet, whose eyes are concerned about every «wound» that hurts at work, whose hearts are filled with pure and powerful passions that make them do the impossible for the good of this people and this country. Society has always given them respect and trust, but let us speak openly and throw off the gloves—they have often been obstructed because [fragmentary text:] ... in the past. Allowing such a situation does not simply mean Pause going like this? Where are we taking Albania like this? Where, then, are the improvements in the economy, the improvements made in legislation, the powers granted to the grassroots, the effectiveness and results of business work, the contracts between the parties and foreign firms, etc.? In these respects, without the need for [unclear: indisiplinimet] at work, [unclear] and abandoning the production front—which every worker and cooperative member is responsible for—[they] bear and must bear ... New times and new tasks require new people. Let us understand and implement Comrade Ramiz Alia’s call correctly, as a powerful alternative for moving with sure steps along the path of the country’s economic and political stability and its uninterrupted contemporary development. [Repeated fragment in the source:] ... often been obstructed because [Additional fragmentary text as printed:] 1rym raises its head for the shpër u ditë b bëshar system ktet also

The ATSH correspondent learned that several of our own and foreign ships carrying various food products have arrived in recent days at the «Enver Hoxha» seaport of Durrës; these are being unloaded by the dockworkers at this port. The ATSH correspondent learned that in recent days several of our own and foreign ships carrying various food products have arrived at the «Enver Hoxha» seaport of Durrës; these are being unloaded by the dockworkers at this port. For days, the large ship carrying 18,000 tons of wheat has been under handling, along with another carrying 5,000 tons of barley and one carrying 300 tons of sugar. As the port director, Petraq Konduri, told us, another ship is also in the roadstead, waiting to enter the port and unload 2,500 tons of rice. A ship carrying 3,300 tons is also expected today 11,000 tons of sugar. The director of the maritime agency, Qemal Domi, told us that other ships carrying 18,000 tons of wheat, 2,000 tons of beans and 580 tons of various consumer goods have also set out for the port of Durrës. The seaport, in cooperation with other transport enterprises such as the railway, freight depots and the coastal fleet, is working at high efficiency so that these goods reach consumers as quickly as possible. The ship «Skënderbeu» has arrived at the port with 2,500 tons of poultry feed, and it is being unloaded.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs announces that in recent days and last night, police authorities, in cooperation with the investigative authorities, detained and arrested a number of criminal and delinquent elements who, in organized groups and individually, committed serious crimes such as murder, robbery, and theft of state and citizens’ property. To commit these crimes, these elements used firearms, iron knuckles, crowbars, and other cold weapons. Among those arrested so far are Agim Mandi and Kujdes Ymeri from Gjirokastra, Ardian Kljptu, Muharem Cela and Arjan Bello from Durrësi, Mark Lazri and Zef Lazri from Shkodra, Petrit Gjoka from Korça, Fran Doçi from Laçi, etc. The perpetrators of the robbery on 13 January 1991 in Tirana, during which they seriously wounded two members of the police patrol, have also been identified. They are Shkëlzen Sulejman Krajka, who was killed at the scene, and Pal Kol Nika, who was arrested; both are from Shkodra. The Internal Affairs and investigative authorities are intensifying their efforts to respond to the situation that has arisen.

A moment from work in the railway mechanical workshop in Durrës. (Photo: N. Xhufka) A moment from work in the railway mechanical workshop in Durrës. (Photo: N. Xhufka)

On certain amendments to the laws on state social insurance and pensions On the proposal of the Council of Ministers, the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, by Decree No. 7464, dated 31.1.1991, made several amendments to the law «On state social insurance of the RPSSH» and to the law «On pensions for members of agricultural cooperatives». Under this decree, a worker or employee who has no more than 5 years left before reaching the age for a full old-age pension shall, at their request and with the consent of the workplace, receive an early pension amounting to 60 percent of the average monthly wage. This pension is available to all workers and employees who meet the work-service requirements according to the categories specified in Article 17 of the law on state social insurance. The pension is calculated on the basis of the average monthly wage, determined from the total wages received over 3 consecutive years within the last 10 years of employment. The early pension shall not exceed 700 lek per month. The decree also provides that people born with an illness, or who became ill or were injured before the age of 18—or before the age of 25 if they are continuing their education—and whose illness places them in the same category as first- or second-group invalids, are entitled to assistance of 200 lek per month from social insurance, or, in agricultural cooperatives, 150 lek per month from their funds. In both cases, the persons mentioned above shall receive the assistance when they are not receiving pensions. By a special provision, the decree also recognizes the right to receive a pension in lek to people who leave Albania with the permission of the Albanian state, when they are entitled to a pension under the law. (ATSH)