- First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Party of Labour, Comrade Ramiz Alia, received representatives from several districts of the country and held talks with them (PHOTO: ATSH) Yesterday morning, of Labour, Comrade Ramiz Alia, received at the Palace of Congresses representatives of the people from the districts of Vlorë, Fier, Skrapar, Lushnjë and Berat and held talks with them concerning developments in recent days in Tirana, Korçë and Durrës. In the afternoon, a similar meeting and discussion was also held with representatives of the people from the districts of Gjirokastër, Sarandë, Tepelenë and Tropojë. Also present at these meetings were Central Committee secretaries of the Albanian Party of Labour, Xhelil Gjoni and Spiro Dede, a member of the Political Bureau the First Secretary of the conservative forces. We are ordinary people; we bring here the true voice of the people, of tens and hundreds of thousands of people working in the fields and factories. The grave act of violence brought us to our feet and gathered us together. We have accepted and want pluralism and tolerance, dialogue and debate. We want democracy and democratization. But no one has the right to play with the people’s feelings and opinions; no one has the right to disrupt our peace and security; no one has the right to lead us toward fratricidal war and regional division. For the good of Albania, for the good of the country. “I understand the people’s feelings,” he said, among other things, “the great pain caused by the events of recent days, and especially the removal of the monuments to Comrade Enver Hoxha. Every honest Albanian is shaken. But the people themselves have once again shown that Enver Hoxha has been and is our flag. None of us forgets the work, the faith, or the words we have spoken about the leader of the Party of Labour and of the state, Comrade Enver Hoxha.” All these events, Comrade Ramiz Alia stressed, must be reconsidered calmly and with a high sense of responsibility; our problems must be dealt with properly, through democratic paths and methods, respecting order and the law, the true and lofty Albanian traditions, without the vicious game of violence met with violence, extremism met with extremism, without excesses and tensions from within, or interference and ill will from abroad. We love and understand Europe, but Europe too must listen to us fairly and understand us correctly. At these meetings it was strongly emphasized that everything must be done to prevent any action that would lead… Participants stressed that the political forces in the country must act with a sense of historical responsibility to unite the people, not divide them. Their distancing themselves from terrorist forces and from any action that incites or fuels real tension must be concrete, through deeds and not words. The discussions, which continued for hours, conveyed the people’s deep concern to further deepen democracy, but without excesses or acts of vandalism. Tolerance, they stressed, is necessary, but not to the point where internal and external enemies, forces of violence and terror, abuse it in its name. The laws must be respected, and the forces responsible for maintaining order must act without hesitation against those who show no regard for the law, order or the people. Through this course of action, anarchy, division and fratricidal conflict can be avoided. The laws express the people’s will, and no one must rise above it. Comrade Ramiz Alia took the floor during the discussion and thanked the participants for their frank opinions, criticisms and suggestions… …te to … in connection with developments over the past few Tropojë. Also present at these meetings were Central Committee of the PPSH secretaries Xhelil Gjoni and Spiro Dede; member of the Political Bureau of the PPSH Central Committee and chairman of the General Council of the FDSH, Comrade Adil Çarçani; and members of the PPSH Central Committee, Nexhmije Hoxha and Shefqet Peçi. At these meetings, those present, deeply pained by the acts of vandalism against monuments to the unforgettable leaders of the PPSH and the Albanian state, Comrade Enver Hoxha, conveyed the profound indignation and anger of the people of the districts and areas they represented toward the forces that carried out and supported the barbaric and unlawful acts of February 20. Expressing the people’s great respect and boundless gratitude for Enver Hoxha’s work—the finest part of which is inextricably linked to the National Liberation War for the liberation of the country and the socioeconomic transformations achieved in our country—the participants at these meetings spoke openly and sincerely, as they had in letters, telegrams and petitions addressed to Comrade Ramiz Alia, and at spontaneous mass rallies, expressing their outrage at the desecration of Enver Hoxha’s work and image. Indignant at these acts of violence and at the people’s legitimate alarm, those present stressed that no one should go and create things by hand… …realism disturb good of Albania and democracy, we are against every adventurist action and every extremist force that would obstruct a free, pluralist solution, it was stressed at these meetings. The work deepen democracy, but without excesses and without hesitation against those who heed neither the law, nor order, nor fratricide can be avoided. The laws embody the will of the people, and no one should place themselves above it. Comrade Ramiz Alia spoke opinions, criticisms and suggestions, without re… …deeply shaken. The people once again showed for themselves that Enver Hoxha has been and remains our banner. None of us forgets the work, the blood, reviewed calmly and prudently. Speaking about them, he said that he supported the people’s view regarding the responsibility borne by the bodies responsible for maintaining order, as well as by the communists and the people of Tirana, etc., who should have acted more decisively and taken preventive measures before such painful events. Further on, Comrade Ramiz Alia discussed several issues concerning the domestic and international situation and, in this context, the tasks facing the communists and all the people: to advance the processes of democratizing life in the country, to defend freedom and independence, to further develop Albania, and to secure a better future for the people. We must not be afraid to look reality in the eye, he said. The main thing in this political struggle is to avoid bloodshed and division among the people and within the party. This struggle for Albania’s development and progress is something new, so we cannot move forward using old methods. No, stressed Comrade Ramiz, we will move forward with clear convictions along the path of deepening and consolidating democracy. We must show ourselves and the world, all those who wish us well and those who do not, emphasized Comrade Ramiz Alia, that we are capable and …

- Interview with Minister of Agriculture Ahmet Osja, given to the newspaper’s editor Selim Hoxha - - Comrade Ahmet, this year, for reasons that are already known, some considerable difficulties have arisen in the agricultural sector. How can they be overcome? - Agricultural work has its own particular characteristics. What is lost today cannot be recovered until a year later. Time is therefore decisive for plant biology; it is a material resource that one either puts to use or does not, gains or loses. This year we have lost a great deal of this time, and there will certainly be consequences. But to reduce them, the first requirement, the appeal we must make to cooperative members, workers on state farms, mechanizers, specialists and agricultural cadres is to make use of these very favorable conditions that nature is now giving us. - Specifically, where should attention be focused? - The situation with the wheat crop is very worrying. Its current growth stages require nitrogen fertilization and the control of weeds. Wheat is a plant, but tomorrow it is the people’s bread, which we are importing today. Given that agriculture has been supplied with 25,000 fewer tons of nitrogen fertilizer during the first two months of this year, and that serious shortages have arisen in the supply of herbicides and [unclear], specialists must be at the forefront of the work. The quantity of fertilizer we have should be used on those areas where the need… - …is greater. In the fight against weeds, [they] must now be used… Under these conditions, despite the very few cases of [unclear] in the fields, weeds are also appearing. Every [unclear] planted with… - The weather conditions show that spring has arrived; nevertheless, work has not been going well everywhere… - Not only that, but these developments are compounded by other… There is a shortage of… in the… part. Still… [unclear], not… … [the text in the right-hand column is partly illegible] (Continued on page …)

- Among the mines of Tirana - The first thing that catches your eye in the coal mines is that absenteeism is negligible. February is nearly over. The shortfall is only 400–500 tons of coal not yet produced—one and a half days’ work, they say at the Mushqetasë mine. What more can the miners do? They will surely do more these days if transport responds better to their needs. Both coal transport and the passenger fleet. In recent days, buses have caused difficulties on certain days, especially when they do not run on schedule or do not run at all to transport… …workers has been greatly strengthened; these changes have contributed to increased production and greater interest in work. In recent weeks [production] has come close to the target… in some sections it is above plan. …workers on all three shifts… replacing the shifts of… the blocking of roads during… This mobilization in these mines means that these days… coal production above plan… especially for the TEC… for the units… especially the power station and grid, cartographic, while… and, out of 10, they want (in line with the needs of the popu… which are also sign… is required from the whole… collective… to… The time to do… and to give… (Continued …) …responding to violence with violence, extremism with extremism, without needless excesses or tensions. With the minorities. Surely, these days you will do more if you respond properly to transport needs. This applies both to the … and to the passenger fleet. In recent days the buses have caused concern schedule or do not run at all to transport the members of the minority. The same situation can be seen in Priskë. Starting with working conditions and the area. Improvements were made to the heating rooms and showers. This also had an effect on the drive to increase production. Now, as chief engineer Bahri Miçi says, the staff go underground almost every day. Accountability for the administration’s …

- Rallies in the districts - KORÇË - At 1:30 p.m. yesterday, the “Demonstrations” square in the city of Korçë took on an unusual appearance. From Lower and Upper Devoll, from as far as Miras, from Gora and Opari, from Rreza, Maliqi and the whole Plain, thousands of cooperative members arrived carrying red flags and portraits of Comrade Enver Hoxha. Before the rally had even begun, chants of “Enver is alive,” “We will give our lives, but not Enver,” and other slogans rang out across the square. Together with cooperative members and members of the minority and… from the women of “1 Maji,” of the… [unclear], as well as workers from… workplaces and… in the city, … young people, the participants… rockets, etc. A group of participants… brought a bust of Comrade… Amid cheers… the bust was placed on the… where his statue stood tall. … placed a flag on the bust… Andrea Janko, engineer… (Continued on page …)

- Appeal of the Presidium of the General Council of the FDSH - Our beloved homeland is experiencing tense days, perhaps among the most difficult in its history. Freedom, independence and national unity are at risk. Destructive forces, encouraged by internal and external forces interested in destabilizing the country and bringing about revolution, are undermining democracy and disturbing the peace; they are necessarily taking action, leading us to the brink of a solution… Speaking of the monuments to the glorious leaders of the National Liberation War and to the founder of the Albanian state, Comrade Enver Hoxha, such acts, which… Albanian people! Facing the situation requires us to fight every attempt at division and confrontation, move the economy forward, advance our homeland and take part in the processes of global development. In the name of these aims, we call on all political parties and organizations to distance themselves through concrete actions from destructive acts, to make their greatest possible contribution to preventing them, and to conduct political struggle within the norms of democratic ethics, while bringing street demonstrations and stoppages of work and study—which lead to a worsening of the situation—to an end as soon as possible. Order and calm are necessary, particularly now, when we are only one month away from the elections. Their normal conduct requires lawful action and respect for the law, in the interests of a more stable order, so as to ensure peace for all citizens and enable everyone to enjoy freedom of expression and peaceful freedom to choose whom they will… (Continued on page 2)

BONN, 26 February. - Today, German Foreign Minister Hans Dietrich Gensher received Albania’s chargé d’affaires in Bonn, Andon Berxholi. On this occasion, they held a conversation during which the Albanian ambassador briefed the German Foreign Minister on the democratization processes and their latest developments in Albania. He emphasized the determination of the Albanian state and government to continue along the irreversible path of democratization, insisting that all activities of all political parties be conducted through dialogue and tolerance, and that calm and social peace be ensured until the pluralist and democratic elections of 31 March. German Foreign Minister Hans Dietrich Gensher showed particular interest in the current situation in Albania and the normal conduct of the 31 March elections. Further development of relations between the two countries was also discussed at the meeting. (ATSH)

Yesterday, the Soviet chargé d’affaires a.i., Viacesllav Petrovic Durnev, arrived in our country together with the embassy staff. At the airport, the Soviet chargé d’affaires was welcomed by the head of the Protocol Department of the VEP, Kostaq Çiliku, as well as the cadre of the… (ATSH)

— Margaret … declares — WASHINGTON, 26 … in the talks between the United States and Albania on normalizing relations between the two countries, «great success» has been achieved … said State Department spokeswoman Margaret Tutwiler at a press conference she held in Washington. She … the latest round of talks between the two sides … held last week. Asked by reporters … about the official US position on the current situation in Albania … she replied, saying … is a matter for officials … We support the process of … that has begun in the country … the people’s projects … to build a … progressive society.