Over the past two days, a grave situation has arisen in Vlora and Durrës. Thousands of people from different walks of life, especially young people, have gathered and taken to the streets, and have opened the doors of buildings; gatherings have also taken place in Tirana, near foreign embassies. The causes are known. The difficult economic situation is bringing the country to the brink and has serious consequences for all of us, for economic and social life, for the question of security, for stability, and for the democracy we are building. There have been many concerns in recent months. Uncontrolled actions and acts of vandalism in several cities, petitions with political demands among groups of students, and even the events of February 20. In many economic enterprises, administrative offices, etc., there is frustration and dissatisfaction at work, not only because of a lack of raw materials. All of us should consider this situation as it is, and recognize this great concern, which has taken on extraordinary proportions. Such actions can take place anywhere, but they must in no way become a parallel course for our society and our homeland, or an obstacle to democracy.

What is happening is troubling us. These are young people who have families; these are families with a future and a society. People leave and do not know where they are going. Where will they end up—on the streets, without work? In interrupted work or in more dishonourable pursuits? Perhaps someone thinks they might get lucky and sets off hoping to secure a few trinkets, but will they have the warm surroundings of their family, their society, their own land? There is nothing sweeter than the bread of your own land, the air of your village and your city, the noise of your children opposite you and of your own little street. Nevertheless, those who left have set out on this path. It is not that they were all poor, nor that they were all unemployed. Difficulties affect everyone, and we must all put our shoulders to the work. This is what Albania expects of us; otherwise, we cannot move toward Europe. Through contacts with international organizations, especially the UN, neighboring countries, and others, the state authorities are making efforts to overcome this grave situation. But above all, the people’s help is needed. The Albanian people are wise. Terrible events have repeatedly struck them, and they have learned their lessons. Do we not see the same situations, the same scenarios, repeating themselves? Whenever measures are taken to put things right—to improve the economy and employment, relations with other countries, etc.—whenever concrete steps are taken toward democratization, disturbances and now massive destabilization of the country occur. Whenever tensions rise in Yugoslavia, especially among our brothers in Kosovo, whenever there are clashes and tensions between Serbia and the other Yugoslav republics, unwelcome events follow here too. This means that someone, at home and abroad, does not wish Albania well; does not want its economic progress but its destruction; does not want democracy but violence; does not wish it calm and peace; and does not want the stability that would allow us to proceed normally toward the first free, pluralist elections.

Should we Albanians fall into this trap? No, absolutely not! Let us appeal to everyone’s patriotic conscience—to communists and non-communists, veterans and young people, workers and intellectuals—to rise above this economic and social crisis and place, above all else, the interests of the homeland and the entire nation, as the most sacred things.

Five questions for an economist With NIKO RAPI, employee of the Executive Committee of the District Council of Korçë The Workers’ Party program says that it will work to ensure that the state creates the necessary legal conditions for the comprehensive development of joint and individual economic initiative. Are these not two sides that determine one another? Answer: Not at all. Both serve the same purpose: the development of productive forces and prosperity. We have suffered from excessive centralization. Now, by moving to a system of smaller organizational units, down to the factory and workshop level, the collective interests of a particular group of employees, in accordance with the laws of the market economy, will develop. It is understood that the more profitable an independent unit is, the more goods it produces and services it provides, and the better able it is to manoeuvre in the domestic and foreign markets, the greater the employees’ incomes will be. Steps in keeping with this program are being taken now. For example, in our district several large enterprises were selected in one year. Specifically, the food-processing enterprise was divided into three smaller ones, in accordance with the division of production, such as the bakery and consumer-goods sectors. Similar divisions were made in the construction enterprise, the meat and dairy products enterprise, and others. I think these steps are essential for creating separate settings in which the laws of the market economy can operate, moving toward workers’ participation in them through shares. The Workers’ Party program supports this. The program speaks both of modernization and of employment. As an economist, do you see a contradiction here? Answer: If we are currently talking about a decline in social productivity, the cause lies both in organizational reform and in the inadequate level of technology and technical equipment. The Workers’ Party program calls for a radical turning point—which I would call a transformation—in terms of renewal and modernization, as set out in the program, the development of capacity, and pluralism in the use of available resources. But this does not mean that we should be inattentive to such a process. The program does not neglect modernization and the many opportunities for development, including the various sectors of light and heavy industry, tourism, etc. It is absolutely necessary to make investments and meet demand for fruit and vegetables, medical supplies, not to mention minerals, chromium, etc., which we currently export unprocessed. Naturally, we should set an example by processing them, also in cooperation with foreign companies. In this way we will develop prospects, and advanced levels of development will bring mass employment. As an economist, reading the program, I believe that these advances will bring mass employment. (Continued on page 2)

— BERAT — Relations between the various political parties are not relations of “one against the other,” but relations of equal partnership. Voters now have the programs of these parties before them. Which will they like? To whom will they give their vote? March 31 will provide the definitive answer. Nevertheless, in recent days we spoke with several workers from the district of Berat. Aleksandër Filipi, a painter, says: “I will give my vote to the Workers’ Party, because in its program I find guarantees for the future. I am convinced that the Workers’ Party will make Albania what we all want it to be. I consider its program a program of security, for moving prudently toward progress. My conviction is strengthened by the leader of the Workers’ Party, comrade Ramiz Alia.” Shkëlqim Bega, a teacher, says: “I have confidence in the Workers’ Party program as a program whose ‘roots’ are in the soil—in our conditions, traditions, work and way of thinking. I think the Workers’ Party’s reformed electoral program becomes more credible when one sees that the Party began this reform or renewal within itself, in its own ranks, before putting it into the program.” Let us not go on any longer. The electoral programs of the different political parties have sparked many debates. Voters debate and discuss among themselves the urgent need for an Albanian renewal, in order to think about and benefit from the future. And this is natural, since all these electoral programs are intended to bring about that future. But how will we get there—with our feet on the ground, or… And I recall what a foreign scholar once said about the magnificent painting of Onufri, the great master from Berat: “Onufri’s angels do not fly toward the sky; they walk toward the earth.” ASLLAN SARAÇI

The circumstances require us, especially as communists, to make our maximum contribution at this moment in the development of democracy in our country. Everyone, together with the new political forces that have emerged, should put their shoulder to the wheel, with the communists at the forefront. We are aware that not everything that has been achieved is enough, and there is much for us to learn and do. But I have unshakable confidence that our future will be better. This requires effort, sweat, order, discipline and stability from everyone. We should not expect our prosperity and well-being from anyone, or wait for someone from abroad to give them to us; we will achieve everything through our own sweat. The Workers’ Party program engages me and gives me new strength as a communist to deepen the process of democratizing the country. AZBI MUÇA Fier

Yesterday the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Shpresa Beqiri, received the working mission of the International Monetary Fund, headed by Professor Mario Blejer. During the meeting, which took place in a warm atmosphere, the guests were briefed on the ongoing developments in our country’s foreign trade, the difficulties facing the economy, and possible ways of overcoming them.

— GIVEN LAST NIGHT TO ALBANIAN TELEVISION — After the violent incidents of last week, an atmosphere of calm prevailed in Tirana until today, when we unexpectedly witnessed new tensions. In connection with this, I was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where I was asked to make a public statement through the media. This morning, rumours circulated that the embassies would again open their doors to refugees, as happened last year. A large number of people who heard this rumour gathered in the courtyards of the embassies. They came to the embassies, whose doors were not normally open. I told the Head of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kostaq Çilliku, that unfortunately I had no time available to consult with the government and the ambassadors accredited in Tirana. But since I was being asked to make such a statement, I first informed the representatives, and then made a statement concerning the arrival of Albanians at the embassies in Tirana. Was this a matter of concern for us, as it was the first time in the country’s history? What remains for the Albanian people to do now is to preserve an atmosphere of peace and understanding and avoid a worsening of the situation. The times are extremely difficult, and there is no point in making them shorter by gathering around the embassies. Instead, the process of democratization in Albania must be pursued, a process that Turkey, together with the other democratic countries, very much welcomes. Consequently, any request by Albanian citizens for a French visa must, as before, be made through the Albanian embassy in Paris.

The French Embassy informs the public that its visa section is open to Albanians in Tirana and, contrary to certain rumours in circulation, continues to remain open. Consequently, any request by Albanian citizens for a French visa must, as before, be made through the Albanian embassy in Paris.

Over the past two days, thousands of people went to the seaport of Durrës to leave the country for Italy without obtaining passports in accordance with the rules. Although the law-enforcement forces tried to stop them, making various appeals, people boarded four 500-ton vessels of the merchant fleet: «Ismet Zhura», «Haxhi Shehu», «Kavalia», «Tomori»; the steamships «Tirana», «Liria», «Apollonia»; several fishing boats; the tug «14 nëntori»; and the barge «Kallmeti». They also boarded a foreign ship and set off for Italy. Among the thousands who left were children aged 10–12, some of them unaccompanied by their parents. During the confusion and manoeuvring, the ship «Skënderbeu» collided with the eastern quay and remained there damaged. Work unloading various goods from ships at the seaport has been suspended, including sugar, rice, poultry feed and other products. Today, the foreign ship «Ursus» departed before completing its unloading, leaving behind about 850 tons of rice. According to reports, many of the people aboard the ships that left for Italy are minors aged 10–12, unaccompanied by their parents. At present, the situation at the ports of Durrës and Vlora remains worrying and exceptional; the unloading of foodstuffs has come to a complete halt, thereby threatening the population’s food supplies. Meanwhile, measures have been taken for our ships and foreign ships to remain out at the roadstead, so that other people cannot board them. Everyone has the right to go abroad with a passport, whereas such actions, which violate the laws and regulations, endanger the lives of crews and citizens and create national and international incidents. The situation has still not calmed down. SOTIRAQ GJORDENI

Niko Faberi, head of the agriculture section in Korçë, has a pile of requests on his desk concerning the division of cooperatives. Long lists bearing the signatures of cooperative members. None are merely requests; some are outright ultimatums. In circumstances where studies are lacking, passionate interests often dominate every path to a fair solution. Delays and bureaucracy have made this process of reorganization difficult for no good reason. Over the past three years, the number of cooperatives in the country has doubled. The trend is clear: the cooperative is becoming a matter of historic, economic and psychological interest. What should we do? How should we restrain this process, encourage it, or guide it prudently? If we recognize that many cooperative mergers were imposed and entirely mechanical, we should divide them without prejudice. On the other hand, where things are going well, this is no time to indulge the selfish interests of someone who wants to become chairman and is canvassing the village. In any case, time has passed and we have considerable experience, both good and bad. Our economy, especially the countryside, which is the focus of everyone’s attention, needs to be democratized in every cell. Practice will teach us which forms of organization are best. But there is one thing we can be sure of even now: the forces of attraction around the village are the strongest. Let us channel them toward the best possible development. On what criteria, and on what organizational or legal basis, should cooperatives be divided? This is precisely where concerns arise. In some cases, the general assembly does not approve the division. Elsewhere, people accept the division but cannot agree on the land. One side covets the old boundaries, while the other favours dividing the area according to the population. In these circumstances, it is difficult to implement the general assembly’s authority to divide a cooperative. The cooperative’s aim is to be independent of the district and the Ministry of Agriculture. In many cases, the work has been obstructed by the strangest actions. A cooperative is a voluntary association of its members. But in this association the land is state property. It is merely granted to the cooperative member for collective use, without expropriation, just as the members are granted land in the form of household plots. This is the only principle the state can follow in resolving the problems that have arisen during the divisions. Indeed, this is one of the only possible solutions in circumstances where the land held by the population within village boundaries has undergone major, sometimes irreversible changes. This is not to say that these criteria should be applied where no concerns have arisen. It would also be unacceptable to repeat or perpetuate the old mistakes made when cooperatives were merged. If we often viewed mergers simply as a means of equalizing incomes, this can be done quite well through the state’s financial policy. Let us not forget that political factors weigh more heavily in economic development than we think. Finally, spring is pressing upon us. The father has pears for all autumn. Let us turn to popular wisdom for a moment. It is time to prepare and sow, and to think carefully about how to organize our cooperatives. Let us build a bakery where there is none, construct a barn, buy a piece of equipment. SMT should consider how to organize itself. Let us clear our minds of passions once and for all, because nobody is rushing us to divide the cooperative. The less we do to obstruct it, the better the work will proceed. SHYQYRI MERA

On March 6, 1991, a number of residents of the village of Vrakë, travelling in various vehicles, set off in the direction of the state border with Yugoslavia. Local authorities appealed to them to turn back, but they insisted that their representatives meet with the Yugoslav border authorities. The Yugoslav side agreed to speak with them and later replied that it was prepared to receive them on the basis of their nationality. Although an agreement had been reached, representatives of the local authorities and law-enforcement bodies again appealed to them not to take this step. But, in complete disregard of those appeals, they crossed into their own land and declared that they were leaving never to return. Over the past 24 hours, the Yugoslav side has received 30 Albanian citizens who had crossed the border illegally. On the same date, large crowds of people waiting at the port of Durrës to travel to Italy, prompted by rumours that foreign embassies in Tirana would open and accept everyone wishing to go abroad to work, headed for Tirana. As a result, from 10 a.m. on March 6, the number of people outside the embassies grew, and in some cases they attempted to force their way in. Law-enforcement forces intervened immediately to disperse them and restore normal conditions.