We said that March was taking us toward spring. And the calendar does not turn back; spring as a season will come—in fact, it has arrived. But for us Albanians this is now far from enough. We do not feel the warmth of these spring days, nor the fragrance of the mimosa blossoms. This year we want and await a true spring, a somewhat delayed but much-desired spring. It is the spring of the far-reaching democratization of the Albanian people. But it is being delayed. It begins to blossom and flourish as expected, then a frost sets in, and in people’s eyes and hearts everything begins to grow cold. This is what is happening in these March days, when we are waiting for spring to bloom, and it is so close. Who is delaying and obstructing this spring? Who is keeping the people in the cold and shivering of this winter that seems never to end? The market remains empty, and worse than ever. Worse still, wherever we go, all these days we hear people complaining to one another: “There isn’t even any leek, let alone anything else.” In many enterprises, hundreds and hundreds of workers are idle because they lack raw materials. And the downward spiral in which the economy finds itself continues unabated. We all know this, see it, and feel it in our homes and at our tables. The lack of patience and calm has now turned into uncertainty about today and tomorrow. The events of recent days—the mass departures of people, young men, young women and children—are grave and deeply painful. So let us stop this hemorrhage draining the Albanian nation, which is so historically bound to its ancient lands. Let us strengthen our confidence and hope. Let us stand up to those who, with one-sided scenarios, are fomenting uncertainty and destabilizing the country. Let all of us, the whole people, young and old, put our shoulders to work, to the economy, to Albania, which is beset by greater troubles than ever. The situation is truly grave, and everyone complains and does nothing but complain. We are asking for aid, and we are receiving aid. The government’s efforts to stabilize the situation, ensure supplies and provide employment, and the approaching election day, are factors that can bring calm and encourage people to commit themselves more fully to work. But unfortunately, the opposite has happened and is happening. Ships carrying wheat, sugar and other foodstuffs were not allowed to unload; the windows of many shops where the people were to be supplied were smashed by those who tried to enter the embassies illegally. Shortfalls in the process of normalization continue in almost every sector. Thus, with these actions, we are moving not toward democratization and democracy, not toward Europe, but away from it. In this way, we are even driving away those who, for their own interests or for their interests or work…

Idleness strikes a blow against politics It hurts to the heart when you go to the grocery store in the town of Kukës, a beautiful two-storey building, and cannot find a bunch of leeks or a single onion, a potato or an egg. The main store in the town of Bajram Curri was built to the same design as the one in Kukës. Strangely, however, they resemble each other not only in appearance, construction and function, but also in the identical sight of their empty display windows. It is a shame. We sowed this emptiness months ago by letting work slacken. Debate after debate, an unprecedented outpouring of political dialogue that did not let us plant either cabbage or leeks, and then winter came and found us without them. Where are we to get them now, when the political situation demands that we be economically stronger than ever, yet in fact, no matter how rightly we set out to pursue politics, we are killing it by slackening at work and destroying the economy. Every day it seems as if there are rallies in Kukës or Bajram Curri, because the streets are full of people strolling around. The clubs are overcrowded, and clouds of tobacco smoke and the fumes of drinks pour out through the doors and windows. Everyone debates politics around the table, but they kill it by not going to the fields, to work, where it comes to life. the fields, to work, where it comes to life. In the newspaper «Kukësi i Ri», dated 9 March, a short article catches one’s attention, entitled «Will the greenhouses be left without vegetables this year?». It says that spinach and peas were planted at the optimal time and according to plan. The seedbeds too. Seven hectares of spring onions have been planted out of the planned 14, with the aim of completing their planting by 12 March. …This year the greenhouses will not be planted with vegetables because plastic sheeting has not been secured. The department has allocated it (the plastic sheeting) mainly to farms with export plans. Let us not dwell on this. The department thinks about exports, but in fact it should think about what the people here will eat. The workers of the NB are postponing the planting deadline; the vegetable-production deadline will also be postponed, and so will the time when people can consume them. Whom are we doing this to? Ourselves alone. Let the parties’ electoral race continue, let the debates clash in cafés, on the streets and in meeting halls as much as they like; let those who wish hold rallies too—but let us not abandon work, because that is what is striking a blow against politics. At the enterprises in Kukës, the miners of Kalimash show how a given word is kept and how the economy is stabilized by fulfilling production targets. But the transporters are failing to carry through their part for this enterprise, since they cannot transport the mineral that has been extracted. HALIL BUCAPAJ

Here too—a dash; farther down, another dash. The column labelled “fact” fills you with sadness. A dash in the records, silence across many sugar-beet fields. And when? When sunny days and high temperatures testify to very favorable conditions for planting. Last year 3,360 hectares were planted, whereas this year not even 600 hectares have been planted. Only one figure breaks this overall picture: on 9 March, 280 hectares of beet had been planted in Lumalas, against a plan of 338 hectares. Could there be an error here? This figure, normal for planting within the optimal time frame, seems strange amid the silent dashes and low figures, evidence of general sluggishness in the cooperatives of the Korçë district. “By 13 March we will have planted the entire planned area,” the chairman of the cooperative, Pellumb Seferi, assured us there in the beet fields. Chief agronomist Zhani Bicaj gave his assurance. Skënder Shembi, head of the Biranj sector, backed him up, and, so to speak, brigade leader Ylli Bregu put the “seal” on it. Representatives of the people from all five villages in this farm gathered together. The firm decision was this: to set aside discussions about dividing up the cooperative and determining which village gets which land—matters that also give rise to disputes. It would be a serious crime to deal with these issues and leave the beet unplanted. When production increases, these matters too can be considered better with a clear mind. By the very next day, this had become the decision of all the villages. Besides planting the beet, the planting of tobacco seedbeds was also accelerated; the third application of nitrogen fertilizer and the watering of the wheat fields were completed; and targets were met for work in the orchards and vineyards. The fact that milk production and deliveries have both increased in recent days is also explained by the livestock breeders’ work and care. Concern for the cooperative’s fields has not been separated from concern for people’s household plots. The cooperative has helped its members with teams of oxen and forage seeds, which are sold through the shop, so that they do not have to wander here and there. It is understood that these are two interests that do not exclude one another. “This year our brigade will also plant 2 hectares of vegetables,” says brigade leader Ylli. “We aim to harvest 400 quintals per hectare. If in 1990 we allocated 16 lekë per workday, this year we will raise it to 18 lekë per workday, or 25 lekë per norm. What a wealth of reserves there is for increasing income! But only those who are working today are entitled to speak about them. … KOSTAQ DUKA

– FIER – A special place in the work with people is being given to explanation and discussion … candidates of the PPSH in the elections of 31 March. – KORÇË – At meetings with members of the Party’s basic organizations…

The spokesperson for the Prosecutor’s Office of the…

- FIER - A special place in the work with people is being given to explaining and discussing the specific objectives of the PPSH program. given to explaining and discussing the specific objectives of the PPSH program. Specifically, with cooperative members, the aspects of greatest interest to them have been explained and discussed, concerning the form of ownership in the future. Such meetings have been organized in Seman, Frakull, Damës, etc. In the towns, among groups of enterprises and by system, other objectives have been explained and discussed, relating to the future of branches of industry, the market economy, the development of education, etc. In the district and its surrounding areas, working groups have been set up to promote the program and the PPSH candidates in the elections of 31 March. - PUKE - In the district of Pukë, in the villages and the town, general meetings of communists and meetings with activists have been held, where the PPSH’s electoral program was discussed. Such meetings have been organized in Bushat, Qelëz, Gjegjan, Gojan, Fushë-Arrëz, Breg, Kalivarë, etc., and comrades from the staff of the Workers’ Party committee have spoken. Participants in these meetings discussed various issues of concern to them, the district and the country, especially ways to further strengthen the economic and financial position of the agricultural cooperatives. - KORÇË - At meetings with members of the basic organizations of the Workers’ Party in the upper-level schools and secondary schools, views were exchanged on issues concerning the role of communists in keeping with the country’s current situation, particularly the smooth running of lessons in schools, as well as matters concerning the renewal and revitalization of life in the Workers’ Party. Meetings on the role of communists in these circumstances were also held with members of the Workers’ Party’s neighborhood basic organizations. The PPSH electoral program was also discussed there. Correspondents of «Zëri i popullit»

The spokesperson for the General Prosecutor’s Office announces that yesterday, on 9. 3. 1991, a call was distributed on the premises of UT by the Provisional Commission for the resumption of classes at higher education institutions, to organize a meeting of the Student Assembly in “Democracy” Square. The organization and holding of this meeting in a public place such as “Democracy” Square is unlawful, because the requirements of the decree “On meetings, gatherings and demonstrations by citizens in public places,” dated 31.7.1990, have not been observed. If such an activity is held, the forces responsible for maintaining public order have (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People’s Republic of Albania, Fatos Nano, sent a letter to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, Xhulio Andreoti, in which, after expressing deep concern about the exodus and the difficult situation of Albanian refugees in Italy, he emphasized the need for cooperation between the two countries and for Italy’s comprehensive support for our country as it faces the severe economic crisis in Albania. Yesterday, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People’s Republic of Albania, Fatos Nano, sent a letter to the Xhulio Andreoti, in which, after expressing deep concern about the exodus and the difficult situation of Albanian refugees in Italy, he emphasized the need for cooperation between the two countries and for Italy’s comprehensive support for our country as it faces the severe economic crisis in Albania. In response to Prime Minister Fatos Nano’s letter, Prime Minister Xhulio Andreoti decided to send to Albania on 11 March 1991 Italian Republic, Klaudio Marteli, to discuss the above-mentioned problems with the Albanian leadership. Also People’s Republic of Albania wrote to the President of the Commission of the European Community, Zhak Delor, about these problems, emphasizing that the difficulties caused by the exodus of refugees would be overcome more easily and quickly if the European Community, of which neighboring Italy is also a member, contributed to this effort. (ATSH) ...sident of Delor, in Lo... project... According to the pi...jrisë, has ... meka...ta prote...e cri... between ... protection...

— Prompted by a question from a foreign journalist. — A foreign journalist who was in our country these days, during a conversation with one of the leaders of the Party of Labour of Albania, asked, among other things, this question: — I have heard that around 20,000 communists have left the Party of Labour in recent days. Is that true?!... To inform our public and prevent such reports, which aim to denigrate and divide the PLA, from taking root, we are publishing the answer the journalist in question received. In recent days (mainly from December last year through 5 March this year), 350 people nationwide have handed in their PLA membership cards. Of these, 197 are from the Tirana district. From the Party organizations in all the districts of the Northeastern zone, only three communists have handed in their cards. Meanwhile, it is quite significant that during this same period—that is, from December through January of this year—3,027 new communists were admitted to the ranks of the PLA, 213 of them in the Tirana district. I believe no further comment is needed... LUAN M. RAMA

Yesterday morning, the Chairman of the Central Elections Commission for deputies to the People’s Assembly, Prof. Rexhep Mejdani, received at the headquarters of the People’s Assembly the delegation of the International Helsinki Federation, headed by ... protection of human rights and the important role this federation has played in raising European public awareness and in support of human rights in Kosovo. He then spoke about the first pluralist elections in our country on 31 March, the new law on elections and the People’s Assembly, and the preparatory work that ... (Continued on page 4)

Yesterday, Deputy Foreign Minister Sokrat Plaka received former congressman Xhozef Dioguardi, president of the Albanian American Civic League, and members of the League who accompanied him during his visit to our country. Deputy Minister Sokrat Plaka briefed the guests on the progress of the democratization process, which aims at Albania’s full integration into Europe, on efforts to overcome the difficulties of the current economic situation, as well as ... ... and democratically in the elections of 31 March. He also discussed our country’s international activity within the framework of Balkan cooperation and the CSCE, as well as the opportunities and prospects for cooperation between Albania and the USA following the establishment of diplomatic relations. He also praised the contribution of the Albanian-American community to strengthening friendship between the people ... (Continued on page 4)

According to reports, the situation in Durrës is as follows: After forceful intervention by the public-order forces, in cooperation with the People’s Defense forces, the port territory was completely [cleared]. The people who were aboard the “Partizani” inside the port basin and who refused to disembark voluntarily were also removed by force. Clashes took place between the two sides during these actions, leaving 10 people injured. The port territory is now entirely under the control of the defense forces, who ensure that its rules as a military zone are observed. No ship is yet being handled in the port, but work may have begun in the warehouses to dispatch various goods. The Port Directorate reports that the Albanian and foreign ships seized by the refugees were loaded mainly with foodstuffs worth around 9 million dollars. The situation in the city is relatively calm. A few gatherings can be seen on the outskirts of the city and near the railway station, mainly of people seeking to return to the cities they came from. The Press and Information Directorate has been informed that false reports continue to circulate about the opening of the border at the Kapshtica crossing on 10 and 11 March, as well as about the “opening” of the embassies. (Continued on page 2)

Regarding the information given in the article “The Enigma of a Part of the Albanian Gold,” by Teodor Boku, published in the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” on 13.2.1991, the Director of the Treasury at the General Directorate of the Bank of the Albanian State informs the public that, according to the official documents held by the State Bank, the figures are not real and do not stand up to scrutiny. The figure of 43,816,682 gold coins collected up to 1948, cited in the article, if it were real, would amount to 41 coins per capita of the Albanian population, at a time when much more developed countries such as Germany or the USA have fewer; according to approximate calculations, they have no more than 7 coins per capita. There are special rules for the administration and safekeeping of the State Treasury, and they are applied with the utmost rigor. As for the question of the value of the Treasury, it is being studied within the framework of the overall reorganization of banking, in accordance with the economic reforms under way in our country.

Over the past two days, our country’s Foreign Minister, Muhamet Kapllani, has been in contact through direct telephone conversations with the UN Secretary-General. From the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Over the past two days, our country’s Foreign Minister, Muhamet Kapllani, has been in contact through direct telephone conversations with the UN Secretary-General, Havier Perez de Kuelar; the Italian Foreign Minister, Xhani De Mikelis; and the president of the 45th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Gvido De Marko. In these conversations, there was a useful and constructive exchange of views concerning the problem of the departure of thousands of Albanian citizens to Italy, the involvement of the Italian Government, the United Nations, etc. in addressing this problem, which, among other things, has brought a pronounced humanitarian aspect to the fore and concerns relations between the two neighboring Adriatic countries, Albania and Italy, and in which Europe and the international community cannot be uninterested. (ATSH)