— So far in Korçë, 80,000 man-days have been paid at 80 percent (without any work being done) (?). In the press we have often used the expression “the overall picture” when the tasks have been fulfilled positively. To tell the truth, in some cases this expression has also served as a blanket covering certain economic phenomena. But, all the same, even though it carried an anachronistic connotation, in itself it did contain some truth. Not now. This is something unusual, and not just for the first months of the year in the district of Korçë. Statistics show that for many years, in the first quarter and through to the third, production indicators were consistently achieved at a three-digit level—that is, they were met and exceeded. But this year that tradition was broken. At present, of the 21 enterprises engaged in industrial production, only two have fulfilled the plan for this indicator: the garment-production enterprise and the handicrafts enterprise. In all the others, the shortfalls have not eased in these days of March. Other figures give concrete form to this negative overall picture. Since the beginning of the year, production has fallen 35 million lekë short of the plan, or 45 million less than in the same period last year (let the reader do the subtraction and understand that the target had been exceeded by 10 million lekë for five years). No, we have not given false figures in the past for the sake of an “overall picture” and are only now being more objective, openly acknowledging shortfalls that are deepening day by day. But the reality of work today leaves nowhere to turn. So who is to blame? After every overfulfilment, warranted or not, we have said: “general mobilization, perfect organization, daily monitoring of the tasks by the managers.” When things go the other way, when work stagnates, are not the opposites of these words also relevant: “What general mobilization? What organization? No follow-up, and managers running around to no purpose”? This is not a bleak view of what is happening. For example, the tasks for the period since the beginning of the year have also not been fulfilled in enterprises that have no raw-material problems, especially … (Continued on page 2) … provide some information…? various things…? are for…? Sources…? on the one hand emphasize…? there are 500…? According to…? the population…? control…? Kalarin sa…? …

— “Imports are holding us back, imports are holding us back.” But where local stone is concerned, who is holding us back?! To explain the poor performance this quarter, which is now drawing to a close, alongside the tense political situation and its major effects on the economy, we have often repeated the “argument” that imported raw materials are holding us back! This has been the response to the idle state of work, and the response to millions of lekë in wage funds paid without production. But does the economy hinder itself? Perhaps more than it is hindered by “others.” Let us reason a little about some of the phenomena of these months. In explaining the poor performance this quarter, which is now drawing to a close, alongside the tense political situation and its major effects on the economy, we have often repeated the “argument” that imported raw materials are holding us back! This has been the response to the idle state of work, and the response to millions of lekë in wage funds paid without production. But does the economy hinder itself? Perhaps more than it is hindered by “others.” Let us reason a little about some of the phenomena of these months. The soda-PVC plant in Vlorë has so far fulfilled its targets in its main indicators by 52 and 32 percent. Is the issue here merely that hundreds of tonnes of caustic or calcined soda were not produced? No! It harmed others more than it harmed itself: the glass factories, which have imported raw materials but no soda from Vlorë; the paper mills, which have wood as a raw material but lack soda. The chain reaches as far as exports, to ferrochrome that was not produced because there was no water glass from the glass industry. And let us not forget that we have also hindered the plant itself, since the soda-PVC plant uses mountain stone and water from the sea—resources that are ours and available in abundance! The shortage of Memaliaj coal has been felt by the townspeople, because they could not find it in the municipal supply outlets. But how much more has it been felt by the metallurgy industry, especially the energy complex of the metallurgical combine in Elbasan, which lost millions of lekë because of the coal shortage?! It is as if the work of the mine affects every branch of the economy… … how much does the economy hinder it? Perhaps more than “others” hinder it! To understand this, we should reflect a little on some developments of these months. The soda-PVC plant in Vlorë has fulfilled its targets to date, in the main categories, that hundreds of tons caused more harm to others than to itself—to soda from Vlorë, and to the paper factories, The chain extends all the way to no glass material we have also held back the plant itself, since the soda-PVC plant uses mountain rock and water from the sea, both of which we have in abundance and own! The shortage of coal from Memaliaj has been felt by city residents, because they could not find it at municipal supply outlets. But how much has metallurgy felt it, which lost millions of lek To put these matters in order, so that we do not hinder ourselves, “loans and aid from abroad” are not necessary. We have these within the country, within the economic sector, within the enterprise. Should we perhaps ask Europe for workers to extract limestone, or to extract salt? Should we perhaps ask abroad for specialists and managers to get transport moving? Should we perhaps… We have many things in our own hands. It is the duty of state bodies to give the workforce room to grow and encourage its initiative for greater production and more income for employees, rather than stifling and exhausting it. Only in this way will we move away from the edge of the precipice; otherwise… Otherwise, instead of someone else’s hand pushing us toward it, we will take the step ourselves. Before we concern ourselves with politics and election-campaign debates, before we think about how to respond to the “opponent,” let us think a little more about not hindering ourselves.

— SHKODËR — When you hear, for example, that the Shkodër Geological Enterprise has fulfilled the plan for the two-month period, as well as for the first ten days of March, at a steady pace in terms of the volume of geological work, the first thing that tells you is that work is being done here. This needs little comment. What can be commented on and discussed is the way the work is organized and how people are drawn into it, into the work. The same can be said of the canning enterprise, the grain collection and processing enterprise, and some others. At the oil-and-beverage enterprise, too, efforts are being made to bring work up to a better level and organize it more effectively, because much depends on this for supplying the people with an extremely important product, especially when there is a shortage of oil. There are several enterprises in the industrial system that are not meeting their production targets, some because of a lack of raw materials and others because of poor work organization—what is called slackness. Nevertheless, among these enterprises one can find some that, although they have not yet fully achieved their production plans, are showing a certain rise in their indicators. This is like an “instrument” showing that people are returning to work with greater commitment than in previous days.

Yesterday afternoon, the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Comrade Ramiz Alia, received the renowned philanthropist, Mother Teresa, at the seat of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. At the meeting, Mother Teresa was accompanied by Katerina Tabllo, director of the “Mother and Child” directorate at the Ministry of Health, and Adelina Mazreku, director of the Oncology Institute in Tirana. The reception took place in a very warm atmosphere. (ATSH) (Photo: ATSH)

POLITICAL CURRENT AFFAIRS Yesterday afternoon, in one of the halls of the Palace of Congresses, the Party of Labour Committee of the Tirana district organized a meeting to explain the Albanian Party of Labour’s programme on economic and social issues. Cadres and specialists from various fields of production and public life, staff members, and others took part. The meeting was opened by Robert Koli, First Secretary of the district Party of Labour Committee. Prime Minister Fatos Nano, in his capacity as one of the authors of the Albanian Party of Labour’s economic programme, spoke about the measures to be taken so that implementation of economic reform could begin. This reform represents a model suited to the material and psychological conditions of our country. He emphasized the government’s commitment to valuing assistance in the field of the economy, overcoming the current grave economic situation, setting priorities for improving the structure of the economy, and transforming the centralized economic system into a market economy. Regarding the latter, he noted that the economic reform programme does not weaken but strengthens the role of the state in the economy—a role that will be exercised not through administrative means but through fiscal means, and so on. The state, he stressed, becomes the supervisor of the economy. Our concept of a market economy, the Prime Minister continued, is the creation of a mixed economy with elements of state direction and powerful market forces. All economic entities will be equal and will enjoy fuller freedom and independence in the market, in the areas of prices, investment, wages, imports and exports. Further on, Comrade Fatos Nano explained the main components of economic reform. The restructuring of the economy through the transformation of the system of ownership, he stressed, is one of them. To this end, production will be concentrated, and private activity will be permitted and protected. In this regard, the necessary legal framework was established today with the approval of the privatization law by the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. To oversee the privatization process, the Council of Ministers will establish, under its authority, the Committee for the Reorganization of the Economy. Another key component of the reform is the improvement of the mechanis- Work is being done. This requires no further comment. What can be commented on is what was said the economic reform can begin. This reform represents a model that responds to our country’s material and psychological conditions. He emphasized the government’s commitment to value the assistance of other political forces in taking measures aimed at faster development, raising the people’s standard of living, solving social problems, etc. Comrade Fatos Nano, among other things, mentioned the fundamental aims of the economic reform the government will undertake. These include deepening and accelerating the processes of democratization in… … in the capacity of one of the authors of the PPSH’s economic program for the market economy, the prime minister continued, our concept of the market-economy system state direction and strong market forces. All economic entities will be equal before the law. State enterprises, too, which will operate with complete independence and freedom, with all the attributes imposed by the laws of the market, will now be contractors in the market, not sellers and buyers acting on orders. The cooperative sector will function and be regulated by special statutes established under the conditions of a market economy. In addition, genuine private property in the economy. Our concept of the market-economy system, economy with elements of In addition, genuine private property. (Continued on page 2) … the social problems, etc.

— Comrade Ramiz Alia attends — Yesterday afternoon, a ceremony was held at the “V. I. Lenin” Higher School of the Party of Labour in Tirana to present diplomas to students who had completed their studies. On this occasion, the school’s deputy director, Selaudin Kucaj, addressed those present. The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Party of Labour, Comrade Ramiz Alia, also attended the ceremony. In his greeting, he wished the graduates success and good work. (ATSH)

— A reply to all those who congratulate or criticize us — Our newspaper is receiving more letters than ever before. They come from workers’ collectives, Party organizations, groups of people, individual communists, veterans and young people, professors and academics, journalists, villagers, and [?]. Most of the letters begin with the words: “Well done, comrades of ‘Zëri i Popullit’!” We thank them for this goodwill. There are also those who criticize us and offer many suggestions. We thank them as well. We welcome such letters, too. They are a great support for the newspaper’s staff. But we would also like to suggest something to these hundreds of people: thank you for your thanks; but wouldn’t it be even better if you, too, worked a little harder? The great debate is taking place at the grassroots: in Party organizations, in families, in enterprises, in the streets (and, unfortunately or fortunately, even in cafés). It is easy to write a letter to “Zëri i Popullit” or telephone it. But it is difficult to debate with all those who think differently from you, who have doubts, who have been shaken by recent events, who have lost their composure or even their cool-headed courage. It is easy to write to “Zëri i Popullit,” but it is difficult to ensure that order and calm are established everywhere. [?] people in production who work with …?… and without spiritual …, not to be influenced by deceptive rumours. It is very difficult, but it must be done; it must be done for everyone, because it concerns … the people and their livelihoods, the lives of families. And here we must all act together. This … of the people is a civic appeal made by the foremost tribune …?… of honest people, members of the Party of Labour, … our well-wishers. “ZËRI I POPULLIT”

On 12.3.1991, under the direction of Comrade Ramiz Alia, the regular meeting of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly was held. At this meeting, in addition to reviewing and approving other acts, the pardon of the last political convicts was considered and decreed, in accordance with proposals from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. Following this pardon, there are no longer any political convicts in re-education units or prisons in Albania. PRESIDIUM OF THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that false reports are circulating widely about the opening of foreign embassies accredited in Tirana. This time, the date that the authors of these stubbornly repeated reports have “set” is March 15. Their aim is to create serious situations involving public order and provoke undesirable incidents. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs is authorized to declare responsibly that it is confirmed that there will be no opening of foreign embassies either on the aforementioned date or in the future. On the contrary, the law-enforcement forces have been ordered and prepared to intervene energetically against any attempt to forcibly enter the territory of the diplomatic missions of all states, while fulfilling our state’s legal obligations to ensure the protection and normal work of their personnel. Therefore, all citizens are urged not to fall into the trap… (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday, at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic, Xhani De Mikelis, Albania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Muhamet Kapllani, left for Italy. Talks with the Italian side will concern the progress to date and the further development of Albanian-Italian relations. (ATSH)

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday that Foreign Minister Muhamet Kapllani will travel to Washington, where on March 15 the document on the restoration of diplomatic relations between Albania and the United States of America will be signed. (ATSH)

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sokrat Plaka received yesterday the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Spain to the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Don Hoze Valdes, in connection with… the forthcoming presentation of his credentials to the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia. (ATSH)