On 23 March 1991, under the direction of the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the PLA, Comrade Ramiz Alia, the National Activ of the Party held its proceedings. Members and candidate members of the Central Committee of the PLA took part in the Activ, as did Party communists and cadres from all the districts of the country. The Activ discussed the current political situation and the tasks arising now, in the final phase of the election campaign for the People’s Assembly, as well as preparations for the Party’s forthcoming Congress. Xhelil Gjoni, member of the Political Bureau of the PLA and secretary of its Central Committee, delivered the report to the Activ on these matters. 1. The National Activ positively assessed the work carried out so far to promote the PLA’s electoral programme and its candidates for deputies to the People’s Assembly. It noted the wide interest among workers and citizens in this programme and stressed the need to continue the work of presenting its advantages fully. Speakers discussed the clear prospects opened up by the Party of Labour with its secure alternative for the country’s future. They pledged to work persistently to raise citizens’ political awareness and to create the necessary conditions for them to express their free will in the elections. At the present moment, it was noted at the Activ, workers and cooperative members, intellectuals, young people and women need the Party’s word and convincing explanations for its members and supporters. All Party members must give their utmost to reach the minds and hearts of the voters, to convince them to vote for the PLA’s candidates, which represent the tested political force that guarantees the country’s peaceful development, ensures a rapid overcoming of the economic decline and a comprehensive renewal of production and social relations, and strengthens the freedom and prosperity of the homeland. The result of the 31 March elections will determine the future of our country, whether socialist victories will be preserved and developed or called into question. Therefore, every communist and every citizen must think about and properly assess this historic moment, which carries a particular responsibility. Members and sympathizers of the PLA, all those who believe in the justice and feasibility of its alternative, must spare no effort to win people over—their family members, friends and comrades, everyone they know—and convince them to vote for the candidates for deputies to the People’s Assembly of the Party of Labour of Albania. 2. The National Activ of the Party decided that its 10th Congress would convene on 30 May 1991. The Congress will analyse the Party’s activities and approve its new Programme and Statute. At the Activ, emphasis was placed on the need for all the documents of the forthcoming Congress to ensure a comprehensive renewal of the Party, so that it keeps pace with the times and is always an initiator of progressive transformations. The representation quota for the Congress was set as follows: one delegate with a decisive vote for every 100 Party members, and one delegate with an advisory vote for every 100 candidate Party members. 3. Elections in the basic organizations and Party conferences in the districts are to be held during the period from 15 April to 15 May 1991. 4. The National Activ of the Party approved the Organizing Committee for the preparations for the Party’s 10th Congress. At the Activ, Comrade Ramiz Alia, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the PLA, delivered an important speech. NATIONAL ACTIV OF THE PLA Tirana, 23. 3. 1991.

Dear comrades, The meeting of the Activ is of particular importance because of the issues discussed, but also because of the time at which it is being held. Political developments in the world must attract our attention. The war against Iraq has ended, its forces have withdrawn from Kuwait, but the situation in the Middle East remains grave and full of major new contradictions. Neither Iraq nor the countries affected by a frenzy of departures—which has almost become a contagious disease—have been healed. This is a great misfortune, which every Albanian must suffer as a tragedy for our people and nation. No one should accept such a distorted course. Everyone, first and foremost we communists, must work to curb these destructive phenomena. Never, for any reason, should we please the enemies of Albania, who have always It is time to gather all our forces, show all our initiative, demonstrate all our militancy, and use all our influence among the people.

Dear comrades, The meeting of the Activ is of particular importance because of the issues we discussed, but also because of the time at which it is being held. importance because of the issues we East remains grave and full of other new contradictions. Neither Iraq nor the Arab countries were healed; neither the Palestinian question nor the conflicts among Arab states or those with Israel were resolved. The war ended, but war continues in other forms and between other forces: hot war, political war, economic war. We must be vigilant, because Southeastern Europe borders the Middle East. But we must also be cautious for another reason: events in the Balkans, and especially in Yugoslavia, are taking a dangerous course. In Yugoslavia people are now speaking openly of the breakup of the federation, Serbian hegemony, civil war, and so on. Repression and restrictive measures against Kosovo and the Albanians in all these states are intensifying. All this is not without danger for our country. For precisely this reason we must be alert and prepared to defend the freedom and independence of our homeland. Nothing—not internal political struggle, economic difficulties, and so on—must weaken our defence. Today, more than ever, the defence of the homeland must be the concern of the whole people. And our Party, as always, must consider this its most sacred duty. For 50 years our Party has held high the banner of the freedom and independence of the homeland, the banner of their defence. It must continue to do so in the future. This is a guarantee and a source of reassurance for every citizen, for every patriot in our country. Our Activ is being held after bitter events that have taken place within our country. I have in mind the burning and toppling of the monument to Enver Hoxha and the mass departure of thousands of our citizens to Greece and Italy. There is one thing common to both these events: the aim of striking at our Party, discrediting it, dividing it, and weakening its ties with the masses. It is understood that these actions may be carried out by the masses; it is understood that the PLA—only external forces, not only the opponents of the PLA, only external forces interested in spreading [unclear] in Albania, destabilizing the domestic situation and worsening the condition of the nation. Only an attack on the PLA itself, or on its prestige, can open the way to such phenomena. For it is known throughout the world and recognized by Albanians that the Party of Labour of Albania has been and is the only political force that has worked to achieve the unity of the people, resolved every element of division, whether large or small, and ensured domestic stability and public order in town and countryside. The event of 20 February was as barbaric as it was painful—not only for every communist, but for every honest citizen and Albanian patriot. This grief, together with the outrage, was clearly expressed in the demonstrations held throughout the country in defence of the name and work of Enver Hoxha. In this case too, the Party showed its maturity: it knows how to restrain passions and use logic and reason. It proved itself to be the country’s leading force, able to avoid provocations by placing above all else the interests of the people’s unity and the interests of Albania. Another grave event is the mass departure of people, most of them young, to Greece or Italy. The question is not whether this exodus could or could not have been prevented. What is essential is why this kind of mass departure is happening, who is inciting it, and whose interests it serves. Certainly, the economic factor exists. But economic need alone does not explain it, if we consider that many families with children under 16 have left, or that most of those who left were employed. Why, after 45 years, did the peasants of Vraka remember that they have relatives in Montenegro? The opposition says that the departures were encouraged by the PLA in order to reduce the votes for its opponents. Really! For the votes, with which only one deputy can be elected, the Party in power is supposed to organize a mass exodus, bringing shame on the state it governs? The mass departure is undoubtedly being encouraged, just as the embassy incident of 2 July last year was encouraged. Why did Belgrade have to announce on the same day as the events in Durrës that it was ready to accept 25,000 Albanians of Slavic origin? Wasn’t this an open call, similar to the rumours that on this date or that the borders or embassies would open, or that steamships and ferries would come from America to take anyone who wanted to leave? At a time when the executive is hemmed in by economic difficulties, when many people regard emigration as a way out and are rushing towards Europe as if it were a dream, inflammatory incitements are being made; thousands of people, especially young people, have been swept up in a departure psychosis that has almost become a contagious disease. should accept such a costly curb this destructive phenomenon. Albania, who have always dreamed of seeing its sons scattered throughout the world like ravens’ chicks. Economically, we have faced even greater difficulties. But never have we had emigration on this scale. On the other hand, the economic situation cannot change if people do not work. Do you know, comrades, that in just these two months, because of absenteeism and failure to meet plans, we have suffered losses as great as those caused by the drought last year? Therefore, the fundamental task for everyone—for every citizen, for anyone who loves this country—is to get down to work, because only through work will we make gains and raise our standard of living. Our economists have calculated that if this year’s targets in industry, agriculture and exports are met, the economic decline will be halted, the economy stabilized, and the conditions for its rapid recovery immediately created, in accordance with a programme drawn up by our government, also making use of economic and financial cooperation with the world of foreign business. The Party and state bodies must focus their attention on stabilizing the country’s economy, so that people in town and countryside get down to work and tasks are carried out everywhere. It must be borne in mind that one of the reasons for the situation we observe, which is connected with the lack of effectiveness, especially of state bodies, is the separation of the Party’s functions from those of the state. Previously, both these bodies worked on production. Now that state bodies alone are supposed to deal with this matter, a vacuum has emerged, felt both in the countryside and in workplaces and institutions. The solution is not to turn back, but to strengthen the work of state bodies and, above all, establish strict discipline and rigorous rules at work. Liberalism must be brought definitively to an end. At this meeting, a central place was given to the elections for deputies to the People’s Assembly. We are in the last week of March. The election campaign is now at its peak. Every communist, every cadre, every Party committee has enough time at its disposal not to say tomorrow: Ah, why didn’t I do this too, why didn’t I meet that person too, why didn’t I go to that village or that family, why didn’t I use this argument or that one? So now is the time to (Continued on page 2)

The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia, sent the following congratulatory telegram to the President of the Republic of Greece, Konstantin Karamanlis: On the occasion of your country’s national holiday jubilee, on behalf of the Albanian people and in my own name, I extend to you, Mr President, my best wishes for happiness and prosperity. I am convinced that the friendship and fruitful cooperation existing between Albania and Greece will contribute to the closer integration of our neighbouring countries into the processes of cooperation and security in the Balkans and Europe. (ATSH)

- Representatives of Albanian political parties take part - Invited by the Foreign Relations Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of Albania’s political parties are in Rome these days: Spiro Peçi, secretary of the Central Committee of the PLA; Sali Berisha, chairman of the Educational Commission of the Democratic Party; the person in charge of the Republican Party; representatives of the Party of Man, the Human Rights Forum, and the student movement. On the 21st, a seminar entitled “Albania: The Difficult Transition to Democracy” was organized by the student movement and the PS, and was chaired by Margarita Boniver, deputy chair of the Italian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. Senators, deputies from various Italian political parties, and a number of Italian journalists took part in the seminar. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the PSR of Albania, Dashnor Dervishi, was also present. After a lengthy discussion involving many deputies, senators and journalists, in which leaders of Albania’s political parties also took part, Italy’s Foreign Minister, de Mikelis, also spoke at the end of the meeting. Having praised the proceedings of the meeting, he noted that “cooperation with Albania is not only our duty, but also in our interest.” He went on to stress that “the time has come for reflection, which must continue for [unclear] positive aspects of the past. Progress in cooperation with Albania may also have a cost, implied by the objective conditions in which we find ourselves and which we cannot avoid. The sooner and better we understand this, the sooner we will achieve the advantages of cooperation and the greater our [unclear] not only our duty, but also in our interest.” (Continued on page 4)

(Photo: ATSH)