The day before yesterday, through radio and television, our public was informed of the agreement among the parties on a new political solution for the country's life, based on the formula of the communiqué from the previous day. The importance of this agreement is evident even before it is announced, from the broad interest of thousands of people who stayed in front of television sets until the late hours after midnight. Our honest and responsible people, conscious of the fate of themselves and of the homeland, with politically mature awareness, awaited a solution to the difficult situation, a situation burdened by all the responsibility, with calm and composure that has continued for more than 15 days. And this solution came. What matters is to understand its essence and significance in the new development of the country's life. This is important both for the members of the political parties and for the broad mass. The new political agreement can without hesitation be called a major step and, of course, fully in line with the decision that the country's governments should move toward the stabilization of the country on the irreversible path of democracy. It shows that, under conditions of political pluralism in a society that has emerged, political forces with experience in the serious developments affecting the fate of the country and the nation, the Party of Labour, represented by the Party of Labour, bears a special responsibility for the country's fate, serving the people in a difficult situation. The Party of Labour, for its part, after the failure of the new parties, has repeatedly stated and has also enshrined in its election programs that it is for dialogue, and for dealing with all political forces that are sincere in this and not driven by agendas. It expressed this readiness for dialogue even with the gesture it made to the opposition political parties for the creation of a coalition government three weeks ago. At that time the opposition parties did not accept such a thing. Their refusal is a way of pursuing certain political objectives. Now, in a new political situation, the new relations in inter-party relations are evident, which for the sake of overcoming extraordinary difficulties must lead to cooperation. This is also why the Party of Labour on its part once again took the initiative of the statement signed by the parties. If one is to trust these with sincerity, then it must be accepted that the new political agreement will serve the stabilization of the country's disordered state and open the way for its further development. The Party of Labour places the interests of the people above private interests. The people and everyone now see this and understand that it is for their own good, or else it will remain merely slogans and declarations, of which there have been many in recent times. For its part, the Party of Labour, through its representatives in the new government, will do everything possible in this direction. First, within this framework of placing the interests of the people above those of the parties, the new agreement should be renewed and welcomed by all. It was well received by the mass of Party of Labour deputies in parliament, and we believe it will also be welcomed by the large mass of Party of Labour members. Any attempt to misinterpret it would have serious consequences, above all for the party itself. Our democratic party and among the ranks of the new delegates, some of its deputies are being asked to comment on the new agreement. Only someone who clings to dogmas, someone with a low intellectual level, fails to understand the importance of agreements, compromises and consensus when these are necessary. The extremists on the right and on the left in politics should not be underestimated. One must fully commit to helping the new stabilization government. The Party of Labour has long had to bring the government to think about solving parliamentary issues that will be resolved after one year. Given many factors, we have reason to look ahead with optimism and to believe in positive results even in future solutions. It is in the Party's honor to send its members to bring people closer, the factor in the Party of Labour's “alliance.” Our party is being completely renewed; the second plenary will give it the full physiognomy of a new party, with a modern program and statute, with a completely renewed leadership, with structures cleared of bureaucratic mold. Above all, it will be a new mirror after removing the heavy shame that some of its former ignorant, smug and corrupt leaders cast upon it. The Party's and the people's harsh criticism does not tolerate the misdeeds of ordinary Party members being turned into something else. Our party itself publicly condemns privileged bureaucrats with new measures, because this will be an important factor in bringing to the Party a group of people of different classes and ages who today, for the reasons mentioned above, have lost confidence. This is the substance of the Party of Labour; thus it should also understand and use the historic chance that will be created in a few days at the 10th Congress. By signing the new political agreement and accepting the resignation of the government headed by comrade Fatos Nano, our party does not blame this government for the serious situation created recently. To make the guilt of this group fall again, above all on specialists, would not only be a clear lack of realism, but also a serious insult to our young intellectuals. Our renewed party has said, and is the bearer of, and strongly reinforces the indispensable culture of responsible leadership. But it adheres to the well-known idea that the intellectual, before being a member of one party or another, is a national and popular asset. One must not fight them as if they were puppets. In the name of realizing the political interests of the parties, our specialists must not be sacrificed, for whose preparation Party and people have sung so much. The new political agreement may also involve the independent trade unions and those of the Party of Labour. Our party recognizes the unions as legitimate organizations for the defense of workers' rights. For its part, the Party of Labour would like these unions, in the future and in no case, to play the game of the scenarios of any party and to act according to its orders. It is also natural that the majority of the independent union. But identifying their positions would compromise them in the eyes of the workers, because then they would not be able to defend their interests. The new political agreement requires responsibility and full commitment from honest parties, from officials and intellectuals, to bring the country out of the difficult situation in which we find ourselves. The political truce mentioned in the agreement should serve to mobilize people to work in every sector of labor. Work, and work alone, will bring us the peace, confidence and well-being we so desire.

GJIROKASTËR - ...have been renewed, in the service of the well-being and life of the masses. In a group of delegates they are preparing to speak about the problems of industry, here, pandel[?] The delegates discussed in the congress. He is a director. The plant has moved ahead with a bang, but the production output has not responded to the needs of cooperative agriculture. Have we perhaps oriented investments without criteria in the right areas, have we set out to produce something with our own hands, in a small and closed country? Gjirokastra has consumer industry, and it also has processing industry. The small factories, whether service-oriented or bought by workers, will shake the new currency. Should the country remain poor and left in the hands of city speculators and traders, amid the tricks of the market? What can we do for the economy, beyond production, for the economic grain of the Party, so that organizations can make the economy effective? The delegates have been working on these sectors, still in discussion. Enter the river of every... It needs problems; let them be brought to the congress. In Kolonjë the cooperative has been destroyed. There are signs of this in some other village too, an abnormal phenomenon involving theft and the sale of livestock. The group of delegates who will speak about agriculture, Mico Goga and comrades, seems to have a difficult task. But problems must be faced. For now, the destruction of cooperatives destroys the village and what needs to be supported. The cadres should not be afraid; they must come out tribune-like at the head of the cooperative masses. To make the economies more agile, yes, to give them new classical forms, yes. But there is no reason to support harsh de-cooperativization. The political climate is tense and confused, but the peasant is economical and practical. Four dynym, if given fairly, help both the family and the cooperative. Let these be treated forcefully at the congress; let there be no doubts that they are true, without force, because the village is in a cold zone with the Party of Labour, and that is why it trusted so much, as it also trusted in the elections of 31 March. We are about 1 calm, workers, we have had excesses, but indeed we have problems, sharp ones. I delegates are working to discuss them. As for political and ideological problems, P. Ah, the great exodus that has become human, that continues. Young people have left, both unemployed and employed, also teachers, and intellectuals. It is painful beyond measure. But how are we to understand this, what barrier should we put up, since we cannot find one? In propaganda and in the press, if we speak of crisis, then let us fight with economic means and factors. A truly great wisdom from the commercial firm, they want to come, how can we bring them closer? Let us tell the government to issue easing rules and laws. In the cooperatives we do not have labor force, but let us look at the possibilities of joint agricultural enterprises, now that the economies are becoming sectors. Industrial-goods shops have begun to open; let us think also about wholesale ones. Border trade is profitable, but we do not have educated and worldly people. The delegates are preparing for the congress. They do not make new chains, nor speeches full of praise and nostalgia. They try to gather the thoughts and concerns of the people. To express them there. They do well. THANAS DINO

Yesterday morning the President of the Republic of Albania, comrade Ramiz Alia, received in his office, in separate meetings, the chairmen of the country's political parties and parliamentary groups: from the Party of Labour, Xhelil Gjoni and Ismail Lleshi; from the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha and Neri Kela; from the Republican Party, Sabri Godo; from the Social Democratic Party, Skënder Gjinushi; from the Agrarian Party, Meno Gjoleka; from the National Unity Party, Idajet Beqiri; and from the Ecological Party, Namik Hoti and Jani Jani. At this meeting, the President held talks and expressed views regarding the possible candidacy for the new Chairman of the Council of Ministers. (ATSH)

Tirana The Congress will not be an old picture Outwardly, the arrival at this congress, in these days leading up to it, seems to show a certain indifference. It is not so. To enter a base organization, to talk with its members and the Party sympathizers, clearly reveals the pulse of this pre-congress period. Naturally, some grumbling may also be heard, mostly out of habit, from inertia, and perhaps also deliberately, in order to slow down this democratization process within the Party ranks. It was known beforehand. What does the Congress mean, someone asks. Some say things themselves so as to understand them. Perhaps by chance, perhaps with some idea. In other words, here in Tirana at least, it is a practice of the Party of Labour, by intellectuals, by those who have been in its ranks. How true is this? Why has it happened this way? It is not true, says someone who has worked to see the situation realistically. But the view is that one must leave behind some former fatalism, the dismissive attitude toward the intelligentsia. We believe this is a matter. Faith. What is it called. Again the issue is a shortcoming in the work with youth. But what is his opinion, then, about the Congress? He would say only one thing: correctly, support cannot be given by the Party to the interests of youth unless it draws them strongly into our Party. And that has not been done until now. Especially in Tirana. Because more plaster. And that is how we find the mistakes. Also in this direction. The more young people in the Party, it means that these shifts bring, also the thought and the pressure for supporting its interests, in a more democratic way, he says. And two more interviews: Hali Allaj, first secretary of the Party Committee in the city of Tirana: “We held a meeting with several delegates who will go to the Congress. Everyone opposed an old practice for discussions. The point is that debate must be completely free. Others, indeed, ask that everything not be left to the Congress. Even in these days before it, concrete problems can be addressed. The points from yesterday's meeting will be problems, as is understood. For example, the necessary distancing from the privileged, from the corrupt, from those who severely damaged the Party is required. Even before going to the Congress, a basic organizational way, while we have to have a special conduct. The thing is not to do it in a single session. Likewise, a large assembly, where the Party will find its strategy for renewal and for regaining what it has lost, with much work, with sincere reflection, with concrete dedication.” Kadri Rosh, actor: “We want to analyze carefully. We need to quickly repair our work with the village. The village requires attention; it has sacrificed much even during the 50 years. The village has, in some and in most of the votes, while now we gave it a blow, and the attitude toward it must be dealt with urgently. Starting with our debate in the Congress. Practice, problems, directions and the first public attacks of this congress show that the Party will find itself on the great road of democratization. These interviews too, and all the talks, are a guarantee of this. The assignment of many responsibilities, the conclusions, the better, the more mature they are made, the better it will be for it. The problems have been brought onto the agenda by time itself, by pluralism, by the general crisis. What will the Party ask for, penetration or depoliticization of the sectors? We speak a lot about freedom of conscience. Does the depoliticization of the army endanger this? Is separation perhaps the right thing? Should it be defended at the Congress? How far will the Congress go in its attitude toward the privileged? What will be the ideological basis of the Party? What will the links be of

Written to us by a delegate It is a question that the delegates from Elbasan ask one another; the Party of Labour members and sympathizers ask them this as well, since they too want to know what will happen inside the congress hall, and they are worried about the development of its proceedings. This too is a sign of the authority of our Party. Of the role it plays in current political life. It is at the same time the obligation this party has toward those who gave it their vote, but also toward those who voted against it. The Congress will make an analysis. Important as that is, saying only that much is not enough. It will carry out a deep “operation” in the renewed party. Renewal has begun in time. It has had and still has its own sparks. It can give impulses, encouragement, but also restraints. The Congress will be the finale, but not the end. Renewal will remain on the road of the Party. Different again we will suffer it. Nevertheless, the “finale” is decisive for the future. Will the Party break away from the past? Yes, it will definitely break away from that past which gave birth to bureaucracy, corruption and the leadership's abuses. But the leaders' abuses, not those of the ordinary Party members. Will the Party share out blame? In the conditions of the lack of democracy, guilt has also been made total. Therefore, accountability will be given not by the ordinary Party members, but by the members of its Central Committee, of the Political Bureau and many first secretaries who lived in luxury, while ordinary workers and people had to be content with deprivation and sacrifices, with the exploitation of their labor and the theft of the people's wealth by the common people. This is how they will discuss it at the Congress, this is what a delegate from Elbasan thinks. Their view is that those who abused the name of the Party, in the name of socialist construction, must account for their lives. The Party loves its members just as it loves the country. They will remain and fight for its ideals. And not carry on their shoulders guilt they did not commit. (To be continued on page 2)

Yesterday in the People's Assembly The PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY continued its work in plenary session yesterday morning at 5:15 p.m. The session was chaired by the Chair of the Presidency, Kastriot Islami. At the beginning of the session, the President of the Republic, Ramiz Alia, handed to the Presidency of the Assembly the decree proposing Ylli Bufi for the post of Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Albania. After this, the Chairman of the Presidency of the People's Assembly gave the floor of the session to Deputy Chairman Luan Përmeti. In this session, the discussions continued and, regarding the decree “On the use of firearms by the border guard forces, the public order protection forces and the armed military and civil guard,” this law, previously discussed by the Commission for Defense, Public Order Protection and State Security, the Legal Commission, the Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms and Ethnic Minorities, and by the special groups, suggestions, additions and clarifications to this decree were proposed. In both afternoon sessions, many speakers took the floor and all presented their views and examined it point by point. Discussion on the decree “On the use of firearms by the border guard forces, the public order protection forces and the armed military and civil guard” will continue today at 9:00. (ATSH)

The recent incidents of violations of public order and of the rules on the use of land, reports of which I have been receiving monthly and through telegrams, letters and gifts from the people, make it necessary for the People's Assembly, that sole legislative organ also charged with overseeing the improvement and implementation of the Ministries, to carefully determine swift and effective measures for the protection of state, cooperative and private property, as well as for the protection of citizens' rights and freedoms. Therefore, in order to ensure respect for the law “On the main constitutional provisions” and for other laws, I suggest to the People's Assembly: — To approve the law on the reorganization of the police, its statute, and the rights and duties of police employees in taking measures. — To prepare and approve the new law on the legal regime of land, by which its ownership, use, leasing, etc. shall be regulated. — Through commissions and deputies, to follow and control the implementation of the existing rules for maintaining order and the granting and use of land. (ATSH)

TIRANA, 10 JUNE 10th CONGRESS OF THE PPSH