Agrarian reform in Albania was a flash of lightning for the countryside that never managed to become sunshine. Collectivization came so quickly that the ink on the title deeds had not even dried. The greatest Albanian revolution of modern times was stifled by political delirium. The countryside sensed the seeds of failure. Agrarian reform—the countryside’s great concern. The secret meditation of every farmer. And now, once again, Albania stands on the threshold of a major decision. Debates on the land law have begun. The dense rural population and the scarcity of land make this a weighty issue. These circumstances alone give the law on land its distinctly Albanian character, as it marks the first step in bringing our agriculture into the market economy. Everyone awaits a real, considered and definitive solution. The time has come to carry out an agricultural reform that satisfies all Albanians. This does not mean that we deny the reform already carried out; but 45 years have passed, and many circumstances have changed. Alongside political transformations, rural families have also been shaken up, a new urban stratum has emerged, and the functions of the state, concepts of ownership and the economic model have changed. Many questions have been put up for debate. Will land be the exclusive property of the state? What about private yards, house plots, or land on which a foreign investment is to be established? Will its sale and purchase be permitted? How should the political shell be stripped away from the principle that “the land belongs to whoever works it”? Will the old boundaries be respected? Such positions are driven above all by interests, and very little by political convictions, even less by nostalgia. This pressure must be carefully measured and kept under control to the very end, so that we do not face unforeseeable surprises on a national scale. Land is the only nationwide wealth inherited from generation to generation, and it cannot be replaced. A just law gives rise to justice and social equality, and nourishes democracy. Parliament faces a great test. How will the different political groups respond? The true face of the parties is now revealed in the legislature and the executive government. Party declarations are mere foam on a stormy sea. This is the most historic moment for the parties to demonstrate in practice their true interests and the social groups they represent. Will they rise to a contemporary concept of equality, cast off the past, or prolong its shadows under the label “former legal owner,” which we are seeing more and more often in opposition newspapers? The people will judge for themselves from the proposals presented and the deputies’ debates. The modern present we want to build has nothing in common with the primitive past or with any obsolete economic model. There may be many opinions, but let us leave them to the specialists, whom we invite to take part in a pluralist debate.

The mechanic Adriatik Anxhaku at work in the freight yard in Përmet. (Photo: N. XHUFKA)

Skilled Party work is needed (INTERVIEW WITH SPARTAK BRAHO, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF THE DURRËS DISTRICT) Question: What work have you been carrying out since the Party’s 10th Congress, and what fundamental areas have you focused on? Answer: The new Socialist Party is also fighting in Durrës to become one of the most powerful political forces defending the interests of the people. This requires—and this is where we are insisting—that the Party’s work in the district discard, just as we are completely discarding outdated methods and slogans, all practices that time has left behind. We are working in a new spirit so that we are always on the offensive. Always being on the offensive—that is the motto we have set for ourselves. Everywhere, in the Party’s grassroots organizations, people are discussing the decisions of the 10th Congress and the program of the new Socialist Party, with the aim of making the Party organization in the district more cohesive and more aware of the new mission the Party has taken on. Secondly, the Party’s process of distancing itself and cleaning house does not end with the 10th Congress. Therefore, discussions will now be held in the district about all those former Party officials who became detached from the masses, created personal privileges and turned the district into their own fiefdom. These include former secretaries of the district Party committee, several leaders and employees of the district executive committee who are Party members, several enterprise managers who are also Party members, and staff members. By continuing this process of separation to the very end, we will feel fully liberated and have the moral right to appear before the masses as a genuinely new Party, as we have publicly declared: a clean, honest Party that has cast off, and will continue to cast off, the growths that gnaw at it, and that will sincerely fight for the national and social interests of every stratum. The meetings held so far in Durrës with comrades from the center have also served this idea. We are pleased to see that there are requests and a willingness among many people, and we are acting—and will act—quickly to accept them. We have also reviewed the improvement and staffing of the apparatus, with the aim of shifting its work entirely to the grassroots. And at the grassroots, we must be the first—and always on the offensive. Question: How are you working to defend the interests of the different strata of the people? Answer: At present there are shortcomings. For example, the people’s supply situation is still poor; no apartment buildings have been constructed for months; there are serious weaknesses in maintaining public order and enforcing laws, and so on. Many enterprise administrations are working aimlessly. In the countryside the situation is difficult, especially regarding day-to-day agricultural work. It is not normal that these days we are seeing “an exodus” of some officials, from the district executive committee down to the grassroots, who are openly abandoning the state. We do not agree with such aimless wandering when the district has plenty of problems awaiting solutions. We, as the district Party committee and organization, are confronting these and other phenomena, making this struggle known to the masses so that they can judge and decide for themselves that the Socialist Party is working—and will work—for their good, not with words but concretely and forcefully. We will also support and welcome sincere cooperation with the other political forces in the district. We see that these days more and more people from different walks of life are coming to the Party committee offices. They raise problems, ask for help and criticize various phenomena. We have opened our doors to them and are following up on the issues they raise. The fact that so many people come to the committee shows their trust in our Party and their commitment to taking on greater responsibilities.

— VLORË — Day by day, the wheat-harvesting front is expanding across the agricultural enterprises of the Vlorë district, especially those in the coastal plain. So far, the process has been completed on more than 400 hectares, with most of the work carried out in the area of Myzeqeja e Vogël. In recent days, harvesting has also spread to the wheat fields of Lakatund, Lubonjë, Risili, Dukat, Tragjas and beyond. This year, 7,416 hectares of wheat will be harvested in this district, 90 percent of the area with combine harvesters. The machinery base has been strengthened compared with last year, with 65 combine harvesters, in addition to some assistance from other districts, making it entirely possible to meet the target. The necessary diesel fuel has been secured for the whole campaign, and lubricant oil is being collected so that there will be enough to meet requirements and needs, but not everything has been secured for the material supplies. Securing batteries for all the combine harvesters has been—and remains—a concern. — LEZHË — The staff of the brick factory in the city of Lezhë continues to maintain a steady pace in meeting its tasks, despite obstacles caused by other parties’ failure to meet their contractual obligations. Since the beginning of the year, it has delivered several thousand lekë worth of goods above the plan. Working to meet the needs of enterprises, during these days in June it has produced 70,000 more solid bricks, since previous shortfalls in this item had been greater. Work has also continued without interruption at the collection enterprise, where targets have been exceeded in exports as well.

To clarify the ideas and define the tasks set out by the 10th Congress of the Socialist Party, the plenary session of the district Socialist Party committee met in Berat a few days ago. Both the explanatory and informative report read by Kristaq Kolani, secretary of this committee, and the participants’ discussions emphasized that renewal is not simply a matter of a name, but of reassessment, distancing and breaking with the past, its mistakes and shortcomings, and distancing from the mentalities of the re- — BERAT — ...is expected to cast off the shadows of the monist past. Why? When a senior official or instructor of the Party committee has been removed or transferred from a post, more thought has been given to finding them a chair than to sending them where they can best serve society. Someone expresses concern that there is still a grassroots organization where people are calling for one or another enterprise manager to be dismissed. This is nothing other than an expression of- The unchanged formulation, still written in capital letters, continues to stand: “The Party—the greatest innovator of its time.” But under pluralism this has to be demonstrated; otherwise, it is a slogan. The plenary session stated that the new spirit of the congress is being expressed as fully as possible at the grassroots, in every cell of the Socialist Party. It was therefore decided that plenary members, activists and delegates to the 10th Congress would first hold meetings at the grassroots to explain further the new program of the SP and its new concepts. There is no doubt that the grassroots wants this. It needs clarification and inspiration, and to regain its trust in the Party; this requires going prepared, not relying on fine words or euphoric quotations as was done before. In some Party grassroots organizations, the view has emerged that under the new conditions new elections are necessary, and that capable leaders should be elected to implement the Socialist Party’s program properly. The question of reassessing the abilities of Party members and leaders has also become urgent. Nobody needs members who are there merely to make up the numbers. Leaders who have abused their positions and tarnished their reputations cannot be kept any longer. Quality is what is needed. Quality means being contemporary, renewal, existence. Meanwhile, we learn that working groups organized by the district Party committee are being sent out to the areas to work not only with members and supporters, but also with different social strata such as intellectuals and young people, on the radical changes in the new Socialist Party and the new ideas of the 10th Congress. ASLLAN SARAÇI

— FROM THE MEETING OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY — The day before yesterday, on 25 June 1991, under the chairmanship of Fatos Nano, a meeting of the Presidium of the Socialist Party was held. Several organizational problems of the party were discussed. It was emphasized that resolving the party’s organizational problems makes it necessary for its members to become familiar with the new statute approved by the congress. These days, this statute will be sent to all the party’s leading committees and organizations in the districts. According to the new statute, all the party’s work must be put on a sound organizational footing. Importance is to be attached at organizational meetings to accurately recording the membership of the Socialist Party, new admissions to the party, the collection of membership dues, etc. At the meeting, the draft of the new theses for members of the Socialist Party was discussed and approved. These theses will be sent to the Party’s organizations during the month of July this year. [continues in column] [Continued from previous column] At the meeting, the need for the commission on the rehabilitation of those unjustly expelled from the Party of Labor to begin work as soon as possible was raised. It was said at the meeting that the start of this commission’s work is expected to attract the interest of the party’s members and sympathizers. Several views were expressed on how the commission should organize its work. It was emphasized that the commission could carry out its work in several stages, but that it should first draw up some key criteria for evaluating those who were expelled from the Party. In any case, the rehabilitation commission itself will decide on these matters, and it will meet soon. One of the issues that was dis- [Continued on page 2]

At the invitation of the General Secretariat of the Italian Socialist Party, Betino Kraksi, a delegation of the Socialist Party of Albania left for Italy yesterday to take part in its 46th Congress, which is being held in Bari from 27 to 30 June 1991. The delegation is headed by Fatos Nano, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party of Albania. Its members are Servet Pëllumbi, Deputy Chairman of this Committee, and Sokol Kraja, one of the Committee’s secretaries. The delegation will hold meetings with leaders of the Italian Socialist Party and with prominent figures from political parties. Political issues between the Italian Socialist Party and the Socialist Party of Albania will also be addressed in these discussions, along with political and economic aspects that reflect the mutual commitment to expanding cooperation between the two countries. A special place will be given to discussions on a more lasting and humane solution to the problems connected with the exodus of Albanian refugees to Italy. At Rinas Airport, the delegation was seen off by Spiro Dede, Deputy Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Albanian Socialist Party, [unclear text] the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Italy to Albania, Ja-rezakonshëm dhe fuqi[k]plotë. Around [unclear] Italian in Tirana Tor-kuato Kardilli. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit” Read on page 4: The 46th Congress of the Italian Socialist Party

- PUKË - At a meeting held in recent days by the Socialist Party committee of the Pukë district, one thing caught our attention: everyone’s dedication to working through the materials of the 10th Congress. At a meeting held in recent days by the Socialist Party committee of the Pukë district, one thing caught our attention: everyone’s dedication to working through the materials of the 10th Congress of the Party—[unclear] they discussed them, each taking on a specific task. We are not used to this kind of discussion, so it seemed strange to [unclear]. But times have changed; thoughtful debate is called for, and anyone can take part in it. It is not something done by 5–6 instructors; an entire forum does it, as do the members and sympathizers of the new party. And one fact: the election period would pass, perhaps without a single discussion by any [unclear] forum. Now no one waits their turn to enter a debate on fundamental issues. It is the educational and cultural level that determines this. All the comrades on the steering committee have higher education. Does this offer a real opportunity to ease the work of the apparatus? Yes. It is an alternative not only for easing the work, but also for making it more qualified: the work is now done not by a few apparatus employees, but by an entire forum. A concrete example was provided in recent days: everyone went from village to village to work through the tasks of the 10th Congress. The work was made easier, and it was also done better. The apparatus no longer makes phone calls. Telephone expenses have been cut to a minimum. Messages are no longer relayed over the telephone line: “How should I do this or that? So-and-so is coming today; take the necessary measures.” No, the few apparatus employees can be seen every day in the villages of the Iballë, Buzhalë, Berishë and Gjegjan areas. We would also like to make one criticism of the situation. It was requested that more educated leaders from the center come here, precisely now, when the grassroots are calling for more discussion and explanation of the 10th Congress. GJON GJONI

We Emphasize the Fact The day before yesterday, the article “The Currency-Exchange Enigma” was published on the front page of “Zëri i popullit,” with the subheading “The state bank’s currency-exchange sector has also ‘contributed’ to the debt of more than 400 million dollars.” It discusses the “loss of 200 million dollars” as a consequence of the activities of this sector, which handles financial transactions in foreign currencies between banks within the General Directorate of the State Bank. On the same issue, the day after “Zëri i popullit,” the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” published on page 5 an editorial notice entitled “The Financial Scandal of the Year,” which, among other things, explains that two months earlier IMF experts found that the bank’s accounts were out of balance by this amount in dollars. Naturally, in the severe economic crisis we are experiencing, such events throughout the state’s financial machinery are both painful and deserving of condemnation. We believe that both articles leave the truth undisclosed—not merely regarding the professional aspects of the issue, but also the question of how it is possible for our poor state to suffer such losses precisely at this time of unprecedented crisis. We believe we are expressing the public’s demand that the Ministry of Finance and the General Directorate of the State Bank clarify the truth about this event concretely and in detail. At a time when democratic processes are deepening and transparency is being called for—that is, speaking openly with the people—the mystery of how 200 million dollars were lost, as well as the responsibility of the people involved in this event, must be brought into the light of day. THE OBSERVER

As readers are aware, the subscription campaign for press publications ended on 24 June. However, for objective and subjective reasons that are now well known, this campaign was conducted with difficulties and obstacles. Many people interested in the press were unable to subscribe to the publications they wanted. Under these circumstances, the post offices in the Tirana district, on their own initiative, are continuing to accept subscriptions for press publications at all post offices in Tirana until 10 July, for a five-month period (1 August–31 December 1991). According to Fadil Smailli, Director General of the Republic’s postal services, this experience in the Tirana district may also be adopted by other districts. Thus, subscriptions are to continue for the coming five-month period, August–December 1991. Subscribe to the newspaper “Zëri i popullit.” Its price is 50 qindarka. For five months, 65.5 lekë. If you encounter any obstruction from bureaucratic or lazy employees, please inform the PTT directorate or the newspaper’s editorial office. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE OF “ZËRI I POPULLIT”