The new year finds the Socialist Party facing two important and difficult tasks, the accomplishment of which will demonstrate the strength and seriousness of this political force. The most important of them, and the first in order, is the upcoming electoral campaign for the new elections to the People's Assembly. Although this campaign has not been officially announced, it has in fact already begun. It is evident throughout the opposition press, where, in a short time, one finds all kinds of slander and insults directed at the Socialist Party. Having no political arguments with which to oppose our Party, the arsenal of the most monstrous slanders has been deployed to the utmost, often inciting dangerous psychoses of social confrontation among different social groups. The goal is clear: the opposition wants to seize power by any means. We stress: by any means, even fratricide, without considering the consequences. The opposition's attacks become more unrestrained especially at moments when our Party's strength becomes more clearly visible, and when the opposition suffers defeats as a result of its own adventurist actions. Under these circumstances, what will our Party's position be? It must be made clear to all its members and sympathizers that the Socialist Party will go into the new elections solely to win. We repeat: solely to win, and it has confidence that it will win. The people trust the Socialist Party because, for now, it is the leading political force in the country's life. When we say “the people,” we have in mind the hundreds of thousands of sensible, level-headed people. This does not mean that we deny political pluralism or the sympathies that particular social groups have for the other parties that have been established. Unfortunately, however, there are still groups and categories of people who fall prey to the political manipulation of one party or another. The Socialist Party will go into the new elections with a clear conscience. It has not the slightest sense of guilt or responsibility for the mistakes and failures of the past. Whoever bears that responsibility should shoulder it. The Socialist Party has clearly expressed its position on the past. The ordinary, honest people who, of their own free will and with complete conviction, have joined its ranks have the moral right to appear before the people as their most worthy representatives. As is becoming evident from the opposition press and the actions of some opposition party leaders, the political struggle in this electoral campaign is expected to be fierce. The opposition's slanders and fabrications will be among the most fantastic. Some of its weapons have been used up during the previous electoral campaign, so its fertile imagination will invent new ones. Nevertheless, the familiar “theories” and “theses” have begun to reappear: that supposedly “the world does not support the Socialist Party,” “the Socialist Party cannot hold on to power,” and so on. These theses are sometimes put forward in the pages of the opposition press and sometimes whispered as political gossip. Through its press and meetings with members and sympathizers, the Socialist Party has explained, and will continue to explain, the irrational and manipulative essence of these theses. But this is the duty of every Party member and sympathizer. The aim is to build up the Party's political, ideological and organizational capacity. Our Party's strength and potential are boundless. What matters is that they be put to work more effectively than ever. What year has been more important than this one for the work of our Party? From its founding on June 12 last year until today, the Party has successfully carried out a series of important tasks. Its ranks have been consolidated ideologically and organizationally. The ideological baggage of the Party of Labour, which weighed on the conscience and outlook of its former members, who gradually joined the Socialist Party, was cast aside. All the Party's structures at the center and in the districts were reorganized and strengthened, with a view to bringing in young people and honest, respected intellectuals. Old methods were discarded and the Party was cleansed, in keeping with the conditions of political pluralism. The Socialist Party made a significant contribution in the socialist parliament, for example through the adoption of the land law—a great victory for the Albanian people—as well as in the Government of Stability. Relations were established with many parties of the European left. The First National Conference of the Socialist Party crowned these achievements with success. These victories of our Party and the defeats of the opposition threw it off balance, and this was the main reason it brought down the Government of Stability, thereby seeking to damage the Socialist Party's good image among the people. But the stones it tried to throw at us came back down on its own head. The people saw clearly who supports the country's development and stabilization and who opposes them. It is in this same spirit of seriousness that work in the Party continues and will continue in the future. But we must be aware that we still have a great deal to do. There is no reason for euphoria or complacency. Still less must we allow the pace of the political struggle to slacken. We stress this because shortcomings and failings can also be seen in our Party's work. We believe that the main shortcoming is a certain lethargy in its links with the masses. It is evident that members elected to Party forums, both at the central and district levels, do not go out among the people enough. This allows opposition propaganda to mislead people, while our own representatives remain unknown and exposed to manipulation. There are PS governing committees in the districts that have still not completed the verification and distribution of Party membership cards in some Party organizations. Such conduct is wholly unacceptable for the Party. There are also Party leaders in the districts who do not adequately appreciate propaganda through the Party press, despite the known role of the newspaper, particularly during the electoral campaign. The time has come for each person to be held accountable for the work they do and the contribution they make to the Party's cause. The people are deeply concerned, and this obliges us to do so. It is the ordinary members and sympathizers of our Party who offer us comments and criticism when they see that our work is not at the required level. Only in this way will we be able to face the great and difficult challenges of this year.

— It is truly a case of calling the chaff grain, Mr. Hajdari — As during the previous electoral campaign, some PD leaders seem to be at a loss and not know what to do. In such cases, the slogan “slander, slander, something will stick” apparently seems the most suitable; Mr. Hajdari has also mastered it well, having become known for irresponsible statements throughout his political career. This is also borne out by the latest sensation, published in the newspaper “RD” on January 4, 1992, about the alleged expulsion of Albanian emigrants from Greece resulting from recent meetings between Greek and Albanian socialists. At one time they were accused of organizing the exodus “to reduce the PD's votes,” and now a different tune is being sung. Little by little, things are becoming clearer... But such lies seem to be losing their appeal. Everyone knows that Operation “Bjesha” was organized by the Greek state authorities, and the Albanian state authorities have taken positions on it that have been made known to our public, international public opinion and the Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva. The Socialist Party has made its position on this issue clear, condemning it as an antihuman act. The public also knows that the Greek socialists have had no part in this and bear no responsibility for it. The Greek government that launched Operation “Bjesha” against our brothers is the government of the “New Democracy” party. It would therefore be more honest for the PD leaders, instead of producing their usual “albums,” to address their allies in Greece. It is truly a case of calling the chaff grain, Mr. Hajdari.

“The democratic world respects and has also asked that progress be recognized, regardless of which party wins the next lawful and democratic elections,” declared Italian socialist deputy Paolo Cristoni, a member of the Executive Committee of the PSI parliamentary group and chairman of its European policy group, at a meeting he held in Tirana with the deputy chairman and chairman, young intellectuals, and especially antifascists of the PSI. Recently, there has been growing interest among Party members and sympathizers in links with the parties of the European left. This interest is being met with concrete contacts now being organized, such as the meeting two days ago with Italian deputy Paolo Cristoni. The need for such contacts had long been expressed, so this meeting was received with considerable interest and conceived as both a press conference and a sincere, open discussion. At every level, there is an increasingly evident need to become better acquainted with the experience of the parties of the Socialist International, and especially with the PSI, as the most capable and one of the most experienced parties of the European left. For this very reason, the meeting covered many historical moments in the party's long, hundred-year journey. There was discussion of its defeats and victories, some of its well-known figures, past and present, its struggles, and the fact that the truth is now on the PSI's side. The audience, including collaborators on major Albanian issues, discussed each of Europe's solutions. “What are the PSI's relations with the other European socialist parties?” was one question. In his answer, the Italian guest dwelt in particular on relations with the PSSH, which he described as very close. “We are very good friends with one another, but now we are working to establish and strengthen them even further,” he said, speaking highly of the meetings between Fatos Nano and Benito Kraksi. “I have read the program of your Socialist Party. It is an appropriate program that reflects the present moment Albania is going through,” he added, then focusing in particular on the proceedings of the Party's First National Conference, and especially its report, which had been made known to all the parties of the Socialist International. During these contacts he also spoke about the question of the PSSH's admission to the International; as he said, there is no problem with the procedure, and since the National Conference the view has been very positive. “We will do our duty to ensure that this accession takes place as quickly as possible,” he declared in response to the audience's interest. In response to another question about the opposition's claim that “if the Socialist Party wins, Europe will not help Albania,” Cristoni said: “The world respects the will of the electorate, regardless of which party wins the elections. That is the law of democracy. So the claim that if the left wins Albania will not be helped is also false. This claim persists, but even if it comes from abroad, even from Italy, it does not reflect Italian foreign policy, which is represented in the government by the socialists De Michelis. And as far as we know, it has been officially decided there that it is the Albanian people, not political parties, who will receive assistance.” Meanwhile, he promised that, as a deputy and chairman of a parliamentary group, he would do everything possible to ensure that Albania received assistance before and after the elections, possibly at a faster pace, especially in raw materials so that enterprises could resume work. In response to another question, he expressed the view that contacts between the two parties would develop more quickly, accompanied by exchanges of cultural, party, electoral and youth groups, trade union groups, and exchanges between the University of Tirana and the University of Modena, etc. The discussion continued for about two hours, with questions and answers on a wide range of subjects in the form of a dialogue. All the participants wished it would continue, so that they could gain a fuller understanding of the European socialist alternative.

Not a party of apparatus, but among the people It is the first few days of 1992, and there is considerable activity at the PS district governing committee in Korçë, which has recently been set up. Greetings of “Happy New Year!” can be heard in its premises. “We've come to wish you well,” say a group of workers, followed by another group of young people. People exchange views and discuss all kinds of issues. The telephone rings and once again there is a “Happy New Year!” It is Petro Shallo, a Party member, who, after exchanging greetings, asks: “Has the newspaper ‘Zëri i popullit’ arrived?” Subscriptions for this period started very late and are still ongoing, but people want their newspaper. They call with genuine concern and come in person to inquire at the Socialist Party offices. “When I don't have the newspaper at home, I feel as if something important is missing,” says one of those present. People who come to the governing committee's offices offer their greetings, ask for their newspaper, and also want to meet the committee leaders. Often they do not find them, because the leaders' work takes them to villages, neighborhoods and enterprises, and among elected representatives, members and sympathizers of the PS. As we travel to the villages of Gor-«Opirat», in the Lëçan area, to the villages of the Devoll Plain and around Korçë, the staff of the governing committee seem to be constantly on the move among elected representatives, secretaries and tireless PS activists. Winter has come cold and harsh this year in the Korçë district. The people's hardships are many: “There is firewood for heating, the electricity often goes off, food items are scarce in the market”—and, to make matters worse, prices have risen considerably. The staff and PS activists therefore try, together with ordinary and underprivileged people, to identify people's concerns and address them.

ECONOMY: the hope of democracy — The country's industry can operate. Raw materials are needed. — The two Italian loans have begun to be disbursed. But when will work begin? ECONOMY: the hope of democracy PERHAPS THERE WILL BE WORK THIS YEAR — The country's industry can operate. Raw materials are needed. — The two Italian loans have begun to be disbursed. But when will work begin? Our legs have grown weary from walking the streets, and our ears are deafened by the cries of unemployment. Surely one day the resources of foreign aid will run out. We must learn from the experiences of the year that has passed. It seems to be in this spirit that the calendars for 1992 have been opened. Can one work in this country? Tens of thousands of Albanians who took part in the mass exoduses have given one answer. Another attitude can be seen in the efforts of those who have remained in their own countries. The interest of investors in investing and making profits here looks like a glimmer of hope. With the collapse of an economy that has been completely atrophied, hemmed in by the shift to a capitalist model of development, it has given itself an answer, but not yet to us. Can people really work? Here? Can they work with our technology? Is it the case that many of our enterprises produce nothing? Yet it is a fact that a great deal of valuable equipment lies idle... We have discussed the possibility of obtaining raw materials from abroad. It seems that the major obstacles inherited from the centralist regime can be overcome. In the long lists of aid from abroad, people have begun to look with particular interest at meeting their own needs for raw materials. What is being done about them? The Ministry of Economy has set out the main priorities for putting the most promising part of the economy into operation. The first steps may have been taken. The raw materials are expected from Italy, but economic stagnation makes us realize that their weight is not negligible. Procedural delays and unjustifiable holdups on the part of our enterprises in signing contracts have meant that raw materials have not been delivered on time. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations is taking promising measures. The Italian side has confirmed 70 percent of the contracts included in the two loans opened earlier. Their disbursement will make it possible to restart first the light industry and then the food-processing and transport industries. It has been decided that the second loan will give priority to the construction and mining industries, taking into account the need for other materials required by agriculture as well. The loan for synthetic fibre and feed for poultry has begun to be disbursed, while the German loan of 3 million dollars for light industry is just getting started. Can and should people work in Albania? What compels us to begin these lines with “perhaps” is connected with doubts that we ourselves have formed and that now follow us at every step: links with the forces that will meet the parties' demands; links with people's growing alienation from work. But perhaps there will be work this year. Things are different here. Perhaps we should say to one another: “Good luck with the work!” SOKOL GRUDA

Among the few enterprises that have begun work this year in the Durrës district is the seaport. Here, on January 2, the transfer of several goods from warehouses to their destinations began, including wheat, coal, etc. On January 3, the port began operating at full capacity in all its sectors and throughout the port. Eight ships are being worked simultaneously, mainly those carrying food aid for our country. The unloading of the ship “Tania 5,” which brought 2,600 tons of butter, has been completed, while the unloading of 16,000 tons of flour and 700 tons of sugar from the ship “Soula” is continuing. The loading and unloading brigades are also working at a fast pace to process wheat, soap, detergents, etc. In the first days of the new year, the ships “Senior Sekondo,” carrying around 1,400 tons of soap and washing powder, and “Circea,” with 3,700 tons of flour, entered the Port of Durrës; their cargoes will begin to be processed today. Meanwhile, the ship “Grey Marley,” which has brought 17,000 tons of wheat and about 1,000 tons of gapal in American aid, is expected to enter the port. (According to ATSH)

The general clinical condition of President Ramiz Alia is satisfactory. Examinations over the past 24 hours show that the illness is following its usual course, with no further progression. No changes in electrocardiographic or laboratory findings. MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Yesterday at noon, the World Islamic Call Society, headquartered in Libya, held a ceremony at the Libyan Arab People's Bureau in Tirana to mark the handover of medical humanitarian aid to Albania. The aid consists of medicines of 17 types, worth about 20,000 dollars, to be used in treating elderly and other patients. The Minister of Health, the head of the Arab People's Bureau and his deputy, Hafiz Sahri Koci, and others were present. While handing over the aid, the Secretary of the Libyan Arab People's Bureau in Tirana, Abdulhamid F. Farhat, said, among other things: “I wish to convey to you the greetings of the leader Muhamer Kadafi, leader of the Libyan September Revolution, and of the Libyan Arab people to President Ramiz Alia, whom we wish complete health and a speedy recovery, and to the Albanian people and all Albanian organizations and political parties. After saying that what we are giving is only the first step on the path toward the closest and broadest cooperation between our two friendly countries, he emphasized that Libya would provide more aid to the friendly and brotherly Albanian people.” The Minister of Health, Kris-ta Pano, expressed thanks to the representatives of Kadafi, the Libyan people, the organizations of the World Islamic Call Society headquartered in Libya, and the ambassador. The Libyan medical humanitarian aid was then received by representatives of the Ministry of Health. (ATSH)