Ενβέρ Χότζα Έργα τ.6

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WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!
ENVER HOXHA
SELECTED WORKS
PUBLISHED BY DECISION OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY OF LABOUR OF ALBANIA
ENVER
HOXHA
THE INSTITUTE
OF MARXIST-LENINIST
STUDIES
AT THE CC OF THE PLA
ENVER HOXHA
VOLUME VI
IULY 1980 - DECEMBER 1984
NNTORI PUBLISHING T I R A N A 1987
HOUSE
FOREWORD
The 6th volume of Comrade Enver Hoxha's Selected Works, the last of the series in foreign languages, includes materials of the period 1980-1984. The conversations, contributions to discussion, speeches, and notes, part of which are already available for the reader in foreign languages, are extracted from the volumes of Collected Works, the Diary, the volumes Reports and Speeches and thematic publications. This volume also includes articles and selections from Comrade Enver Hoxha's books of memoirs, which were published in this period, The Khrushchevites, When the Party Was Born, The Anglo-American Threat to Albania, The Titoites, and Laying the Foundations of the New Albania. Through the materials of this volume the reader acquaints himself with the work and efforts of the Albanian people for the advance of the country further on the road of socialism, with the consistent revolutionary struggle of the Party of Labour of Albania in defence of the Homeland and the victories of the people's state power. These questions, together with those of the development of science, education and culture, are treated in the context of the struggle against the ideological, political and economic pressure of imperialism, social-imperialism and revisionisms of all hues. The selections from memoirs deal with the efforts for the mobilization of the Albanian people in the struggle for
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FOREWORD
the liberation of the country and the establishment of the people's state power, the struggle waged by the PLA against outside interference in the internal affairs of Albania and the subversive secret activity of foreign enemies against socialism in Albania, as well as questions of the struggle against modern revisionism, etc. The excerpts from the book, When the Party Was Born, which is published for the first time for the foreign reader, describes the experience of the struggle of the Albanian communists for the formation of the Communist Party of Albania. Some materials of this volume reflect the intensive work of the PLA and Comrade Enver Hoxha in drafting a five-year plan based entirely on our own forces and internal possibilities, without aid and credits from abroad. Here the reader will find theoretical generalizations and practical solutions to many current problems of the economic and social development of the country and the summing up of a comprehensive theoretical and practical work about problems of the perspective development of the economy on the road of socialism. This volume highlights Comrade Enver Hoxha's economic thinking on questions of the development of the economy, such as the development of industry, the intensification of agriculture, the gradual transformation of property of the group into the property of the whole people, and the further improvement of the socialist relations of production. Also, it deals with questions connected closely with the psychology of people, with the communist education of the working people and the strengthening of their socialist consciousness. Some of the materials explain the relationship between the general interest and the personal interest, between the development of the city and the advance of the rural area, between understanding and applying the laws ruling production and distribution, the circulation of goods and currency in socialism, and the role
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which work, discipline at work and active creativeness of the masses play in the process of the building of socialism. Likewise, they stress the importance of the historical conditions of the country and the proper assimilation of the Marxist-Leninist theory, deal with the relationship between this science and other sciences, the connection between science and technique, the views of bourgeois theoreticians on this question, etc. This volume contains profound Marxist-Leninist analyses of the current world development. In its pages it reflects the stand of the PLA towards capital questions confronting the peoples and the Marxist-Leninist, revolutionary and liberation movements today. Having a profound knowledge of the political developments in the world and interpreting them on the basis of the teachings of MarxismLeninism, Comrade Enver Hoxha reaches revolutionary conclusions, points out the major contradictions eroding the capitalist system from within, analyses the many-sided crises afflicting this system, and widens the scope of the struggle of the proletariat and the peoples. The writings of this volume specially expose the expansionist and hegemonic policy of the superpowers, the United States of America and the Soviet Union. Important questions dealt with in this volume are the struggle of the peoples, the genuine Marxist-Leninist forces and the revolutionary proletariat against capitalism and imperialism, the stand to be maintained towards imperialist war, towards chauvinism and national oppression in the capitalist and revisionist countries, as well as the elements determining the creation of the objective and subjective conditions and factors for the outbreak of the revolution and national liberation wars, as a constituent part of it, and the class which should emerge in the lead and guide them. Attention is devoted to the study, mastering and creative application of Marxism-Leninism, the creation of alliances
FOREWORD
in favour of the revolution, the work Marxist-Leninists must carry out with the masses, among the unemployed, the youth, and the ranks of the bourgeois army. Emphasis is laid on the work the Marxist-Leninist party must carry out among the working class to help it to find the road towards the revolution and not to allow itself to be split and manipulated, to avoid playing the game of reaction and reformism. Of great value are the conclusions about how to exploit the national moment in various countries and to expose the diversionist and mystifying methods of the bourgeoisie to lead the youth into the impasse of terrorism and to alienate the masses from the revolution by identifying terrorist acts with the true revolutionary activity. Comrade Enver Hoxha opposes the various anti-scientific and reactionary theories which try to prove that socialism can be built under the guidance of any ideology reformist, opportunist, or even fascist. He argues how the revolution can be carried out and the exploiting classes liquidated, how the independence and the victories achieved can be defended and further strengthened and true socialism, without debts and credits, be built with success, on the basis of the Marxist-Leninist doctrine. Relying strongly on the fundamental principles of Marxism-Leninism, Comrade Enver Hoxha analyses and argues with convincing facts the basis of the successes in Albania, explains where the strength of the policy pursued by the PLA and the Albanian socialist state lies. He exposes the aim of hostile slogans and propaganda about the socalled self-isolation of Albania and points out clearly the strategy of the capitalist, imperialist and social-imperialist states towards it. The materials of this volume, like those of the previous volumes of Selected Works, reflect the experience of the PLA in the struggle for the construction of socialism in
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Albania and the defence of the common cause of the proletariat and the peoples. They reveal clearly the defence of the principles of Marxism-Leninism and their profound understanding and creative implementation by the PLA on the basis of the concrete conditions of Albania.
THE GREAT WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS IS INTENSIFYING

July 1, 1980
T h e g r e a t w o r l d e c o n o m i c c r i s i s w h i c h has a s t r a n g l e h o l d especially on the t w o imperialist superpowers, the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , a s w e l l as on the industrialized countries, J a p a n , F e d e r a l G e r m a n y , F r a n c e , B r i t a i n , C a n a d a , Italy, a n d others l i k e M a o i s t C h i n a , T i t o i t e Y u g o s l a v i a , the m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s o f the C o m e c o n , etc., is g e t t i n g d e e p e r a n d deeper e v e r y d a y . It is f r a u g h t w i t h g r a v e consequences f o r a l l the states d e p e n d e n t o n international capital. T h i s m a j o r e c o n o m i c crisis is a crisis of overproduction, of the industrial boom* but, at the same time, it has caused a profound crisis in production . In fact, in all t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s i t has l e d t o i n c r e a s e d u n e m p l o y m e n t , i n f l a t i o n , p r i c e rises, etc. T h i s m e a n s that, a t present, p r o d u c t i o n has f a l l e n a n d t h e s t r u g g l e has b e g u n t o c l e a r stocks o f goods. H o w e v e r t h e c a p i t a l i s t b o u r g e o i s i e does n o t c l e a r these stocks of goods by r e d u c i n g prices, b u t b y t u r n i n g the w o r k e r s out o n t h e streets, t h a t is, b y s l o w i n g d o w n p r o d u c t i o n . So, since c a p i t a l i s t i n d u s t r y n o l o n g e r f u n c t i o n s a t its f o r m e r l e v e l o f p r o d u c t i v i t y , the c r i s i s o f r a w m a t e r i a l s emerges. T h i s crisis, l i k e w i s e , i s v e r y g r a v e a n d i s a c c o m p a n i e d w i t h t h e colossal
_______________________________________ * E n g l i s h in the o r i g i n a l .
ENVER HOXHA
inter-imperialist struggle for markets. T h i s struggle, somet i m e s open a n d s o m e t i m e s s u b v e r s i v e , i s a c c o m p a n i e d w i t h a n increase i n m i l i t a r y budgets a n d s o p h i s t i c a t e d c o n ventional and nuclear weapons to levels incomparably higher than ever before. The United States of America, the Soviet Union, China and other imperialist powers have become the most frenzied inciters of a new imperialist world war. Their hegemonic policy, their eagerness to preserve the existing imperialist status quo on the one hand, and to redivide the spheres of influence on the other hand, have deepened and aggravated the contradictions among the great powers themselves and between them and their partners in crime, in their exploitation of other peoples, and so have created new conflicts. T h e economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y r e l a t i o n s i n t h e various imperialist and revisionist groupings have been s h a k e n . T h e m e m b e r s o f these g r o u p i n g s a r e s t r i v i n g t o cause, t o f i n d a n d t o e x p l o i t v a r i o u s s p l i t s a n d i n t h i s w a y t o f o r m u l a t e excuses f o r r e f u s i n g t o a d h e r e t o c o m m i t ments, treaties a n d agreements, w h i c h e x i s t a m o n g t h e m . At present the struggle of the peoples who are oppressed and exploited by world capital in crisis has assumed proportions and a variety of forms never seen before. This is precisely the true source of the great economic crisis w h i c h h a s e n g u l f e d t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t w o r l d . O n the surface, i t seems a s i f t h e a r m e d c o n f l i c t s , the c o n f l i c t s i n t h e f i e l d o f e c o n o m i c - f i n a n c i a l r e l a t i o n s , the great e n e r g y c r i s i s a n d s o o n are o n l y b e t w e e n c a p i t a l ist states, b u t i n fact t h e o r i g i n o f these c o n f l i c t s i s m o r e deep-seated a n d i s e r o d i n g t h e b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t state w h i c h i s s t r i v i n g t o d e f e n d itself, t o s t a y a l i v e , t o h e a l its n u m e r o u s w o u n d s , etc. The force which is eroding the beourgeois capitalist state is the struggle in all forms and at all levels that the peoples are waging all over the world.
DEEPENING OP THE WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS
I n one w a y o r a n o t h e r , h e r e w i t h g r e a t e r t h e r e w i t h lesser i n t e n s i t y , t h e w o r k i n g class a n d a l l t h e e x p l o i t e d are a w a r e o f a n d f i g h t i n g against a l l f o r m s o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t regime, either local or international, w h i c h is exploiting, impoverishing and oppressing them economically and m o r a l l y . H e n c e , t h e r e i s great d i s c o n t e n t a n d r e v o l t a m o n g the peoples o f t h e w o r l d . In almost all the capitalist countries today strikes i n v o l v i n g m i l l i o n s o f p e o p l e a r e t a k i n g place, t h e r e are f i e r c e clashes w i t h the forces o f l a w a n d order, t h e r e are a r m e d r e v o l t s , b u t also m i l i t a r y putsches, acts o f t e r r o r ism and anarchism organized by the r u l i n g bourgeois cap i t a l i s t g o v e r n m e n t s , t h e r e is a colossal a m o u n t of s m u g gling and theft organized on a national and international scale, t h e r e i s a n u n l i m i t e d a n d m o n s t r o u s d e v e l o p m e n t of political, m o r a l and physical corruption. Thus the w a y is being prepared for fascism to come to power. Today we are living in the period of the decay of capitalism, of the weakening, disintegration and bankruptcy of this system, this degenerate society. T h e r e is no w a y o u t o f t h i s chaos, t h i s f i l t h , o t h e r t h a n t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t h e s u r g i c a l r e m o v a l o f t h e r o t t e n tissue, t h e s e i z u r e o f state p o w e r b y t h e w o r k i n g class, w h i c h has t h e m i s s i o n t o establish the dictatorship of the proletariat. W h a t L e n i n s a i d a b o u t t h i s process i s b e i n g c o n f i r m e d a n d i t w i l l c e r t a i n l y t a k e place. A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m w i t h its chief, P r e s i d e n t C a r t e r , i s f a c i n g m a j o r d i f f i c u l t i e s i n its p o l i c y , i n t h e e c o n o m y , i n its a l l i a n c e s a n d colonies. A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m does n o t k n o w w h i c h w a y t o t u r n , h o w t o cope w i t h t h e d a n gers w h i c h are t h r e a t e n i n g i t a n d i n c r e a s i n g d a y b y d a y . T h u s i t f i n d s i t s e l f seized i n a n i r o n g r i p f r o m w h i c h i t i s t r y i n g t o free itself b y a p p l y i n g a n i n s a n e p o l i c y o f i n t i m i d a t i o n , b l a c k m a i l , e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l pressure, open m i l i t a r y i n t e r v e n t i o n a n d s u b v e r s i v e a c t i v i t i e s , etc.
ENVER HOXHA
I n r e g a r d t o c u r r e n t events i t m u s t b e s a i d t h a t t h e struggle o f t h e I r a n i a n people d u r i n g these last t w o o r t h r e e y e a r s against the S h a h a n d t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a i s a h e a v y b l o w t o A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m . The crisis of Iran is the crisis of the United States of America. B e f o r e this t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d w e r e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h the b a r b a r o u s p o l i c y o f the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d its savage m e t h o d s o f d o m i n a t i o n a n d p l u n d e r , b u t i n I r a n they saw them still more clearly. T h e tool of the A m e r i c a n imperialists in Iran was the S h a h and his clique, m u r d e r ers of the people. F o r decades on end, t h e e x t e r n a l r o b b e r s in alliance w i t h the internal robbers, the murderers and b l o o d - s u c k e r s o f the I r a n i a n people, the S h a h ' s g o v e r n m e n t and administration under the direction of Washington, through the A m e r i c a n embassy in Teheran, made the l a w i n I r a n i n f u l l a c c o r d w i t h one a n o t h e r . I n the e n d , h o w e v e r , t h e I r a n i a n people rose i n r e v o l u t i o n , s w e p t t h e S h a h f r o m t h e face o f t h e e a r t h w i t h the i r o n b r o o m a n d c a p t u r e d a n d i m p r i s o n e d a l l t h e spies of the A m e r i c a n embassy w h o operated under the cloak o f d i p l o m a t s . F o r m o r e t h a n n i n e m o n t h s n o w , t h e soc a l l e d d i p l o m a t s o f a great p o w e r w h i c h m a k e s t h e l a w in t h e w o r l d h a v e b e e n in p r i s o n . O tempora! O mores! T h i s c o u l d n o t h a p p e n i n e a l i e r t i m e s , b u t i t has h a p p e n e d n o w a n d i t i s h a p p e n i n g also t o others besides t h e A m e r icans, i n other c o u n t r i e s . T h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a s u f f e r e d a m a j o r p o l i t i c a l defeat, w h i c h i t i s u n a b l e t o r e p a i r e i t h e r t h r o u g h diplomatic channels and economic blackmail, or through military intervention, as it attempted to do and failed w i t h its a i r c o m m a n d o s i n A p r i l a t T a b a s . I n I r a n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a lost one o f its m o s t i m p o r t a n t sources of o i l a n d e n e r g y a n d colossal p r o f i t s . It lost t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f its A r a b allies o f t h e P e r s i a n G u l f , the American-Egyptian-Israeli agreement reached at C a m p
DEEPENING OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS
D a v i d w a s s h a k e n , zizanies* a n d o p e n a n d u n d e r g r o u n d disagreements w i t h its N A T O p a r t n e r s e m e r g e d . I n these s i t u a t i o n s t h e S o v i e t U n i o n w h e t s its teeth and bites. I t o c c u p i e d A f g h a n i s t a n a n d i s d r i v i n g wedges into N A T O , etc. A t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s bet w e e n the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a are b e i n g d e e p e n e d . O u t w a r d l y t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y seems m o n o l i t h i c , w h i l e c r a c k s are s h o w i n g u p w i t h i n N A T O , United Europe and the E u r o p e a n C o m m o n M a r k e t . The cracks are j u s t a s great w i t h i n C o m e c o n a n d t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y , b u t t h e r e t h e S o v i e t a r m y has a s t r a n g l e h o l d o n the allies o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , w h i l e t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a i s l o s i n g its f o r m e r i n f l u e n c e o v e r its allies, especially o v e r F r a n c e a n d F e d e r a l G e r m a n y . Mete, M e t e , e v e r y m a n f o r h i m s e l f , o u r p e o p l e say. W h e n i t w i n s , the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a w a n t s t o b e t h e f i r s t t o t a k e t h e l i o n ' s s h a r e o f the p r o f i t s , w h i l e w h e n i t loses it w a n t s t h e allies to p a y f o r the losses, t h a t is, to s h a r e its m i s f o r t u n e s a n d defeats. B u t the l a w of the jungle operates; the capitalist w i l l see y o u h a n g e d , b u t w i l l n o t c o m e t o y o u r a i d . The France of De Gaulle and d'Estaign is in N A T O a n d i s n o t i n N A T O . I t r e m o v e d t h e N A T O bases, t h a t is, the A m e r i c a n bases, f r o m F r e n c h s o i l , s t r e n g t h e n e d its army independently, built the atomic and hydrogen bomb a n d n o w r e c e n t l y t h e n e u t r o n b o m b , too, a n d does not submit to the A m e r i c a n dictate on this question. The c u r r e n t F r e n c h p o l i c y proceeds f r o m the p o s i t i o n better to prepare to defend myself first than w a i t for the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a t o d e f e n d m e l a t e i n the day. T h i s constitutes a b r e a c h b e t w e e n F r a n c e a n d t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a . I n r e c e n t m o n t h s t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d C a r t e r h a v e done t h e i r u t m o s t t o e n s u r e t h a t
____________________________________ * Quarrels (French in the original).
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France and Federal G e r m a n y , especially, are united w i t h t h e m i n a l l t h e i r actions against I r a n . Paris and B o n n condemned in principle the holding o f t h e A m e r i c a n d i p l o m a t s a s hostages b y the I r a n i a n s , b u t t h e y d i d n o t agree w i t h t h e e c o n o m i c s a n c t i o n s p r o posed b y the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a against I r a n , hence, t h e y left i t i n t h e l u r c h . T h i s i s a n o t h e r b r e a c h b e t w e e n the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d F r a n c e a n d Federal G e r m a n y . T h e U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a condemned the occupation of A f g h a n i s t a n by the Soviet U n i o n . C h i n a a n d N A T O also c o n d e m n e d t h i s o c c u p a t i o n . W e c o n d e m n e d it, too, b u t n o t f r o m t h e i r p o s i t i o n s a n d a i m s . T o m o r r o w they w i l l come to terms w i t h the Soviets over this q u e s t i o n , w h i l e w e w i l l n e v e r d o s u c h a t h i n g . A s a s a n c t i o n against t h e S o v i e t U n i o n o v e r t h e quest i o n of A f g h a n i s t a n , P r e s i d e n t C a r t e r d e c l a r e d a b o y c o t t o f t h e O l y m p i c games, w h i c h are t o b e h e l d these d a y s in Moscow, and demanded that a l l the others boycott t h e m , too, b u t a m a j o r i t y of states, i n c l u d i n g F r a n c e a n d e v e n I t a l y w h i c h sent a n a l l e g e d l y u n o f f i c i a l t e a m p i athletes t o M o s c o w , left h i m i n t h e l u r c h once a g a i n . France went even further. Completely ignoring the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , P r e s i d e n t G i s c a r d d ' E s t a i g n met Brezhnev in W a r s a w . G i s c a r d made official visits to s e v e r a l c o u n t r i e s o f the M i d d l e E a s t w h e r e , i n p u b l i c speeches, h e e x p r e s s e d d o u b t s a b o u t t h e A m e r i c a n - E g y p t i a n - I s r a e l i C a m p D a v i d c o m p r o m i s e a n d p r e s e n t e d some flabby alternative formulations about the rights of the P a l e s t i n i a n people. T h i s i s a n o t h e r b r e a c h b e t w e e n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d F r a n c e . E v e n after these defeats C a r t e r p r o p o s e d t h a t t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a s h o u l d d e p l o y some n e w P e r s h ing-2 a n d C r u i s e n u c l e a r m i s s i l e s i n E u r o p e f o r t h e defence o f E u r o p e a n N A T O p a r t n e r s . This proposal w h i c h Carter tried to impose was
rejected b o t h b y G i s c a r d a n d b y t h e G e r m a n C h a n c e l l o r Schmidt. W h y ? A p p a r e n t l y f r o m fear that if the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a d e p l o y s i t s n e w m i s s i l e s i n E u r o p e , the S o v i e t U n i o n w i l l m a t c h t h i s b y d e p l o y i n g its n e w SS-20 n u c l e a r m i s s i l e s i n t h e c o u n t r i e s o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y . F o r t h i s r e a s o n S c h m i d t i s t o g o t o M o s c o w soon and it is said that he w i l l demand f r o m the Soviets a m o r a t o r i u m for three years on the question of the deployment of new missiles in Europe. Carter was angry and wrote to Schmidt telling h i m not to go to Moscow t o discuss t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e d e p l o y m e n t o f n e w m i s siles. B u t S c h m i d t w a s u n m o v e d a n d r e s p o n d e d n e g a tively to Carter's letter. Indeed, in regard to this letter Schmidt made the following declaration to the A m e r i c a n n e w s p a p e r Washington Post: F o r 20 y e a r s it has b e e n my custom to express my opinions w i t h o u t asking leave of a n y b o d y else, t h a t is, I h a v e no i n t e n t i o n of a s k i n g l e a v e o f C a r t e r n o w . T h i s w h o l e issue speaks o f u n i t y between France and Federal G e r m a n y and of rifts bet w e e n t h e m a n d t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a . U n i t e d E u r o p e i s n o l o n g e r u n i t e d i n itself. T h e q u a r r e l s , r i v a l r i e s , a n d o p p o s i n g i n t e r e s t s o f e a c h state of this so-called European C o m m u n i t y are increasing to the e x t e n t t h a t its v e r y e x i s t e n c e i s i n j e o p a r d y . B r i t a i n , t h e m o s t f a i t h f u l a l l y o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , is refusing to pay the quota allocated by the European C o m m o n Market. Naturally neither B o n n nor Paris like t h i s . F r a n c e agrees t h a t G r e e c e s h o u l d b e r e a d m i t t e d t o the m i l i t a r y structures of N A T O and become a m e m b e r o f t h e E u r o p e a n C o m m o n M a r k e t , b u t i t i s against t h e admission of Spain and Portugal. Giscard knows that the a d m i s s i o n o f t h e I b e r i a n states t o t h e W e s t e r n f o l d w i l l b r i n g d i f f i c u l t i e s f o r t h e sale o f F r e n c h a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o ducts. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d t h e I b e r i a n P e n i n s u l a w h i c h , i n r e a l i t y , i s a n A m e r i c a n m i l i t a r y base, i f a d m i t t e d t o t h e
ENVER HOXHA
N A T O , becomes a n e w a l l y o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a i n E u r o p e , o n t h e side o f B r i t a i n . The contradictions between the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a a n d the i n d u s t r i a l i z e d E u r o p e a n states w e r e u n f u r l e d i n the m e e t i n g o f t h e heads o f state a n d g o v e r n m e n t o f the m a i n i n d u s t r i a l i z e d c o u n t r i e s o f t h e w o r l d w h i c h w a s h e l d a t t h e e n d o f J u n e i n V e n i c e . I n the middle of the meeting, w h i c h was held in a monastery in an island of the L a g o o n of Venice, a small d i p l o m a t i c m e t e o r i t e f o r G i s c a r d a n d some o t h e r s a r r i v e d f r o m Moscow. Moscow announced that it was w i t h d r a w i n g a d i v i s i o n o f s o l d i e r s a n d 100 t a n k s f r o m A f g h a n i s t a n , l e a v i n g there 10 other divisions, if not more. Thus M o s c o w tossed a p e b b l e i n t o t h e s t a g n a n t p o o l , b u t t h e r i p p l e i t caused soon d i e d a w a y . I t w a s a d i p l o m a t i c m a n o e u v r e , but short-lived. Cossiga asked M o s c o w to w i t h d r a w the r e m a i n d e r o f i t s t r o o p s f r o m A f g h a n i s t a n , too, b u t i t u n c o v e r e d its b a t t e r i e s a n d s h o w e d its t e e t h , r e p l y i n g t h a t far f r o m w i t h d r a w i n g more troops f r o m Afghanistan, it m i g h t , if n e e d be, send o t h e r t r o o p s t h e r e . Soviet social-imperialism is m o u n t i n g arrogant attacks o n t h e e n e m y c a m p w h i c h f i n d s itself i n d i f f i c u l t i e s . T h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s i n t e n d t o use G i s c a r d a n d S c h m i d t f o r this purpose, but to w h a t extent a n d f o r h o w long, this r e m a i n s t o b e seen. I t i s t r u e t h a t the S o v i e t s w o r d i s l o n g b u t t h e others, too, are k e e p i n g t h e i r daggers d r a w n . I n this great cauldron which is boiling, in this big fire which is burning world capitalism, the national liberation struggles, the objective and subjective factors are increasing, mounting, expanding in quantity and rising in quality. The peoples of the world are moving. I r r e s p e c t i v e of t h e manipulations of the various ideologies in the service of capital, the w o r l d proletariat is f i g h t i n g and leading the class struggle. V i e w i n g the situation as a whole with a Marxist-
L e n i n i s t eye, i t c a n b e seen t h a t t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e i s b e i n g waged in every corner of the w o r l d in classical and n o n classical f o r m s . E v e r y w h e r e the peoples are e x t r e m e l y anxious and w o r r i e d . T h e i r discontent and anger at the oppressive forces, w h e t h e r n a t i o n a l o r f o r e i g n , a r e i n c r e a s i n g , m o u n t i n g , t a k i n g s p e c i f i c m a t e r i a l shape. R e g a r d l e s s o f w h o i s l e a d i n g t h e n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n a r m e d struggles o f the peoples, t h e b l o o d o f t h e peoples f i g h t i n g f o r t h e i r freedom a n d independence reflects their hatred and w r a t h against l o c a l a n d f o r e i g n c a p i t a l i s t o p p r e s s i o n , a n d i n t h e course o f these s t r u g g l e s t h e peoples d i s t i n g u i s h t h e a n t i popular stands of i n d i v i d u a l s or groups, a n d f o r m alliances w i t h the m o s t p r o g r e s s i v e a n d m o s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces. In every movement, in every demonstration or strike, in every public, political or economic manifestation, it is i m p o s s i b l e n o t t o p r o t e s t a g a i n s t t h e d e s t r u c t i v e effects o f t h e g r a v e crises a n d n o t t o p u t t h e f i n g e r o n t h e persons responsible for the exploitation a n d oppression of the peoples, t h e f o r c e s w h i c h w a n t t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f m a n k i n d . I n t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s w i t h one pseudo-communist party, w i t h two or more pseudo-democratic p a r t i e s , d e s p i t e t h e e f f o r t s o f these p a r t i e s t o l a y the b l a m e o n e a c h other, a n d d e s p i t e t h e b o u r g e o i s states, s e p a r a t e l y o r i n g r o u p s , t r y i n g t o p u t t h e b l a m e o n one another, n o t h i n g i s c h a n g i n g ; t h e o p p r e s s i o n o f t h e p e o ples c o n t i n u e s , b u t t h e i r a n g e r a n d r e v o l t c o n t i n u e t o mount as w e l l . This anger and revolt are h i t t i n g the capitalist a n d revisionist bourgeoisie in various f o r m s and w i t h different intensities. The peoples see that predatory imperialist war is threatening them. They understand who is preparing this war, who pays the cost of it and who profits from this war. T w o p h e n o m e n a s t a n d out i n t h i s s i t u a t i o n : t h e r e a r e some w h o a r e s t i l l a f r a i d o f i m p e r i a l i s t w a r , t h e r e are others w h o f i g h t a g a i n s t it. I n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s , h o w e v e r ,
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i n v a r i o u s f o r m s , t h e peoples a r e j o i n i n g i n t h e s t r u g g l e o f a c t i v e resistance, i n t h e i n i t i a l stages o f t h e n a t i o n a l liberation war, in sabotaging and stopping the imperialist w a r a n d , i n t h e e n d , are h u r l i n g t h e m s e l v e s i n t o r e v o l u tion. The movements of opposition w h i c h are t a k i n g place in the w o r l d must not be judged f r o m the standpoint of bourgeois governments a n d their parties w h i c h t r y to m a n i p u l a t e t h e peoples; it is n e c e s s a r y to see t h e essence o f t h e p r o b l e m , t h e resistance a n d t h e f u n d a m e n t a l d i r e c t i o n o f t h e peoples' p o l i t i c a l o r e c o n o m i c d e m a n d s , w h i c h force the capitalist bourgeois leaderships either to take d r a c o n i a n r e p r e s s i v e m e a s u r e s a g a i n s t these m o v e m e n t s , or in order to restabilize their already shaken situation, to s h i f t s o m e t i m e s i n one, s o m e t i m e s i n a n o t h e r d i r e c t i o n a n d r e l y o n one o r t h e o t h e r s u p e r p o w e r . The Marxist-Leninists must master historical materiali s m a n d a p p l y i t i n p r a c t i c e . T h e y m u s t see t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e w o r l d a n d t h e changes o c c u r r i n g i n i t f r o m the a n g l e o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . H e w h o u p h o l d s t h e occupation of A f g h a n i s t a n by the Soviet social-imperialists a n d considers it a j u s t a n d necessary a c t i o n c a n n o t be considered a M a r x i s t , he is an a n t i - M a r x i s t . Those s e l f - s t y l e d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s w h o t r y t o argue t h a t t h e A f g h a n people a n d t h e e l e m e n t s o f t h e m i d d l e a n d e v e n o f the t o p b o u r g e o i s i e w h o f i g h t against t h e S o v i e t o c c u p i ers s h o u l d n o t be d e s c r i b e d as p a t r i o t s c a n n o t be c a l l e d M a r x i s t s , t h e y are a n t i - M a r x i s t s . H e w h o t h i n k s a n d acts i n t h i s w a y has u n d e r s t o o d n o t h i n g o f t h e t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m o n alliances, o n n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n f r o n t s a n d struggles. L i k e w i s e t h e t h o u g h t s a n d actions o f some c o m m u n i s t c o m r a d e s a b r o a d w h o f a i l t o see t h e a n t i i m p e r i a l i s t aspects o f t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e A r a b peoples, t h e I r a n i a n people a n d t h e M o s l e m w o r l d c a n n o t b e c a l l e d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t thoughts and actions. To underestimate these a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t m o m e n t s , t o f a i l t o m a k e t h e m o s t
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o f t h e m a n d d i s p l a y o r t h o d o x y b y d e m a n d i n g t h a t these peoples i n r e v o l u t i o n a b a n d o n b e l i e f i n t h e i r r e l i g i o n , a n d the customs a n d h a b i t s w h i c h d e r i v e f r o m i t a l m o s t a t once, shows a t least M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t i d e o l o g i c a l i m m a t u r i t y . A s t h e e v e n t s i n I r a n p r o v e , t h e masses o f t h e p e o p l e p l a y a n i m p o r t a n t a n d d e c i s i v e r o l e i n c a r r y i n g out t h e revolution. It was they w h o placed themselves in the forefront of the fight, overthrew the feudal m o n a r c h y of the P a h l e v i s a n d d e a l t p o w e r f u l b l o w s a t i m p e r i a l i s m . H o w e v e r we cannot say that they h a v e t r i u m p h e d and their struggle can be carried f o r w a r d w i t h the b l i n d mediaeval fanaticism of the Ayatollahs. The communists m u s t s u p p o r t a n d h e l p t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y masses a n d t h e p r o g r e s s i v e f o r c e s i n t h e i r s t r u g g l e . T h e s t r u g g l e t h e y are w a g i n g a t p r e s e n t creates c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e c o m m u n i s t s t o g o a m o n g t h e masses, t o w o r k f o r t h e i r c o r r e c t e d u c a tion, to deepen their o w n M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideological w o r l d outlook, to rely on the revolutionary people and o n t h e w o r k i n g class, i n t h e f i r s t place, a n d t o b e able t o m a k e use o f e v e r y s i t u a t i o n f a v o u r a b l e f o r t h e r e v o l u t i o n . T h i s i s h o w t h e process o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples m u s t b e u n d e r s t o o d a n d f o l l o w e d . It is a grave error to confound a n d i d e n t i f y the sentim e n t s o f t h e peoples, w h a t e v e r t h e y are, w i t h those o f the b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t g r o u p s i n p o w e r i n a p a r t i c u l a r country. T h e people of Egypt, for example, cannot and must not be identified w i t h Sadat and his clique, w h o u n t i l yesterday were in the service of the Soviets a n d have placed themselves in the service of the A m e r i c a n s t o d a y . . . The M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t communists must be able to m a k e correct analyses, to determine the proper strategy a n d tactics, t o f o r m a l l i a n c e s i n f a v o u r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t o u n d e r t a k e c o r r e c t r e v o l u t i o n a r y actions a n d n o t a d v e n t u r e s a n d see a l l these f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y , because o n l y i n t h i s w a y c a n one
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s e r v e t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e peoples f r o m c a p i t a l i s m a n d make revolution. N a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n w a r s are j u s t w a r s . T h e y b r e a k out w h e n the o b j e c t i v e a n d s u b j e c t i v e f a c t o r s e x i s t a n d have matured. The Marxist-Leninists themselves must h e l p i n t h e c r e a t i o n o f these f a c t o r s . T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s m u s t n e v e r sit i d l e a n d n o t t a k e p a r t i n t h e j u s t w a r s , e i t h e r a s parties, o r a s g r o u p s w h e n t h e y a r e n o t y e t o r g a n i z e d a s parties, o r a s i n d i v i d u a l f i g h t e r s . T h e y m u s t n e v e r s t a n d aloof f r o m t h e masses w h o a r e f i g h t i n g f o r social and national liberation, but w h i l e f i g h t i n g in their midst, they must c o n f i r m their communist convictions, o r g a n i z e t h e m s e l v e s a n d place the w o r k i n g class i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p . E v e n w h e n t h e y are n o t o r g a n i z e d , t h e y m u s t e m e r g e i n t h e v a n g u a r d o f t h e masses t h r o u g h t h e i r struggle and sacrifices, so that the n a t i o n a l liberation w a r a d v a n c e s t o w a r d s its m i n i m a l objectives, a n d t h e n goes o n t o its u l t i m a t e o b j e c t i v e s . The creation of conditions for the outbreak of national liberation wars does not depend on the will of one or the other personality. It is the objective and subjective situations that cause the outbreak of the national liberation wars which are a high level form of the class struggle. T h a t class w h i c h emerges i n t h e f o r e f r o n t a n d leads t h e n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n w a r i s t h e most p r o g r e s s i v e , t h e d e c i s i v e f a c t o r . T h e w o r k i n g class i s t h e m o s t p r o g r e s sive of t h e p r o g r e s s i v e classes. It m u s t a s s u m e t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n w a r . I f a t t h e outset o f t h e w a r i t has n o t e n s u r e d its l e a d i n g p o s i t i o n , i t m u s t s t a n d i n t h e f o r e f r o n t o f t h e f i g h t i n g a n d s a c r i f i c e s , because o n l y i n this w a y can it take over the political and m i l i t a r y leadership, ensure the f u l f i l m e n t of the objectives of the n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n w a r a n d r e a l i z e i t s o w n desires. In the situation developing in the w o r l d today, the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties, t h e w o r k i n g class a n d its p o s s i b l e
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allies, t h e b r o a d s t r a t a o f t h e p e a s a n t r y a n d t h e p r o g r e s s i v e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , m u s t n o t o n l y see c l e a r l y t h e d a n g e r of a n e w i m p e r i a l i s t w o r l d w a r , b u t also o r g a n i z e t h e m s e l v e s a n d assert t h e i r w i l l i n a t h o u s a n d f o r m s , i n o r d e r t o stop this destructive war, to expose the demagogy and falsity of the democratic slogans of enslaving capital a n d to free themselves f r o m the restrictive chains of the various p s e u d o - d e m o c r a t i c a n d p s e u d o - p o p u l a r p a r t i e s set u p b y the b o u r g e o i s i e . At a l l times it is necessary to study carefully, on the basis o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , e v e r y s i t u a tion that is created in each country a n d in the r a n k s of each people, t o d r a w c o n c l u s i o n s a n d c o m e o u t w i t h r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r o g r e s s i v e j o i n t actions. N o t h i n g m u s t escape t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y e y e o f those w h o f i g h t f o r t h e g r e a t cause o f t h e i r o w n p e o p l e a n d a l l peoples. T h e M a r x i s t Leninists must utilize every development of the situation. This is a struggle w h i c h must be w a g e d every day, because i n t h i s w a y t h e great a v a l a n c h e o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n w i l l s w e e p a w a y t h e e n e m i e s o f t h e peoples, a n d b r i n g f r e e d o m , progress, a n d socialist s o c i e t y a n d e v e n t u a l l y c o m m u n i s t society. T h e r e f o r e , i n t h i s great e c o n o m i c c r i s i s o f w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t s , w h e r e v e r t h e y are i n the w o r l d , m u s t c l e a r l y d e f i n e t h e i r l i n e a n d s t a n d s a n d k n o w h o w t o a p p l y t h i s l i n e i n p r a c t i c e . I n these h i g h l y c o m p l i c a t e d s i t u a t i o n s i n w h i c h t h e r e a r e clashes o f t h e i n t e r e s t s o f classes w h i c h are n o t s e p a r a t e d b y c l e a r c u t d i v i s i o n s , b u t are i n t e r l i n k e d a n d i n t e r d e p e n d e n t , o n l y a g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t p a r t y c a n see c l e a r l y w h e r e t h e a d v a n t a g e s a n d w h e r e t h e d i s a d v a n t a g e s l i e , d i s t i n g u i s h enemies f r o m friends, k n o w w i t h w h o m t o unite, against w h o m a n d h o w t h e y m u s t f i g h t a n d c a r r y t h i s w a r f o r w a r d , etc. The Superpowers
THE WORK OF THE PARTY SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD AS A SCIENCE AND APPLIED SCIENTIFICALLY
From the talk with the members of the Bureau of the Party Committee and some cadres of the district of Kora
July 18, 1980
I am h a p p y to meet y o u c o m r a d e s , r e s p o n s i b l e cadres of t h e P a r t y a n d state here, i n K o r a . T h i s m e e t i n g g i v e s m e the opportunity to acquaint myself w i t h the w o r k and life of the P a r t y and y o u r w o r k in the district and to exchange some o p i n i o n s . Y o u c o m r a d e s o f t h e base h a v e g r e a t experience in work, therefore I w o u l d l i k e y o u to help me w i t h your valuable opinions and experience. W i t h o u t t h e a i d o f t h e base t h e l e a d e r s h i p w i l l b e left l i k e a f i s h out of w a t e r , as t h e s a y i n g goes, a n d I s a y t h i s n o t o u t of m o d e s t y , b u t because it is a r e a l i t y . T h e r e f o r e , do not t h i n k I h a v e c o m e t o t h i s m e e t i n g t o g i v e y o u a d v i c e or special instructions. No. I t h i n k that the m u t u a l exchange of opinions is v e r y important, and w h i l e acquainting ourselves w i t h t h e w o r k o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state i n y o u r d i s t r i c t , together w e s h a l l m a k e some g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s a n d r e a c h some c o n c l u s i o n s t o c a r r y t h e w o r k f u r t h e r a h e a d . T h a t is, w e s h o u l d assist one a n o t h e r . F o r m e i t i s i m p o r tant to acquaint myself concretely w i t h some k e y problems of first-rate importance for the development of industry a n d a g r i c u l t u r e a n d science a n d c u l t u r e g e n e r a l l y , h e r e
PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE
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i n K o r a , because a l l t h e a c t i v i t y a n d t h e w o r k o f t h e P a r t y a n d state i n t h e d i s t r i c t i s r e f l e c t e d p r e c i s e l y i n those sectors.
After the first secretary of the Party Committee of the district of Kora informed Comrade Enver Hoxha about the sound moral-political situation of the people in the district of Kora, about the mobilization of the working class and the cooperativist peasantry in the struggle to fulfil the state plan, the work being done for the education of communists and workers, the fulfilment of tasks in defence works and military training, and about the increase of the ranks of the Party with new blood, Comrade Enver Hoxha took the floor again:
I n g e n e r a l , I , too, a g r e e w i t h t h e a n a l y s i s o f t h e p r o b lems w h i c h the first secretary of the P a r t y C o m m i t t e e of the d i s t r i c t p r e s e n t e d , a n d I t h i n k t h a t h e dealt c l e a r l y w i t h those p r o b l e m s w h i c h a r e c o n c e r n i n g t h e P a r t y i n the d i s t r i c t a n d i n t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y . H i s o u t l i n e g a v e m e an accurate general idea f r o m w h i c h I assume that y o u here i n K o r a see t h e p r o b l e m s c l e a r l y , n o t o n l y f r o m the t h e o r e t i c a l s t a n d - p o i n t , b u t also i n r e g a r d t o p u t t i n g the d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y i n t o p r a c t i c e . T h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the P a r t y k n o w s y o u r s i t u a t i o n , b u t f r o m t h e o u t l i n e that w a s p r e s e n t e d I h a v e g a i n e d f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n that the leading activity of the P a r t y here in the district has y i e l d e d s a t i s f a c t o r y r e s u l t s w h i c h are t a n g i b l e a n d w h i c h c a n b e seen i n t h e p r o g r e s s i v e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e economy, i n t h e i m p r o v e d w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e p e o p l e a n d in the enhanced moral-political and educational level of the b r o a d w o r k i n g masses o f t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e , o f t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s a n d t h e people's i n t e l ligentsia.
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ENVER HOXHA
O f course, j u s t a s y o u c o m r a d e s e c r e t a r y s a i d , h o w e v e r m u c h progress w e m a k e , t h e r e s t i l l r e m a i n s m u c h t o b e done. B e a r i n g i n m i n d t h e p r e s e n t stage o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r c o u n t r y , t h a t is, t h e h i g h stage o f t h e c o n s t r u c tion of socialism, as w e l l as the international situation, our P a r t y a n d its l e v e r s a r e f a c e d w i t h t h e t a s k o f p a s s i n g , o n t h e basis o f these a c h i e v e m e n t s , f r o m t h i s stage t o a n o t h e r e v e n h i g h e r , m o r e p e r f e c t e d stage o f t h e w o r k , o f o r g a n i z ation and ideo-political and cultural uplift, in order to give the development and strengthening of the economy and t h e w h o l e o f o u r socialist society a m u c h g r e a t e r i m p e t u s t h a n i n t h e past. As y o u k n o w , as a result of this concern of the P a r t y , t h e o b j e c t i v e o f t h e recent m e e t i n g o f t h e P l e n u m o f t h e Central Committee of the P a r t y (1) was the further developm e n t o f science a n d t e c h n i q u e a n d s c i e n t i f i c - r e s e a r c h w o r k in our country. At this exceptionally important P l e n u m w h i c h is, y o u m i g h t say, t h e p r e l u d e t o t h e c o m i n g C o n gress o f o u r P a r t y , w h i c h w i l l b e h e l d n e x t y e a r , the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y b a s e d i t s e l f o n those o r i e n t a t i o n s w h i c h w e m u s t c a r r y out a n d w h i c h I m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r : t h e t r a n s i t i o n f r o m t h e p r e s e n t stage t o a h i g h e r , m o r e a d v a n c e d stage, a n d i n t h e shortest t i m e p o s s i b l e . I b e l i e v e y o u are p r e p a r i n g t o e x a m i n e a n d discuss the materials of the P l e n u m of the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e of the P a r t y in the proper w a y . T h i s is not a simple matter t h a t c a n b e passed o v e r s u p e r f i c i a l l y a n d easily, w i t h o u t going into it thoroughly, but on the contrary, here we have to do w i t h a v e r y i m p o r t a n t problem. F o r this reason, i t i s necessary t o d e l v e t h o r o u g h l y i n t o t h o s e m a t e r i a l s , because, a s w e p o i n t e d o u t a t t h e P l e n u m , a l l o f u s m u s t
_________________________________ 1 T h e 8th P l e n u m of the C e n t r a l Committee of the P L A w h i c h held its proceedings from 24-25 June 1980 (See E n v e r H o x h a , Selected Works, v o l . 5, 8 N n t o r i P u b l i s h i n g House, T i r a n a 1985, p. 1006, E n g . ed.).
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analyse the existing situation thoroughly, l o o k i n g at it f r o m a l l angles, a n d t h e n c a r e f u l l y c a l c u l a t e t h e 6tep forward that we must take. Science and technical-scientific progress should not be c o n s i d e r e d a n a i m i n t h e m s e l v e s . T h e y are n o t s o f o r o u r P a r t y a n d state. H e r e w e a r e n o t t a l k i n g a b o u t p u r e science, science f o r t h e s a k e o f science. N o , w e a r e t a l k i n g a b o u t a n a d v a n c e d science w h i c h m u s t f i n d c o n c r e t e a p p l i c a t i o n and y i e l d r e s u l t s i n t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f o u r c o u n t r y . B e i n g Marxist-Leninists, we are not permitted to overreach ourselves, b u t m u s t c a r e f u l l y m e a s u r e t h e steps f o r w a r d w e take, b e a r i n g w e l l i n m i n d o u r r e a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s . W o r l d science h a s m a d e c o n s i d e r a b l e a d v a n c e i n m a n y d i r e c t i o n s , i m p o r t a n t n e w d i s c o v e r i e s h a v e been made in every field, f r o m atomic energy to cybernetics, and likewise, m a j o r discoveries have been made in agriculture, i n m e d i c i n e , etc., etc. N a t u r a l l y , p a r a l l e l w i t h these d i s coveries, t h e r e s p e c t i v e t e c h n i q u e s h a v e b e e n d e v e l o p e d e v e r y w h e r e i n o r d e r t o p u t s u c h a d v a n c e d science i n t o p r a c tice. W e , too, a r e a d v a n c i n g t o w a r d s s u c h d e v e l o p m e n t , but, o f course, i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h o u r p o s s i b i l i t i e s a n d forces. T h i s does n o t i n a n y w a y m e a n t h a t o u r s c i e n t i f i c workers should not further develop their knowledge; they m u s t g o a h e a d i n step w i t h t h e m a j o r d i s c o v e r i e s o f t h e time a n d m a k e persistent and tireless efforts to master the n e w k n o w l e d g e a n d d i s c o v e r i e s i n e v e r y f i e l d o f science. I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o b e a r i n m i n d t h e fact t h a t b y t h o r o u g h l y and e x t e n s i v e l y a s s i m i l a t i n g t h e n e w d e v e l o p m e n t s o f w o r l d science, o u r w o r k e r s o f v a r i o u s f i e l d s o f science w i l l be able to apply them f r o m time to time, in rational ways, in the conditions of o u r country. T h i s u n d o u b t e d l y w i l l give a great impulse to our economic, scientific and ideological development and w i l l enable our country, w i t h i n a shorter time, to achieve great results for w h i c h others needed m o r e t i m e .
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ENVER HOXHA
W e are n o t against p o s i t i v e s c i e n t i f i c r e s u l t s a c h i e v e d b y others. T h e m a s t e r i n g a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f science h a v e nothing to do w i t h whether this or that l a w or something else w a s d i s c o v e r e d b y s u c h a n d s u c h a c h e m i s t o r p h y s i c i s t . Irrespective that they w e r e bourgeois professors, N i e l s B o h r and Enrico F e r m i , w h o w o r k e d in the atomic field, w i t h the discoveries they made themselves, a n d m a n y other f a m o u s scientists l i k e t h e C u r i e s , w h o m a d e t h e first discoveries in the f i e l d of radioactivity, contributed valuable knowledge to the whole of m a n k i n d . We must m a s t e r t h i s k n o w l e d g e a n d use i t t o t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e people. I n t h e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s , science a n d technical-scientific development have been monopolized by the c a p i t a l i s t s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o use i t n o t i n t h e interests o f society a n d m a n k i n d , b u t i n o r d e r t o e x p l o i t t h e masses, t o d o m i n a t e a n d e n s l a v e peoples. The reason that we gave this direction to the proceedings o f t h e recent P l e n u m o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the P a r t y is that in this w a y we w a n t to shake up the P a r t y a n d a l l t h e state organs, a n d t h e o r g a n s o f t h e economy and culture, and free t h e m of m a n y remnants of self-satisfaction and routine, liberalism and bureaucracy, we w a n t to tell the P a r t y that we w i l l proceed on paths a l r e a d y opened, b u t w i t h e v e n g r e a t e r s t r e n g t h , e n e r g y a n d c l a r i t y , t h a t w e s h a l l p l a c e science a n d t e c h n i c a l progress m o r e e f f e c t i v e l y i n t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e d e v e l o p ment of the economy, the education of the n e w m a n and the s t r e n g t h e n i n g of the d e f e n c e of o u r c o u n t r y . I n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e successes i n these f i e l d s , h o w e v e r , t h e w o r k of t h e P a r t y m u s t be c o n c e i v e d as a science a n d applied scientifically. The comrade secretary did w e l l to devote a m a j o r p a r t o f h i s o u t l i n e t o t h e w o r k o f t h e P a r t y , f i r s t o f a l l . I t i s science t o k n o w h o w t o w o r k t o m a s t e r t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y ; l i k e w i s e , i t i s science t o k n o w h o w t o a p p l y it. T h e c o m m u n i s t s w o r k a m o n g t h e
19
people at large in industry, in agriculture, in education, in culture, in the army, and so on, in other words, in all sectors o f l i f e . T h e r e f o r e , w e m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e w o r k o f t h e P a r t y i s t h a t s p i r i t u a l f o r c e w h i c h raises t h e consciousness of t h e c o m m u n i s t to s u c h a scale t h a t he c a r r i e s out t h e t a s k w h i c h i s e n t r u s t e d t o h i m p r o p e r l y . I t i s t h e d u t y o f t h e c o m m u n i s t t o c a r r y t h e socialist revolution continuously f o r w a r d , to ensure that the w e l l being of the people is raised to an ever higher level, in order to have healthy people developed f r o m every standpoint. A l l this p a r t y w o r k must be understood and guided by the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideology, by dialectical and historical m a t e r i a l i s m , w h i l e bearing w e l l i n m i n d the concrete historical conditions of our country, h o w we have advanced, how we have made the transition f r o m an old feudalb o u r g e o i s s o c i e t y t o a socialist society, a n d h o w , i n t h e future, we w i l l advance to communism. O b v i o u s l y , w e m u s t a l l w o r k w i t h m u l t i p l i e d forces s o that our development w i l l m a k e still greater strides f o r w a r d . T h e r e f o r e , I stress, the w o r k o f t h e P a r t y m u s t be u n d e r s t o o d , e s p e c i a l l y by its a p p a r a t u s e s , as a s c i e n t i f i c activity, and not as routine, bureaucratic w o r k . Let us take, for example, the problem of admissions to the P a r t y . We say that the proportions must be preserved, that there should be such and such percentage of w o m e n and girls, w o r k e r s and cooperativists in the P a r t y , t h a t t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e P a r t y t o a l l sectors must be kept in m i n d , and so on. As y o u said, comrade secretary, i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e t h e r e are b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s of the P a r t y in almost all brigades. This is a v e r y i m p o r t a n t a c h i e v e m e n t . So, w e see t h a t i n these d i r e c t i o n s w o r k is being done and is proceeding according to instructions, b u t h e r e t h e q u e s t i o n m u s t b e a s k e d : h o w are these problems understood? Basing myself on the experience of the w h o l e Party, I
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t h i n k that there is a somewhat bureaucratic and schematic u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f these k e y p r o b l e m s o f t h e P a r t y . W h e n we admit w o m e n and girls to the Party, we do not do this simply in order to say: Look, there are w o m e n and g i r l s i n o u r P a r t y , b u t because t h e y c o n s t i t u t e h a l f o f o u r society a n d because t h e y h a v e r a i s e d t h e i r a l l - r o u n d l e v e l to s u c h a stage t h a t t h e y d e s e r v e to be m e m b e r s of t h e P a r t y . T h e correct a n d s c i e n t i f i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e p r o b l e m lies i n t h i s . O r , w h e n w e s a y t h a t t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y , t h e greatest p e r c e n t a g e o f m e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y , o u g h t t o consist o f w o r k e r s , ( 2 ) t h i s m e a n s t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class leads. A n d i t i s i n d i s p u t a b l e t h a t w e must apply this principle. B u t the problem is that it must be understood scientifically. We must admit workers to t h e P a r t y n o t j u s t because t h e y are w o r k e r s , b u t because t h e y are w o r t h y of i t . I s a y t h i s because t h e r e is a c a t e g o r y o f w o r k e r s w h o are c a l l e d w o r k e r s , b u t w h o l e a v e m u c h to be desired in their w o r k and behaviour. Therefore, w h e n w e are d i s c u s s i n g a d m i t t i n g a w o r k e r t o t h e P a r t y , w e m u s t e x a m i n e h i s a t t i t u d e w i t h g r e a t care, m u s t e x a m i n e h o w he w o r k s to apply the directives and orientations of the P a r t y a b o u t p r o d u c t i v i t y a n d costs o f p r o d u c t i o n , a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e , etc., etc., a n d see w h e t h e r h e r e a l l y w o r k s i n such a w a y as to become an example for all. H e n c e , a k e y p r o b l e m s u c h as t h a t of a d m i s s i o n s to t h e P a r t y , f o r e x a m p l e , m u s t n o t b e seen o n l y o n t h e basis o f c e r t a i n f i g u r e s . O f course, w e m u s t k e e p t h e percentages i n m i n d , because t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y h a s l a i d t h e m d o w n , a n d f r o m y e a r t o y e a r c o r r e c t i o n s are m a d e a n d a d v i c e a n d concrete i n s t r u c t i o n s a r e g i v e n i n connection w i t h them. To be brief, w h a t I am getting at is that both in the apparatuses of the P a r t y and in life the
__________________________________ 2 In 1986 w o r k e r communists made the membership o f the P L A . up 39.2 per cent of
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w o r k o f t h e P a r t y m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d one o f t h e most a d v a n c e d sciences. W e see t h e s c i e n t i f i c c o n c l u s i o n s based o n the t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x , E n g e l s , L e n i n a n d S t a l i n a p p l i e d i n practice, m a t e r i a l i z e d i n t h e s o l u t i o n o f t h i s o r t h a t p r o b l e m b y o u r p e o p l e ; i n those cases w h e n s o m e o n e p u t s the cart b e f o r e t h e horse, t h a t is, w h e n s o m e o n e i s n o t a d v a n c i n g o n t h e r o a d o f t h e P a r t y , w e say t o h i m : S t o p ! A l l these q u e s t i o n s , seen w i t h a s c i e n t i f i c e y e b y t h e P a r t y , p l a y a n i m p o r t a n t , e v e n d e c i s i v e r o l e f o r t h e successful a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e w h o l e p r o g r a m o f t h e P a r t y i n a l l sectors o f l i f e . T h i s i s a p r o g r a m g u i d e d a n d i n s p i r e d b y a r e v o l u t i o n a r y science, b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideology. T h e problems w h i c h the 8th P l e n u m of the CC of the P a r t y d e a l t w i t h a n d t h e t a s k s w h i c h i t set i n g e n e r a l outline w i l l become even m o r e concrete at the c o m i n g congress o f t h e P a r t y . B u t I r e c o m m e n d t o y o u a n d a d v i s e you, w h a t I pointed out a little earlier, that in the w o r k w h i c h y o u are doing and w i l l do for the detailed e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e m a t e r i a l s o f t h i s P l e n u m , y o u s h o u l d engage i n t h o r o u g h - g o i n g r e v o l u t i o n a r y debate, a n d n o t get b o g ged d o w n i n f o r m a l d i s c u s s i o n . I n t h e m e e t i n g s w h i c h y o u w i l l h o l d y o u w i l l d e l i v e r r e p o r t s , a n d I a m n o t against this, b u t t h e y m u s t n o t b e r e p o r t s f o r t h e s a k e o f r e p o r t s . T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e r e p o r t s a n d discussions a t these meetings m u s t b e t o g i v e c o n c r e t e assistance t o t h e p r o gress o f t h e w o r k . W h e n a p e r s o n s t a n d s u p t o discuss these m a j o r p r o b l e m s o f science, w h i c h w i l l c a r r y o u r c o u n t r y f o r w a r d , h e o u g h t t o h a v e some set o b j e c t i v e s . F o r example, the t u r n e r m a y have m a n y concrete things to say a b o u t h i s j o b , a b o u t h o w t h i s o r t h a t t o o l s h o u l d b e made; he m a y not indulge in flights of philosophy, but m a y speak s i m p l y a b o u t h i s l a t h e a n d g i v e o p i n i o n s a b o u t it. A n d t h e t u r n e r i s able t o p r e s e n t a n d b a c k u p these o p i n i o n s b e t t e r t h a n , say, t h e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e p a r t y
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committee of the district. A f t e r presenting the situation, t h e t u r n e r m a y s a y : If w e w a n t t o a d v a n c e , c o m r a d e s , w e o u g h t t o get t h e best o u t o f t h i s l a t h e , o u g h t t o d o t h i s a n d that, because t h e w a y w e are w o r k i n g n o w , w i t h t h i s d i s c i p l i n e n o t a t t h e p r o p e r l e v e l , a n d w i t h t h i s obsolete t e c h n o l o g y , f o r e x a m p l e , w e can't g o ahead. H e m i g h t say, I propose t h a t w e s h o u l d a p p l y a n o t h e r t e c h n o l o g i c a l p r o cess w h i c h w o u l d b e m o r e s u i t a b l e f o r o u r p o s s i b i l i t i e s : t h e l a t h e i s m o d e r n , b u t let u s m o d e r n i z e i t f u r t h e r . I p r o pose t o t h e g o v e r n m e n t t h a t w e s h o u l d h a v e some s p e c i a l l a t h e s h e r e i n o u r factory. A l l the opinions and proposals about the p r o b l e m that i s b e i n g a n a l y s e d s h o u l d b e stated c o u r a g e o u s l y . T h e n w e w i l l t a k e t h e m a n d s t u d y t h e m c a r e f u l l y , w i l l see h o w f a r w e c a n g o a n d t h e n decide h o w m u c h w e c a n do. I n t h e e n d w e s h a l l s a y : W e accept t h i s p r o p o s a l , b u t n o t t h e other, because w e d o n ' t h a v e t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r t h e time being, w h i l e t o m o r r o w the possibilities m i g h t be c r e a t e d f o r u s t o accept it. T h i s m e a n s t h a t w e d o n o t reject a p r o p o s a l out of h a n d . A s I said, r e p o r t s w i l l b e d e l i v e r e d , b u t w e are c o n v i n c e d t h a t a l l t h e c o m r a d e s (not o n l y those w h o speak, b u t a l l t h e others) h a v e p l e n t y o f g o o d ideas i n t h e i r heads. T h e n , w h a t h i n d e r s t h e m f r o m e x p r e s s i n g t h e i r ideas, f r o m p o u r i n g t h e m o u t a s y o u m i g h t say, l i k e those s t r e a m s w h i c h p o u r w a t e r i n t o t h e r i v e r s , j u s t a s t h e y see t h i n g s ? T h e y s h o u l d e x p r e s s t h e i r ideas because t h e good o f t h e P a r t y a n d o u r socialist d e v e l o p m e n t r e q u i r e i t o n a l l questions, s u c h as those of i n d u s t r y , a g r i c u l t u r e , e d u c a t i o n , defence, etc. I n a l l these sectors, a s y o u k n o w a n d p r o b a b l y t h e r e i s n o n e e d f o r m e t o t e l l y o u , t h e r e are m a n y places w h e r e we must m a k e improvements, strengthen the organi z a t i o n f u r t h e r a n d m a k e q u a l i t a t i v e changes. A n d t h i s i s w h e r e t h e s t r e n g t h o f o u r P a r t y lies. E v e r y o n e , e v e r y communist, wherever he works, first of all, must thoroughly
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master his profession and t r u l y regard it as a weapon to put the l i f e - g i v i n g directives of the P a r t y into practice. C o m m u n i s t s are able not only to talk, to give advice, but, first of all, to accomplish things, to organize, to propose a n d t o check u p . T h e P a r t y has s p o k e n a b o u t a l l t h e s e p r o b l e m s , b u t n o w its o r d e r s a n d d i r e c t i v e s m u s t b e p u t i n t o p r a c t i c e s t i l l better. But, comrades, the application of party directives and the u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f p r o b l e m s m u s t b e m e a s u r e d b y t h e results. Y o u m a y b e a g o o d , honest c o m r a d e a n d m a y e v e n have a fine record, y o u m a y have taken part in the w a r (and n o one denies t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n w h i c h y o u h a v e m a d e , and y o u r ardent desire is to go on c o n t r i b u t i n g to the Homeland and y o u ought to continue to do so to the end o f y o u r l i f e ) , b u t w i t h t h e passage o f t i m e (this i s a biological question), although y o u m a y have m e n t a l s t r e n g t h , y o u r p h y s i c a l s t r e n g t h does n o t p e r m i t y o u t o d o the w o r k o f a y o u n g e r p e r s o n w h o i s a b l e t o a c c o m p l i s h the t a s k s m o r e q u i c k l y a n d better. O u r P a r t y h a s w o r k e d i n s u c h a w a y t h a t i t has n o w created a l a r g e n u m b e r o f cadres. B e s i d e s t h e m , t h e b r o a d masses o f w o r k i n g people, t h e w o r k e r s a n d c o o p e r a t i v i s t s , h a v e also r a i s e d t h e i r l e v e l . H e n c e , those g e t t i n g o n i n y e a r s should open the w a y to such people prepared by the P a r t y , should open vistas of w o r k , management and organization to them and trust them w i t h responsibility for various questions. I n short, w e m u s t m a k e s u r e t h a t t h e n e w g e n e r a t i o n c o n t i n u o u s l y regenerates t h e i m m o r t a l w o r k o f the P a r t y i n p o s i t i v e w a y s . N o w , a f t e r 35-36 y e a r s o f f r e e socialist l i f e , w e c a n n o t say t h a t w e d o n o t h a v e e x p e r i e n c e i n o u r w o r k . T h e r e s u l t s a c h i e v e d i n a l l sectors s h o w t h a t w e a r e o n t h e u p a n d u p e v e r y w h e r e . N e v e r t h e l e s s , i n some d i r e c t i o n s w e h a v e n o t f u l f i l l e d t h e p l a n s w e h a v e set. S o m e o n e m a y a s k : H a v e w e d r a f t e d these p l a n s w e l l , o r h a v e t h e y b e e n a b i t
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exaggerated, a n d have the failures to f u l f i l them, in some cases c o m e a b o u t because t h e y h a v e n o t b e e n f u l l y s t u d i e d ? I cannot s a y t h a t t h e r e has a l w a y s b e e n p e r f e c t i o n i n t h e d r a f t i n g o f these p l a n s . N o , p l a n s c a n n e v e r b e perfect, indeed, there m a y even be shortcomings in t h e m . But, genera l l y s p e a k i n g , the f i v e - y e a r p l a n s w h i c h w e h a v e d r a f t e d h a v e a l w a y s been based o n science, t h e r e f o r e t h e y h a v e b e e n s c i e n t i f i c . A n d yet w e a r e conscious t h a t w e a r e f a r f r o m t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f science i n e v e r y sector i n t h e c a r r y i n g out of the plans. Therefore, we must w o r k harder in this d i r e c t i o n . I n d r a f t i n g p l a n s w e m u s t a l w a y s base o u r s e l v e s o n science a n d w i t h c a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n also r e l y o n advanced experience. W e see, a n d t h i s i s e n c o u r a g i n g , t h a t i n t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives a n d factories there are groups, b r i gades a n d i n d i v i d u a l s w h o h a v e n o t o n l y f u l f i l l e d , b u t h a v e also o v e r f u l f i l l e d t h e p l a n s w h i c h w e h a v e set. H e r e I d o not wish to d w e l l on h o w they have overfulfilled the targets, because y o u c e r t a i n l y k n o w t h i s . W e t h e l e a d e r s h i p k n o w t h e results, w h i l e y o u see c o n c r e t e l y h o w t h o s e b r i g a d e s i n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s a n d those d e p a r t m e n t s a n d w o r k e r s i n the factories w o r k , w i t h w h a t w i l l , w i t h w h a t discipline and clear m i n d s they w o r k , w i t h w h a t political c l a r i t y t h e y see t h e targets o f t h e p l a n , h o w t h e y decide and w h a t efforts they m a k e to accomplish the tasks w i t h o u t f a i l . A n d , i n fact, t h e y d o o v e r f u l f i l t h e targets. B u t w h y ? In order to gain the limelight, or to f u r t h e r their personal interests? N o , these are n o t t h e reasons. T h e r e a l i t y i t s e l f m a k e s t h i s q u i t e clear. I n a b r i g a d e w h i c h m a n a g e s t o t a k e 45 q u i n t a l s of w h e a t , or 80 or 90 q u i n t a l s of m a i z e p e r hectare, t h e p a y f o r t h e w o r k d a y i s t h e s a m e f o r a l l t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s , i t i s t h e same, also, a s t h e p a y f o r t h e members of another brigade of the same economy, w h i c h t a k e s 25 or 29 q u i n t a l s of g r a i n p e r h e c t a r e . H e n c e , it t u r n s out t h a t i t i s t h e g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t o f society w h i c h
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i n s p i r e s these g r o u p s o f people, these a d v a n c e d i n d i v i d u a l s to achieve h i g h results at w o r k . Therefore, we must regard the example of the advanced as a great m o v e m e n t , n o t j u s t to a c c o m p l i s h t h e e c o n o m i c plans ( a n d t h i s , of course, is basic), b u t also as a p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l p r o b l e m , a s a n e w p l a t f o r m w h i c h has t h e u p p e r h a n d o f t h e r e m n a n t s o f t h e past. I n a n a d v a n c e d b r i g a d e t h e r e m a y b e m e m b e r s w h o h a v e some h a n g o v e r s w h i c h they express, f o r example, w i t h i n the f a m i l y or even i n society. N a t u r a l l y , t h e y s h o u l d b e c o r r e c t e d s o t h a t a l l a d v a n c e i n e v e r y d i r e c t i o n . W h e n y o u see t h a t a m o n g t h e w o r k i n g masses t h e r e i s a b r o a d p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l understanding of the m a j o r p r o b l e m of accomplishing the plan, y o u r h e a r t i s w a r m e d a n d y o u are c o n v i n c e d t h a t our p l a n i s r e a l i s t i c . N o w the provisional 7th Five-year P l a n is being drafted and, a s u s u a l , a l l y o u c o m r a d e s o f t h e base h a v e discussed it and given opinions about different figures. The m i nistries a r e s t u d y i n g t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h w i l l b e passed on to the government, and w i l l then be presented to the Political B u r e a u of the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e of the P a r t y . T h e p e o p l e a t t h e base m a k e t h e p l a n a n d , g e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , t h e r e i s d e b a t e t h e r e , b u t t h e r e a r e occasions w h e n t h e r e i s n o debate, a n d o f t e n t h e r e i s f o r m a l i s m , w h i c h w i t h o u t doubt is not a good t h i n g . F o r such questions as this of the plan, debate a n d confrontation is absolutely necessary. A n d i f t h i s i s d o n e i n t h e c o r r e c t p a r t y s p i r i t (that is, n o t t o r e d u c e t h e g u i d e l i n e f i g u r e s , b u t t o raise them, f o l l o w i n g the example of the advanced), then the p l a n w i l l n o t o n l y b e r e a l , b u t w i l l also b e a c c o m p l i s h e d s u c c e s s f u l l y i n a l l aspects. W e must m a k e ourselves f a m i l i a r w i t h the decisions o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y o n v a r i o u s p r o b l e m s . T h e P a r t y does n o t s a y t h a t t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y sees t h i s o r t h a t p r o b l e m c o r r e c t l y i n o r d e r t o boast,
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b u t because, i n r e a l i t y , a l l t h e o r i e n t a t i o n s i s s u e d a r e correct. T h e p r o b l e m t h a t c o n c e r n s u s n o w i s t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n and management of the w o r k to put t h e m into practice. A n d it must be understood that this task does n o t f a l l o n t h e base alone, b u t also o n t h e centre, because o u r p r o b l e m s are c l o s e l y l i n k e d w i t h one a n o t h e r , t h e r e i s n o base d i v o r c e d f r o m t h e l e a d e r s h i p , a n d l e a d e r s h i p d i v o r c e d f r o m t h e base, e i t h e r i n g o o d s i t u a t i o n s o r i n d i f f i c u l t s i t u a t i o n s . T h e r e a r e t h i n g s w h i c h t h e base does n o t a c c o m p l i s h f o r m a n y s u b j e c t i v e reasons, b u t t h e l e a d e r s h i p , too, does n o t a c c o m p l i s h m a n y t h i n g s w h i c h t h e base needs, because of l a c k of good o r g a n i z a t i o n , l a c k o f m a n a g e m e n t , c h e c k - u p , a n d persistence i n s o l v i n g t h e problems raised. The p l a n w h i c h we are drafting now, like a l l our f o r m e r plans, is realistic. T h e communists, the workers, the y o u n g and old generations must always bear in m i n d that a t a l l t i m e s t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y has i s s u e d d i r e c t i v e s a n d has t a k e n d e c i s i o n s i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e respective s i t u a t i o n s . I t has b e e n a n d i s p r e c i s e l y t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f s i t u a t i o n s w h i c h has c o m p e l l e d t h e P a r t y t o t a k e other, n e w decisions o n v a r i o u s p r o b l e m s . A l l t h e d i r e c t i v e s a n d decisions o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y s h o w this. T h e s e t h i n g s are a l l c o n n e c t e d a n d m a k e up the l i n k s of a single chain. Therefore it is i m p o r t a n t that not o n l y we, the communists and cadres of o u r g e n e r a t i o n , w h o h a v e d r a f t e d a n d a p p l i e d these d e c i s i o n s a n d d i r e c t i v e s , b u t also t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n s h o u l d study them, delve into them deeply and l i n k t h e m w i t h one a n o t h e r s o t h a t t h e y w i l l b e a b l e t o u n d e r s t a n d , a n a l y s e a n d put into practice the decisions t a k e n recently, being v e r y clear about their importance for the progress of our country. I stress t h i s because t h e r e a r e m a n y c o m r a d e s w h o , w h e n t h e y are i n f o r m e d a b o u t t h e d e c i s i o n s o f t h e P l e n u m
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o n t h e p r o b l e m s o f science a n d t e c h n i q u e , s a y : A h , . . . i s that all?! T r u e , t h e P a r t y h a s r a i s e d these issues at other t i m e s , b u t n o t i n t h i s w a y because n o w w e a i m t o achieve a n o t h e r , h i g h e r stage of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of science and technique. Hence, m a n y things have been said and these w o r d s h a v e n o t b e e n c a r r i e d a w a y b y t h e w i n d , b u t t h e y h a v e b e e n a p p l i e d . O n these p r o b l e m s w e a r e n o t b e g i n n i n g f r o m A , b u t w e h a v e not y e t r e a c h e d Z , t h a t is, communism, to put it figuratively we are about three quarters of the w a y t h r o u g h the alphabet. In other words, this m e a n s w e are n o t w i t h o u t e x p e r i e n c e i n these m a t t e r s . The line of the P a r t y must be understood in the dialectic o f t h e m a t e r i a l i s t d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r society. A t t h i s p e r i o d w e h a v e great c o n f i d e n c e t h a t t h e p l a n we are drafting, and this w i l l be an intensive p l a n the a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f w h i c h w i l l b e assisted b y t h e r e v olutionary enthusiasm of the workers, the decisions of the 8 t h P l e n u m a n d t h e c o m i n g C o n g r e s s o f t h e P a r t y w h i c h w i l l b e h e l d i n 1981, w i l l b e c a r r i e d o u t s u c c e s s f u l l y . A l l o u r people, f r o m those w i t h a l o w l e v e l t o those w i t h e x t e n s i v e a l l - s i d e d c u l t u r e , u n i t e d i n a bloc, m u s t p u t their m i n d s and shoulders to the w o r k , w i t h profound ideological and political understanding, in order to accomp l i s h a n d o v e r f u l f i l t h e targets a n d t o f u r t h e r d e v e l o p o u r socialist society. T h e 7th F i v e - y e a r P l a n is based on the results achieved u p t i l l n o w , b u t w e s h a l l w o r k t o e n s u r e t h a t its a c c o m plishment m a r k s an even greater transformation of our society a n d t h a t t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e p e o p l e i s r a i s e d t o a still higher level f r o m every viewpoint, in this w a y laying the solid foundations for our future plans. M a n y important problems of energy industry, the mines, nitrogenous fertilizers, a n d s o o n , w i l l b e c o n s i d e r e d a n d s t u d i e d n o w f o r the f u t u r e p l a n s . S o . t h e p l a n w h i c h w e are d r a f t i n g w i l l b e a n e v e n m o r e p o w e r f u l base f o r t h e f u t u r e ; w e are
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doing e v e r y t h i n g for the present a n d for the future. T h i s , comrades, i s h o w t h e p r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e recent P l e n u m o f the Central Committee of the P a r t y should be understood. Its d e c i s i o n s m u s t n e v e r b e c o n s i d e r e d s e p a r a t e l y f r o m the tasks of the 7th F i v e - y e a r P l a n . I do not intend to go into details in this short talk w i t h y o u . I t i s a f a c t t h a t w e h a v e m a n y successes i n o u r w o r k , but, a s y o u k n o w , w e also h a v e s h o r t c o m i n g s w h i c h y o u p o i n t e d out. W e m u s t n o t u n d e r e s t i m a t e t h e m , because i n some places a n d a t c e r t a i n m o m e n t s t h e y a r e f o s t e r e d also b y e x t e r n a l p r e s s u r e . I f t h e P a r t y does n o t t a k e m e a s u r e s t o correct t h e m , i f i t does n o t g i v e p r o p e r a d v i s e a n d educate t h e people w h o m a k e m i s t a k e s , t h e n these s h o r t c o m i n g s c o u l d become d a n g e r o u s . H e n c e , i f t h e P a r t y goes t o sleep, t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s w i l l c e r t a i n l y get w o r s e a n d b e c o m e a great obstacle a n d , i n d e e d , a d a n g e r t o o u r socialist o r d e r . Oh, s o m e o n e m a y s a y f o o l i s h l y , it's o n l y a s m a l l m i s t a k e t h a t t h i s m a n m a d e a n d w e s h o u l d n ' t t a k e a n y n o t i c e o f it, because h e f o u g h t i n t h e w a r , too. D o n ' t m i s u n d e r s t a n d m e . I d o n ' t s a y t h a t w e s h o u l d t a k e those w h o m a k e m i s t a k e s t o c o u r t a t e v e r y instance. T h e t y p e o f m e a s u r e w h i c h i s t a k e n d e p e n d s on the gravity of the mistake or fault w h i c h has been committed. We can excuse even a m a j o r mistake w h e n w e see t h a t i t w a s m a d e u n w i t t i n g l y b y a p e r s o n w h o h a s a l w a y s b e e n honest, etc., etc. I n t h i s case t h i s p e r s o n o u g h t t o b e a d v i s e d , too, a n d w e s h o u l d b e c o n v i n c e d that he w i l l m a k e no further mistakes. B u t there are some w h o m a k e m i s t a k e s a n d d o n o t c o r r e c t t h e m s e l v e s , despite t h e a d v i c e t h e y receive. W i t h t h e passage o f t i m e t h e e v i l t a k e s deep root i n s u c h people, w h o b e c o m e d a n g e r o u s and exert a bad influence on others by setting t h e m on t h e i r w r o n g course. A n d t h e r e are s u c h cases. T h e P a r t y m u s t g i v e i m p o r t a n c e t o these p r o b l e m s , because t h e y h a v e t o d o w i t h t h e i d e o - p o l i t i c a l e d u c a t i o n o f
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our n e w m a n . T h e basic organization of the P a r t y must be a leading vanguard detachment everywhere, in the factory, the a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e o r b r i g a d e , a n d p l a y its l e a d i n g role i n t h e s o l u t i o n o f e v e r y p r o b l e m . W h e r e v e r i t f u n c tions, t h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n m u s t u r g e t h e masses o f workers to accomplish the plans and to be disciplined. I n t h e f i r s t place, t h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y leads b y m e a n s o f its m e m b e r s w h o m u s t b e e x e m p l a r y i n e v e r y d i r e c t i o n , h a v e i n i t i a t i v e a n d c a r r y t h e masses f o r w a r d w i t h t h e m t o t h e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f tasks. W i t h its w o r k i t s h o u l d s u p p o r t t h e y o u t h , p r o v i d e p o s s i b i l i t i e s for t h e m to express opinions; it must insist w i t h the leadership o f e v e r y w o r k centre, f a c t o r y , a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e or institution that the proposal of this comrade or that group of people should be discussed and studied carefully. S o m e m a n a g e r of an e n t e r p r i s e or c h a i r m a n of a c o o p e r a t i v e m i g h t s a y : O h , let i t be, b u t t h e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e organization should r e p l y : No, y o u must not leave the office w i t h o u t l i s t e n i n g c a r e f u l l y t o e v e r y t h i n g I a m p u t t i n g before y o u ; i f i t seems t o y o u t h a t I a m w r o n g , r e f u t e m y opinion w i t h arguments, and I w i l l go to tell the comrades of the organization that this w o r k cannot be done at the m o m e n t , o r t h i s o r t h a t p r o p o s a l i s n o t correct. H e n c e , this i s the s p i r i t i n w h i c h t h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y must w o r k . W h y do we w a n t to have a basic organization of the P a r t y in every department of the enterprise or brigade of the a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e ? S o t h a t i t w i l l l e a d a l l t h e w o r k t h e r e , a n d t h i s w i l l g o i n t h e best p o s s i b l e w a y . B u t the m o s t i m p o r t a n t t h i n g f o r t h e P a r t y i s t h e e d u c a t i o n o f people w i t h t h e a t t r i b u t e s o f o u r n e w m a n . I f t h i s o r t h a t p e r s o n i s d i s c i p l i n e d , honest, a c t i v e a n d studies M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m , a l l these t h i n g s w i l l b e r e f l e c t e d i n h i s w o r k . A n d , as you know, it is through w o r k that education is carried out; we must criticize or praise people there w h e r e
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they work. We must be careful that we do not t u r n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the P a r t y i n t o a f o r u m w h i c h discusses a n d solves those p r o b l e m s w h i c h c a n b e s e t t l e d o n t h e j o b , because o t h e r w i s e t h e m e e t i n g o f t h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the P a r t y w i l l b e o c c u p i e d b y s u c h m a t t e r s a t a t i m e w h e n it is faced w i t h m u c h more important problems w h i c h c e r t a i n l y o u g h t t o b e r a i s e d a n d s o l v e d i n its m e e t i n g s . I n t h e course o f t h e w o r k , t h i s o r t h a t w o r k e r ( w h e t h e r or not communist) can v e r y w e l l tell his w o r k m a t e that he is not w o r k i n g w e l l , is not disciplined, is not b e h a v i n g w e l l w i t h t h e others, etc., etc. W h y d o y o u act l i k e this, w h y d o y o u c o m e late, w h y d o y o u w a s t e t i m e a t w o r k ? It's n o t r i g h t t o act i n t h i s w a y , y o u o u g h t t o h a v e g o o d r e l a t i o n s w i t h y o u r comrades. T h i s i s h o w h e a d v i s e s o r c r i t i c i z e s his w o r k m a t e on the job. If the person criticized is a c o m m u n i s t or a m e m b e r of the trade-unions, the y o u t h , etc., h e s h o u l d r e p l y : Y o u are r i g h t , c o m r a d e , i r r e s p e c t i v e of w h e t h e r or n o t I am a c o m m u n i s t , I'll b e a r y o u r c r i t i c i s m i n m i n d a n d d o e v e r y t h i n g p o s s i b l e t o k e e p pace w i t h t h e best. A n d , g e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , t h i s i s w h a t h a p p e n s in practice, H o w e v e r , w h e n the m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f l a c k o f d i s c i p l i n e a r e n o t i c e d o n a b r o a d e r scale i n t h e b r i g a d e , sector, c o operative, department or factory, then the matter must without fail be raised in the basic organization, for this i s n o t a p r o b l e m o f j u s t one p e r s o n . T h i s i s h o w t h e P a r t y m u s t act a b o u t s u c h m a t t e r s . T h e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e P a r t y of a d e p a r t m e n t , a w h o l e factory or cooperative, must be in c o n t i n u a l contact w i t h t h e masses o f w o r k e r s o r c o o p e r a t i v i s t s , m u s t l i s t e n to t h e i r o p i n i o n s , h a v e a g e n e r a l i d e a of t h e i r w o r k and their problems, and so on and so forth. This is the l i v i n g w o r k of the P a r t y . In this w a y we can e l i m i n a t e m a n y defects m o r e q u i c k l y a n d i n t i m e a n d e d u c a t e m a n y people w h o m a k e m i s t a k e s . O u r P a r t y
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h a s great e x p e r i e n c e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . O u r P a r t y has s t r a i g h t e n e d o u t a n d m a d e g o o d people e v e n o f some o f those t w i s t e d trees w h o are o f t e n s a i d t o b e i n c o r r i g i b l e . T h e y h a v e seen t h e correctness o f t h e l i n e o f t h e Party, understood their mistakes and have rectified them. Dear comrades, the further development of industry has e x c e p t i o n a l i m p o r t a n c e f o r a n d great prospects i n o u r country. The priority development of our industry w i l l be one of t h e b a s i c o r i e n t a t i o n s of t h e c o m i n g f i v e - y e a r plan. Of course we cannot say that the i n d u s t r y we have is among the most modern. We shall do e v e r y t h i n g possible to ensure that the machines we i m p o r t in the f u t u r e w i l l b e a s m o d e r n a s possible. W e p l a n t o i m p o r t f a c t o r i e s , plants and production lines w h i c h w i l l be of n e w models. B u t t h e p r o b l e m i s t h a t w i t h these a l o n e t h e large-scale, all-round development of the country cannot be ensured. O u r present i n d u s t r y i s n o t o l d , b u t w e d o n o t h a v e m o d e r n t e c h n o l o g y . T h e r e f o r e , t h e t a s k emerges e s p e c i a l l y f o r o u r m a s t e r c r a f t s m e n (because n o w w e h a v e c a p a b l e c r a f t s m e n ) , a n d o u r engineers, w h o h a v e a v e r y g o o d a n d c o m p e t e n t q u a l i f i c a t i o n , w h o f a r o u t s t r i p those s p e c i a l ists w h o m C h i n a sent us, t o set t o w o r k s e r i o u s l y t o e n s u r e t h a t w e t a k e b o l d steps f o r w a r d i n t h i s f i e l d , too. A n d successes h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . T h e f a c t i s t h a t w e h a v e a m o d e s t people. A n d t h e cadres w h o m t h e P a r t y h a s t r a i n e d are l i k e that, too. I n their t i m e we sincerely considered the Chinese and Soviet, n o t t o m e n t i o n t h e Y u g o s l a v specialists, a s f r i e n d s , respected them and listened to t h e m w i t h attention and modesty. N o w , w h e n w e see w h a t o u r cadres are d o i n g i n a l l sectors of industry and w h e n we consider retrospectively the s k i l l o f t h e f o r e i g n specialists w h o w e r e sent t o u s i n t h e past a n d t h e s k i l l o f o u r cadres t o d a y , w e c a n s a y w i t h o u t b o a s t i n g t h a t those w h o w e r e sent t o u s (and m o s t l y t h e y
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w e r e sent h e r e w i t h i n i m i c a l aims) c a n n o t c o m p a r e w i t h o u r c a p a b l e specialists. Y o u have heard that we have achieved some good results i n t h e o i l sector; n e w o i l - f i e l d s , w h i c h a r e o f g r e a t importance, have been discovered by our o w n oil workers, t e c h n i c i a n s a n d specialists. N e i t h e r t h e S o v i e t n o r t h e C h i n e s e specialists e v e r s e r i o u s l y e n g a g e d i n s u c h w o r k . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e y sabotaged u s i n t h i s v i t a l l y i m p o r t a n t sector of o u r e c o n o m y . T h e same t h i n g m u s t b e s a i d , i n g e n e r a l , o f t h e o t h e r branches of industry. Y o u k n o w that the Chinese provided u s w i t h a credit, h e l p e d u s t o set u p t h e m e t a l l u r g i c a l i n d u s t r y , but, a t t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e y s a b o t a g e d m a n y p l a n t s a n d l e f t m a n y objects o f t h i s i m p o r t a n t i n d u s t r y h a l f - c o m p l e t e d . N o w o u r p e o p l e h a v e set t o w o r k c o m p e t e n t l y t h e r e t o c o m p l e t e these objects a n d i m p r o v e a l l the plants in the metallurgical combine. O u r cadres h a v e b e e n a n d are s t i l l b e i n g sent a b r o a d f o r q u a l i f i c a t i o n o r e x p e r i e n c e , t o see, f o r e x a m p l e , v a r i o u s d e v e l o p e d sectors o f t h e e c o n o m y s u c h a s t h e c h e m i c a l i n d u s t r y , t h e m e t a l l u r g i c a l i n d u s t r y , etc. W h a t I w a n t t o stress once a g a i n i s t h a t i n t h e e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s o u r scientists, scholars, m a s t e r c r a f t s m e n a n d q u a l i f i e d cadres m u s t q u i c k l y a n d c o n t i n u o u s l y i m p r o v e the technology of our industry. A n o t h e r task of great i m p o r t a n c e i s t h a t these people m u s t f u r t h e r s t u d y t h e p r o b l e m s o f t h e e c o n o m y , i n d u s t r y , a g r i c u l t u r e , etc. Y o u k n o w that w o r k i n g groups have been appointed for this purpose. A n d as you heard, at the meeting of the 8th P l e n u m of t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y i t w a s d e c i d e d t o set up the Committee of Science and Technique w h i c h w i l l o r g a n i z e , assist a n d g u i d e t h e s c i e n t i f i c w o r k a l l o v e r o u r c o u n t r y . T h e c o u n t r y ' s best scientists a n d best t r a i n e d a n d c o m p e t e n t people o f v a r i o u s d i s c i p l i n e s o f science w i l l take part in this Committee. As w e l l as this, everyone,
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specialists, m a s t e r c r a f t s m e n t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e w o r k i n g class, w h e r e v e r t h e y w o r k , w i l l t r y t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e targets i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e i r w o r k a n d , a t t h e s a m e t i m e , to develop and raise themselves ever higher. N o w I w i s h t o e x p r e s s some ideas a b o u t a g r i c u l t u r e . T h i s sector c o n s t i t u t e s t h e base o f o u r w h o l e e c o n o m y . W i t h this I am not saying a n y t h i n g new, but I w a n t to stress t h e great i m p o r t a n c e w h i c h p r o g r e s s i n a g r i c u l t u r e has f o r us. T h e p e o p l e n e e d n o t o n l y b r e a d , b u t also c l o t h i n g a n d f o o t w e a r . B e s i d e s this, t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f targets i n t h e o t h e r b r a n c h e s l i k e i n d u s t r y , f o r e x a m p l e , is greatly dependent on agriculture. The industry w h i c h w e h a v e set u p needs r a w m a t e r i a l s f r o m a g r i c u l t u r e s u c h as c o t t o n , s u n f l o w e r , sugar-beet, tobacco, vegetables, etc., etc. T h e s e a r e a l l n e c e s s a r y i n o r d e r t o r a i s e t h e w e l l - b e i n g of t h e people, to e n s u r e a b e t t e r a n d c o n t i n u o u s s u p p l y f o r t h e p e o p l e a n d t o c r e a t e i n c o m e f r o m e x p o r t s , too. In the situation in w h i c h we are l i v i n g agriculture assumes e x c e p t i o n a l i m p o r t a n c e f o r o u r c o u n t r y . T h a t i s w h y t h e P a r t y l o n g ago l a u n c h e d t h e s l o g a n , A g r i c u l t u r e a n issue f o r t h e w h o l e people. E v e r y o n e m u s t u n d e r s t a n d and apply this directive properly. A l l must be interested in agriculture. B u t the tasks are divided, some have been appointed to w o r k in agriculture, others on the f r o n t of i n d u s t r y , o r t h a t o f c u l t u r e , etc., etc. M e a n w h i l e t h e P a r t y w o r k s a n d l e a d s e v e r y w h e r e , i n a l l sectors. Its p e r m a n e n t c o n c e r n m u s t b e t o see t h a t t h e w o r k i n a l l these sectors goes l i k e c l o c k w o r k , i n p a r a l l e l a n d u n i n terruptedly. C o n t i n u a l progress has been made in agriculture a n d good r e s u l t s h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s . W h e n w e s p e a k a b o u t successes i n t h i s sector t o d a y , w e h a v e n o need t o m a k e c o m p a r i s o n s w i t h t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e f i r s t post-Liberation years, but can m a k e comparisons w i t h the results a c h i e v e d , say, t e n y e a r s ago, a n d i n t h i s w a y w e
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w i l l see w h a t great progress has b e e n m a d e i n a g r i c u l t u r e , livestock-raising and fruit-growing. I n these sectors, too, h o w e v e r , t h e r e a r e d i s t r i c t s w h i c h a r e o u t s t a n d i n g , w h i l e t h e r e a r e o t h e r s w h i c h are lagging behind in the accomplishment of the targets of the plan. S u c h a t h i n g is evidence of the level of political understanding of the economic tasks w h i c h the w o r k i n g people i n e a c h d i s t r i c t h a v e . T h e f u l f i l m e n t o f t a r g e t s i n agriculture is greatly dependent on management and organization, and on the scientific and agrotechnical k n o w ledge w h i c h t h e people w h o w o r k i n a g r i c u l t u r e h a v e acquired. In other words, it is greatly dependent on the w o r k w h i c h t h e P a r t y does a t t h e base w i t h t h e w o r k i n g people. T h i s m u s t b e l i v e l y , c o n c r e t e w o r k w h i c h a n a l y s e s a n d details the orientations and directives of the C e n t r a l Committee of the P a r t y and makes t h e m thoroughly k n o w n everywhere, bearing in m i n d the conditions, the l e v e l of t h e people, etc., etc. In o r d e r to h a v e t h e d e s i r e d results all the time it is essential that the P a r t y should w o r k and i m p e l the advanced ever further ahead, w h i l e i t s h o u l d e n c o u r a g e t h e b a c k w a r d t o c a t c h u p w i t h t h e best. Progress in agriculture is brought about by people w h o h a v e a t t h e i r d i s p o s a l a l l t h e necessary m e a n s , m a c h ines, seeds a n d f e r t i l i z e r s , w h o also h a v e a g r o t e c h n i c a l knowledge and experience i n the w o r k and w h o k n o w w h a t measures must be taken to m a k e the l a n d ever more p r o d u c t i v e , t o i n c r e a s e l i v e s t o c k - b r e e d i n g rates a n d get h i g h y i e l d s of meat, m i l k , etc., etc. It is a f a c t t h a t o u r a g r i c u l t u r e h a s n o w f u l l y set o u t a n d is a d v a n c i n g w i t h determination on the course of m o d e r n socialist f a r m i n g . I t i s q u i t e c l e a r t h a t c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n is the true Leninist road for the construction of socialism i n the countryside. The B o l s h e v i k P a r t y , w i t h S t a l i n at the head, followed and applied this course in the Soviet U n i o n . O u r P a r t y applied the teachings of L e n i n and
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Stalin and made agriculture advance in A l b a n i a . It collectivized agriculture and lifted our peasantry and the w h o l e p e o p l e f r o m t h e great b a c k w a r d n e s s , m i s e r y a n d poverty w h i c h they inherited. T h e course w h i c h the P a r t y has f o l l o w e d f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m i n t h e countryside, a n d the continuously i m p r o v i n g results w h i c h have been achieved in a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d livestock products speak c l e a r l y o f t h e s u p e r i o r i t y o f t h e socialist c o o p e r a t i v i s t order. I f w e c o m p a r e o u r a g r i c u l t u r e w i t h t h a t o f t h e r e v isionist c o u n t r i e s , w h e r e t h e socialist a g r i c u l t u r e h a s n o w been d e s t r o y e d a n d t u r n e d i n t o a c a p i t a l i s t a g r i c u l t u r e , w e s h a l l see t h a t a n i n d e s c r i b a b l e c r i s i s r e i g n s t h e r e . A s a consequence of the course w h i c h has been pursued in r e g a r d t o t h e c o u n t r y s i d e i n those c o u n t r i e s t h e r e are great s h o r t a g e s o f a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d l i v e s t o c k p r o d u c t s everywhere. F o r example, in Vojvodina of Yugoslavia hundreds of thousands of hectares of l a n d a n d thousands of tractors are in the hands of the capitalist owners. In the S o v i e t U n i o n t h e y s t i l l r e t a i n s o m e s t r u c t u r e s w h i c h are socialist i n f o r m , b u t i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e , i n f a r m i n g , c a p i t a l i s m i s a l r e a d y d e v e l o p e d t h e r e a s i t i s i n a l l sectors. I n t h e o t h e r c o u n t r i e s o f t h e f o r m e r people's d e m o c r a c y , as a r e s u l t of a b a n d o n i n g t h e course of t h e socialist c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e , i n one t h e r e i s a c r i s i s f o r b r e a d g r a i n , i n a n o t h e r f o r vegetables, i n a n o t h e r f o r meat, i n a n o t h e r f o r e v e r y t h i n g , etc., etc. I n those c o u n t r i e s t h e c a p i t a l i s t l a w o f s u p p l y a n d d e m a n d operates. A n d see, j u s t a w e e k ago i n G d a n s k , W a r s a w a n d a l l o v e r P o l a n d big d e m o n s t r a t i o n s w e r e h e l d . A b o u t 50,000 w o r k e r s w e n t o n s t r i k e a n d c a m e out s h o u t i n g i n d e m o n s t r a t i o n s . W h y ? Because o f t h e g r e a t s h o r t a g e o f a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d a n i m a l products. T h e y h a d no meat or vegetables. T h i s is o c c u r r i n g i n t h e o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s , too. B u l g a r i a , w h i c h was r i g h t l y considered an agricultural country w i t h a m p l e p r o d u c t i o n (we h a v e b e e n i n B u l g a r i a w h e n i t w a s
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o n t h e socialist r o a d a n d h a v e seen t h e s i t u a t i o n f o r ourselves), i s n o w g o i n g t h r o u g h a g r a v e c r i s i s because the revisionists have destroyed agriculture there. There is n o n e e d f o r m e t o speak a b o u t Y u g o s l a v i a a n d t h e o t h e r capitalist countries. T h a t o u r a g r i c u l t u r e h a s set o u t o n t h e r i g h t c o u r s e o f c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n i s a k n o w n h i s t o r i c a l fact. A n d its f u r ther development by proceeding resolutely on this course is likewise k n o w n . F r o m the small cooperatives we w e n t on to their unification. This action m a r k e d a more advanced stage, a d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r socialist a g r i c u l t u r e to a h i g h e r l e v e l . L a t e r , w e set u p t h e h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s , w h i c h i s a n o t h e r great s t r i d e f o r w a r d , a n d t o d a y these h a v e o u t s t r i p p e d some state f a r m s i n r e g a r d b o t h t o p r o ductivity and income. We have t a k e n and in the future w i l l take other measures for the development of agricult u r e a t h i g h rates, t o increase y i e l d s o f a l l p r o d u c t s . D u r i n g t h e w h o l e n e w f i v e - y e a r p l a n great i m p o r t a n c e w i l l b e given to agriculture, to the further improvement of land a n d also t o i m p r o v e d o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n t h i s sector. N o w let u s speak a l i t t l e m o r e c o n c r e t e l y a b o u t t h e experience for the P l a s a agricultural cooperative. The c h a i r m a n of the Plasa cooperative spoke in the discussion at the P l e n u m of the C e n t r a l Committee of the Party, and w h a t he said made a v e r y good impression on a l l t h e c o m r a d e s . T h e P l a s a c o o p e r a t i v e has a c h i e v e d good results, a n d s o h a v e other a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s and state f a r m s i n t h e K o r a d i s t r i c t . T h e P o j a n c o o p e r a t i v e , f o r e x a m p l e , has g o o d results i n t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f t a r g e t s . Hence, I w a n t to k n o w more concretely about h o w the w o r k to spread the advanced experience of Plasa is proceedi n g in regard to the concentration, specialization and rotation o f t h e crops. I f I a m n o t m i s t a k e n , t h e s t u d y o n t h i s p r o -
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b l e m w a s u n d e r t a k e n some 8 y e a r s ago. ( 3 ) B u t w e h a v e received no precise i n f o r m a t i o n about w h a t is being done w i t h that study since then. T h e question of the disseminat i o n o f t h i s e x p e r i e n c e has b e e n o f great c o n c e r n t o m e a n d C o m r a d e H y s n i [ K a p o ] , w h o m w e lost. A l t h o u g h e v e r y e f f o r t w a s m a d e w e c o u l d n o t save h i m f r o m t h a t g r a v e disease w h i c h h e s u f f e r e d . H e w a s a c o m r a d e w i t h r a r e attributes, a m a n of extensive a n d p r o f o u n d k n o w l e d g e a n d w i t h a s p e c i a l l y great e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e a f f a i r s o f t h e Party. W h e n a s t u d y i s done, i t s h o u l d n o t b e left o n p a p e r , but s h o u l d b e a p p l i e d , because i n this w a y w e c a n see a n d j u d g e b o t h its g o o d aspects a n d its n e g a t i v e aspects. H e n c e , application, p u t t i n g the study into practice, w i l l dictate the need f o r f u r t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t o f it. Y o u , a n d e s p e c i a l l y t h e c o m r a d e s e n g a g e d i n a g r i c u l t u r e , are b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e s u p e r i o r i t y o f t h i s s t u d y , t h e p u r p o s e o f w h i c h is, first, t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r a l c r o p s ; second, t h e s p e c i a l i z a t i o n o f t h e m ; t h i r d , t h e r o t a t i o n o f c r o p s (this i s v e r y necessary, a g r i c u l t u r e c a n n o t a d v a n c e w i t h o u t it). These t h r e e t h i n g s are c l o s e l y i n t e r c o n n e c t e d a n d a l l h a v e t o d o w i t h a g r i c u l t u r a l science. T h i s s y s t e m a i m s a t t h e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e , b u t also a t a d v a n c i n g towards the continual strengthening of the c o m m o n property, t h e t r a n s i t i o n f r o m t h e c o l l e c t i v e p r o p e r t y o f t h e g r o u p t o s o c i a l p r o p e r t y . O f course, b e f o r e t h i s a i m c a n b e a c h i e v e d , y o u m u s t f i r s t g o t h r o u g h s e v e r a l stages, but i t also r e q u i r e s i m p r o v e d o r g a n i z a t i o n o n t h e m o s t s u i t a b l e scientific bases, w h i c h , as t h e P a r t y teaches us, enables us
___________________________________ 3 Reference is to the study on P l a s a carried out by a group of specialists under the guidance of the C e n t r a l Committee of the Party, a study w h i c h , as the documents show, w a s not applied because of the silent opposition of the enemy M e h m e t Shehu. (See page 568 of this volume.)
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to c a r r y out intensive f a r m i n g w i t h o u t neglecting its e x t e n s i v e aspect. I n some d i s t r i c t s , c o n c e n t r a t i o n h a s b e e n a c h i e v e d i n i n d u s t r i a l crops, f o r e x a m p l e . O f these c r o p s w e h a v e e x t e n d e d o n l y tobacco a l i t t l e m o r e w i d e l y , a n d , i n d e e d , w e g r o w i t i n some d i s t r i c t s w h e r e g o o d y i e l d s are s t i l l n o t b e i n g o b t a i n e d . T h i s comes a b o u t because t h e r e t h e tobacco i s p l a n t e d o n l a n d n o t r e a l l y s u i t a b l e f o r it, w h e r e o t h e r crops, f r o m w h i c h i t i s p o s s i b l e t o get g o o d y i e l d s , m i g h t very w e l l be planted. We deliberately took this measure f o r tobacco, because t h e r e w a s a g r e a t e r s t i m u l u s f o r t h i s crop. However, for the general economy, whether of the cooperative or the district, this was a t e m p o r a r y solution. M e a n w h i l e w e h a v e c o n c e n t r a t e d c o t t o n a n d sugar-beet. Hence, the interests of socialism a n d the intensive development of our economy have led us to the concentrat i o n o f i n d u s t r i a l crops. I n t h e f u t u r e , h o w e v e r , w e m u s t c o n c e n t r a t e b r e a d g r a i n better, a n d l i k e w i s e , f o r a g e crops, f r u i t - g r o w i n g , etc. L o o k a t t h e M a l i q state f a r m , w h i c h has s e v e r a l m a i n e c o n o m i c d i r e c t i o n s s u c h a s p r o d u c t i o n o f sugar-beet, w h e a t , a n d potatoes, a n d i t also raises l i v e s t o c k , etc. T h e w h o l e p l a i n o f K o r a lies close t o t h i s enterprise. B u t should the P a r t y not consider w h a t this plain should produce so that even higher yields than h i t h e r t o are o b t a i n e d i n w h e a t , s u g a r - b e e t a n d potatoes? It was precisely for this reason that the P a r t y gave the orientations and undertook that study on the Plasa coo p e r a t i v e 8 y e a r s ago. W h a t good does t h e p u t t i n g i n t o p r a c t i c e o f t h e P l a sa experience bring? It means that in the p l a i n of K o r a , for example, we w i l l have an important centre of the intensive development of agriculture. A n d we give it all the possibilities to stabilize the yields in all crops. F o r e x a m p l e , w e are c o n c e n t r a t i n g w i n t e r potatoes i n K o r a
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and S h i s h t a v e c . T h e o t h e r d i s t r i c t s w i l l p l a n t potatoes, too, but m a i n l y K o r a a n d S h i s h t a v e c w i l l e n s u r e s u p p l i e s o f w i n t e r potatoes f o r o u r m a r k e t , w h i l e w e a l l o c a t e the g r o w i n g o f s u m m e r potatoes t o t h e o t h e r s . I n t h i s w a y t h e s i t u a t i o n i n r e g a r d t o potatoes c a n b e r e g u l a t e d b o t h f o r the i n t e r n a l m a r k e t a n d f o r e x p o r t . W e m u s t act i n a s i m i l a r w a y f o r the o t h e r a g r i c u l t u r a l crops, too. L e t u s t a k e w h e a t , f o r e x a m p l e , w h i c h has great importance. The problem of where wheat-growing should b e c o n c e n t r a t e d m u s t b e s t u d i e d . L e t u s s a y w e decide to concentrate it in K o r a , L u s h n j a , Fier, D u r r s and S h k o d r a . T h e w h e a t p r o d u c t i o n w h i c h w e e x p e c t t o get f r o m those d i s t r i c t n o t o n l y m u s t b e s u f f i c i e n t f o r t h e w h o l e p o p u l a t i o n o f A l b a n i a , b u t m u s t also p r o v i d e a s u r p l u s w i t h w h i c h w e create reserves a n d h a v e some f o r export, too. T h i s does n o t m e a n that w e s h o u l d n o l o n g e r plant w h e a t o r m a i z e i n t h e m o u n t a i n s . N o , w e w i l l c o n tinue to plant t h e m there, indeed, we w i l l increase the area p l a n t e d t o these k i n d s o f g r a i n , b u t i n t h e d i s t r i c t s w h i c h I mentioned, where we are developing an ever more intensive f a r m i n g , w e w i l l p r a c t i c e t h e P l a s a s y s t e m . W e w i l l apply t h i s s y s t e m i n t h e m o u n t a i n s a n d e l s e w h e r e , too, b u t w i t h d i f f e r e n t crops. O r let u s look, f o r e x a m p l e , a t t h e q u e s t i o n o f l i v e s t o c k , r a i s i n g sheep a n d goats. T h e r e a r e sheep a n d goats e v e r y w h e r e , b u t s h o u l d w e a l l o w t h e k e e p i n g o f sheep a n d goats o n p l a i n s , l i k e t h e p l a i n o f K o r a , o n h e a v y soils w h e r e w e are g o i n g t o p l a n t w h e a t a n d m a i z e , t o use c h e m i c a l f e r t i l i z e r s a n d s u p p l y m a c h i n e r y a n d o t h e r necessary means, w h e n w e h a v e p o s s i b i l i t i e s t o d e v e l o p sheepand g o a t - r a i s i n g i n i n t e n s i v e a n d e x t e n s i v e w a y s i n t h e h i l l y a n d m o u n t a i n o u s zones? H o w a r e w e g o i n g t o a p p l y the d e c i s i o n o n t h e s e t t i n g u p o f l a r g e s h e e p - a n d goatraising enterprises? We have launched the idea that the f l o c k s f o r m e d f r o m t h e peasants' h o u s e h o l d sheep a n d
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goats, f o r e x a m p l e , s h o u l d n o t b e k e p t o n t h i s f e r t i l e p l a i n w h i c h we have allocated to the intensive development of m a i n crops. T h u s , w e m u s t create b i g l i v e s t o c k e n t e r p r i s e s i n t h e mountains, w h e r e the flocks f o r m e d f r o m the peasants' household livestock, w h i c h are an i m p o r t a n t part of the people's w e a l t h , c a n b e p a s t u r e d . W e h a v e n o t y e t a p p l i e d the i d e a w h i c h w a s r a i s e d i n t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f t h e Central Committee of the P a r t y about the creation of l i v e s t o c k e n t e r p r i s e s based o n t h e P l a s a e x p e r i e n c e . T h i s w i l l provide the possibility to study w h e r e the sheep- a n d g o a t - r a i s i n g s h o u l d b e c o n c e n t r a t e d . O f course, t h i s does not mean that the collective economies of the l o w l a n d zones s h o u l d n o t k e e p sheep o r goats a t a l l . T h e p r o b l e m i s w h e r e s h o u l d w e c o n c e n t r a t e t h e r a i s i n g o f sheep a n d goats, cattle, horses a n d m u l e s ? W e s h o u l d t h i n k t h i s o u t and take measures for the development of all types of l i v e s t o c k , j u s t a s w e h a v e d o n e f o r w h e a t , sugar-beet, a n d so o n . We have managed, comrades of agriculture, to improve t h e seeds o f v a r i o u s crops, o f w h e a t , f o r e x a m p l e , a n d now, if I am not mistaken, we have hundreds of varieties o f w h e a t (today w e h a v e h u n d r e d s o f t y p e s o f h y b r i d s w h i c h w e produce ourselves, but w h i c h w e bought i n the past). A s a r e s u l t o f t h e c o n t i n u o u s p e r s i s t e n t w o r k t h a t h a s been done b y o u r p e o p l e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n w e h a v e a c h i e v e m e n t s i n m a i z e , too. C a r e f u l studies a r e r e q u i r e d f o r a l l these m a t t e r s , otherwise we can make no headway. We must w o r k w i t h great care f o r l i v e s t o c k - r a i s i n g , too. This is how we must understand and w o r k to study and apply the experience of Plasa. W h e n this question i s s t u d i e d (and y o u h a v e d o n e t h i s a n d sent i n t h e c o n clusions), t h e p l u s e s a n d m i n u s e s w i l l c e r t a i n l y b e seen. T h a t is, i t w i l l b e seen t h a t t h i s s y s t e m c a n n o t b e a p p l i e d
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if this or that crop is not r e m o v e d f r o m this economy or that d i s t r i c t . K o r a , f o r e x a m p l e , w i l l n o t g r o w t h i s o r t h a t crop, b u t those w h i c h h a v e b e e n r e m o v e d f r o m a n o t h e r district and are suitable for the conditions of K o r a w i l l be a l l o c a t e d t o it. A n d t h e state w i l l p r o v i d e i t w i t h the f a c i l i t i e s t o get h i g h y i e l d s i n those c r o p s w h i c h h a v e b e e n a l l o c a t e d t o it, b u t y o u , too, m u s t m a k e e f f o r t s i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . T h u s , t h e d i s t r i c t s w i l l s u p p l e m e n t one a n o t h e r . T h e fact is that in the cooperativist system our socialist e c o n o m y i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e i s g r o w i n g s t r o n g e r a n d by means of this system the development of an even more a d v a n c e d socialist a g r i c u l t u r e i s b e i n g p r e p a r e d i n t e n s i v e ly. W h e n t h e c o n d i t i o n s a r e r i p e , t h e n t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f Plasa w i l l be applied on a broad front all over A l b a n i a . In the higher-type cooperatives we w i l l not proceed in the s a m e w a y a s i n t h e state f a r m s . T h e P l a s a s y s t e m must be applied in certain higher-type cooperatives i m m e d i a t e l y , or in a w h o l e d i s t r i c t , a n d n o t o v e r a p e r i o d of t e n o r f i f t e e n y e a r s . T h i s s y s t e m m u s t b e b u i l t u p a t once, f o r e x a m p l e , o v e r t h e w h o l e p l a i n , w h i l e t h e others w i l l still r e m a i n united cooperatives. This is h o w we have raised this question in the P o l i t i cal B u r e a u o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y . Theoretically, we say that development is dynamic, dialectics c a r r i e s i t f o r w a r d , b u t i t i s k n o w n t h a t n e w t h i n g s a d v a n c e w i t h d i f f i c u l t y , t h e r e f o r e , w h e n w e decide s o m e t h i n g , i f w e a r e c o n v i n c e d i t i s correct, w e m u s t l o o k a t the f u t u r e o f it, a t t h e p r o b l e m s t o w h i c h d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r a c t i c e w i l l g i v e rise, w h i c h m a y p r o v e t h a t t h i s o r that solution is not suitable for the given period. We set up t h e c a t t l e - r a i s i n g e n t e r p r i s e h e r e as a s e p a rate e c o n o m y , b u t w h e n i t w a s c r e a t e d t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s o f m o u n t a i n o u s v i l l a g e s w e r e i n c l u d e d i n it. T h a t is, w e m a d e all the cooperativists w o r k e r s and thought we were acting c o r r e c t l y ! W h i l e n o w , w h e n w e see t h e results, w e s a y :
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W h y d i d we do that? In order to raise this n u m b e r of cattle w i t h great success, d i d w e r e a l l y h a v e t o i n c l u d e the surrounding cooperatives in this enterprise? T h i s increases t h e cost a n d creates o t h e r p r o b l e m s f o r us. H e n c e , t h i s causes u s d i f f i c u l t i e s . T h e n , w h a t are w e t o d o a b o u t i t ? W e s h a l l accept t h e s i t u a t i o n a n d s t r u g g l e t o ensure t h a t the m o u n t a i n c o o p e r a t i v e s w e i n c l u d e d i n t h e e n t e r p r i s e g r o w apples, f o r e x a m p l e . W h y d o w e s a y t h e y should g r o w apples? Because apples g r o w w e l l here. Hence, w h a t I am getting at is that we must f i n d the most suitable forms of organization so that our w o r k a d v a n c e s . W e h a v e some e x p e r i e n c e a n d w e w i l l h a v e m o r e e x p e r i e n c e , b u t w e m u s t k n o w h o w t o a p p l y it, m u s t s t u d y the conditions t h o r o u g h l y and then t a k e decisions. F o r example, we should concentrate cattle-raising where there are a l l t h e c o n d i t i o n s a n d p o s s i b i l i t i e s t o get h i g h rates o f p r o d u c t i v i t y of meat, a n d so o n . It is important that w h e n an orientation is given, it i s e m b r a c e d , tested, a p p l i e d , a n d f o l l o w e d c a r e f u l l y , a n d t h e l e a d e r s h i p m u s t b e t o l d w i t h great courage, I stress, w i t h great courage, t h a t h e r e i t h a s a c t e d c o r r e c t l y a n d there incorrectly, here things should be changed and there they should not be changed. Then, it is our d u t y to s u m m o n y o u a n d s a y b r a v o t h a t y o u speak t o u s i n t h i s w a y , because t h i s i s w h a t i s n e e d e d , a n d t h e n , s a y t o y o u : W e h a v e these p o s s i b i l i t i e s , w e h a v e a t o t a l o f s o m a n y l e k s i n f o r e i g n c u r r e n c y , w h i l e y o u ' r e a s k i n g f o r more. O r , Y o u w a n t s o m a n y t r a c t o r s , s o m a n y f r u i t - t r e e s , etc., etc., b u t w e c a n n o t g i v e y o u s o many. T h i s i s h o w these t h i n g s s h o u l d b e discussed, a n d n o t r e j e c t i n g a n y s u g g e s t i o n b y saying, Oh, the matter has been decided, so n o t h i n g can be changed. I n m y speech ( 4 ) a t t h e 3 t h P l e n u m I p o i n t e d o u t t h a t
____________________________________ 4 See E n v e r H o x h a , Selected W o r k s , v o l . 5, 8 N n t o r i P u b l i s h i n g House, T i r a n a 1985, p. 1006, E n g . ed.
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the p l a n i s t h e p l a n a n d w e m u s t a p p l y it, b u t i t s h o u l d not b e d o g m a t i c , a n d w h e n i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o m a k e a c h a n g e i n it, t h e n t h i s s h o u l d b e done. F o r example, w h e n a difficult situation is created, we b r i n g out a s t r i c t l a w f o r a g i v e n q u e s t i o n . L a t e r we see that t h e s i t u a t i o n changes, i m p r o v e s , a n d t h e n t h e l a w can b e a n n u l l e d , because e v e n i f i t i s n o t a n n u l l e d i t has no j u r i d i c a l relations to regulate, and so is no longer applied. I n c o n c l u s i o n . I w a n t t o stress t h a t w e m u s t l o o k a t these p r o b l e m s , n o t o n l y i n a g r i c u l t u r e , b u t a l l p r o b l e m s , w i t h a p o l i t i c a l eye. T h e c o m m u n i s t s , i n t h e f i r s t place, and all our w o r k i n g people must be realists. O u r P a r t y is strong, its u n i t y i s l i k e steel, t h e p a t r i o t i s m o f t h e masses i s great. W e h a v e m a d e progress, b u t w e also h a v e difficulties, indeed, even greater difficulties m a y be created f o r us. W e m u s t n e v e r f o r g e t t h i s .
Reports and Speeches 1980-1981
ONLY IN STRUGGLE CAN THE MARXIST-LENINIST PARTIES BE STRENGTHENED AND TEMPERED AND GAIN CAPABILITY
From the conversation with Joao Amazonas, First Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Brazil
July 25, 1980
W e r e j o i c e t o see y o u i n A l b a n i a a g a i n , C o m r a d e A m a z o n a s . A s f i g h t e r s i n t h e c o m m o n cause w e are a l w a y s pleased t o h a v e y o u a m o n g us. W h e n w e meet w e e x c h a n g e o p i n i o n s a b o u t the s i t u a t i o n i n o u r o w n o r o t h e r c o u n t r i e s a n d b e n e f i t f r o m each other's e x p e r i e n c e . T h i s i s n e c e s s a r y f o r b o t h sides. W e are v e r y pleased t h a t t h i s t i m e y o u h a v e c o m e t o K o r a and Pogradec, a part of A l b a n i a y o u h a d not visited before. I believe that y o u l i k e K o r a , w h i l e y o u still have not seen P o g r a d e c p r o p e r l y , b u t y o u o u g h t t o s t a y h e r e f o r a d a y o r t w o a n d h a v e a good l o o k a r o u n d . T h e t o w n h a s a beach, h o l i d a y hostels f o r w o r k e r s a n d o t h e r w o r k i n g people, a s w e l l a s c h i l d r e n ' s c a m p s . P e o p l e f r o m a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y come h e r e t o s p e n d t h e i r h o l i d a y s . T h e beach a t D u r r s i s f i n e f o r t h e y o u n g f o l k , because t h e y l i k e t o s w i m a n d s u n b a t h e o n t h e s a n d . I t gets h o t there, w h i l e f o r e l d e r l y f o l k l i k e u s i t i s b e t t e r here, because t h e w e a t h e r is cooler. P o g r a d e c is a pleasant place, a l t h o u g h it is s m a l l .
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PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE
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A l b a n i a is a small country, Comrade Amazonas. Speaki n g o f its size, l e t m e t e l l y o u a n episode f r o m t h e t i m e o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r . I r e m e m b e r a s c l e a r l y a s i f i t w a s t o d a y h o w once a c o m r a d e , a f t e r h e h a d t r a v e l l e d o n f o o t f r o m one zone t o t h e o t h e r a n d t r a v e r s e d m o u n t a i n range a f t e r m o u n t a i n r a n g e , s a i d t o m e : M y w o r d , C o m r a d e E n v e r , t h i s A l b a n i a o f o u r s i s a b i g place, i t i s n o t n e a r l y a s s m a l l a s i t i s o n t h e m a p . N o , no, A l b a n i a i s v e r y big!
COMRADE JOAO AMAZONAS: Well, Comrade Enver, w e s a y t h a t A l b a n i a i s b i g , because o f t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d s o c i a l t a s k s i t a c c o m p l i s h e s . I n t h i s sense w e m a y s a y t h a t i t i s t h e biggest c o u n t r y i n t h e w o r l d . COMRADE ENVER HOXHA: T h e great ideology of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m g i v e s o u r c o u n t r y its i m p o r t a n c e . B y a p p l y i n g i t f a i t h f u l l y a n d c o r r e c t l y m a n y successes a n d t h e happy days we enjoy have been achieved in A l b a n i a . N a t u r a l l y , w e also h a v e s h o r t c o m i n g s w h i c h w e are c o m bating a n d t r y i n g to eliminate. In our experience the other M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t s see t h e great f o r c e of o u r common doctrine. COMRADE JOAO AMAZONAS: Is the town an old one? COMRADE ENVER HOXHA: Before Liberation Pogradec w a s v e r y small, but n o w it has expanded. It is an ancient settlement. A r c h a e o l o g i c a l discoveries have p r o v e d that this place w a s inhabited by the Illyrians. There is a small m u s e u m here w i t h exhibits f r o m the I l l y r i a n tribe, the E n c h e l e a n s . I n K o r a , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , w e h a v e set up the M u s e u m of A l b a n i a n Mediaeval A r t .
In the M i d d l e Ages our country had painters and b u i l d e r s w h o w o r k e d n o t o n l y h e r e , b u t also i n G r e e c e . T u r k e y a n d other countries of Europe. A n u m b e r of mosques in T u r k e y , l i k e the B l u e M o s q u e and t w o or t h r e e others, w e r e d e s i g n e d b y A l b a n i a n a r c h i t e c t s i n t h e 16th a n d 17th c e n t u r i e s .
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In A l b a n i a there are a n u m b e r of B y z a n t i n e churches w h i c h w e p r e s e r v e . O n e o f t h e m i s f o u n d i n a v i l l a g e of. the G j i r o k a s t r a district w h e r e I was b o r n . It is said to h a v e been b u i l t a t t h e s a m e t i m e a s t h e c h u r c h o f S t . Sophia in Constantinople. The m a n w h o w o r k e d on b u i l d i n g the c h u r c h o f S t . S o p h i a also w o r k e d o n t h i s c h u r c h , w h i c h has the i d e n t i c a l a r c h i t e c t u r e , b u t is a m i n i a t u r e of the c h u r c h i n C o n s t a n t i n o p l e . The painting of Onufri, for example, w h i c h y o u must h a v e seen y e s t e r d a y i n t h e m u s e u m o f K o r a , has b e e n very highly praised even in Paris. A l t h o u g h it is of the B y z a n t i n e p e r i o d , i t does n o t h a v e a l l t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f B y z a n t i n e p a i n t i n g . I t has h u m a n f o r m s o f r e a l people. H i s p a i n t i n g i s d i s t i n g u i s h e d b y its b e a u t i f u l c o l o u r s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e r e d . O n u f r i also p a i n t e d b e a u t i f u l f r e s coes w h i c h are f o u n d i n t h e c h u r c h e s b u i l t i n t h e h i g h l a n d of the Elbasan district. W e are t r y i n g t o c o n c e n t r a t e a n d p r e s e r v e i n m u s e u m s these c u l t u r a l w o r k s , these icons, a s w e c a l l t h e m . W o r k s o f art are v a l u a b l e t o s o c i a l i s m . T h e p e o p l e h a v e h a n d e d o v e r m a n y icons, b u t t h e r e are o t h e r s w h i c h w e h a v e n o t yet g a t h e r e d u p . A l o t o f w o r k i s b e i n g d o n e i n o u r country to preserve them. However, this is not all that effective, because w e s t i l l d o n o t h a v e t h e p r o p e r t e c h nical-scientific means to preserve t h e m properly and to protect t h e m f r o m the ravages of time and weather. As I h a v e r e a d , e v e n L e o n a r d o D a V i n c i ' s f a m o u s fresco, T h e L a s t S u p p e r , has b e g u n t o s h o w s i n g s o f d a m a g e , t h e r e f o r e , t h e a l a r m h a s b e e n s o u n d e d f o r its r e s t o r a t i o n . T h e r e are b e a u t i f u l i c o n s i n t h e c h u r c h o f V o s k o p o j a . V o s k o p o j a n o w i s a v i l l a g e , b u t i n t h e 18th c e n t u r y i t was a flourishing town. At that time there was a higher s c h o o l t h e r e t o w h i c h s t u d e n t s came f r o m G r e e c e t o p u r s u e t h e i r studies. S o m e w e n t t h e r e t o b e c o m e priests. L e a r n e d people h a v e e m e r g e d f r o m V o s k o p o j a . O n e o f t h e m w a s
ML PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE
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a capable c h u r c h l i b r a r i a n of the H o l y M o u n t a i n near S a l o n i k a in Greece, w h i c h is called Athos. T h e p r o m o n t o r y w h e r e these c h u r c h e s a n d m o n a s t e r i e s h a v e b e e n b u i l t (most o f t h e m b y t h e R u s s i a n t z a r s a n d t h e P a t r i a r c a t e o f Istanbul) has the f o r m of the five fingers of the h a n d . W o m e n are not permitted to enter there. B u t whoever v i s i t s i t i s s t r u c k b y m a n y a n c i e n t objects a n d a r t i s t i c a l l y f i n e b u i l d i n g s . T h e r e i s also a l i b r a r y . A s I s a i d , t h e librarian was an A l b a n i a n from Voskopoja, a very learned man. W h e n Petersburg was built, the tzar of Russia, Peter the G r e a t , s u m m o n e d t h i s m a n t o o r g a n i z e h i s l i b r a r y f o r h i m . He w e n t there, but died before he had finished the j o b . H i s g r a v e c a n b e seen t h e r e t o t h i s d a y . T h e i n s c r i p t i o n o n h i s t o m b s t o n e says h e i s a n A l b a n i a n . So, s i n c e t h a t time Voskopoja had learned men. N o w there is a very old church left in that village w h i c h we are preserving, in w h i c h t h e r e i s a v e r y b e a u t i f u l iconostasis. M u s e u m s are e x c e p t i o n a l l y i m p o r t a n t f o r t h e e d u c a tion of the people. In A l b a n i a they have been created and enriched o n l y since the L i b e r a t i o n of the country. Before L i b e r a t i o n archaeological research was done only in t w o places, a t P o j a n o f F i e r a n d B u t r i n t o f S a r a n d a . T h e F r e n c h w e r e t h e f i r s t t o s t a r t t h e w o r k a t these t w o a r c h a e o l o g i c a l centres, a n d t h e n t h e I t a l i a n s c o n t i n u e d i t . T h e I t a l i a n s stole m o s t o f t h e objects t h e y d i s c o v e r e d , w h i l e the F r e n c h d i d not steal so m a n y as they. W i t h w h a t r e m a i n e d a s m a l l m u s e u m w a s set u p i n V l o r a . W h e n fascist Italy i n v a d e d our country, a m o n g other things, the Italians b o m b a r d e d this m u s e u m . T h e F r e n c h p r o t e s t e d a g a i n s t t h i s a c t i o n i n t h e n e w s p a p e r Figaro. A f t e r t h e L i b e r a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y , a r c h a e o l o g i c a l research developed not only in the direction of discovering objects o f t h e a n c i e n t R o m a n a n d H e l l e n i c c u l t u r e s , b u t especially in the direction of the culture of the Illyrians, w h o are o u r ancestors. M a n y v a l u a b l e t h i n g s , vases a n d
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c e r a m i c objects, coins, v a r i o u s o r n a m e n t s , statues, etc., h a v e been found in the t u m u l a r graves excavated. T o d a y our archaeological museums have been filled w i t h m a n y objects a n d d o c u m e n t s . A p a r t f r o m a r c h a e o l o g i c a l m u seums, t o d a y w e also h a v e e t h n o g r a p h i c m u s e u m s , w h i c h h a v e been set u p e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e b i g cities. N o w e a c h c i t y i s t r y i n g t o create its o w n e t h n o g r a p h i c m u s e u m . H i s t o r i c a l m u s e u m s , too, h a v e b e e n set u p i n A l b a n i a i n towns and villages. F o r centuries on end our w h o l e c o u n t r y was at w a r i n defence o f n a t i o n a l f r e e d o m , a n d s o e v e n o u r s m a l l e s t v i l l a g e has its o w n h i s t o r y . T h e P a r t y has i s s u e d t h e d i r e c tive that the historical records of all the villages, f r o m t h e most a n c i e n t t i m e s w h e n facts a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r this, m u s t b e w r i t t e n u p . N o w these h i s t o r i c a l r e c o r d s h a v e b e e n w r i t t e n a n d are b e i n g e n r i c h e d w i t h r e c o r d s a n d m a t e r i a l , i n c l u d i n g e v e n f i r e tongs, w o o d e n cups a n d spoons, a n d so on. Likewise, i n f o r m a t i o n about historical figures of v i l l a g e s has b e e n c o l l e c t e d , t h e i r b i o g r a p h i e s h a v e b e e n w r i t t e n a n d t h e y a r e b e i n g e n r i c h e d w i t h a n y sources o r m a t e r i a l object s u c h a s a n a r t i c l e o f c l o t h i n g , a p h o t o g r a p h , etc. A p a r t f r o m t h e h i s t o r y o f the A l b a n i a n people's w a r s , the m a i n m u s e u m s o f o u r c o u n t r y also r e f l e c t t h e p e r i o d o f t h e N a t i o n a l R e n a i s s a n c e , t h a t is, t h e s t r u g g l e w h i c h o u r t h i n k e r s , p h i l o s o p h e r s , h i s t o r i a n s , scientists, a n d o t h e r s waged in other countries. N o w w e are also s e t t i n g u p s p e c i a l i z e d m u s e u m s , f o r example, that of K r u j a , the former capital of A l b a n i a in the time of Skanderbeg, w h i c h w i l l be dedicated solely to the life of our National Hero. W h a t sort o f r e c o r d s a n d objects h a v e w e a b o u t S k a n d e r b e g that we can place in this m u s e u m ? We don't h a v e a great d e a l , a l t h o u g h w e h a v e s o m e d o c u m e n t s w r i t t e n a s e a r l y a s t h e 15th c e n t u r y b y p r i n c e s a n d o t h e r
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rulers and by merchants of Rome, Venice and the Slavonic countries, by great composers w h o have w r i t t e n musical w o r k s , a n d b y poets a n d d r a m a t i s t s w h o h a v e w r i t t e n beautiful poems and dramas about the life and wars of this h e r o a g a i n s t t h e T u r k s . A l l t h e m a t e r i a l d o c u m e n t s t h a t w e possess a b o u t h i m w i l l be reflected in this museum. A l r e a d y our painters have begun w o r k to acquaint themselves in detail w i t h Skanderbeg's battles in order to present t h e m later in paintings. T h e m o s t c o m p l e t e h i s t o r y o f a l l h i s battles w a s written b y a n A l b a n i a n w r i t e r called M a r i n Barleti. ( 1 ) U p t i l l n o w t h i s i s t h e m o s t p r e c i s e h i s t o r y , t h e basis o f the history of the life and the protracted heroic wars of Gjergj Kastrioti. This, Comrade Amazonas, is how we have worked on t h e q u e s t i o n of m u s e u m s w h i c h , as I said, p l a y an e x ceptional educational role. In every country of the w o r l d these i n s t i t u t i o n s a r e f r e q u e n t e d b y m a n y people. B u t o u r a i m i s t h a t b y m e a n s o f t h e m o u r w o r k i n g people, a n d e s p e c i a l l y t h e y o u t h , s h o u l d b e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e past, not o n l y w i t h t h e h i s t o r i c a l past, b u t also w i t h t h e m i s e r able e c o n o m i c past o f o u r p e o p l e d u r i n g t h e centuries. T o d a y , f o r e x a m p l e , w e see t h e p l a i n s o f o u r c o u n t r y s y s t e m a t i z e d , p r o t e c t e d a g a i n s t floods, d r a i n e d w i t h i r r i g a tion canals and beautifully tended, but we older folk who l i v e d b e f o r e L i b e r a t i o n k n o w t h a t t h e y w e r e not l i k e t h i s at that time. L e t m e t e l l y o u a t r u e s t o r y a b o u t this, C o m r a d e A m a z o n a s . A r e s i d e n t of these parts, a b o u t 50 y e a r s ago, w h e n h e w a s a b o u t 2 0 y e a r s o l d , h a d gone t o t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a s a n e c o n o m i c e m i g r a n t a n d h a d left M a l i q a s w a m p . W h e n he returned to the H o m e l a n d , not
__________________________________ 1 M a r i n B a r l e t i , 1460-1513. He w r o t e the w o r k , T h e History of the L i f e a n d Deeds of Skanderbeg, published in 1508-1510.
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l o n g ago, h e w a s a b o u t 7 0 y e a r s o f age. H i s s o n m e t h i m a t D u r r s a n d t h e y set out t o g e t h e r f o r K o r a . O n t h e w a y h i s son t o l d h i m a b o u t t h e great changes w h i c h h a d b e e n made d u r i n g the t i m e of the P a r t y and t i m e after t i m e a s k e d his f a t h e r w h e t h e r h e u n d e r s t o o d . Yes, I u n d e r s t a n d you, h i s f a t h e r r e p l i e d . Nevertheless, w h e n they were passing t h r o u g h M a l i q the father asked: Where is the M a l i q swamp? I t o l d you, h i s son s a i d , we h a v e d r a i n e d it. But where was it? insisted his father. R i g h t here, e x p l a i n e d h i s son, this p l a i n w e a r e passing through was the M a l i q swamp. A t these m o m e n t s , a s t h e y w e r e t a l k i n g , t h e f i r s t s e c r e t a r y o f t h e P a r t y C o m m i t t e e o f t h e d i s t r i c t w a s passi n g t h r o u g h the plain. The son stopped the car and pointed h i m out t o h i s f a t h e r . That m a n is the first secretary of the P a r t y C o m m i t tee. A h . . . , s a i d h i s f a t h e r , that m e a n s h e i s t h e o w n e r of t h i s p l a i n . No, r e p l i e d h i s son, t o d a y the p l a i n i s t h e p r o p e r t y of t h e w h o l e people. So, t h i s A l b a n i a n w h o r e t u r n e d t o t h e H o m e l a n d w a s q u i t e u n a b l e t o see a l l t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s w h i c h h a d o c c u r r e d , a l t h o u g h he r e p e a t e d l y s a i d I u n d e r s t a n d y o u , I u n d e r s t a n d you, t o h i s s o n o n t h e j o u r n e y . T h e w o r k s w h i c h w e place i n m u s e u m s are w o r k s o f a r t w h i c h t h e people h a v e p r e s e r v e d a n d h a v e v a l u e d r a t h e r t h a n w o r k s o f r e l i g i o u s belief. I n r e g a r d t o t h i s I w i l l t e l l y o u t h e h i s t o r y o f a cross, w h i c h i s p r o o f n o t o n l y o f t h i s e v a l u a t i o n , b u t also o f t h e f a c t t h a t r e l i g i o u s s t r i f e has n o t e x i s t e d i n o u r c o u n t r y i n those f o r m s w h i c h are k n o w n i n o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . M o r e o v e r , i n o u r c o u n t r y the followers of the M o s l e m religion have not been in
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c o n f l i c t w i t h those o f the O r t h o d o x r e l i g i o n . I n t h e c h u r c h w h i c h I m e n t i o n e d t h e r e is a v e r y o l d cross s a i d to date f r o m t h e 14th c e n t u r y . D u r i n g t h e y e a r s 1913-1916 G j i r o kastra was occupied by the G r e e k s w h o , amongst other t h i n g s , stole t h i s cross a n d t o o k i t t o A t h e n s . H o w e v e r , t h e whole population of G j i r o k a s t r a , not only the Christians, b u t also t h e M o s l e m s , arose a g a i n s t t h i s act. A d e l e g a t i o n , w h i c h included Moslems as w e l l , went to A t h e n s especially t o d e m a n d t h e r e t u r n o f t h e cross. T h o s e w h o m a d e u p t h e d e l e g a t i o n s a i d t o t h e G r e e k s : T h e cross i s t h e p r o perty of our country, therefore it must be returned to t h e c h u r c h i t belongs. A n d i n the e n d t h a t i s w h a t h a p p e n e d . T h e G r e e k s r e t u r n e d t h e cross t o t h e people o f Gjirokastra. While, w h e n Khrushchev visited a museum d u r i n g his stay in our country, (2) he said to us: What good are these lifeless t h i n g s to y o u ? O r a n g e s , t o b a c c o . . . are w h a t w e need!I n fact, o u r p e o p l e i n g e n e r a l h a v e n o t b e e n great b e l i e v e r s . E v e n t h e p r o p h e t M o h a m m e d assisted u s i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . W h y a n d h o w ? B e c a u s e i n one o f t h e versets o f the K o r a n it is said that the Moslems should hear the s a c r e d b o o k o f t h e i r f a i t h o n l y i n A r a b i c . T h a t is, h e s a i d the K o r a n s h o u l d n o t b e t r a n s l a t e d i n t o o t h e r l a n g u a g e s . Therefore, the A l b a n i a n Moslems could not understand this b o o k a t a l l , because i t c o u l d b e r e a d o n l y i n A r a b i c . T h e c h u r c h , too, a c t e d i n t h e s a m e w a y a t f i r s t , a l t h o u g h later the N e w Testament w a s translated, but this d i d not occur w i t h t h e K o r a n . T h e M o s l e m c l e r g y i n A l b a n i a w e r e w i t h o u t schooling, w h i l e the Catholic priests h a d schooling, indeed higher schooling. D e s p i t e t h e successes w h i c h w e h a v e i n e l i m i n a t i n g the religious influences, the P a r t y still continues to wage a s k i l l f u l a n d i n t e l l i g e n t p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e against r e l i g i o u s
___________________________________ 2 M a y 1959.
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r e m n a n t s a n d customs. H o w e v e r m u c h t h e y h a v e b e e n w e a k e n e d , w e c a n n o t say t h a t t h e y h a v e b e e n c o m p l e t e l y e l i m i n a t e d , e s p e c i a l l y i n the c o u n t r y s i d e , w h i c h h a s b e e n more conservative and b a c k w a r d t h a n the city. Likewise, w e c a n n o t say that, i f w e f o r g e t t h e m , those r e m n a n t s w o u l d not revive. R e c e n t l y , C o m r a d e A m a z o n a s , w e h a v e lost t w o o u t standing comrades, H y s n i K a p o a n d A r r u d a C a m a r a , t w o great M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s . T h e d e a t h o f C o m r a d e H y s n i w a s a great loss t o o u r P a r t y , b u t t h e d e a t h o f C o m r a d e A r r u d a also w a s a g r i e f b o t h f o r y o u a n d f o r us. W h e n t h e y l e a r n e d o f h i s d e a t h , a l l o u r c o m r a d e s w e r e v e r y g r i e v e d because they k n e w h i m .
Comrade Joao Amazonas spoke about the circumstances of Arruda Camara's death and the question of party cadres, and expressed his appreciation of the works Imperialism and the Revolution and Eurocommunism Is Anti-Communism, then Comrade Enver Hoxha again took up the conversation:
A s y o u h a v e seen, w e h a v e t r i e d t o p r e s e n t t h e ideas in the book
Eurocommunism
Is
Anti-Communism
simply
s o t h a t t h e masses o f o r d i n a r y p e o p l e c a n r e a d i l y u n d e r s t a n d t h e m . T h a t is, s o t h a t t h e p r o b l e m s w h i c h w e d e a l t w i t h there are understood not only by those w h o have M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c u l t u r e , b u t also b y o r d i n a r y w o r k e r s . T h e a i m of the analysis w h i c h we have m a d e on the basis of documents w h i c h we have used in this book is to prove that A m e r i c a n imperialism is the inspirer of m o d e r n r e visionism through the corruption of communist parties. We have arrived at Party this has conclusion about by beginning w i t h the before question of B r o w d e r . Our spoken Browder even
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this, but in this book his position had to be dealt w i t h m o r e e x t e n s i v e l y , because h e w a s t h e f i r s t w h o p r e a c h e d the l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s a n d d e c l a r e d t h a t c o m m u n i s m i s t h e A m e r i c a n i s m o f t h e 20th century. He claimed that after the Second W o r l d W a r the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a w o u l d assist a l l t h e c o u n t r i e s d a m a g e d and devastated by the w a r . In other words, B r o w d e r was the s p o k e s m a n f o r t h e c a p i t a l i s t d e g e n e r a t i o n o f c o m m u n i s t parties. In order to present the most complete picture of his p o s i t i o n w e u t i l i z e d a l l t h e d o c u m e n t s i n o u r possession. N a t u r a l l y , w e also h a d i n m i n d t h e q u e s t i o n o f C h i n a . F o r t h i s , too, w e d e l v e d i n t o t h e d o c u m e n t s o f t h e A m e r icans a n d t h e speeches o f M a o a n d Z h o u E n l a i . A n d i t emerged that d u r i n g the w h o l e period of the w a r they, t h a t is, t h e C h i n e s e l e a d e r s h e a d e d b y M a o Z e d o n g , h a d h a d close c o n t a c t w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n m i l i t a r y a n d d i p l o m atic m i s s i o n s a t t a c h e d t o C h i a n g K a i - S h e k . F a c t s a n d documents have been discovered w h i c h show that as early a s a t t h a t t i m e , w h e n t h e y w e r e f i g h t i n g against J a p a n and C h i a n g K a i - S h e k , the Chinese leaders were pro the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a , w h i l e they m a i n t a i n e d a stand not t o t a l l y h o s t i l e t o t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . I n those d o c u m e n t s we learn that the C h i a n g K a i - S h e k lobby in the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a w a s s t r o n g e r a n d t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e w a s not c o n v i n c e d t h a t M a o should; b e assisted, b u t h a d h o p e s t h a t C h i a n g K a i - S h e k w o u l d liquidate h i m . F r o m these d o c u m e n t s , t h e a c t i v i t y i n C h i n a o f E d g a r S n o w , w h o w a s a n agent o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f State, also emerges c l e a r l y . E d g a r S n o w r e m a i n e d i n M a o Z e d o n g ' s headquarters and was i n f o r m e d about the internal activity of the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of C h i n a . T h e t h i n g s h e has s a i d a b o u t Z h o u E n l a i ' s requests a d d r e s s e d t o t h e A m e r i c a n s are facts. A l l that we have said about this question in the book
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Reflections on China, is n o w b e i n g c o n f i r m e d . W h i l e we w e r e already convinced about the links, first, of the T i t o i t e s a n d t h e n , the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s , w h o w e r e i n p o w e r , w i t h the A m e r i c a n imperialists. T h r o u g h the analysis of B r o w d e r i s m , Titoism, K h r u s h c h e v i s m , M a o i s m a n d E u r o c o m m u n i s m i n t h i s b o o k w e see the unbroken thread of the whole strategy of A m e r i c a n imperialism and w o r l d capitalism for the degeneration of communist parties into revisionist parties. One of the ideas o f t h i s book, b a s e d o n d o c u m e n t s , p r o v e s t h a t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s are renegades f r o m M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d agencies o f w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m . I n t h i s b o o k w e h a v e dealt m o r e e x t e n s i v e l y w i t h t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e events i n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s o f I t a l y , F r a n c e a n d S p a i n , because o u r o b j e c t i v e w a s t o expose E u r o c o m m u n i s m . O f course, o u r P a r t y has d o n e t h i s previously, but now their anti-Marxist, counter-revolut i o n a r y stands a n d a c t i v i t i e s h a d t o b e s u m m e d u p s o m e w h a t more clearly, by analysing the w h o l e development o f t h e i r d e g e n e r a t i o n . So, t h e p r o b l e m w a s t o d e f i n e t h e m a i n phases o f t h e i r d e g e n e r a t i o n , h o w i t c a m e a b o u t a n d h o w i t d e v e l o p e d u p t o t h e p r e s e n t stage, w h i l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e , also, p o i n t i n g o u t r e a l i s t i c a l l y t h e p o s i t i v e aspects o f c e r t a i n m o m e n t s o f the I t a l i a n p a r t y , t h e F r e n c h party or the old Spanish party w h i c h fought against Franco.
T h e present t a c t i c o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s i s t o t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f t h e stands o f o u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t P a r t y a g a inst M a o Z e d o n g t h o u g h t . T h r o u g h t h i s t a c t i c t h e y a i m to d r a w us into their orbit, but neither y o u r p a r t y nor o u r s f a l l s r e a d i l y i n t o t h e i r t r a p s . O f course, t h e r e are p e o p l e i n the w o r l d w h o d o n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e tactics o f the Soviets. A n o t h e r a i m o f t h e S o v i e t t a c t i c s i s t o s p l i t t h e socalled Eurocommunist group, w h i c h cannot have u n i t y because each o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s w h i c h c o m p r i s e i t
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is in the service and, in general, follows the strategy of the b o u r g e o i s i e i n i t s o w n c o u n t r y . T h u s , t h e I t a l i a n r e visionist party is in friendship w i t h C h i n a and, up to a point, i n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . W e see t h i s t a c t i c o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s b e i n g followed, for example, towards the F r e n c h revisionist party. T h i s has made Marchais's revisionist party to adopt a s t a n d w h i c h at p r e s e n t is o p p o s e d to t h e E u r o c o m m u n i s t stand of the Italian a n d S p a n i s h revisionist parties. M a r c h a i s i s n o t a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t U n i o n i n r e g a r d t o the aggression i t has c o m m i t t e d i n A f g h a n i s t a n . I n d e e d , i t m u s t b e s a i d t h a t h e has b e g u n t o m o v e close t o t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , n o t o n l y o n t h i s q u e s t i o n , b u t also o n o t h e r q u e s tions. I t i s o u r d u t y t o b e v e r y v i g i l a n t , because t h e S o v i e t s still have political and economic influence. The Soviet U n i o n uses m i l i t a r y b l a c k m a i l a n d , i f w e j u d g e t h e s i t u a t i o n c o r r e c t l y , w e see t h a t a t present, f i n d i n g itself i n face o f m a n y e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l defeats, i t i s b e c o m i n g e v e r m o r e a g g r e s s i v e a n d i s u s i n g n o t o n l y its a r r o g a n c e as a b i g i m p e r i a l i s t state, b u t also w e a p o n s and aggression. Therefore, w i t h o u t i n a n y w a y t o n i n g d o w n the struggle against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , we must step u p t h e s t r u g g l e against S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m , too, because m i l i t a r i l y i t i s v e r y s t r o n g , i r r e s p e c t i v e o f t h e fact t h a t i t h a s b e e n a n d i s b e i n g d i s c r e d i t e d p o l i t i c a l l y a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l y . O n t h e one h a n d , t h e S o v i e t s act l i k e capitalists, l i k e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d c h a u v i n i s t s , w h i l e , o n the o t h e r h a n d , t h e y p r o c l a i m t h e m s e l v e s L e n i n i s t s . T h e y are t r y i n g t o j u s t i f y t h e i r a g g r e s s i o n i n A f g h a n i s t a n a s b e i n g d o n e to d e f e n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n there. T h e S o v i e t social-imperialists' demagogy to present themselves as L e n i n i s t s a n d t h e i r r e f e r r i n g t o t h e past o f t h e i r c o u n t r y can a n d does h a v e a n i n f l u e n c e , n o t o n l y o n c o m m u n i s t s w h o are n o t t e m p e r e d i d e o l o g i c a l l y i n s t r u g g l e a n d battles,
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b u t also o n m a n y o t h e r people w h o a r e a f r a i d o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggle and w a n t to go d o w n in history as c o m m u n i s t s , of course, as o r a n g e - c o l o u r e d c o m m u n i s t s , a c cording to Aragon's stand-point. I have mentioned this in m y book. W h e n i t i s o n l y a m a t t e r o f t a l k i n g , these elements s a y : W e are c o m m u n i s t s , w h i l e w h e n i t comes t o p u t t i n g u p resistance t h e y r e t r e a t . T h e S o v i e t s a r e t r y i n g t o use t h e s i t u a t i o n t o t h e i r advantage. B u t without overestimating the strength of our M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties, we t h i n k that the Soviet revisionists realize clearly that M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m is an i n v i n c i b l e force. Today or t o m o r r o w this force w i l l become a great a v a l a n c h e . E v e n t h o u g h t h e y h a v e b e t r a y e d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t h e y k n o w its f o r c e a n d c a n n e v e r t h i n k t h a t t h i s great r e v o l u t i o n a r y i d e o l o g y has b e e n w i p e d out o r has g r o w n w e a k w i t h age a s i s c l a i m e d b y t h e E u r o c o m munists and m a n y other revisionists w h o attack L e n i n , because h e i s t h e a r c h i t e c t o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , w h i l e a l l e g e d l y t h e y s p a r e M a r x . I n r e a l i t y t h e y a r e against M a r x , too, because i t w a s h e w h o l a i d t h e basis f o r t h e c o m p l e t e o v e r throw of capitalism. H e n c e , t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s k n o w t h i s great f o r c e o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t i d e o l o g y . T h e y k n o w also t h a t a n y r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t against c a p i t a l i s m assists t h e forces o f t h e w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n . P r o c e e d i n g f r o m this, t h e y r e a l i z e t h a t i f t h e y d o n o t act a g a i n s t t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties, t h e y w i l l become b i g a n d p o w e r f u l t o m o r r o w , a l t h o u g h t h e y are s m a l l t o d a y , because a l l t h e peoples struggle f o r t h e r e v o l u t i o n . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s k n o w t h a t the s u b j e c t i v e factor, t h a t is, t h e p a r t i e s w h i c h s t a n d i n the p o s i t i o n s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , w i l l c h a n n e l t h e g a t h e r i n g d i s c o n t e n t a n d i n d i g n a t i o n o f t h e peoples a g a inst A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d Soviet social-imperialism. Previously, w h e n M a o Zedong thought had not yet been o p e n l y e x p o s e d b y o u r p a r t i e s , t h e s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s
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a n d i m p e r i a l i s t s w e r e r a t h e r t r a n q u i l , because t h e y t h o u g h t that this revisionist current w a s w o r k i n g w i t h i n us l i k e a w o r m i n a n a p p l e . N o w , a f t e r o u r e x p o s u r e o f it, w e see t h a t t h e y h a v e i n c r e a s e d t h e i r a t t a c k s u p o n us. B u t h o w a r e they attacking us? In the w a y that Prestes and other f a c t i o n a l i s t s do. W e a r e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e f a c t i o n a l s t r u g g l e i n c i t e d b y c a p i t a l i s m a n d r e a c t i o n , a n d n o w also b y m o d e m r e v i s i o n i s m . O u r c l a s h w i t h these v a r i o u s retrogressive currents is unavoidable, but n o w both we a n d y o u w h o h a v e passed a l l these tests are m u c h b e t t e r a r m e d a g a i n s t t h e strategies a n d t a c t i c s o f o u r enemies. This m a k e s us better able to discern their aims a n d the f o r m s o f s t r u g g l e w h i c h t h e y use. W e , too, m u s t b u i l d a n d in fact we are concretely b u i l d i n g the forms of our struggle a g a i n s t t h e m . O f course, o u r s t r u g g l e i s n o t a n d w i l l not be easy. W e u n d e r s t a n d t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s o f t h e sister p a r t i e s i n t h e s t r u g g l e . W e , too, l i b e r a t e d o u r c o u n t r y t h r o u g h struggle. Nevertheless, we are and must be continuously i n s t r u g g l e , a t e v e r y m o m e n t , w h i l e w e m u s t also k n o w h o w t o use d i p l o m a c y , w h i l e a d h e r i n g t o o u r p r i n c i p l e s . A t t h e s a m e t i m e w e m u s t also b e v i g i l a n t b o t h i n s i d e a n d outside t h e c o u n t r y , because, a l t h o u g h t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s , s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s s m i l e a t us, t h e y h a v e t h e i r d a g g e r s r e a d y t o stab u s i n t h e b a c k . So, C o m r a d e Amazonas, we have difficulties, but we w i l l b e a b l e t o cope w i t h t h e m , because w e k n o w t h a t w e are o n t h e r i g h t r o a d a n d w e a r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e peoples u n d e r s t a n d us. F r o m t h e i n f o r m a t i o n w e h a v e r e c e i v e d a b o u t t h e b o o k s w h i c h o u r P a r t y has p u b l i s h e d , it turns out that even progressive bourgeois elements f i n d i n t h e m a n a l y s e s a n d c o n c l u s i o n s o f interest, w h i l e others w h o are, y o u m i g h t say, c o m m u n i s t s y m p a t h i z e r s t e l l u s that n o w they understand clearly w h a t the Soviet U n i o n a n d C h i n a a r e a n d w h a t t h e y are d o i n g i n E t h i o p i a , A l -
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geria, S o m a l i a and elsewhere. T h e question arises: W h y d o t h e y t e l l u s these t h i n g s ? B e c a u s e i n o u r b o o k s t h e y f i n d explanations for questions w h i c h they w e r e unable to understand o r e x p l a i n before. O n l y M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m c a n e x p l a i n a n d m a k e these t h i n g s u n d e r s t a n d a b l e t o a l l . T h a t i s w h y w e are c o n f i d e n t t h a t w e w i l l o v e r c o m e t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s . T h e v i c t o r y , o f course, i s n o t a c h i e v e d i m mediately. B u t in this w a y , through struggle against i m perialism, revisionism and factionalism gradually our avalanche w i l l be formed and build up. O n l y in struggle can the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties be strengthened and t e m p e r e d a n d g a i n c a p a b i l i t y t o d o v e r y great t h i n g s . The Soviet revisionists say they are s t r i v i n g for general disarmament, but in reality they are continuing to a r m themselves. T h e facts show that the situation w i t h i n the organization of the W a r s a w Treaty and that of Comec o n i s n o t a l l t h a t p e a c e f u l , let a l o n e m o n o l i t h i c . T h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s are p r o p p e d u p o n l y t h a n k s t o the a r m e d might of the Soviet U n i o n . In all the W a r s a w T r e a t y c o u n t r i e s t h e r e h a v e b e e n s t r i k e s a s b i g a s those i n t h e c a p italist countries. There have been such strikes in P o l a n d , for i n s t a n c e . E v e n B u l g a r i a h a s its o b j e c t i o n s w i t h i n C o m e c o n . In appearance the B u l g a r i a n revisionist leadership is w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , i n d e e d , i s its m o s t s e r v i l e l a c k e y , b u t o n e c o n o m i c m a t t e r s i t has f a r f r o m m i n o r c o n t r a d i c t i o n s . I n R u m a n i a , too, t h e r e i s d e g e n e r a t i o n . C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , likewise, is in economic crisis and the prices of all the goods h a v e b e g u n t o rise. In our opinion there is discontent in the W a r s a w T r e a t y c o u n t r i e s a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t presence, b u t t h i s i s n o t a t t h e same l e v e l a n d o f t h e s a m e s t r e n g t h a s i n N A T O , w h e r e t h e p o l i c y o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a has c r e a t e d a n u m b e r of splits. F r o m the economic stand-point the m e m b e r countries o f the W a r s a w T r e a t y are d e p e n d e n t o n the S o v i e t U n i o n .
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T h e y carry on the b u l k of their trade w i t h the Soviets. T h e y get e l e c t r i c p o w e r , o i l , gas a n d o t h e r r a w m a t e r i a l s mainly f r o m them. Steel production in Hungary, for e x a m p l e , d e p e n d s o n t h e o r e w h i c h comes f r o m K r i v o y R o g . H e n c e , t h e m e m b e r states o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y are u n a b l e t o m o v e f r o m t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , w i t h i n N A T O w e see t h a t F r a n c e a n d W e s t G e r m a n y h a v e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a over the measures w h i c h the latter wants to be taken against I r a n a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d o v e r t h e d e p l o y m e n t o f n e w m i s s i l e s i n E u r o p e , etc. T h i s s h o w s t h a t t h e r e are splits i n t h i s b l o c . T h e e x i s t e n c e a n d d e e p e n i n g o f these splits i s o f interest t o us, because t h e y w e a k e n t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e S o v i e t s , w h o k n o w h o w t o t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f t h e m , are t r y i n g t o exploit them. T h e r e are people w h o s a y t h a t the S o v i e t s d o n ' t k n o w h o w t o c o n d u c t p o l i t i c s . N o , t h i s i s n o t so. A s y o u k n o w , at t h e e n d of J u n e , a m e e t i n g of heads of state a n d g o v e r n ment of the m a i n industrialized countries of the w o r l d was held in Venice. Carter was to go there and, amongst other t h i n g s , d e c i s i o n s w e r e t o b e t a k e n against t h e Soviets o v e r t h e q u e s t i o n o f A f g h a n i s t a n . C a r t e r w e n t t o V e n i c e , b u t , b e f o r e t h e m e e t i n g , B r e z h n e v sent G i s c a r d d ' E s t a i g n a message i n w h i c h h e i n f o r m e d h i m t h a t h e w a s g o i n g to w i t h d r a w a d i v i s i o n of S o v i e t soldiers a n d a hundred tanks f r o m A f g h a n i s t a n , although the Soviets h a v e t e n s of t h o u s a n d s of o t h e r s o l d i e r s t h e r e . T h i s w a s a c a r e f u l l y t h o u g h t out p o l i t i c a l act o n t h e p a r t o f t h e S o v i e t s t o come t o t h e a i d o f d ' E s t a i g n a n d S c h m i d t i n t h e i r s t a n d against C a r t e r ' s pressures. A n d i n fact t h e S o v i e t a c t i o n assisted these t w o . A s has been p o i n t e d out i n t h a t book, t h e w o r k o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t party in the r a n k s of the bourgeois a r m y
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has great i m p o r t a n c e . T h i s w o r k m u s t b e d o n e i n t h r e e phases: b e f o r e t h e sons o f t h e p e o p l e a r e c o n s c r i p t e d t o t h e a r m y , w h i l e t h e y are d o i n g t h e i r m i l i t a r y service, a n d a f t e r t h e y c o m p l e t e it. O u r e x p e r i e n c e a n d y o u r s s h o w h o w important it is to w o r k w i t h the y o u t h before they g o i n t o t h e a r m y . A s w e see, t o d a y , b e f o r e t h e y g o i n t o t h e a r m y , the y o u t h f o l l o w t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t s , t h e g e n e r a l m o v e m e n t s o f p r o t e s t a g a i n s t crises, u n e m p l o y m e n t , a n d s o o n . T h e s t u d e n t s also r i s e a g a i n s t u n e m p l o y m e n t w h e n t h e y g r a d u a t e f r o m t h e h i g h e r schools. H e n c e , a m o n g t h e y o u t h w e see a g r e a t m o v e m e n t , y o u m i g h t say, a n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e r e g i m e i n p o w e r . T h i s i s a p p a r e n t i n m a n y c o u n t r i e s . W e see also t h a t t h e b o u r g e o i s i e i s a w a r e o f t h e d a n g e r o f t h i s g r e a t f o r c e . Its p a r t i e s p l a c e great i m p o r t a n c e o n t h e p r o b l e m s o f t h e y o u t h . W h y ? I n o r d e r t o cause d e g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e y o u t h t h r o u g h t h e use o f d r u g s , t h e p r o p a g a n d a o f sex, t h e s p r e a d o f a n a r c h i s m , t e r r o r i s m , etc. C a p i t a l i s m does a l l these things in order to disintegrate this massive force of the people w h i c h constitutes a d a n g e r t o it, because b o t h t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e p e a s a n t r y , etc., are r e n e w e d t h r o u g h t h e youth. This is biological. Some people grow old, but at the same time the n e w generation, the youth, come along. T h e bourgeoisie tries to suppress precisely this n e w generation a n d e l i m i n a t e its r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t . W e see t h e effect o f this work, for example, in the role w h i c h the a r m y plays. T h e s o l d i e r i s t h e s o n o f t h e p o o r peasant o r t h e w o r k e r w h o goes o n s t r i k e , a n d y e t h e opens f i r e o n t h e people. O f course, t h e e n t i r e y o u t h c a n n o t i m p l i c a t e i t s e l f i n t h i s evil hostile activity of the bourgeoisie. A m o n g the y o u n g people, w h e t h e r w o r k e r s , p e a s a n t s o r students, t h e r e a r e forces w h o t h i n k , p o l i t i c a l l y a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l y , n o t a s w e c o m m u n i s t s do. o f course, b u t i n p r o g r e s s i v e w a y s . T h e s e y o u n g p e o p l e see a l l t h e i n j u s t i c e s o f the b o u r g e o i s o r d e r , t h e r o b b e r y , t h e p l u n d e r , a n d a l l
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those t h i n g s w e m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r . T h e y see a l l these things, b u t t h e y d o n o t see t h e s o u n d o r g a n i z a t i o n w h i c h t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s m u s t c a r r y out i n o r d e r t o create a s i t u a t i o n w h i c h w i l l c h a n n e l a l l t h e h e a l t h y forces of the y o u t h into a single front as occurred in our country, f o r e x a m p l e . D u r i n g t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r the y o u t h of our country w e r e mobilized in the Anti-fascist Y o u t h Organization w h i c h subsequently, after the Congress of the Unification of the Y o u t h , was amalgamated w i t h the organization of the C o m m u n i s t Y o u t h to f o r m the L a b o u r Y o u t h U n i o n o f A l b a n i a . T h e s e y o u n g people f i l l e d t h e ranks of our army. W h i l e acting in this w a y we d i d not u n d e r e s t i m a t e t h e w o r k i n g class. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , e v e n though it was s m a l l in number, we had it in the centre of our attention and our work. Neither did we underestim a t e t h e s o - c a l l e d n a t i o n a l i s t s , t h a t is, t h e p r o g r e s s i v e elements, e v e n w h e n t h e y w e r e o v e r 4 5 y e a r s o f age. I f w e l o o k b a c k a t o u r w a r , w e see t h a t t h e r a n k s of the partisan brigades were filled m a i n l y w i t h the youth. O u r P a r t y , a t f i r s t , w a s m a d e u p o f o n l y 200 people, m o s t of w h o m were young, w h i l e the y o u t h in the ranks of the army, w h o m the P a r t y inspired, amounted to thousands. O u r country was occupied, and this was an important n a t i o n a l m o m e n t . W e c a n also c a l l the p e r i o d o f t h e o p p r e s sion of our people by k i n g A h m e t Zog and the occupation o f A l b a n i a b y fascist I t a l y n a t i o n a l m o m e n t s . P r e c i s e l y a t these m o m e n t s t h e P a r t y k n e w h o w t o u t i l i z e t h e revolutionary patriotic sentiments of the youth. We t h i n k that this national m o m e n t exists in every capitalist country today. In the various capitalist countries there is exploitation by the n a t i o n a l bourgeoisie, as w e l l as imperialist d o m i n a t i o n and exploitation, the d o m i n a t i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n b y m u l t i n a t i o n a l c o m p a n i e s , etc. A l l these f a c t o r s create t h e n a t i o n a l m o m e n t w h i c h m u s t b e u t i l i z e d i n e v e r y w a y . H o w e v e r , t h e r e a r e some c o m r a d e s w h o u n d e r -
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stand this in simplistic ways, in somewhat classical ways. O f course, w e m u s t a d h e r e t o a n d a p p l y o u r p r i n c i p l e s . F o r example, as I told you, at the start of o u r struggle we d i d n o t h a v e a b i g w o r k i n g class, i t w a s s m a l l , b u t w e b a s e d o u r s e l v e s o n its i d e o l o g y . T h e w o r k i n g class i s t h e b a c k b o n e o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , b u t t h i s does n o t r u l e o u t its a l l i a n c e w i t h t h e p e a s a n t r y , w i t h t h e e x p l o i t e d s t r a t a o f t h e people, even though various tendencies and situations exist w i t h i n them. Let us take just the problem of the youth. V a r i o u s ideologies, t h a t is, b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i d e o l o g i e s act u p o n t h e y o u t h . A s a result, w i t h i n its r a n k s t h e r e i s m o r a l and physical demoralization. On the other hand, there is also t h e s o u n d p a r t w i t h i n the masses o f t h e y o u t h . T h e r e fore, i t behoves t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s t o e x e r t t h e i r i n f l u e n c e o n a n d create t h e f r o n t o f t h e y o u t h . T h i s f r o n t c a n n o t be set u p , as some t h i n k , by c r e a t i n g a c o m m u n i s t y o u t h organization. No, that w o u l d be a v e r y n a r r o w organization w h i c h m a n y of the y o u n g people w o u l d not j o i n . B u t i f a b r o a d p o p u l a r o r g a n i z a t i o n i s set u p , t h e n tens o f t h o u s a n d s o f y o u n g p e o p l e w i l l g a t h e r i n it. I t i s u p t o the p a r t y t o t h i n k out h o w t h i s y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n s h o u l d b e c r e a t e d a n d g r a d u a l l y c o n c r e t i z e its w o r k . T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t s m i g h t h a v e c l e a r ideas, b u t they have to w o r k to ensure that the y o u n g people unders t a n d a n d accept these ideas, w h i l e a l w a y s s a f e g u a r d i n g the solidarity of their o w n ranks. A c c o r d i n g to the situation, the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t communists, without declaring t h e m selves o p e n l y , c a n a n d m u s t c a r r y o u t p r o p a g a n d a a m o n g t h e y o u n g people, f o r e x a m p l e , against t h e b o u r g e o i s a r m y , against p r i c e rises, a g a i n s t u n e m p l o y m e n t , etc. I n o t h e r words, a broad p r o g r a m of w o r k w i t h the y o u t h must be m a p p e d out and applied. Of course, these t h i n g s t h a t I m e n t i o n e d c a n n o t be d o n e a l l a t once. O u r P a r t y , f o r e x a m p l e , has a l w a y s p l a c e d
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great i m p o r t a n c e o n w o r k w i t h t h e y o u t h , a n d does s o even to this day. In the capitalist countries there is another problem, too, t h e p r o b l e m o f t r a d e - u n i o n s . W e h a v e discussed t h i s together, C o m r a d e A m a z o n a s , a n d w e h a v e b e e n i n c o m plete a g r e e m e n t o n e v e r y t h i n g . N o w I a m r e f e r r i n g t o a n o t h e r issue, t h a t o f t h e unemployed. W h a t is being done and w h a t should be done w i t h t h i s mass, w i t h t h i s c a t e g o r y o f p e o p l e o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d o t h e r w o r k i n g masses o f t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e , w h o m capitalism has t h r o w n out a n d continues to t h r o w out i n t h e s t r e e t ? T h i s mass o f people i s m o r e r e a d y t o s t r u g g l e t h a n those w h o a r e o r g a n i z e d i n t r a d e - u n i o n s . W h i l e s a y i n g this we do not in a n y w a y forget the p r i n c i p l e t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class i s t h e b a c k b o n e o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , therefore, we must not i n t e r r u p t our w o r k w i t h it even f o r a m o m e n t . B u t t h e u n e m p l o y e d are w o r k e r s , t o o . A n d i t seems t o m e t h a t here, a m o n g these u n e m p l o y e d w o r k e r s , the p a r t y has a c o n t i n g e n t f i f t y p e r cent r e a d y t o l a u n c h attacks. T h e y are desperate a n d i n r e v o l t . A m o n g s t t h e m t e r r o r i s m a n d a n a r c h i s m t a k e root, because t h e y t h i n k t h a t t h e y c a n d o s o m e t h i n g b y these m e a n s . T h e y t h i n k a n d act i n t h i s w a y , because t h e y h a v e n o t h i n g t o eat, because, a s M a r x says, t h e y h a v e n o t h i n g t o lose b u t t h e chains w h i c h e n s l a v e t h e m . W h i l e t h e w o r k e r s i n t r a d e unions receive t h e i r pay, h a v e guaranteed pensions and, as a result, n u r t u r e i l l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e s t r i k e m o v e m e n t w h i c h is m a n i p u l a t e d by the aristocracy of the w o r k i n g class. W e m u s t w o r k w i t h t h e m w i t h o u t f a i l , because t h e y c o n s t i t u t e t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class, b u t w e m u s t not f o r g e t t h e u n e m p l o y e d . W e h a v e r e a c h e d t h i s o p i n i o n o n t h e basis o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r P a r t y . However, there are comrades w h o do not understand a l l i a n c e s c o r r e c t l y . F o r e x a m p l e , some t h i n k q u i t e r i g h t l y t h a t a l l i a n c e s s h o u l d b e e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h p r o g r e s s i v e ele-
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merits, w h o a r e opposed t o the r e g i m e i n p o w e r a n d w i t h w h o m y o u can reach agreement on a n u m b e r of questions, w i t h the exception of revisionists w h o are opposed to our i d e o l o g y . T h e f o r m e r , too, are a g a i n s t us, b u t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s d e l i b e r a t e l y pose a s b e i n g a g a i n s t t h e r u l i n g state p o w e r , w h i l e i n r e a l i t y t h e y are i n a l l i a n c e w i t h t h i s state a n d h a v e t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties as their aim. E v e n though the progressive elements are r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s , t h e y a t t a c k s o m e aspects o f b o u r g e o i s p o w e r , because t h e y h a v e e c o n o m i c contradictions and, first of all, political contradictions over t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e m a j o r i t y i n P a r l i a m e n t , etc. W e e x p l o i t p r e c i s e l y these c o n t r a d i c t i o n s i n o r d e r t o create a n d d e e p e n the divisions amongst them, w h i l e the revisionists unite w i t h t h e m t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e state p o w e r o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e . O u r t a c t i c consists o f t h i s : w e f o r m a l l i a n c e s o n c e r t a i n issues w i t h p r o g r e s s i v e p e o p l e a n d n o t w i t h t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s . B u t t h e r e are some w h o t h i n k t h a t t h e y s h o u l d m e e t e v e n w i t h the heads o f t h e b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s . V e r y w e l l , t h e y , too, s h o u l d n o t b e u n d e r e s t i m a t e d , b u t t h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s t h a t contacts m u s t b e e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h t h e base, w i t h t h e r a n k - a n d - f i l e m e m b e r s o f those p a r t i e s . D u r i n g the time of the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r we m a d e e f f o r t s t o meet w i t h t h e c h i e f s o f g r o u p s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s of t h e b o u r g e o i s i e . I p e r s o n a l l y w a s one of t h e comrades w h o m the P a r t y h a d charged t o talk w i t h t h e chiefs w h o , a t t h a t t i m e , posed a s p a t r i o t s a n d p r o c l a i m e d h i g h a n d l o w t h a t the t i m e h a s come, o r the t i m e h a s n o t come, t o f i g h t against t h e o c c u p i e r s . S o m e c o m munists, e s p e c i a l l y t h e Y u g o s l a v s , t h r o u g h V u k m a n o v i Tempo, criticized us saying: W h y do you continue w i t h t h e m , w h y d r a g m a t t e r s out, w h a t i s t h i s o p p o r t u n i s m . . . ? But, w h i l e we tried to talk to the chiefs and m a k e things c l e a r t o t h e m , o n the o t h e r h a n d , w e w o r k e d t o w i n o v e r their rank and file. We proceeded f r o m the principle t h a t
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w e m u s t n o t a b a n d o n e f f o r t s t o a l l y w i t h t h e chiefs, because t h e y h a d i n f l u e n c e a n d because w e c o u l d d o o u r w o r k t h r o u g h t h e m , a l t h o u g h w e h a d n o great h o p e i n t h e m a n d p l a c e d o u r h o p e s i n t h e base. T h i s , C o m r a d e A m a z o n a s , i s t h e w a y w e see these t h i n g s , t h a t i s t o say, t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e a r m y , o f t r a d e unions, of the y o u t h a n d of the unemployed.
Speaking about unemployment and strikes, about the work of the party in the trade-unions and among the ranks of the youth, as well as about other questions, Joao Amazonas said among other things:
T h e problems w h i c h y o u raised today, C o m r a d e Enver, a n d a b o v e a l l , t h e p r o b l e m o f t h e y o u t h , seem t o u s t i m e l y , because i n B r a z i l w e h a v e a m i l i t a n t y o u t h . D u r i n g o u r stay h e r e w e v i s i t e d t h e m a r t y r s ' c e m e t e r y . R e a d i n g t h e dates o f t h e i r b i r t h a n d d e a t h i t e m e r g e s t h a t m o s t o f t h e m w e r e y o u n g people. I n B r a z i l , too, t h e y o u n g p e o p l e h a v e a m i l i t a n t s p i r i t . W e h a v e been a w a r e o f t h i s f o r m a n y years. F o r our part, w h i l e h a v i n g the w o r k w i t h students a t t h e c e n t r e o f o u r a t t e n t i o n , w e h a v e also g i v e n great i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e w o r k w i t h t h e w o r k e r y o u t h , w h o make up the majority, as w e l l as the w o r k w i t h the peasant y o u t h .
Comrade
Enver
Hoxha
again
took
up
the
conversation:
T h e c a p i t a l i s t e m p l o y s t h e m o s t e n e r g e t i c people, those of 25-30 y e a r s of age. W h e n t h e w o r k e r reaches 45 y e a r s o f age, t h e c a p i t a l i s t h a s squeezed h i m d r y a n d t h r o w s h i m out. I t i s n o t t h a t t h e w o r k e r i s n o t r e v o l u t i o n a r y a t t h i s age, b u t he is a l i t t l e m o r e c a u t i o u s in s t r u g g l e . It is t h e same also w i t h w o m e n , w h o a r e r a t h e r m o r e c o n c e r n e d about t h e i r c h i l d r e n , w h i l e t h e y o u t h t h r o w e v e r y t h i n g into the struggle.
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I h a v e discussed t h e q u e s t i o n of t h e y o u t h p e r s o n a l l y w i t h other f o r e i g n f r i e n d s , too. I n a t a l k w i t h a f r i e n d f r o m France, he told me that the youth in his country w e r e d e g e n e r a t i n g . T h e bourgeoisie, h e s a i d , w i t h its c o n s e r v a t i v e tendencies, i s t r y i n g t o save its o w n c h i l d r e n f r o m t h i s great d e g e n e r a t i o n , b u t i s w o r k i n g t o cause t h e d e g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e c h i l d r e n o f t h e w o r k i n g class. Then, the question emerges: W h o must defend the y o u t h o f t h e w o r k i n g class? W e , t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t communists. The M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y is the mother of t h e w o r k i n g class y o u t h , t h e r e f o r e t h e p a r t y m u s t o p e n t h e i r eyes a n d save t h e m f r o m t h e d a n g e r s . T h i s c a n n o t b e a c h i e v e d i n i n d i v i d u a l w a y s , b u t t h r o u g h mass o r g a n i z a tional, political and cultural w o r k and creating possibilities f o r t h e y o u t h t h e m s e l v e s t o f i g h t i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . In our country we have party organizations among the c i v i l p o p u l a t i o n a n d i n t h e a r m y . W h e r e t h e r e a r e fewer t h a n three party members, joint groups of party members and y o u t h can be created. We have approved t h i s i n t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e P a r t y . T h e best cadres o f t h e y o u t h , w h o are m e m b e r s o f these g r o u p s a n d t a k e p a r t i n meetings, c a r r y t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y t o t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e y o u t h . B e s i d e s t h i s , i n t h i s w a y , t h a t is, w i t h i n t h e P a r t y , we educate and temper boys a n d girls w i t h the s p i r i t o f t h e P a r t y . W e get m o s t o f o u r p a r t y m e m b e r s f r o m the youth. O u r conversations w i t h you, Comrade Amazonas, help us a g r e a t d e a l to see m o r e c l e a r l y t h e successes y o u h a v e a c h i e v e d a n d t h e great p o s s i b i l i t i e s w h i c h l i e a h e a d o f y o u . W e are c o n f i d e n t y o u w i l l a c h i e v e f u r t h e r successes. T h e e x c h a n g e o f o p i n i o n s w i t h y o u i s i m p o r t a n t f o r us, because it opens up to us the p e r s p e c t i v e of a m o r e p r o f o u n d r e f l e c tion on our o w n work. T h e complexity of the problems of workers, trade-unions, the countryside, the disruptive w o r k
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o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t , t h e c h u r c h , etc., a b o u t w h i c h y o u spoke, help us to reflect. T h e e x c h a n g e o f o p i n i o n s w i t h one a n o t h e r h e l p s u s t o s h a r p e n o u r v i g i l a n c e against pressures f r o m t h e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s , b u t also t o r e f l e c t o n t h e assistance, w i t h those p o s s i b i l i t i e s w e h a v e , w h i c h w e m u s t g i v e our M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t comrades. T h a n k y o u v e r y m u c h for y o u r visit, Comrade A m a zonas! I w i s h y o u success! C o n v e y m y g r e e t i n g s t o a l l t h e c o m rades o f y o u r P a r t y !
Published for the first time f r o m notes taken during this meeting, w h i c h are kept in the Central Archives of the Party.
PROBLEMS AND TASKS FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE HIGHER-TYPE COOPERATIVES INTO STATE FARMS
From a talk at the daily meeting with the secretaries of the CC of PLA
September 9, 1980
The study of the situation of higher-type cooperatives i s based m a i n l y o n some f i g u r e s a n d a c h i e v e m e n t s , w h i c h it is essential to k n o w . B u t it is not only the figures w h i c h m a k e us take this or that decision. The whole p r o b l e m m u s t b e seen m o r e w i d e l y , t h a t i s t o say, h o w o u r socialist agriculture is going to develop further. W e are c a r r y i n g t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m , i n general, constantly f o r w a r d and w i l l f u r t h e r intensify it. I n t h i s context, w e are w o r k i n g t o i n t e n s i f y a g r i c u l t u r e , too. B u t i n o r d e r t o d o t h i s s u c c e s s f u l l y , w e m u s t r a i s e t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l consciousness a n d t h e p r o g r e s s i v e t h i n k i n g of o u r c o o p e r a t i v i s t masses to a h i g h e r level. One of the m a i n problems for achieving this far f r o m easy o b j e c t i v e i s t h e w o r k w h i c h w e m u s t d o t o c o m b a t t h e r e m n a n t s o f t h e sense o f p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y , w h i c h s t i l l exist, a n d t h e p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s m e n t a l i t y o f o u r r u r a l w o r k i n g people. I f w e d o n o t d o t h i s p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l w o r k properly and systematically, we w i l l r u n into dif-
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ficulties d u r i n g our advance. N a t u r a l l y , we have w o r k e d c o n t i n u a l l y in this direction a n d it is true to say that we have achieved results. At the same time, however, r e m nants of the petty-bourgeois mentality exist in our countryside and reappear here more strongly and there more w e a k l y , disappear a n d r e t u r n anew in the most v a r i e d f o r m s . O f course, w e k n o w t h e i r f o r m s , b u t the p o i n t i s w e m u s t k n o w t h e m m o r e t h o r o u g h l y , because t h e y k e e p changing f r o m time to time. Likewise, we need better knowledge of the level of their intensity, not only among t h e p e a s a n t r y as a w h o l e , b u t also a m o n g p a r t i c u l a r g r o u p s and strata of the peasantry. N o w let u s c o m e t o t h e c o n c r e t e q u e s t i o n , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f socialist a g r i c u l t u r a l economies, t h a t is, t h e social property of the w h o l e people and the property of the g r o u p . T h i s l a t t e r c o n t a i n s a n e l e m e n t o f c a p i t a l i s m . We have to understand that between the property of the g r o u p a n d t h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e w h o l e people t h e r e i s a distinction both f r o m the psychological stand-point and in o t h e r s o c i a l aspects. T h e P a r t y k n o w s these t h i n g s , b u t I t h i n k i t o u g h t t o k n o w t h e m e v e n better. T h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e g r o u p i s a f o r m o f socialist p r o p erty, b u t t h i s f o r m c o n s t i t u t e s a n i n t e r m e d i a t e phase. I n t i m e i t m u s t pass i n t o p r o p e r t y o f t h e w h o l e people, a n d w e a r e w o r k i n g t o a r r i v e a t t h a t stage. T h i s i s a c o n t i n u i n g process i n m o v e m e n t , w h i c h b e g a n w i t h t h e L a n d R e f o r m , c o n t i n u e d w i t h t h e socialist c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n o f t h e p e a s a n t r y , w i t h t h e s e t t i n g u p o f state f a r m s property of the w h o l e people a n d later, w i t h the enlargement of a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives t h r o u g h their u n i f i c a t i o n up to the establishment of higher-type cooperatives, w h i c h represent a h i g h e r l e v e l of t h e s o c i a l i z a t i o n of t h e p r o p e r t y o f the g r o u p o n t h e c o u r s e o f b r i n g i n g i t closer t o t h e p r o p e r t y of t h e w h o l e people, as w e l l as w i t h a series of other s o c i o - e c o n o m i c m e a s u r e s w h i c h s t r e n g t h e n t h e s o c i a l -
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ist c h a r a c t e r o f o u r a g r i c u l t u r e . W e m u s t n o t f o r g e t t h a t i n c a r r y i n g f o r w a r d this process w e h a v e h a d d i f f i c u l t i e s , sometimes we have proceeded a little more rapidly, somet i m e s m o r e s l o w l y , b u t w e h a v e n e v e r t a k e n a step b a c k w a r d s a n d w e h a v e n e v e r stood s t i l l i n a n y phase. A s w e all know, in the i n i t i a l phase of collectivization m a n y peasants d i d n o t j o i n c o o p e r a t i v e s because t h e y w e r e n o t convinced, w h i l e later we came to a situation that all the peasants w e r e c o n v i n c e d a n d set out o n t h i s r o a d o f t h e i r o w n free w i l l . B u t this took about 20 years. Throughout this whole period of development and progress, t h a t is, f r o m t h e s e t t i n g u p o f t h e f i r s t c o o p e r a t i v e t o t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f h u n d r e d s o f others, a n d t h e n to their unification in bigger cooperatives and, finally, t o t h e s e t t i n g u p o f some tens o f h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s a n d other m e a s u r e s w h i c h t h e P a r t y has t a k e n , w e h a v e h a d to w o r k v e r y cautiously. Changes a n d progress have been made in our countryside, not only in the m a t e r i a l aspects, b u t also i n t h e m e n t a l i t y o f t h e peasants, i n w h o m socialist consciousness has b e e n s t r e n g t h e n e d step b y step. Nevertheless, we must never t h i n k that n o w we have r e a c h e d s u c h a stage of s o c i o - e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t t h a t the petty-bourgeois mentality has been eliminated a m o n g our peasantry. We must not t h i n k that it has been e l i m i n a t e d a m o n g t h e w o r k i n g class, e i t h e r , a l t h o u g h , i n fact, i t i s m o r e a d v a n c e d t h a n t h e p e a s a n t r y , because i t i s t h e class w h i c h leads t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m , a n d t h e P a r t y i s t h e edge o f t h i s s w o r d , because M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m i s its i d e o l o g y . E v e n i n t h e consciousness o f t h e w o r k i n g class t h e r e are s t i l l r e m n a n t s o f t h e p e t t y - b o u r geois p s y c h o l o g y a n d m e n t a l i t y , a l t h o u g h less t h a n a m o n g the peasantry. B u t h o w are they manifested? T h e P a r t y has e x p l a i n e d a n d e x p l a i n s t h i s c o n t i n u o u s l y . T h e m a n ifestations o f n a r r o w p e r s o n a l i n t e r e s t s w h i c h are o b s e r v e d e v e n a m o n g some w o r k e r s , t h e e f f o r t s o f m a n y o f t h e m
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t o k e e p t h e w o r k q u o t a s l o w , t h e breaches o f d i s c i p l i n e , the a t t e m p t s w h i c h are seen a m o n g i n d i v i d u a l w o r k e r s t o t a k e m o r e f r o m s o c i e t y a n d c o n t r i b u t e less to it, etc., etc., a l l these are p h e n o m e n a a n d e x p r e s s i o n s o f t h e p e t t y - b o u r geois p s y c h o l o g y . W h e n w e say t h a t s u c h p h e n o m e n a a n d m a n i f e s t a t i o n s are o b s e r v e d a m o n g t h e w o r k i n g class, i t i s u n d e r s t a n d a b l e f o r u s t h a t t h e y are o b s e r v e d a m o n g t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s , too, indeed somewhat more frequently. A n d in the intellectuals t h e y are m o r e d a n g e r o u s t h a n t h e y are i n the p e a s a n t r y , t h e r e f o r e , i f care i s n o t t a k e n t o c o m b a t a l i e n m a n i f e s t a tions a m o n g t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s , t h e y i n c r e a s e i n m o r e r e f i n e d w a y s , a n d t h i s g r e a t l y d a m a g e s t h e w o r k o f the P a r t y . T h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s a r e sons o f t h e people, o f w o r k e r s a n d peasants, b u t since t h e y a r e cadres, i f t h e y set o u t o n a w r o n g course, s u b m i t t i n g b o t h to the p r e s s u r e of p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s r e m n a n t s a n d t h e e x t e r n a l pressure, t h e a l i e n m a n i f e s t a t i o n s i n t h e i r consciousness e m e r g e m o r e q u i c k l y and become m u c h more dangerous and h a r m f u l . A t o u r p r e s e n t stage o f d e v e l o p m e n t w e c a n n o t c o m p l e t e l y e l i m i n a t e these a l i e n r e m n a n t s a n d m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , t h e r e fore t h e y w i l l c o n t i n u e t o e x e r t a n e g a t i v e i n f l u e n c e o n our w o r k . T h i s faces u s w i t h t h e t a s k t h a t t h e s t r u g g l e w h i c h the P a r t y wages in this field must be vigorous and unceasing. N o w let u s c o m e t o t h e p r o b l e m o f a g r i c u l t u r e . W e h a v e s a i d t h a t t h e h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s are a t r a n s i t i o n a l f o r m o f g o i n g o v e r t o state f a r m s . B u t w h e n are w e g o i n g t o pass o n t o t h i s stage? N a t u r a l l y , t h e r e i s n o c u t a n d - d r y a n s w e r t o this, b u t t h i s does n o t m e a n t h a t t h e P a r t y should not t h i n k about this objective and that the q u e s t i o n s h o u l d b e left t o s p o n t a n e i t y . T h e fact i s w e h a v e not w o r k e d a s m u c h a s w e s h o u l d f o r t h i s o b j e c t i v e a n d this i s s o m e t h i n g w e c e r t a i n l y m u s t d o s o t h a t n o t o n l y the m e m b e r s o f h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s , b u t also t h e
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others bee the p e r s p e c t i v e . T h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s h a v e to k n o w t h a t a d v a n c i n g on this course m e a n s a q u a l i t a t i v e u p l i f t , f r o m the e c o n o m i c s t a n d - p o i n t , t h e i r w a y o f l i f e , m e n t a lity and psychology. T h e P a r t y has not f o r g o t t e n t h i s o b j e c t i v e . I a m r e f e r r i n g t o the care w h i c h w e m u s t d i s p l a y i n t h e great e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k w e m u s t d o f o r t h e best p o s s i b l e p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y itself s o t h a t i t w i l l b e c l e a r a b o u t t h i s course. T h e P a r t y m u s t d o m o r e w o r k w i t h g r e a t e r p e r spective f o r t h i s process i n d e v e l o p m e n t , o n t h e ascent, so that it can explain and m a k e it clear to the cooperativists. T h i s is a q u e s t i o n of p r i n c i p l e a n d a q u e s t i o n of l i n e . It m u s t be m a d e c l e a r to the peasant that, j u s t as he b r o k e w i t h the private property and joined the agricultural cooperative, so he m u s t p r o c e e d on t h i s c o u r s e to t h e state f a r m , w h i c h i s the p r o p e r t y o f the w h o l e people. H o w e v e r , t h i s has not been e x p l a i n e d t o h i m i n s u c h a w a y a s t o prepare h i m ideologically, psychologically, economically a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l l y f o r t h i s change. L e t u s come n o w t o t h e s t u d y w h i c h i s u n d e r w a y i n connection w i t h the higher-type cooperatives. We have discussed h e r e t h e p r o b l e m s t h a t e m e r g e f o r t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s i n t o state f a r m s s u c h a s economic, p a y m e n t s , a d m i n i s t r a t i v e , o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d other p r o b l e m s . T h e s t u d y m a y s h o w , f o r e x a m p l e , w h a t s h o u l d b e done w i t h those f u n d s w h i c h t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s possess. A s w e h a v e discussed p r e v i o u s l y , w e m u s t s t u d y w h a t has t o b e done, f o r e x a m p l e , o v e r w h a t p e r i o d w e w i l l p a y off t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s , s o t h a t t h e m e m b e r s welcome this politically and discontent is not created a m o n g t h e m . B u t t h e p r o b l e m i s n o t s i m p l y one o f p a y m e n t , i t i s l i n k e d closely also w i t h t h e n e c e s s a r y goods w h i c h must be placed on the market to cover the money w h i c h w i l l be given to the cooperativists, a t h i n g w h i c h requires improved organization in the circulation of c o m -
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m o d i t i e s , i n d i s t r i b u t i o n , etc. I t i s i m p o r t a n t that, a t t h e moment of the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of the higher-type cooperatives i n t o state f a r m s , w e are c a r e f u l t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e society i s n o t u n d u l y b u r d e n e d a n d t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s a r e n o t h a r m e d . W e h a v e d i s c u s s e d these issues f r o m a l l aspects. A p a r t f r o m these, t h e p s y c h o l o g y o f t h e peasants i s also a p r o b l e m . F o r e s e e i n g t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of events, in my opinion, they w i l l be unprepared. Therefore, they may become discontented. W h y w i l l this occur? Because the f a c t s s h o w t h a t n o s m a l l n u m b e r o f h i g h e r - t y p e cooperatives h a v e l e v e l s o f i n c o m e a n d p a y m e n t t o t h e i r m e m b e r s w h i c h a r e a l m o s t e q u a l t o those o f t h e w o r k e r s o f t h e state f a r m s . W h e n t h i s i s a c h i e v e d w i t h i n t h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e g r o u p , t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s are s a t i s f i e d , b e cause, besides t h e i r r e m u n e r a t i o n f o r t h e w o r k d a y s , t h e y also h a v e t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l p l o t s . W h e n t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of c o o p e r a t i v e s i n t o state f a r m s is c a r r i e d out, t h e state w i l l p a y t h e m f o r t h e cows, sheep a n d goats, a n d s o o n , which they have owned on their personal plot and in the cooperative. I t h i n k t h a t a r e a s o n a b l e p r i c e s h o u l d be p a i d f o r t h e i r h o u s e h o l d l i v e s t o c k s o t h a t t h e y are n o t damaged. A s t o w h a t c o n c r e t e course w i l l b e p u r s u e d t o this e n d , t h i s m u s t b e s t u d i e d , because w e are n o w forming joint flocks in more organized ways. In regard to the p a y m e n t for the livestock of the cooperative t h i s s h o u l d b e p a i d i n i n s t a l m e n t s . A s a r e s u l t of this, t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t t u r n e d i n t o a state f a r m w o r k e r , besides g e t t i n g t h e s a m e w a g e a s t h e w o r k e r o f t h e f a r m , will have an increased income f r o m the payment for the cows, sheep a n d goats, etc., a n d t h i s w i l l b e o n e o f t h e w a y s to compensate p a r t l y for the income of some years w h i c h the c o o p e r a t i v i s t s e c u r e d f r o m t h e l i v e s t o c k a n d p r o d u c t i o n of his p e r s o n a l plot. Apart from this, the cooperatives have funds for
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i n v e s t m e n t , w h i c h i r r e s p e c t i v e o f w h e n a n d h o w the state w i l l g i v e t h e m t o the m e m b e r s , are t h e i r p r o p e r t y , too. H o w ever, the peasant m e n t a l i t y m a k e s h i m t h i n k , B e f o r e these are p a i d off t h e state w i l l w i p e t h e m out, w i l l t a k e t h e m f r o m us, etc., etc. T h e r e f o r e , I s a y t h a t f o r t h i s reason, too, p r e p a r a t i o n s m u s t b e done f r o m t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l aspect. P o s s i b l y w e c o u l d q u i t e e a s i l y settle the q u e s t i o n o f the p r o p e r t y t h a t comes f r o m t h e h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e one w a y o r another, a n d p a y f o r i t a c c o r d i n g t o r e g u l a t i o n s w h i c h w i l l b e e s t a b l i s h e d . B u t here a q u e s t i o n arises w h i c h w e m u s t c o n s i d e r c a r e f u l l y : D o e s t h e peasant r e a l l y c o n s c i o u s l y accept this m e t h o d w h i c h t h e state m a y d e c i d e o r does he accept it because he is t o l d to? It is essential t h a t w e w o r k h a r d w i t h the c o o p e r a t i v i s t s o t h a t h e i s c o n v i n c e d , accepts a n d u n d e r s t a n d s c o n c r e t e l y t h a t t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of the c o o p e r a t i v e i n t o a state f a r m w i l l be to his great a d v a n t a g e . T h a t is a m e n t a l i t y t h a t o u g h t to h a v e been i n c u l c a t e d , b u t u p t i l l n o w t h i s w o r k h a s n o t b e e n p r o p e r l y done. W h e n I s a y t h i s I h a v e i n m i n d n o t o n l y t h a t the masses o f c o o p e r a t i v i s t s d o n o t r e a l l y k n o w , b u t also t h a t t h e cadres t h e m s e l v e s are n o t f u l l y c l e a r a b o u t w h a t i s g o i n g t o b e done i n this d i r e c t i o n . T o d a y t h e y k n o w o n l y t h a t w h e n t h e t i m e comes t h e h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s w i l l b e c h a n g e d i n t o state f a r m s , b u t t h e y k n o w n o t h i n g about w h e n a n d h o w this w i l l c o m e about. T h e P a r t y m u s t p r e p a r e t h e m f o r this, because the socialist e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t c o n t i n u a l l y creates n e w s i t u a t i o n s . If the p r o b l e m w e r e p r e s e n t e d t h a t a good p a r t of h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s s h o u l d b e t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o state f a r m s r i g h t n o w , i t m i g h t t u r n out t h a t the state c o u l d n o t cope w i t h i t f i n a n c i a l l y . T h e r e f o r e , i t m i g h t b e s a i d t h a t t h i s i s not t h e t i m e t o t a k e t h i s step, a n d w e s h o u l d postpone it f o r a l i t t l e l a t e r . I t h i n k that, if we p u t off the solution of this p r o b l e m for a long time, the p r o b l e m
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w i l l become even more difficult. However, by proceeding o n t h i s course, t h e i r a c c u m u l a t i o n w i l l increase, t h a t i s t o say, a d a y w i l l c o m e w h e n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e m e m b e r s say: N o w , j u s t h a n g o n a m o m e n t , because w e cannot agree to be p a i d 14 or 16 l e k s f o r e v e r w h e n t h e y i e l d s o f a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d l i v e s t o c k p r o d u c t s are i n c r e a s i n g . W e w a n t 20 or 22 l e k s p e r w o r k d a y , we h a v e a stack of m o n e y for i n v e s t m e n t s , etc. C o n s e q u e n t l y , if t h i s course is pursued, the pay of members of the higher-type cooperatives w i l l o u t s t r i p t h a t o f t h e m e m b e r s o f the state f a r m s . That is w h y I think that leaving this problem as it is, w i t h t h e e x c u s e t h a t t h e t i m e has n o t come, w i l l create great d a n g e r s f o r us. In w h a t do I see these d a n g e r s ? In the m e n t a l i t y a n d p s y c h o l o g y o f t h e g r o u p p r o p e r t y , w h i c h continues t o g r o w s t r o n g e r , a s w e l l a s i n t h e great d i f ferences i n t h e p a y o f m e m b e r s a n d i n t h e i r i n c o m e f r o m the g r o u p p r o p e r t y , w h i c h w i l l b e b i g g e r t h a n those o f workers. To prevent this f r o m occurring and to m a i n t a i n the p r o p e r l e v e l o f p a y a n d i n c o m e i n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s , the i n v e s t m e n t s m u s t b e r e d u c e d , b u t t h i s w o u l d m e a n deliberately h i n d e r i n g the development of agriculture. A n d w e cannot a l l o w this. T h e P a r t y i s f o r t h e u n i n t e r r u p t e d d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r o d u c t i v e forces. H e n c e , m a j o r p r o b l e m s are b e i n g c r e a t e d f o r us, i n t o w h i c h w e m u s t d e l v e m o r e deeply. If we look at the five-year plan, the investments in a g r i c u l t u r e are o f t w o t y p e s : state i n v e s t m e n t s a n d i n v e s t ments m a d e b y t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s . O f course, the i n v e s t m e n t s of the c o o p e r a t i v e s are s m a l l e r t h a n state investments, w h i c h m e a n s t h a t the state c o n t i n u e s t o i n v e s t in agriculture and in cooperatives in order to strengthen the s i t u a t i o n o f t h e g r o u p p r o p e r t y . A n d w h e n t h e t i m e comes that these c o o p e r a t i v e s are t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o state farms, i t seems a s t h o u g h the state o u g h t t o p a y t h e m . B u t i n fact, b y m a k i n g i n v e s t m e n t s i n them t h e state i s p a y i n g
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t h e m i n a d v a n c e . B u t w h e n d i d these i n v e s t m e n t s b e g i n to be d i v i d e d into and calculated as funds of the cooperat i v e a n d f u n d s o f the state w i t h i n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e ? T h i s w a s done o n l y w h e n w e c r e a t e d t h e h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s . H o w e v e r , o u r p r o l e t a r i a n state h a s i n v e s t e d i n cooperatives r i g h t f r o m t h e t i m e t h e y w e r e set u p . T h e bearing in m i n d of the investments a n d aid w h i c h the state has p r o v i d e d f o r t h e h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s a n d f o r t h e o t h e r c o o p e r a t i v e s h a s p o l i t i c a l i m p o r t a n c e , because it shows our concern for raising the group property towards t h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e w h o l e people. I n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , however, we must struggle to ensure that the cooperatives m a k e f u l l use o f t h e i r o w n f u n d s a n d i n v e s t m e n t s f o r production and do not content themselves w i t h the results achieved. A p a r t f r o m t h e i n v e s t m e n t s w h i c h i t m a k e s , t h e state also p r o v i d e s t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t economies w i t h s h o r t - a n d l o n g - t e r m c r e d i t s f o r i n v e s t m e n t s . A n d , i n fact, m o s t o f t h e m h a v e r e p a i d t h e credits a n d h a v e n o debts. H e n c e , m a t t e r s h a v e r e a c h e d s u c h a stage t h a t state c r e d i t s are n o t a l w a y s r e q u i r e d . W h y does t h i s o c c u r ? B e c a u s e some o f the cooperatives have created their o w n special funds f o r i n v e s t m e n t s o r f o r t h e g u a r a n t e e d p a y , etc. B u t w h a t occurs w i t h some o f these i n v e s t m e n t f u n d s i n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s ? T h e y h a v e i n v e s t m e n t f u n d s u n u s e d , because w i t h the m a t e r i a l base a t o u r d i s p o s a l w e h a v e n o t h a d poss i b i l i t i e s t o d r a w i n these f u n d s , t h a t i s t o say. t o use t h e m to m a k e investments in the cooperatives so that in t i m e t h e y w o u l d n o l o n g e r exist a s f u n d s . H a d w e b e e n a b l e t o d r a w i n these f u n d s , w e w o u l d h a v e n o n e e d t o p a y f o r t h e m , a s emerges n o w . W h y w o u l d w e n o t p a y f o r t h e m ? B e c a u s e t h e y w o u l d h a v e been m a t e r i a l i z e d i n i n v e s t m e n t s i n t h e l a n d , f o r seed a n d i n o t h e r d i r e c t i o n s . W h a t w o u l d t h i s have brought about? It w o u l d have brought about that the cooperatives w o u l d get m o r e p r o d u c t i o n a n d i n c o m e , a n d
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thus, speed u p the process o f t r a n s f o r m a t i o n i n t o state f a r m s . W e m u s t p l a n a l l t h e i n v e s t m e n t s w h i c h are m a d e i n the c o o p e r a t i v e , d i v i d i n g t h e m i n t o i n v e s t m e n t s b y the c o o p e r a t i v e a n d i n v e s t m e n t s b y t h e state. T h e accounts m u s t b e k e p t i n t h i s w a y , too. T h i s m u s t b e d o n e b o t h i n o r d e r t o c h e c k u p b e t t e r o n h o w t h e i n v e s t m e n t s are u s e d a n d also so t h a t t h e m e m b e r s of t h e c o o p e r a t i v e understand clearly and k n o w that the group property of the c o o p e r a t i v e i s n o t e n t i r e l y t h e i r p r o p e r t y , b u t also belongs t o t h e w o r k e r s a n d t h e socialist state w h i c h h a s i n v e s t e d l a r g e s u m s . T h i s s h o w s c l e a r l y t h a t t h e state i s n o t i n d e b t e d t o t h e c o o p e r a t i v e , b u t the c o o p e r a t i v e i s i n d e b t e d to t h e state W h y do I say so? B e c a u s e t h e p r o d u c t i o n f r o m i n v e s t m e n t s w h i c h t h e state m a k e s i n i n d u s t r y , f o r e x a m p l e , b e n e f i t s t h e w h o l e society, w h i l e a l l t h e p r o d u c t i o n r e s u l t i n g f r o m t h e use o f state i n v e s t m e n t s i n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e b e n e f i t s t h e c o o p e r a t i v e a n d each o f its m e m b e r s . O f course w e d o n o t l e a v e a l l t h i s p r o d u c t i o n t o the cooperatives, because w e t a k e p a r t o f i t t h r o u g h the p a y m e n t s b y t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s f o r t h e services p e r f o r m e d b y t h e state a n d f o r t h e m a t e r i a l s w h i c h are sold to t h e m , etc., as w e l l as because of those r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n the c o o p e r a t i v e a n d t h e state w h i c h I e x p l a i n e d above. B u t t o b e i n o r d e r w e m u s t m a k e t h e peasant u n d e r s t a n d these r e l a t i o n s , s o t h a t h e w i l l c o m b a t t h e p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s mentality in his o w n m i n d and implant the sound opinion t h a t t h e state i s n o t i n d e b t e d t o h i m . b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y , he is i n d e b t e d to t h e state, t h a t he has o b l i g a t i o n s to the e c o n o m y , a s I s a i d above. B y a c t i n g i n h i s w a y , w e w i l l proceed towards i m p r o v e m e n t of the situation. In the e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s , w h e n we are r e q u i r e d to i n t e n s i f y a g r i c u l t u r e , t h e state m a y i n v e s t i n the a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s not 100 b u t e v e n 200 m i l l i o n l e k s . To t h i s end, f o r e x a m p l e , w e w i l l c a r r y out d r a i n a g e a n d l a n d i m p r o v e m e n t schemes, w i l l p r o v i d e better cows, etc. A n d
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w e d o t h i s i n o r d e r t o get m o r e p r o d u c t i o n . B u t w h a t does t h e c o o p e r a t i v e d o w i t h t h i s c o n t i n u a l increase o f p r o d u c t i o n ? I t increases t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n o f t h e g r o u p p r o p e r t y . So, w e m u s t c o n s i d e r t h i s p r o b l e m m o r e d e e p l y , because y o u see w h a t p r o b l e m i s e m e r g i n g n o w . W h e n we want to take a measure to advance further, this prob l e m i m m e d i a t e l y emerges b e f o r e u s a n d w e b e g i n t o t h i n k : W h a t are w e g o i n g t o d o w i t h these f u n d s ? O f course, e v e n t o d a y , i f y o u t e l l t h e m e m b e r s o f economically weak cooperatives that they should go into state f a r m s , t h e y are r e a d y . B u t t h e p r o b l e m w h i c h w e are d i s c u s s i n g has t o d o w i t h t h e m o s t d e v e l o p e d a n d e c o n o m i c a l l y s t r o n g c o o p e r a t i v e s , those o f the h i g h e r t y p e . A n d their development w i l l not stand still. H e r e the p r o b l e m i s t h a t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e p r o d u c t i v e forces m u s t b e a c c o m p a n i e d w i t h t h e i m p r o v e m e n t step b y step of t h e socialist r e l a t i o n s of p r o d u c t i o n . T h u s , the great intensification of our agriculture, w h i c h is going to include most of the a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives, e s p e c i a l l y those of the p l a i n i n w h i c h w e w i l l m a k e i n v e s t m e n t s , m o r e s c i e n t i f i c r e g i o n a l i z a t i o n a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l c i r c u l a t i o n , etc., w i l l lead to uninterrupted g r o w t h of production and i n come. C o n s e q u e n t l y , t h i s g r o w t h r e q u i r e s t h a t w e t h i n k c o n t i n u a l l y a b o u t t h e f u r t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t o f t h e socialist r e l a t i o n s of p r o d u c t i o n . W e h a v e been a n d are v e r y i n t e r e s t e d t o e n s u r e t h a t a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n increases n o t o n l y i n t h e state f a r m s , b u t also i n t h e cooperatives, w h i c h i n c l u d e a b o u t 80 p e r cent of the a r e a of a r a b l e l a n d . If we get a m p l e production, that w i l l be all to the good. T h e n we w i l l d i s t r i b u t e i t t o the w h o l e c o u n t r y , because i f a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d l i v e s t o c k p r o d u c t s o f the c o o p e r a t i v e s a n d state f a r m s increase, t h e y w i l l b e s o l d e v e r m o r e c h e a p l y o n the m a r k e t . A s w e l l a s this, f r o m t h i s p r o d u c t i o n f u n d s w i l l b e s e c u r e d for investments in agriculture and in heavy and light
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i n d u s t r y , i n t h e e x t r a c t i n g a n d p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r y , etc., a n d t h e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g o f t h e w o r k i n g people w i l l b e r a i s e d , a n d w e are m o v i n g i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . A l l this w i l l b e done, n o t t h r o u g h r a i s i n g wages, b u t t h r o u g h r e d u c i n g p r i c e s o r k e e p i n g t h e m stable, t h r o u g h e x p a n d i n g the n u m b e r o f j o b s a v a i l a b l e a n d e m p l o y i n g n e w forces w h o are i n c r e a s i n g , a n d s o o n . H e n c e , t h e p r o b l e m o f t u r n i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s i n t o state f a r m s a n d t h e p r o b l e m s w h i c h are l i n k e d w i t h t h i s process m u s t b e seen a s p a r t o f t h e w h o l e a n d c o n n e c t e d closely w i t h o u r w h o l e a d v a n c e on t h e r o a d of s o c i a l i s m , a n d n o t as s o m e t h i n g separate. O r let u s t a k e t h e p r o b l e m o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s ' p e r s o n a l plots. T h i s is a p r o b l e m of great economic, i d e ological a n d p o l i t i c a l i m p o r t a n c e , t h e r e f o r e w e m u s t s t u d y i t v e r y c a r e f u l l y a n d f o l l o w its t e n d e n c y step b y step. W e notice t h a t t h e v o l u m e o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e t o t a l i n c o m e f r o m t h e p l o t h a s r e m a i n e d u n c h a n g e d , o r has i n c r e a s e d slightly. It is not f a l l i n g , a l t h o u g h t h e r e is a t e n d e n c y f o r it to d i m i n i s h o v e r a l l as against the p r o d u c t i o n of the a g r i c u l tural cooperatives. T h e v o l u m e of production and income of the c o o p e r a t i v e m u s t be i n c r e a s e d c o n t i n u a l l y , w h i l e that o f t h e peasant p l o t s h o u l d s t e a d i l y d i m i n i s h . W h y ? Because, since p r o d u c t i o n i s i n c r e a s i n g a n d t h e i n c o m e o f the c o o p e r a t i v e s is r i s i n g , t h i s m e a n s t h a t t h e needs of the c o o p e r a t i v i s t s are b e i n g f u l f i l l e d e v e r b e t t e r f r o m t h e collective p r o p e r t y , hence, t h e f u n c t i o n o f t h e p e r s o n a l p l o t should g r a d u a l l y d i s a p p e a r . W e m u s t k e e p a n eye o n h o w this m a t t e r develops, because h e r e lies t h e biggest w o r m w h i c h eats a w a y a t t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e , i t i s l i k e the n a i l o f N a s t r a d i n , a c o n s t a n t excuse, i n t h e v i l l a g e , w h i c h keeps t h e p s y c h o l o g y o f t h e p r i v a t e o w n e r s h i p a l i v e among the c o o p e r a t i v i s t s , a n d i f w e d o n o t see t h e p r o b l e m s i n this w a y , t h e p e r s o n a l p l o t w i l l b e a n o t h e r obstacle w h i c h emerges b e f o r e u s o n t h e course o f t u r n i n g c o o p e r a tives into state f a r m s . N o w , after decades of t h e c o o p e r a -
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tivist economy, we must not support the idea that the p e r s o n a l p l o t s h o u l d assist t h e peasant e c o n o m y as s t r o n g l y a s w e d i d a t t h e start o f c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n . N o . T h i s i s n o t correct a n d c a n n o t b e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e s a m e w a y f o r a l l t h e cooperatives, b o t h f o r those w h i c h are w e a k e s t a n d f o r those w h i c h are t h e m o s t a d v a n c e d a n d o f t h e h i g h e r type. If t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t p l o t is c o n s i d e r e d , a n d is f o r a certain time, an a u x i l i a r y economy for the families in the w e a k cooperatives, is it so a n d to t h e s a m e degree f o r t h e families of the advanced cooperatives? T h e s e are n o t m i n o r m a t t e r s w h i c h h a v e t o d o w i t h t h e o p e n i n g o f one o r t w o shops t o s u p p l y t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s , b u t are m a j o r p r o b l e m s o f p r i n c i p l e w h i c h m u s t b e understood and solved correctly, always accompanied w i t h s t r o n g o r g a n i z a t i o n a l measures, o t h e r w i s e , w e w i l l h a v e n e g a t i v e consequences. T h e p r o b l e m o f the p o s s i b i l i t i e s w h i c h are b e i n g c r e a t e d f o r t u r n i n g three, f o u r , f i v e o r s i x h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s i n t o state f a r m s m u s t b e l o o k e d a t w i t h t h i s eye. A n d e v e n i f w e m a n a g e t o solve t h e p r o b l e m f r o m t h e p s y chological, political, economic and other stand-points, still perfect o r g a n i z a t i o n i s r e q u i r e d . N o w let u s c o m e t o t h e p r o b l e m o f f o r m i n g j o i n t f l o c k s o f t h e peasants' h o u s e h o l d l i v e s t o c k , w h i c h t h e M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e says i s b e i n g s o l v e d . L e t u s h e a r h o w it is being solved. Is this p r o b l e m being solved in s u c h a w a y t h a t t h e p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s m e n t a l i t y of peasants is b e i n g c o m b a t e d p r o p e r l y ? W h a t I am g e t t i n g at is t h a t t h e peasants m u s t b e c o n v i n c e d a n d s u r e t h a t f r o m these animals, w i t h w h i c h joint flocks are formed, they w i l l h a v e a m a t e r i a l g a i n i n r e t u r n , i.e.. t h a t t h e y w i l l b e s u p p l i e d w i t h m i l k a n d meat a n d w i l l b e g i v e n w o o l f o r a n y need t h e y m i g h t have, o r w i l l b e sold c l o t h i n p l a c e o f the w o o l t h e y w o u l d h a v e t a k e n f r o m t h e i r h o u s e h o l d a n i m a l s . H o w e v e r , i f these needs are n o t f u l f i l l e d w i t h t h e
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j o i n t f l o c k s , t h e n w e are n o t a c h i e v i n g t h e a i m o f r a i s i n g the w e l l - b e i n g of the cooperativists. I am convinced that the w a y we are proceeding w i t h t h i s q u e s t i o n i s correct, b u t i t m u s t b e e x a m i n e d p o l i t i c a l l y and ideologically to ensure that it is advantageous and that the administrative, organizational and financial arr a n g e m e n t s are s u c h t h a t t h e p e a s a n t i s n o t d i s s a t i s f i e d . T h e state m u s t r e s p o n d t o h i s needs n o t s i m p l y w i t h m o n e y , because i t w i l l p a y h i m m o n e y , b u t w i t h goods, regular supplies of w h i c h should be provided for the peasants w i t h o u t shortages. I n r e g a r d t o t h e rest o f c o w s a n d o t h e r l i v e s t o c k b e l o n g i n g t o the c o o p e r a t i v e , t h e state m u s t c e r t a i n l y b u y t h e m at a p r i c e w h i c h ensures that t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t is i n t e r e s t e d i n s e l l i n g t h e m t o t h e state a n d w i l l n o t s l a u g h t e r t h e m . T h i s i s h o w w e s h o u l d h a n d l e t h e p r o b l e m o f the livestock. N o w let u s c o m e t o t h e b u i l d i n g s o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e . W h o has m a d e i n v e s t m e n t s f o r t h e m ? O b v i o u s l y , i f t h e state, also, h a s m a d e i n v e s t m e n t s f o r t h e m , w e m u s t t e l l the c o o p e r a t i v i s t s h o w m u c h the state h a s i n v e s t e d a n d h o w m u c h t h e c o o p e r a t i v e . I f o n l y t h e c o o p e r a t i v e has m a d e i n v e s t m e n t s f o r t h e stalls, t h e n t h e p r o b l e m m u s t be studied carefully. T h e n , we come to other problems, for example, w h o has m a d e i n v e s t m e n t s f o r t h e b l o c k s o f f r u i t - t r e e s ? I f w e suppose t h a t i n t h i s sector one p a r t o f t h e i n v e s t m e n t s has been m a d e b y t h e state, w h i l e a n o t h e r p a r t b y the coo p e r a t i v e , t h e n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e has n o o b l i g a t i o n s t o t h e state a n d t h e state has n o o b l i g a t i o n s t o t h e c o o p e r a t i v e . I f the state has p r o v i d e d a c r e d i t a n d t h e c o o p e r a t i v e has r e p a i d it, a g a i n t h e p r o d u c t s b e l o n g t o t h e c o o p e r a t i v e a n d the state m u s t p a y c o m p e n s a t i o n t o t h e i r v a l u e . Reports and Speeches 1980-1981
T H E D R A F T I N G OF A SCIENTIFIC A N D MOBILIZING P L A N REQUIRES PROFOUND, C O M P L E X A N D SPECIFIC STUDIES
Opinions and views about the study on the rates of agricultural development as a whole and the intensification of production with priority in the lowland zones of several districts (1)
October 1, 1980
W e h a v e a l l s t u d i e d the m a t e r i a l s o n a g r i c u l t u r e w h i c h h a v e been presented to us. H o w e v e r , I t h i n k t h a t we s h o u l d c o n t i n u e t o reflect o n t h e m , a n d a l l o f u s h a v e been d o i n g t h i s d u r i n g the recent p e r i o d . T h a n k s t o t h e w o r k a l r e a d y done, n o w w e h a v e a p i c t u r e o f h o w a g r i c u l t u r e i s s u p posed t o a d v a n c e d u r i n g t h e 7th F i v e - y e a r P l a n , a l t h o u g h
_____________________________________ 1 F o r the d r a f t i n g of the 7th F i v e - y e a r P l a n for the period 1981-1985, on the instructions of the C e n t r a l Committee of the Party, a series of studies on the situation and on the development of various branches and sectors of the economy, education and culture and on raising the w e l l - b e i n g of the people were carried out in advance by the State P l a n n i n g C o m mission and other state, economic and scientific bodies. As l a i d down, the studies w e r e examined, first, by the w o r k i n g group set up at the C o u n c i l of Ministers, and later, d u r i n g the months of November-December 1980, w e r e presented one by one for discussion and a p p r o v a l to the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the C e n t r a l Committee of the P a r t y . C o m r a d e E n v e r H o x h a gave i m p o r tant opinions, suggestions and v i e w s on each material p r e sented.
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w e m a y s t i l l h a v e r e m a r k s t o m a k e a b o u t this sector, a n d m a y h a v e m o r e later, b u t these o u g h t t o b e w e l l - s t u d i e d a n d s y s t e m a t i c . I n o r d e r t o a c c o m p l i s h the n e w f i v e - y e a r p l a n , g r e a t e r e f f o r t s a r e r e q u i r e d f r o m a l l o f us, n o t o n l y f r o m the p h y s i c a l s t a n d - p o i n t , b u t also f r o m the m e n t a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c s t a n d - p o i n t , because I b e l i e v e m o r e d i f ficulties w i l l emerge for us d u r i n g this period. W e m u s t t h o r o u g h l y t h r a s h out t h e v i e w s w e h a v e a b o u t a g r i c u l t u r e i n a p r e l i m i n a r y d i s c u s s i o n b e f o r e the p l a n goes t o t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u . B e s i d e s p a r t i a l r e m a r k s , w e m u s t also d r a w some g e n e r a l c o n c l u s i o n s a b o u t the plan for agriculture. F o r example, if we reflect a little m o r e d e e p l y , w e c a n accept the v a r i a n t s a b o u t t h e t o t a l v o l u m e of a g r i c u l t u r a l production, but we must take better a c c o u n t o f the p r o g r e s s a l r e a d y m a d e . . . I am of the opinion that we must examine very attentively the possibility of the intensification of agriculture on the plains, because this is essential and must be done. It seems to me t h a t t h i s s t u d y p r e s e n t e d to us is a basis, b u t it is not c o m p l e t e . We h a v e to r e a l i z e t h a t w i t h t h i s w e are m a k i n g a change, a n a d v a n c e i n t h e f i e l d of the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of a g r i c u l t u r e , b u t t h i s also gives r i s e t o m a n y p r o b l e m s . T h e M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e a n d w e o u r s e l v e s h a v e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t since t h e t i m e of t h e d e c i s i o n to h o l d t h e congress of t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s a n d u p t o n o w m a n y n e w ideas h a v e e m e r g e d . C a n y o u i m a g i n e n o w , c o m r a d e s , h o w t h i s congress w o u l d be held, w h a t w o u l d have been said there? W e l l , d u r i n g this p e r i o d the question of the cooperativist plots emerged, also the question of turning some higher-type agricultural cooperatives into state farms, that is, into the property of the whole people, that of turning a number of ordinary agricultural cooperatives into higher-type cooperatives, and finally, the question of the further intensification of agriculture on the plains and the question of form-
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joint herds of the peasants' household livestock. T h e s e are a l l m a j o r a n d c o m p l e x p r o b l e m s f o r a g r i c u l ture. W h a t I w a n t to say is that we must not w a i t to solve the p r o b l e m s w h e n t h e y c r o p u p , b u t t r y t o a n t i c i p a t e t h e m w i t h studies s o t h a t w e c a n decide w h e t h e r m e a s u r e s m u s t be t a k e n step by step or some of t h e m s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . N o w w e face t h e 7 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n f o r w h i c h w e must take measures so that agriculture makes f u r t h e r advance and the cooperativists are mobilized to accomplish t h i s p l a n o f the P a r t y . T h e m a i n t h i n g t h a t w e m u s t k e e p in m i n d is the drafting of the five-year plan, w h i c h we m u s t s t r i v e t o d o i n t h e m o s t correct m a n n e r . During this five-year plan special attention will be paid to the intensification of agriculture. In t h e s t u d y w h i c h has been p r e s e n t e d t o u s t h i s p r o b l e m h a s b e e n seen m a i n l y f r o m one angle, t h a t o f the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f p a r t o f the p l a i n s . A t the s a m e t i m e , i t has e n v i s a g e d t h e q u e s t i o n o f the r o t a t i o n o f c r o p s i n these p l a i n s , t h e m a t e r i a l aspect necessary t o a c h i e v e t h e d e s i r e d results, etc. T h u s , t h e p r o b l e m has b e e n seen m a i n l y f r o m t h e aspect of the d e v e l o p m e n t of p r o d u c t i v e forces. B u t w h a t i s n o t c l e a r a n d has n o t b e e n s t u d i e d p r o p e r ly is the problem of the improvement of relations of production, which must be seen in close connection with the development of the productive forces, which we want to achieve in these lowland zones. H e r e I am r e f e r r i n g concretely to the relations among the cooperativists, the r e l a t i o n s o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s o f t h i s zone w i t h one a n o t h e r a n d the r e l a t i o n s o f the c o o p e r a t i v e s w i t h t h e state. T h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n w h i c h w e are g o i n g t o c a r r y out i s n o t t r a n s i t i o n o f h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s i n t o state f a r m s . The creation and development of higher-type cooperatives i s a c o n t i n u a l process. T h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n w h i c h w e e n v i s a g e w i l l create g r e a t e r p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r t h e e v e n t u a l g r a d u a l t r a n s i t i o n o f these c o o p e r a t i v e s w h i c h a r e b e i n g i n t e n s i f i e d
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to the p r o p e r t y of the w h o l e people o v e r a l a r g e a r e a of a b o u t 100 t h o u s a n d hectares. T h u s , the state sector of agriculture w i l l continue to be extended to that arable a r e a o f t h e H o m e l a n d w h i c h i s n o w state p r o p e r t y . My idea about intensification is that with this process we are beginning a new stage of development in these plains, and thus, going beyond the phase of creating higher-type cooperatives, which continues in the other regions. T h e q u e s t i o n w h i c h o u g h t t o b e a d d e d t o t h i s s t u d y i s the i m p r o v e m e n t o f r e l a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n i n this zone. T h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s w i l l s t i l l b e a p r o b l e m f o r us, b u t o n l y i n the other l o w l a n d zones a n d t h e h i l l y a n d m o u n t a i n o u s zones w h e r e h i g h e r t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s m a y also b e c r e a t e d i n t h e f u t u r e ; w h i l e i n t h e p l a i n s , w h i c h w e are i n t e n s i f y i n g w i t h p r i o r i t y , we w i l l bypass this situation t h r o u g h the forms of i n tensification. A n d in order to do this we must bear w e l l in m i n d t h e e x p e r i e n c e a l r e a d y g a i n e d a n d base o u r s e l v e s o n it. T h e f u r t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t and perfecting of the relations o f p r o d u c t i o n b e t w e e n people h a v e s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e f o r us because of t h e e x i s t e n c e of state o w n e r s h i p a n d h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v i s t o w n e r s h i p , w h i c h are i n t e r l i n k e d i n t h i s p h a s e o f i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n . W i t h the t u r n i n g o f t h r e e o r f o u r h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s i n t o state f a r m s , into t h e c o m m o n p r o p e r t y o f t h e w h o l e people, a n u m b e r of p r o b l e m s e m e r g e s u c h as t h a t of t h e c o m p e n s a t i o n w h i c h w e m u s t p a y f o r the l i v e s t o c k o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s o r t h e i r m e m b e r s , etc. W i t h t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n , t h e p r o b lem o f c o m p e n s a t i o n w i l l n o t b e a v o i d e d , b u t t h r o u g h t h e creation of n e w relations of production, w h i c h we must study, i t w i l l b e d i m i n i s h e d a n d g r a d u a l l y s o l v e d d u r i n g the process. T h e s i t u a t i o n w i l l b e c r e a t e d t h a t w i t h the large i n v e s t m e n t s o f t h e state a n d t h e c o o p e r a t i v e , t h e property of the cooperative w i l l be gradually merged into
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p r o p e r t y o f the w h o l e people. A c c o r d i n g t o m y i d e a , the f u n d a m e n t a l f u n d s o f t h e o l d c o o p e r a t i v e a s the p r o p e r t y of the g r o u p w i l l g r a d u a l l y d i m i n i s h as a p r o p o r t i o n of t h e w h o l e , but nevertheless, t h e c o o p e r a t i v e w i l l c o n t i n u e t o m a k e i n v e s t m e n t s a l o n g w i t h the state i n v e s t m e n t s . I n t h e zone w h i c h w i l l b e i n t e n s i f i e d t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s w i l l c o n tinue to be paid by the w o r k d a y . T h e s t u d y o u g h t t o i n c l u d e a l l the p l a i n s o f t h e c o u n t r y , a l t h o u g h its a p p l i c a t i o n w i l l b e c a r r i e d out i n stages. W h y i n stages? B e c a u s e the p l a n w h i c h w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to us covers o n l y a p e r i o d of f i v e y e a r s , up t i l l 1985. N a t u r a l l y , c e r t a i n steps w i l l b e t a k e n y e a r b y y e a r d u r i n g t h e c a r r y i n g out o f t h i s p l a n . H e n c e , t h e y i e l d s w h i c h h a v e been e n v i s a g e d o v e r t h e f i v e - y e a r p e r i o d w i l l n o t be a c h i e v e d a l l at once, b u t g r a d u a l l y . H o w e v e r , a p l a n c o v e r i n g a l o n g e r p e r i o d of t e n y e a r s s h o u l d be d r a f t e d f o r the w h o l e l o w l a n d zone. W i t h i n t h i s p e r i o d , t h e f i v e y e a r stages, as w e l l as the concrete steps f o r each y e a r w i l l b e d e f i n e d . I n t h e course o f t h e w o r k t h e n e e d f o r the r e - e x m i n a t i o n a n d a d v a n c e o f t a r g e t s w i l l arise. T h u s , w e w i l l h a v e a separate p e r s p e c t i v e p l a n o f a l o n g e r t e r m f o r the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a n d t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u , a n d another w h i c h we must accomplish d u r i n g the 5 years of t h e 7th F i v e - y e a r P l a n . In this five-year period we shall integrate the respective part of the perspective plan and, at the same time, take measures to prepare for the coming stage. This is my general idea. F r o m a c a r e f u l e x a m i n a t i o n o f the s t u d y w h i c h h a s been presented, w e see t h a t some p r o b l e m s emerge. F i r s t o f a l l , i t seems t o m e t h a t t h i s s t u d y deals m a i n l y w i t h t h e t e c h n i c a l a n d f i n a n c i a l aspects, w i t h o u t l i n k i n g t h e m p r o p e r l y w i t h the s o c i a l aspects. F o r e x a m p l e , a c c o r d i n g t o the s t u d y , a great increase of m e c h a n i z a t i o n is e n v i s a g e d i n the p l a i n s , b u t n o t h o u g h t has been g i v e n t o the quest i o n o f w h a t w e are g o i n g t o d o w i t h t h e s u r p l u s l a b o u r
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forces released w h e n the a g r i c u l t u r a l w o r k i s m e c h a n i z e d at s u c h a l a r g e scale. B e c a u s e it is clear t h a t m e c h a n i z a t i o n reduces t h e n e e d f o r l a b o u r , w h i l e w e n e e d t o i n c r e a s e mechanization to such a level w h i c h w i l l help us to increase p r o d u c t i o n a n d t o a c t i v i z e t h e l a b o u r forces s o t h a t w e d o n o t l e a v e people i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e u n e m p l o y e d , b u t at the same time, we must increase mechanization continuously. We must bear in m i n d that the r u r a l population w i l l increase n o t o n l y f r o m n a t u r a l b i r t h s , b u t also w i t h the s u r p l u s l a b o u r sent t h e r e f r o m t h e c i t y . H e n c e , t h i s p r o b l e m , too, m u s t b e t a k e n i n t o account. I n t h e l o w l a n d zones w h i c h w i l l b e i n t e n s i f i e d w i t h p r i o r i t y t h e r e are state f a r m s w h i c h are s h o r t o f l a b o u r , t h e r e f o r e , i n o u r p l a n n i n g t h e sectors m u s t s u p p l e m e n t one a n o t h e r , w h i l e retaining the relations of production. Thus, w h e n the state f a r m s are s h o r t o f l a b o u r w e m u s t f i l l these shortages w i t h t h e s u r p l u s forces w h i c h some o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s i n c l u d e d i n t h e i n t e n s i f i e d l o w l a n d zone m a y h a v e . Hence, we must take care that the increase in mechanization, which reduces the need for labour, should not create unemployment and obstacles for us. We absolutely must avoid unemployment. T h e v e r y i m p o r t a n t p r o b l e m o f t h e f u l l e m p l o y m e n t o f a l l t h e l a b o u r forces i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e t o c a r r y out t h e services w h i c h c r o p s need has not been t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t p r o p e r l y i n t h i s s t u d y . I t s o u n d s v e r y n i c e t o s a y w e s h o u l d h a r v e s t the wheat w i t h mechanized means over the w h o l e Republic w i t h i n 1 5 days, o r w e s h o u l d h a r v e s t a l l t h e m a i z e w i t h combines, o r w e s h o u l d e n s u r e i r r i g a t i o n o n a w i d e scale w i t h a r t i f i c i a l r a i n p l a n t s , o r w e s h o u l d hoe a l l t h e s p r i n g crops w i t h n e w m a c h i n e s , etc. B u t i f w e d o a c h i e v e a l l these t h i n g s , t h e n w e w i l l c e r t a i n l y face t h e p r o b l e m o f surplus l a b o u r in the countryside. We cannot proceed on the course of those c a p i t a l i s t states w h i c h h a v e o n l y a v e r y
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l o w percentage of the p o p u l a t i o n of the c o u n t r y in the r u r a l areas a n d h a v e the r e m a i n d e r u n e m p l o y e d i n the streets of the cities. T o d a y we h a v e a b o u t 65 p e r cent of the p o p u l a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y l i v i n g i n t h e r u r a l a r e a . A n d t h i s percentage w i l l b e r e t a i n e d m o r e o r less a t t h i s l e v e l , i f w e d o n o t increase it. T h e r e f o r e , t h e m e c h a n i z a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e , w h i c h m u s t b e i n c r e a s e d , has t o b e h a r m o n i z e d w i t h the l a b o u r e m p l o y e d i n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s . T h e people t h e r e m u s t b e e m p l o y e d m a i n l y i n a g r i c u l t u r e , b u t also i n other activities w h i c h are carried on in the territory of the v i l l a g e s . S o m e o f these forces c o u l d b e sent t o t h e h i l l y a n d m o u n t a i n o u s zones. H o w e v e r , t h e p r o b l e m i s n o t s o l v e d s o e a s i l y s i m p l y w i t h decrees a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e m e a s u r e s . We m u s t be r e a l i s t i c a b o u t t h i s . H e r e a series of m e a s u r e s are r e q u i r e d w h i c h h a v e t o d o w i t h t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d o t h e r sectors i n these zones, w i t h t h e m e c h a n i c a l m o v e m e n t o f the p o p u l a t i o n i n o r g a n i z e d f o r m s a n d w i t h c l e a r p e r s p e c t i v e s . I t seems t o m e t h a t t h i s q u e s t i o n , too, has n o t b e e n e n v i s a g e d i n t h i s s t u d y . Another question unenvisaged here is that in the united cooperatives of the plains, w h i c h w i l l be included i n the zone o f p r i o r i t y i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n , t h e r e are also v i l l a g e s o f h i l l y a n d m o u n t a i n o u s zones. W h a t p r o b l e m s e m e r g e f r o m t h i s s i t u a t i o n ? W e m u s t t h i n k a b o u t t h i s a n d act w i t h care. I stress t h i s because t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e zones w h i c h h a v e been s t u d i e d f o r i n c l u s i o n i n t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n , t h e r e are also m a j o r p a r t s o f c o o p e r a t i v e s w h i c h e x t e n d t o the m o u n t a i n o u s zones a n d w h i c h f o r m a n d r e m a i n a w h o l e . T h e r e f o r e , I t h i n k t h a t u n t i l t h i s process is completed we ought to retain the existing organization o f the c o o p e r a t i v e s w h i c h are i n c l u d e d i n t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n . D u r i n g this period the value of the w o r k d a y w i l l be increased f o r the c o o p e r a t i v i s t s w h o m u s t m a k e e f f o r t s t o accomplish the five-year plan, and that is the purpose of i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n , t h e r e f o r e , the f u n d o f a c c u m u l a t i o n s h o u l d
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also b e i n c r e a s e d b y the c o o p e r a t i v e s . T h i s w i l l s t i m u l a t e the p a r t i c i p a t i o n of the c o o p e r a t i v e s to i n c r e a s e t h e l e v e l of production. By this means and in this w a y the l i v i n g s t a n d a r d o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s w i l l b e i m p r o v e d a n d the p o s s i b i l i t i e s w i l l b e c r e a t e d f o r t h e state t o i n c r e a s e its i n v e s t m e n t s i n o t h e r zones a n d d i s t r i c t s . A t the s a m e t i m e , w e w i l l l e a d a l l t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s o n t h i s course t o w a r d s t u r n i n g i n t o state f a r m s . W e m u s t s t u d y these p r o b l e m s carefully, comrades, a n d f i n d the practical possibilities to m a k e the investments we intend to m a k e in the l o w l a n d zone. W e m u s t m a k e the i n v e s t m e n t s i n stages a n d h a r m onized a c c o r d i n g t o t h e d i r e c t i o n s w h i c h a d v a n c e t h e development of agricultural production, for example, irrigat i o n b y a r t i f i c i a l r a i n p l a n t s , t h e use o f f e r t i l i z e r s , m e c h a n i z a t i o n , t h e l e v e l l i n g a n d d r a i n i n g o f t h e l a n d , etc. N o w let m e d e a l w i t h m e c h a n i z a t i o n . W h a t emerges f r o m t h e s t u d y p r e s e n t e d t o u s ? T h e forecast m a d e seems to me high. In the 7th F i v e - y e a r P l a n the level of mechan i z a t i o n w i l l b e h i g h e r i n the d i s t r i c t s w h e r e w e i n t e n d t o i n t e n s i f y the p l a i n s w i t h p r i o r i t y . B u t h e r e w e m u s t bear w e l l i n m i n d w h a t I s a i d b e f o r e a b o u t t h e f a c t o r o f l a b o u r i n a g r i c u l t u r e , a n d w e m u s t i n n o w a y neglect the other p a r t o f a g r i c u l t u r e w h e r e t h e r e m u s t b e progress i n i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n , too. I n s p e c i f y i n g t h e m a c h i n e s w h i c h w e w i l l i m p o r t we must take proper account of this latter factor a n d i n t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f this m a c h i n e r y w e m u s t take w e l l i n t o a c c o u n t t h e m e c h a n i c a l base t h a t w e h a v e created h i t h e r t o . Its d i s t r i b u t i o n m u s t b e c a r e f u l l y c a l culated on t h e basis of t h e targets set f o r the i n c r e a s e of production. It is important for us that the five-year plan in agriculture should be accomplished m a i n l y w i t h the m e c h a n i c a l base w h i c h w e possess, w i t h a r e a s o n a b l e number of additional machines f r o m imports and local production.
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A b o v e I h a v e p r e s e n t e d s o m e ideas a b o u t i m p r o v e m e n t of t h e socialist r e l a t i o n s of p r o d u c t i o n in (he z o n e of priority intensification. N o w I w a n t to develop this problem a little more extensively. T h e i m p r o v e m e n t of r e l a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n i s essential i n o r d e r t o open b r o a d e r roads to the d e v e l o p m e n t of p r o d u c t i v e forces, as w e l l as t o p r e p a r e the c o n d i t i o n s t o g o o v e r g r a d u a l l y i n t h e f u t u r e to the transformation in a n a t u r a l and v o l u n t a r y w a y of the g r o u p p r o p e r t y i n t o p r o p e r t y o f t h e w h o l e people. T h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n a n d t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f socialist r e l a t i o n s in t h i s zone m u s t a c h i e v e a n u m b e r of o b j e c t i v e s : T h e increase of a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d l i v e s t o c k p r o d u c t i o n a t m o r e r a p i d rates, i n o r d e r t o f u l f i l t h e greatest needs of the c o u n t r y better. T h e increase of t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s of i n v e s t m e n t s a n d e x p e n d i t u r e i n p r o d u c t i o n , m a k i n g b e t t e r use o f t h e best s o i l a n d c l i m a t i c c o n d i t i o n s . T h e g r a d u a l r a i s i n g of t h e l e v e l of w e l l - b e i n g of t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t p e a s a n t r y u p t o t h a t o f w o r k e r s o f state farms. T h e increase in i n c o m e f o r society. I t h i n k the f u r t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t of the r e l a t i o n s of p r o d u c t i o n s h o u l d b e m a d e i n these d i r e c t i o n s : a ) i n t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n the state a n d t h e c o o p e r a t i v e ; b ) i n t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e a n d its m e m b e r s ; c ) i n the r e l a t i o n s of o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t of t h e work and production. T h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f r e l a t i o n s i n these t h r e e d i r e c tions m u s t be done in s u c h a w a y t h a t the s p h e r e of r e l a tions o f state o w n e r s h i p i s g r a d u a l l y e x t e n d e d , a n d t h e s p h e r e of r e l a t i o n s of c o o p e r a t i v i s t o w n e r s h i p is g r a d u a l l y r e s t r i c t e d . T h i s process w i l l b e c a r r i e d o u t b o t h i n t h e r e l a t i o n s o f o w n e r s h i p a n d i n those o f e x c h a n g e , d i s t r i b u tion and management.
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A. ABOUT THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE COOPERATIVE

T h e state s h o u l d p a r t i c i p a t e d i r e c t l y i n a l l t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s of t h e zone of i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n (both the h i g h e r - t y p e a n d the o r d i n a r y cooperatives). T h i s p a r t i c i p a tion should be: With fundamental investments for the development of production (for t h e l a n d , i r r i g a t i o n , f o r b u i l d i n g stalls, for m a c h i n e r y , f o r f r u i t - t r e e s , f o r p r o d u c t i o n l i v e s t o c k , a n d for o t h e r objects). O n the basis o f e x i s t i n g p o s s i b i l i t i e s , t h e t e n d e n c y o f the state i n v e s t m e n t s s h o u l d b e f o r t h e i r c o n t i n u a l increase w i t h t h e a i m o f a c h i e v i n g the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n r e q u i r e d a n d g r a d u a l l y i n c r e a s i n g t h e s h a r e o f the state i n t h e m a i n means of p r o d u c t i o n . F o r t h e i r p a r t , t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s , too, m u s t continue t o i n c r e a s e t h e i r sources o f a c c u m u l a t i o n i n o r d e r to meet a p a r t of t h e i n v e s t m e n t s a n d of the essential needs for m e a n s of c i r c u l a t i o n : With means of circulation, in o r d e r to meet t h e increase i n t h e m a t e r i a l e x p e n d i t u r e f o r p r o d u c t i o n w h i c h comes a b o u t as a r e s u l t of a h i g h e r l e v e l of i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n . The state s h a r e i n these m e a n s o f c i r c u l a t i o n s h o u l d a l w a y s be s u p p l e m e n t a r y , a f t e r t h e f u n d s of t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s themselves h a v e f i r s t b e e n u s e d . With the combination of relations of ownership between the state and the cooperative, the relations in the field of distribution must also be improved. As a r e s u l t of the g r e a t e r i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n , the r i g h t emerges f o r t h e state to t a k e w i t h o u t c o m p e n s a t i o n a g r e a t e r s h a r e t h a n hitherto f r o m t h e p r o d u c t f o r society, w h i c h i s c r e a t e d b y the l i v i n g l a b o u r i n t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e . T h i s c a n be done t h r o u g h the present c h a n n e l s (by m e a n s of t a k i n g from the c o o p e r a t i v e a l a r g e r a m o u n t t h a n at present of
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the c e n t r a l i z e d net i n c o m e ) , o r t h r o u g h some o t h e r f o r m w h i c h i s u s e d a t present i n t h e state f a r m s . . . W h e n t h e accounts are m a d e a n d t h e net i n c o m e i s d i v i d e d , t h i n g s m u s t b e w o r k e d out c l e a r l y . I n r e g a r d t o the f i v e - y e a r p l a n w h i c h w e are p r e p a r i n g w e m u s t b e a r i n m i n d t h a t t h e c o o p e r a t i v e m u s t a c c o m p l i s h it, a d h e r i n g t o the r e g u l a t i o n s w h i c h e x i s t u n d e r t h e l a w s a n d o r d e r s i n force. T h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t c a n n o t r e c e i v e m o r e t h a n h i s due. L i k e w i s e , i n the c o o p e r a t i v e s o f t h i s zone, i n o r d e r to a v o i d a f a l l in p a y in t h e case of a l e a n y e a r , in t h e e a r l y y e a r s t h e y s h o u l d p r o c e e d a t s l o w e r rates i n t h e i r distribution of the f u n d of consumption, w h i l e transferring a s m u c h m o n e y a s possible t o t h e g u a r a n t e e d p a y f u n d . T h e state o r g a n s a n d t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s s h o u l d set t h e l e v e l o f t h e n o r m o f a c c u m u l a t i o n j o i n t l y , a i m i n g t o m a i n t a i n the p r i o r i t y o f t h e i n c r e a s e i n t h e fund of accumulation in comparison w i t h the fund of c o n s u m p t i o n i n r e g a r d t o t h e i n t e r n a l resources o f t h e cooperative, b u t w i t h o u t r e d u c i n g t h e l e v e l o f a v e r a g e p a y r e c e i v e d d u r i n g the past t w o t o t h r e e y e a r s . In regard to the long-term bank credit for investments, i n a l l t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s o f t h i s zone i t s h o u l d b e r e p l a c e d w i t h t h e state p a r t i c i p a t i o n . F o r t h e e x p e n d i t u r e f o r p r o duction (which is not covered w i t h the funds of circulation o f the c o o p e r a t i v e a n d t h e state) s h o r t - t e r m c r e d i t s h o u l d be c o n t i n u e d to be p r o v i d e d j u s t as is d o n e f o r t h e state farms. B y a c t i n g i n t h i s w a y , e v e n t u a l l y , w h e n t h e socioe c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s are c r e a t e d f o r t u r n i n g t h e c o o p e r a t i v e i n t o a state f a r m , t h e v a l u e o f t h e m a i n m e a n s ( b u i l d i n g s , m a c h i n e r y , f r u i t - t r e e s , r e p l a c e m e n t l i v e s t o c k , etc.), i n general, should not be distributed to the members. F r o m the m a i n means, t h e v a l u e o f t h e l i v e s t o c k o f p r o d u c t i o n w i l l b e d i s t r i b u t e d . L i k e w i s e , those v a l u e s w h i c h r e p r e s e n t stocks o f a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d a n i m a l p r o d u c t s , t h e u n u s e d
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p a r t o f the g u a r a n t e e d p a y f u n d a n d some o t h e r i t e m could be distributed to them. In t h e f i e l d of r e l a t i o n s of e x c h a n g e i m p r o v e m e n t s can be made in a n u m b e r of m a i n directions. T h e method of collection, storing and h a n d l i n g of bread g r a i n should g r a d u a l l y change. T h e a i m should be that eventually only seed g r a i n a n d f o d d e r g r a i n s h o u l d b e h e l d b y t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives, w h i l e the r e m a i n i n g g r a i n should be h a n d e d t o t h e state, w h i c h m u s t u n d e r t a k e t h e s u p p l y o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s w i t h b r e a d , w h i c h i s p a i d for, j u s t a s i t does f o r t h e w o r k e r s o f t h e state f a r m s , u s i n g the bakeries of the agricultural cooperatives for this purpose. I n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h this, t h e i d e a c o u l d b e s t u d i e d o f s e t t i n g up a n u m b e r of c o l l e c t i o n centres f o r g r o u p s of cooperatives, to w h i c h b u l k products l i k e wheat, maize, cotton, rice, s u n f l o w e r , etc., or vegetables, potatoes a n d f r u i t are f i r s t t r a n s p o r t e d t o b e processed a n d t h e n m a n i p u l a t e d by the wholesale purchase or trade enterprises. I n t h i s context, t h e n e e d w i l l a r i s e f o r r e - e x a m i n a t i o n of some s t a n d a r d s ( m o i s t u r e content, i m p u r i t i e s , etc.), as w e l l a s t h e w h o l e s a l e p u r c h a s e prices, b e a r i n g i n m i n d t h a t t h e costs o f p r o c e s s i n g s h o u l d b e m e t b y t h e p r o d u c i n g economies. T h e p l a n n i n g of material-technical supplies and securi n g t h e necessary base f o r i n v e s t m e n t s a n d f o r the e x p e n d i t u r e o f p r o d u c t i o n i n t h e zone o f p r i o r i t y i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n s h o u l d b e d o n e o n a m o r e s c i e n t i f i c basis f o r t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives, too. a n d s h o u l d b e g u a r a n t e e d .
B. ABOUT THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE COOPERATIVE AND THE MEMBERS

D e p e n d i n g on the degree of intensification, t h e i n c r e a s e in production and the improvement of the relations bet w e e n t h e state a n d t h e c o o p e r a t i v e , the r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n
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the c o o p e r a t i v e a n d its m e m b e r s w i l l also g r a d u a l l y c h a n g e . T h e a i m s h o u l d b e that, f r o m the s t a n d - p o i n t o f r e m u n e r ation for t h e i r labour, forms of payment, social security, supplies o f f o o d - s t u f f s a n d the f u l f i l m e n t o f t h e i r needs f o r v i t a l services, t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s s h o u l d g r a d u a l l y r e a c h the situation of agricultural workers. T h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s ' l e v e l o f p a y s h o u l d g r a d u a l l y rise u p t o the l e v e l o f t h e p a y o f a g r i c u l t u r a l w o r k e r s , b u t s h o u l d b y n o m e a n s exceed it. H e r e w e m u s t t a k e i n t o account p r o p e r l y b o t h t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f g u a r a n t e e i n g their pay and the priority in the creation of the f u n d of a c c u m u l a t i o n (as m e n t i o n e d above). T h e l e v e l o f t h e payments in advance made throughout the year should g r a d u a l l y increase. E v e r y t h i n g w i l l b e a c c o m p l i s h e d w i t h w o r k and w i l l be paid according to the amount of w o r k done. W e w i l l create the m a t e r i a l blessings o u r s e l v e s . L i k e w i s e , t h e m e a s u r e s l a i d d o w n f o r the f o r m i n g o f j o i n t h e r d s o f the c o o p e r a t i v i s t s ' h o u s e h o l d c o w s a n d t h e r e duction of the personal plot should be applied completely a n d , first, i n t h e zone w h i c h i s t o b e i n t e n s i f i e d . T h i s w i l l b r i n g a b o u t that, a l o n g w i t h t h e i n c r e a s e i n t h e l e v e l o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s ' pay, t h e i r i n c o m e f r o m t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t plot w i l l b e p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y r e d u c e d . I n t h e zone t o b e i n t e n s i f i e d w e m u s t p r o c e e d g r a d u a l l y and in an organized w a y towards the t a k i n g over by the state o f the t r a d e i n c e r t a i n f o o d p r o d u c t s , w h i c h the cooperatives t r a d e t o d a y (bread, vegetables, m i l k , etc.), as w e l l a s c o m m u n a l a n d v i t a l services, j u s t a s i s d o n e f o r the r e s i d e n t i a l centres on the state f a r m s .
C. ABOUT THE RELATIONS OF MANAGEMENT AND THE ORGANIZATION OF WORK AND PRODUCTION
T h e tasks f o r t h e m o r e r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r o d u c t i v e forces a n d t h e i n t e r c o n n e c t i o n o f t h e e c o n o m i c
95
a n d s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s o f the g r o u p p r o p e r t y w i t h those o f t h e state p r o p e r t y also r e q u i r e o t h e r m e a s u r e s i n the f i e l d of organization and management, so that they support all t h i s process o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n i n t h e best possible w a y . F i r s t o f a l l , the p o s s i b i l i t i e s c r e a t e d b y t h e i n t e n s i f i cation and the improvement of relations in this l o w l a n d zone must be utilized w i t h the m a x i m u m effectiveness to b r i n g a b o u t a c o n c e n t r a t i o n a n d c o o p e r a t i o n on a b r o a d e r scale a n d o n s o u n d s c i e n t i f i c f o u n d a t i o n s . I n some cases this m a y r e q u i r e g o i n g b e y o n d t h e b o u n d a r i e s o f this o r that cooperative. I n those a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s p l a n n i n g s h o u l d a s s u m e t h e f o r m o f a n o b l i g a t o r y state d i r e c t i v e a n d not the f o r m o f r e c o m m e n d a t i o n , w h i c h i t i s t o d a y . L i k e w i s e , the c o n t r o l b y t h e state organs, i n t h e course o f c a r r y i n g out t h e p l a n , o f t h e accounts, t h e e x p e n d i t u r e , t h e d e p o s i t i n g a n d use o f i n c o m e s h o u l d b e s t r e n g t h e n e d c o n t i n u o u s l y a n d g r a d u a l l y r e a c h t h e l e v e l o f state f a r m s . B e a r i n g in m i n d the perspective, we must proceed step b y step t o w a r d s t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f f o r m s o f i n t e r n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n w h i c h t h e m o s t a d v a n c e d state f a r m s h a v e a n d a p p l y (the o p t i m a l size o f sectors, t h e i r t a s k s a n d competences, t h e size a n d s p e c i a l i z a t i o n of b r i g a d e s , etc.). I n t h i s zone, too, i n v e s t m e n t s w i l l b e m a d e i n b u i l d ings o f c o n s i d e r a b l e m a t e r i a l v a l u e a n d w i t h m o r e a d v a n c e d technology, w h i c h w i l l require the strengthening of the existing organs in the service of agriculture and, possibly, e v e n t h e c r e a t i o n o f s p e c i a l b u i l d i n g enterprises, o r the finding of other more suitable forms. T h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y d i r e c t i v e t o accelerate the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f p r o d u c t i o n and i m p r o v e t h e r e l a t i o n s of production over an extensive t e r r i t o r y requires that the organs a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state a n d the e c o n o m i c o r g a n s a t t h e base a n d i n t h e c e n t r e s h o u l d
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step u p the care a n d t h e w o r k o f o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d l e a d e r s h i p . I n this d i r e c t i o n , the n e e d f o r f o l l o w i n g t h e m e a s u r e s t h a t w i l l b e t a k e n i n t h i s zone m o r e c l o s e l y a n d i n c o n centrated ways could be examined. I see this course as a transitional stage in the further strengthening of our socialist system of agriculture and the turning of the agricultural cooperatives of the lowland zone into state farms. This will be a great success. This does not mean in any way that we are going to neglect the mountainous zones, on the contrary, with these measures that we are taking we shall create greater material possibilities to assist the mountainous zones, too (and this we must do without fail), because a large part of the population of the country lives there and those zones include a considerable proportion of the arable land. In the intensification of production and. closely l i n k e d w i t h this, i n the i m p r o v e m e n t o f r e l a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n i n the zone i n c l u d e d i n t h e s t u d y w e m u s t t a k e w e l l i n t o account t h e o v e r a l l p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e e c o n o m y a n d t h e needs for further development of production in the r e m a i n i n g part o f the l o w l a n d zone a n d t h e h i l l y a n d m o u n t a i n o u s zone. I f possible, t h e i n v e s t m e n t s a n d s u p p l e m e n t a r y resources w h i c h w i l l b e u s e d i n t h i s zone s h o u l d b e s e c u r e d i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f t h e w h o l e e c o n o m y , a n d n o t t h r o u g h the redistribution of the quotas of the five-year p l a n f o r a g r i c u l t u r e , because this w o u l d r e d u c e t h e rates o f d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e i n t h e o t h e r zones, a n d t h i s m u s t n o t be p e r m i t t e d . W i t h i n t h e zone t o b e i n t e n s i f i e d , t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f the needs a n d the a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f targets i n t h e e x i s t i n g state f a r m s s h o u l d h a v e p r i o r i t y , w i t h t h e a i m t h a t t h e state f a r m s s h o u l d b e i n t h e v a n g u a r d a n d a l w a y s set t h e e x a m p l e t o the c o o p e r a t i v e s f r o m a l l v i e w p o i n t s . I t h i n k t h a t t h e s t u d y p r e s e n t e d f o r t h e a r e a of
97
a b o u t 100 t h o u s a n d hectares needs to go m o r e t h o r o u g h l y i n t o s u c h p r o b l e m s as t h e i n c r e a s e of t h e effectiveness of investments, the period required for investments to pay f o r t h e m s e l v e s , etc. T h e w h o l e c o m p l e x o f t h e p r o g r e s s o f e x t e n d e d r e p r o d u c t i o n i n t h i s zone (the i n c r e a s e o f p r o duction, of expenditure, of the income w h i c h w i l l be secured and h o w it w i l l be distributed, of the investments, t h e m e a n s o f c i r c u l a t i o n , t h e f u n d s o f p a y a n d social security, the amount of accumulation w h i c h the stale w i l l t a k e , etc.) m u s t b e e x a m i n e d i n t h i s c o n t e x t . I f a l l these q u e s t i o n s a n d o t h e r p r o b l e m s w h i c h m i g h t a r i s e d u r i n g t h e s t u d y a n d its a p p l i c a t i o n are t r e a t e d i n a c o m p r e h e n s i v e m a n n e r , t h e r e s u l t w i l l b e t h a t the d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e p r o d u c t i v e forces a n d t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f r e l a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n i n t h e w h o l e zone e n v i s a g e d w i l l be a c c o m p l i s h e d c o r r e c t l y a n d s e r v e as a basis f o r t h e n e x t steps t h a t w i l l b e t a k e n f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e coo p e r a t i v i s t o r d e r a n d t h e w h o l e l i f e o f o u r socialist c o u n t r y s i d e . T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h i s process m u s t b e f o l l o w e d c o n t i n u o u s l y , a n d its i n d i v i d u a l e l e m e n t s m u s t b e e l a b o r a t ed time after time so that we proceed confidently on the right road to attain in practice the n e w objectives w h i c h w e are d e c i d i n g . About the 7th Five-year Plan
THE KHRUSHCHEVITES
Memoirs
(Excerpts)
T w o decades h a v e gone b y since the M e e t i n g o f 8 1 c o m m u n i s t a n d w o r k e r s ' p a r t i e s o f t h e w o r l d , w h i c h has gone d o w n i n h i s t o r y a s one o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t e v e n t s i n the s t r u g g l e w h i c h i s b e i n g w a g e d b e t w e e n M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m and opportunism. At this M e e t i n g our P a r t y opened f i r e o n the r e v i s i o n i s t g r o u p o f K h r u s h c h e v w h i c h was ruling in the Soviet U n i o n and struggling in every w a y to subjugate the entire international communist movement, all the communist and workers' parties of the w o r l d , and set t h e m on its r o a d of b e t r a y a l . O u r open a n d p r i n c i p l e d a t t a c k o n K h r u s h c h e v i t e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m a t t h e M e e t i n g i n N o v e m b e r 1960 w a s not a s u r p r i s e m o v e . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , i t w a s t h e l o g i c a l c o n t i n u a t i o n o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s t a n d w h i c h t h e P a r t y of Labour of A l b a n i a had always maintained, was the t r a n s i t i o n to a n e w , h i g h e r stage of t h e s t r u g g l e w h i c h o u r P a r t y h a d l o n g b e e n w a g i n g f o r t h e defence a n d consistent a p p l i c a t i o n o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . F r o m t h e t i m e t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s took p o w e r t o t h e m o m e n t w h e n w e c a m e out i n o p e n c o n f r o n t a t i o n w i t h them, the relations of the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a w i t h the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of the Soviet U n i o n went through
THE KHRUSHCHEVITES
(EXCERPTS)
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a c o m p l i c a t e d process, w i t h zigzags, w i t h p e r i o d s o f e x a cerbation and periods of temporary normalization. This w a s t h e process o f each g e t t i n g t o k n o w the other t h r o u g h e n c o u n t e r s i n t h e course o f t h e s t r u g g l e a n d t h e c o n t i n u a l c l a s h o f v i e w s . A f t e r the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t p u t s chists c a m e t o p o w e r , o u r P a r t y , b a s i n g itself o n t h e events t h a t w e r e t a k i n g p l a c e t h e r e , o n c e r t a i n stands a n d actions, w h i c h w e r e i l l - d e f i n e d a t f i r s t , b u t w h i c h , step b y step, w e r e b e c o m i n g m o r e concrete, b e g a n t o sense t h e great d a n g e r o f t h i s c l i q u e o f renegades, w h i c h h i d b e h i n d a deafening pseudo-Marxist demagogy, and to understand t h a t t h i s c l i q u e w a s b e c o m i n g a great t h r e a t b o t h to t h e cause of t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d s o c i a l i s m , as a w h o l e , a n d to our country. We became more and more aware that the v i e w s and stands of N i k i t a K h r u s h c h e v on important questions of t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d t h e socialist c a m p d i f f e r e d f r o m o u r v i e w s a n d stands. T h e 20th C o n g r e s s o f t h e C P S U , i n p a r t i c u l a r , w a s t h e event w h i c h m a d e u s adopt a stand of opposition to K h r u s h c h e v a n d the K h r u s h chevites. As M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s a n d in a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y , t i m e a f t e r t i m e w e h a d p o i n t e d out t o t h e S o v i e t leaders our reservations a n d objections to their conciliatory stands t o w a r d s t h e Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t s , a b o u t m a n y aspects of their u n p r i n c i p l e d foreign policy, about m a n y of their w r o n g a n d c o m p l e t e l y u n - M a r x i s t stands a n d actions o n m a j o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o b l e m s , etc. A l t h o u g h t h e y s o m e t i m e s f e i g n e d a r e t r e a t , t h e y c o n t i n u e d o n t h e i r course, w h i l e w e r e f u s e d t o s w a l l o w w h a t t h e y s e r v e d u p t o us, b u t o n t h e contrary, defended our views and implemented our internal and external policy. W i t h t h e passage o f t i m e t h i s b r o u g h t a b o u t t h a t w e became b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d w i t h each other's positions, a n d n e i t h e r side t r u s t e d t h e o t h e r . F o r o u r p a r t , w e c o n t i n u e d t o p r e s e r v e o u r f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , w i t h its
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peoples, c o n t i n u e d to b u i l d s o c i a l i s m a c c o r d i n g to the t e a c h ings o f L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , c o n t i n u e d a s b e f o r e t o d e f e n d t h e great S t a l i n a n d h i s w o r k a n d t o f i g h t u n w a v e r i n g l y against Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s m . O u r e x i s t i n g d o u b t s a b o u t the Soviet revisionists increased and deepened f r o m day to day, because d a y b y d a y K h r u s h c h e v a n d c o m p a n y w e r e acting in opposition to M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . K h r u s h c h e v w a s a w a r e o f o u r r e s e r v a t i o n s a b o u t the 20th Congress, a n d a b o u t t h e p o l i c y w h i c h h e f o l l o w e d w i t h the Titoites, i m p e r i a l i s m , etc., b u t h i s t a c t i c w a s not t o hasten t o e x a c e r b a t e the s i t u a t i o n w i t h u s A l b a n i a n s . He hoped to profit f r o m the friendship w h i c h we displayed f o r the S o v i e t U n i o n t o t a k e t h e A l b a n i a n f o r t r e s s f r o m w i t h i n a n d t o get u s i n t o t h e b a g w i t h s m i l e s a n d threats, b y g i v i n g u s some r e d u c e d credits, a s w e l l a s through pressure and blockades. K h r u s h c h e v a n d the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s t h o u g h t : W e k n o w the A l b a n i a n s . H o w e v e r s t u b b o r n t h e y are, h o w e v e r h o t - t e m p e r e d t h e y are, t h e y h a v e n o w h e r e else t o t u r n to, because w e h a v e t h e m p i n n e d u p a n d , i f t h e y p r o v e d i f f i c u l t , i f t h e y don't obey us, t h e n w e w i l l s h o w o u r t e e t h , w e ' l l cut t h e m off a n d boycott t h e m , a n d o v e r t h r o w a l l those w h o oppose us. T h e K h r u s h c h e v g r o u p p r e p a r e d this c o u r s e o f a c t i o n , p r o m o t e d a n d deepened it, t h i n k i n g t h a t i t w o u l d a c h i e v e its a i m q u i e t l y a n d g e n t l y a n d w i t h o u t a n y fuss. H o w e v e r , the reality was convincing them that this tactic was yielding no fruit, and thus their impatience and arrogance began t o emerge. T h e s i t u a t i o n b e c a m e tense. T h e n i t w a s eased o n l y t o g r o w tense a g a i n . W e u n d e r s t o o d w h e r e t h i s course w o u l d lead K h r u s h c h e v a n d c o m p a n y , t h e r e f o r e w e strengthened our vigilance, and w h i l e replying to manifestations of t h e i r despotism, we t r i e d to p r o l o n g the peace while safeguarding our principles. B u t the m o m e n t came w h e n the c u p w a s f u l l t o o v e r f l o w i n g . T h e peace, w h i c h h a d seemed t o e x i s t before,
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c o u l d c o n t i n u e n o longer. K h r u s h c h e v w e n t o p e n l y o n t o t h e a t t a c k t o s u b j u g a t e a n d f o r c e u s t o f o l l o w his u t t e r l y opportunist line. T h e n we told K h r u s h c h e v bluntly and l o u d l y No!, w e s a i d Stop! t o his t r e a c h e r o u s a c t i v i t y . T h i s m a r k e d the beginning of a long and very difficult s t r u g g l e i n w h i c h o u r P a r t y , t o its g l o r y a n d t h e g l o r y o f the people w h o g a v e b i r t h t o i t a n d r a i s e d it, c o n s i s t e n t l y s a f e g u a r d e d t h e i n t e r e s t s o f its socialist H o m e l a n d , p e r sistently defended M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and the genuine international communist movement. A t t h a t t i m e m a n y people d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d the attitude of the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a ; there were even well-wishers of our P a r t y and country w h o considered this a c t i o n hasty, some h a d not yet c o m p l e t e l y u n d e r s t o o d the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s ' b e t r a y a l , some others t h o u g h t t h a t w e b r o k e a w a y f r o m the S o v i e t U n i o n t o l i n k u p w i t h C h i n a , etc. T o d a y , not o n l y t h e f r i e n d s , but also t h e e n e m i e s of socialist A l b a n i a h a v e u n d e r s t o o d the p r i n c i p l e d c h a r a c t e r o f the u n i n t e r r u p t e d s t r u g g l e w h i c h o u r P a r t y has w a g e d a n d i s w a g i n g against o p p o r t u n i s t s o f e v e r y hue. T i m e has f u l l y c o n f i r m e d h o w r i g h t t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a w a s t o f i g h t the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s a n d r e f u s e to follow their line. To this fight, w h i c h demanded and s t i l l d e m a n d s great sacrifices, our s m a l l H o m e l a n d owes t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e i t p r i z e s s o h i g h l y a n d its s u c cessful d e v e l o p m e n t o n t h e r o a d o f s o c i a l i s m . O n l y t h a n k s t o t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t l i n e o f o u r P a r t y d i d A l b a n i a not become a n d n e v e r w i l l b e c o m e a p r o t e c t o r a t e o f the R u s sians or a n y o n e else. S i n c e 1961 o u r P a r t y o f L a b o u r h a s not h a d a n y l i n k o r contact w i t h t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s . I n t h e f u t u r e , too, i t w i l l never establish party relations w i t h them, and we do not h a v e a n d w i l l n e v e r h a v e e v e n state r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e Soviet social-imperialists. As up to now, our P a r t y w i l l consistently w a g e t h e i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e f o r
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the e x p o s u r e o f these e n e m i e s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . W e acted i n t h i s w a y b o t h w h e n K h r u s h c h e v w a s i n p o w e r a n d w h e n he was brought d o w n and replaced by the Brezhnev team. O u r P a r t y had no illusions, but on the contrary, was quite certain that Brezhnev, Kosygin, Suslov, M i k o y a n , a n d others w h o h a d been K h r u s h c h e v ' s closest c o l l a b o r a t o r s and had jointly organized and put into practice the revisionist c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , w o u l d persist i n t h e i r f o r m e r line. * T h e y eliminated K h r u s h c h e v (1) w i t h the a i m of protecting K h r u s h c h e v i s m f r o m the d i s c r e d i t w h i c h t h e m a s t e r h i m s e l f w a s b r i n g i n g u p o n i t w i t h h i s endless b u f f o o n e r y , e l i m i n ated the f a t h e r w i t h t h e a i m o f i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e c o m plete r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n w i t h g r e a t e r i n t e n s i t y a n d effectiveness. I n this d i r e c t i o n B r e z h n e v a n d c o m p a n y h a v e p r o v e d to be the w o r t h y pupils of their i l l - f a m e d teacher. W i t h i n the S o v i e t U n i o n t h e y e s t a b l i s h e d a n d s t r e n g t h e n e d the d i c t a t o r i a l fascist r e g i m e , w h i l e t h e y t u r n e d t h e f o r e i g n p o l i c y of t h e i r state i n t o a p o l i c y of great-state c h a u v i n i s m , expansion and hegemonism. U n d e r the leadership of the B r e z h n e v Khrushchevites, the Soviet U n i o n has been turned into an imperialist world power and, like the United States o f A m e r i c a , a i m s t o r u l e t h e w o r l d . A m o n g the bitter evidence of the u t t e r l y reactionary policy of S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m are the t r a g i c e v e n t s i n C z e c h o s l o vakia, (2) the strengthening of the domination of the K r e m l i n o v e r the c o u n t r i e s o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y , t h e d e e p e n i n g o f
_______________________________________ * See article W i t h the D o w n f a l l of N. K h r u s h c h e v K h r u s h chevite R e v i s i o n i s m H a s Not B e e n Eliminated, E n v e r H o x h a , Selected Works, v o l 3, 8 N n t o r i P u b l i s h i n g House, T i r a n a 1980, pp. 657-665, E n g . ed. 1 K h r u s h c h e v w a s relieved of his functions on October 14, 1964. 2 In August 1968 the armies of the Soviet revisionists and their satellites occupied Czechoslovakia.
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their all-round dependence on M o s c o w and the extension o f t h e tentacles o f S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m t o A s i a , A f r i c a and elsewhere. T h e c o r r e c t assessments a n d forecasts o f o u r P a r t y about the reactionary internal a n d foreign policy of B r e z h nev have been a n d are being constantly confirmed. T h e most recent example is A f g h a n i s t a n , where the B r e z h n e v K h r u s h c h e v i t e s u n d e r t o o k a n o p e n fascist aggression ( 3 ) a n d n o w a r e t r y i n g t o q u e l l t h e f l a m e s o f t h e people's w a r t h e r e w i t h f i r e a n d steel i n o r d e r t o p r o l o n g t h e i r s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l ist o c c u p a t i o n . T h e fact t h a t o u r s m a l l H o m e l a n d a n d people h a v e not s u f f e r e d t h e t r a g i c f a t e o f a l l those w h o a r e n o w languishing under imperialist or social-imperialist slavery is t h e best t e s t i m o n y to t h e correctness of t h e consistent, courageous a n d p r i n c i p l e d line w h i c h our P a r t y of L a b o u r has a l w a y s f o l l o w e d . T h e m e r i t of this correct course belongs to the w h o l e P a r t y a n d , i n p a r t i c u l a r , t o its l e a d e r s h i p , t h e C e n t r a l C o m mittee, w h i c h , i m b u e d w i t h a n d l o y a l t o t h e t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , o u r g u i d i n g t h e o r y , has a l w a y s l e d t h e P a r t y a n d t h e p e o p l e c o r r e c t l y . I n t h e g r e a t tests w h i c h w e h a v e h a d t o w i t h s t a n d , t h e u n i t y o f the P a r t y w i t h its l e a d e r s h i p a n d t h e u n i t y o f t h e people a r o u n d the P a r t y have been b r i l l i a n t a n d have become further t e m pered. T h i s steel u n i t y g a v e t h e P a r t y s u p p o r t a n d s t r e n g t h i n t h e d i f f i c u l t b u t g l o r i o u s s t r u g g l e against t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s , too. T h i s u n i t y has b e e n a n d i s t h e foundation of the stability and confidence w i t h w h i c h A l b a n i a has m a r c h e d a n d i s m a r c h i n g f o r w a r d , w i t h s t a n d ing the pressure and blackmail, the blandishments and d e m a g o g y of e n e m i e s of a l l hues. As a c o m m u n i s t a n d l e a d e r of t h e P a r t y , I, too, h a v e
__________________________________ 3 In the end of December 1979.
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had to take part actively in and m a k e my contribution to a l l this h e r o i c s t r u g g l e o f o u r P a r t y . C h a r g e d b y t h e P a r t y a n d its l e a d e r s h i p , since t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f A l b a n i a , a n d e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g the y e a r s 1950-1960, I h a v e h e a d e d delegations o f t h e P a r t y a n d the state m a n y t i m e s i n o f f i c i a l m e e t i n g s w i t h t h e S o v i e t leaders a n d w i t h t h e m a i n leaders o f o t h e r c o m m u n i s t a n d w o r k e r s ' p a r t i e s . L i k e w i s e , m a n y times we have exchanged reciprocal visits, I have taken part in consultations and international meetings of communist parties at w h i c h I have expressed and defended t h e correct line, decisions a n d i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y . I n a l l these m e e t i n g s a n d v i s i t s I h a v e b e c o m e c l o s e l y a c q u a i n ted w i t h glorious, unforgettable leaders, l i k e S t a l i n , D i m i t r o v , G o t t w a l d , B i e r u t , P i e c k a n d others, a n d l i k e w i s e , I h a v e h a d t o enter i n t o contact w i t h a n d k n o w t h e K h r u s h chevite traitors, who, t h r o u g h a long a n d complicated process, g r a d u a l l y u s u r p e d p o w e r i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d in the former countries of people's democracy respectively. T h e r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e m a n d t h e stands m a i n t a i n e d by our P a r t y d u r i n g this period have been reflected in the d o c u m e n t s o f t h e P a r t y , i n m y w r i t i n g s w h i c h are b e i n g p u b l i s h e d b y d e c i s i o n o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , a s w e l l a s i n other d o c u m e n t s w h i c h a r e f o u n d i n t h e C e n t r a l A r c h i v e s o f t h e P a r t y . N o w I a m h a n d i n g o v e r these notes f o r publication as my reminiscences and impressions f r o m t h e m a n y contacts a n d clashes w i t h the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s , w h i c h cover t h e p e r i o d f r o m 1953, a f t e r t h e d e a t h o f S t a l i n , t o t h e e n d o f 1961, w h e n the K h r u s h c h e v g r o u p b r o k e o f f diplomatic relations w i t h the People's R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a . T a k e n together w i t h other p u b l i s h e d m a t e r i a l s a n d d o c u m e n t s c o v e r i n g t h a t p e r i o d , these notes, too, I b e l i e v e , w i l l serve t o a c q u a i n t t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d w o r k i n g masses better, both w i t h the counter-revolutionary activity of the Soviet revisionists inside and outside the Soviet U n i o n , a n d w i t h
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t h e a l w a y s c o r r e c t a n d consistent s t r u g g l e o f o u r P a r t y i n defence o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t h e people a n d o u r socialist Homeland. One of the m a i n directions of K h r u s h c h e v ' s strategy a n d t a c t i c s w a s t o seize c o m p l e t e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l power w i t h i n the Soviet U n i o n and to put the Soviet a r m y a n d t h e state s e c u r i t y o r g a n s i n h i s service. The K h r u s h c h e v group w o u l d w o r k to achieve this o b j e c t i v e step b y step. A t f i r s t , i t w o u l d not a t t a c k M a r x ism-Leninism, the construction of socialism in the Soviet U n i o n and S t a l i n frontally. On the contrary, this group w o u l d base itself o n t h e successes a c h i e v e d a n d , m o r e o v e r , w o u l d exalt t h e m to the m a x i m u m , in order to gain credit f o r itself a n d create a s i t u a t i o n o f e u p h o r i a , w i t h the a i m o f d e s t r o y i n g t h e socialist base a n d s u p e r s t r u c t u r e l a t e r . F i r s t o f a l l , t h i s r e n e g a d e g r o u p h a d t o get c o n t r o l o f t h e p a r t y , i n o r d e r t o e l i m i n a t e t h e possible resistance o f those cadres w h o h a d n o t lost t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y class vigilance, to neutralize the waverers and w i n t h e m over by m e a n s of p e r s u a s i o n or threats, as w e l l as to p r o m o t e to t h e k e y l e a d i n g p o s i t i o n s b a d , a n t i - M a r x i s t , careerist, o p p o r t u n ist e l e m e n t s o f w h o m , o f course, t h e r e w e r e some i n t h e Communist P a r t y of the Soviet U n i o n and the apparatus of t h e S o v i e t state. A f t e r t h e G r e a t P a t r i o t i c W a r some n e g a t i v e p h e n o mena appeared in the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of the Soviet U n i o n . T h e d i f f i c u l t e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n , the d e v a s t a t i o n a n d d e s t r u c t i o n , t h e g r e a t h u m a n losses w h i c h o c c u r r e d i n the S o v i e t U n i o n , r e q u i r e d a total m o b i l i z a t i o n of t h e cadres a n d t h e masses f o r its c o n s o l i d a t i o n a n d progress. H o w ever, i n s t e a d of t h i s , a f a l l i n g - o f f in the c h a r a c t e r a n d m o r a l e o f m a n y cadres w a s n o t i c e d . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h r o u g h t h e i r conceit a n d b o a s t i n g a b o u t t h e g l o r y o f t h e battles w o n , t h r o u g h t h e i r d e c o r a t i o n s a n d p r i v i l e g e s , w i t h
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t h e i r m a n y vices a n d d i s t o r t e d v i e w s , t h e p o w e r - s e e k i n g elements were overwhelming the vigilance of the party a n d c a u s i n g i t t o decay f r o m w i t h i n . A caste w a s c r e a t e d i n t h e a r m y w h i c h e x t e n d e d its despotic a n d a r r o g a n t d o m i n a t i o n t o the p a r t y , too, a l t e r i n g its p r o l e t a r i a n c h a r a c t e r . T h e party should have been the s w o r d of the revolution, but this caste c o r r o d e d it. I am of the opinion that even before the w a r , but e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r t h e w a r , signs of a d e p l o r a b l e a p a t h y a p peared in the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of the Soviet U n i o n . T h i s p a r t y h a d a great r e p u t a t i o n a n d h a d a c h i e v e d colossal successes i n t h e c o u r s e o f its w o r k , b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e i t h a d s t a r t e d t o lose t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t a n d w a s b e c o m ing infected by bureaucracy and routine. The Leninist norms, the teachings of L e n i n and S t a l i n h a d been transf o r m e d b y the apparatchiki i n t o stale p l a t i t u d e s a n d h a c k n e y e d slogans d e v o i d o f o p e r a t i v e w o r t h . T h e S o v i e t U n i o n w a s a vast c o u n t r y , t h e people w o r k e d , p r o d u c e d , c r e a t e d . It was said that i n d u s t r y w a s developing at the necessary rates a n d t h a t the socialist a g r i c u l t u r e w a s a d v a n c i n g . B u t t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t w a s not a t t h e l e v e l i t s h o u l d h a v e b e e n . I t w a s n o t the w r o n g l i n e o f S t a l i n w h i c h h e l d u p t h e progress. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , this l i n e w a s c o r r e c t a n d M a r x i s t Leninist, but it was frequently applied badly and even d i s t o r t e d a n d sabotaged b y e n e m y elements. S t a l i n ' s c o r r e c t l i n e w a s d i s t o r t e d also b y t h e d i s g u i s e d e n e m i e s i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e p a r t y a n d i n t h e organs o f t h e state, b y t h e opportunists, liberals. Trotskyites and revisionists, as the K h r u s h c h e v s , M i k o y a n s , Suslovs, Kosygins, a n d others e v e n t u a l l y t u r n e d out t o be. B e f o r e t h e d e a t h o f S t a l i n , K h r u s h c h e v a n d h i s close collaborators in the putsch were among the m a i n leaders w h o acted u n d e r cover, w h o m a d e p r e p a r a t i o n s a n d awaited the appropriate moment for open action on a b r o a d scale. It is a fact t h a t these t r a i t o r s w e r e h a r d e n e d
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conspirators, w i t h the experience of various Russian c o u n ter-revolutionaries, the experience of anarchists, Trotskyites a n d B u k h a r i n i t e s . T h e y w e r e also a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e e x perience of the r e v o l u t i o n a n d the B o l s h e v i k Party, a l though they learned nothing of benefit f r o m the revolution, b u t l e a r n e d e v e r y t h i n g t h e y n e e d e d t o u n d e r m i n e the r e v o l u t i o n a n d s o c i a l i s m , w h i l e e s c a p i n g the b l o w s o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . I n short, they were counter-revolutionaries and double-dealers. On the one h a n d , t h e y s a n g t h e p r a i s e s o f s o c i a l i s m , t h e r e v olution, the Bolshevik C o m m u n i s t Party, L e n i n and Stalin, and on the other hand, they prepared the counter-revolution. H e n c e , a l l t h i s a c c u m u l a t e d s c u m c a r r i e d o u t sabotage w i t h t h e subtlest m e t h o d s , w h i c h t h e y d i s g u i s e d b y p r a i s i n g S t a l i n a n d t h e socialist r e g i m e . T h e s e e l e m e n t s d i s o r g a n i z e d the revolution w h i l e organizing the counter-revolution, displayed severity against i n t e r n a l enemies in order to spread f e a r a n d t e r r o r i n t h e p a r t y , t h e state a n d t h e people. It was they w h o created a situation f u l l of euphoria w h i c h they reported to Stalin, but in reality they destroyed the base of t h e p a r t y , t h e base of the state, c a u s e d s p i r i t u a l degeneration a n d b u i l t up the cult of S t a l i n to the skies in order to overthrow h i m more easily in the future. T h i s was a diabolical hostile activity w h i c h h a d a stranglehold on the Soviet U n i o n , the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of the Soviet U n i o n and Stalin, who, as the historical facts s h o w e d , w a s s u r r o u n d e d b y enemies. A l m o s t n o n e of the members of the P r e s i d i u m and the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e r a i s e d t h e i r voices i n d e f e n c e o f s o c i a l i s m a n d Stalin. If a d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s is m a d e of t h e p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l and organizational directives of Stalin in the leadership and organization of the party, the w a r and the w o r k , in g e n e r a l , m i s t a k e s o f p r i n c i p l e w i l l not b e f o u n d , b u t i f w e
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bear in m i n d h o w they were distorted by the enemies a n d a p p l i e d i n practice, w e w i l l see t h e d a n g e r o u s consequences o f these d i s t o r t i o n s a n d i t w i l l b e c o m e o b v i o u s w h y t h e p a r t y began t o become b u r e a u c r a t i c , t o b e i m m e r s e d i n r o u t i n e w o r k a n d d a n g e r o u s f o r m a l i s m w h i c h s a p p e d its s t r e n g t h , s t r a n g l e d its r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t a n d e n t h u s i a s m . T h e p a r t y b e c a m e c o v e r e d b y a h e a v y l a y e r o f rust, b y political apathy, t h i n k i n g mistakenly that the head, the l e a d e r s h i p , operates a n d solves e v e r y t h i n g o n its o w n . F r o m s u c h a concept, t h e s i t u a t i o n w a s c r e a t e d t h a t i n e v e r y i n s t a n c e a n d about e v e r y t h i n g t h e y w o u l d say, this i s t h e l e a d e r s h i p ' s business, the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e does not m a k e m i s t a k e s , S t a l i n has s a i d this, a n d t h a t ' s a l l t h e r e i s t o it, etc. S t a l i n m i g h t not h a v e s a i d m a n y t h i n g s , b u t t h e y w e r e c o v e r e d w i t h his n a m e . T h e a p p a r a t u s a n d the officials became omnipotent, infallible and operated i n b u r e a u c r a t i c w a y s u n d e r t h e slogans o f d e m o c r a t i c c e n tralism and bolshevik criticism and self-criticism, w h i c h were no longer bolshevik in reality. T h e r e is no doubt that i n t h i s w a y t h e B o l s h e v i k P a r t y lost its f o r m e r v i t a l i t y . I t l i v e d o n w i t h correct slogans, b u t t h e y w e r e o n l y s l o g a n s ; i t c a r r i e d out orders, b u t d i d not act o n its o w n i n i t i a t i v e ; w i t h the m e t h o d s a n d f o r m s o f w o r k w h i c h w e r e u s e d i n the l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e p a r t y , t h e opposite r e s u l t s w e r e achieved. In such conditions bureaucratic administrative m e a sures began t o p r e d o m i n a t e o v e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y m e a s u r e s . V i g i l a n c e w a s n o l o n g e r o p e r a t i v e because i t w a s n o l o n g e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y , r e g a r d l e s s o f a l l t h e b o a s t i n g a b o u t it. F r o m a v i g i l a n c e o f t h e p a r t y a n d the masses, i t w a s b e i n g t u r n e d i n t o a v i g i l a n c e of b u r e a u c r a t i c a p p a r a t u s a n d t r a n s f o r m e d , i n fact, i f not c o m p l e t e l y f r o m t h e f o r m a l v i e w p o i n t , i n t o a v i g i l a n c e o f t h e state s e c u r i t y organs a n d t h e courts. It is understandable that in such conditions, non-prolet a r i a n , n o n - w o r k i n g class f e e l i n g s a n d v i e w s b e g a n t o t a k e
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root a n d t o b e c u l t i v a t e d i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e C P o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d i n t h e consciousness o f m a n y o f t h e c o m munists. Careerism, servility, charlatanism, unhealthy cronyi s m , a n t i - p r o l e t a r i a n m o r a l i t y , etc., b e g a n t o s p r e a d . T h e s e evils eroded the party f r o m w i t h i n , smothered the feeling of class s t r u g g l e a n d s a c r i f i c e a n d e n c o u r a g e d s e e k i n g t h e good life w i t h comforts, w i t h privileges, w i t h personal g a i n s a n d t h e least p o s s i b l e w o r k a n d e f f o r t . I n t h i s w a y the b o u r g e o i s a n d p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s m e n t a l i t y w a s c r e a t e d , and this was expressed in such w o r d s and thoughts as: W e w o r k e d a n d f o u g h t f o r t h i s socialist state a n d w e t r i u m p h e d , n o w let u s e n j o y t h e b e n e f i t s f r o m it, w e c a n ' t b e t o u c h e d , t h e past excuses u s f o r e v e r y t h i n g . T h e greatest danger was that this outlook was becoming established e v e n i n t h e o l d cadres o f t h e p a r t y w i t h a s p l e n d i d past a n d proletarian origin, even in the members of the P r e s i d i u m o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , w h o o u g h t t o h a v e set a n e x a m p l e o f p u r i t y t o t h e others. T h e r e w e r e m a n y s u c h people i n the l e a d e r s h i p , i n the a p p a r a t u s , a n d t h e y m a d e a d r o i t use of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r d s and phrases and the theoretical formulas of L e n i n and Stalin, reaped the laurels of the w o r k o f o t h e r s a n d encouraged t h e b a d e x a m p l e . T h u s , a w o r k e r a r i s t o c r a c y m a d e u p o f b u r e a u c r a t i c cadres w a s being created in the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of the Soviet U n i o n . R e g r e t t a b l y , s u c h a process of d e g e n e r a t i o n d e v e l o p e d u n d e r t h e j o y f u l a n d h o p e f u l slogans t h a t e v e r y t h i n g i s g o i n g w e l l , n o r m a l l y , w i t h i n t h e l a w s a n d n o r m s o f the p a r t y , w h i c h i n fact w e r e b e i n g v i o l a t e d , t h a t the class struggle is still being waged, that democratic centralism is safeguarded, c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m c o n t i n u e s as before, t h a t there i s steel u n i t y i n t h e p a r t y , there are n o m o r e f a c t i o n a l , a n t i - p a r t y elements, the t i m e o f T r o t s k y i t e a n d B u k h a r i n i t e g r o u p s i s passed, etc., etc. G e nerally speaking, even the revolutionary elements consid e r e d s u c h a d i s t o r t e d concept of t h e s i t u a t i o n to be a
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n o r m a l r e a l i t y a n d , t h i s i s t h e essence o f t h e d r a m a a n d the fatal mistake, therefore it was considered that there w a s n o t h i n g t o b e a l a r m e d about, t h a t t h e e n e m i e s , t h e thieves, t h e v i o l a t o r s o f m o r a l i t y w e r e b e i n g c o n d e m n e d b y t h e courts, t h a t t h e u n w o r t h y m e m b e r s w e r e b e i n g e x p e l l e d f r o m t h e p a r t y , a n d n e w m e m b e r s a d m i t t e d t o it, a s usual, that the plans were being realized although there w e r e some t h a t w e r e n o t b e i n g r e a l i z e d , t h a t p e o p l e w e r e being criticized, condemned, praised, etc. Hence, according to them, life was proceeding normally, and thus it was reported to Stalin: Everything is going normally. W e are c o n v i n c e d t h a t i f S t a l i n , a s t h e g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y he was, had k n o w n the reality of the situation in the party, he w o u l d have struck a crushing blow at this u n healthy spirit and the entire party and the Soviet people w o u l d h a v e r i s e n t o t h e i r feet t o s u p p o r t h i m because, q u i t e c o r r e c t l y , t h e y h a d great t r u s t i n S t a l i n . Not only d i d the apparatuses m i s i n f o r m Stalin, and b u r e a u c r a t i c a l l y d e f o r m h i s correct d i r e c t i v e s , b u t t h e y h a d created such a situation among the people and in the p a r t y t h a t e v e n w h e n S t a l i n w e n t a m o n g t h e masses o f t h e p a r t y a n d t h e people, t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t h i s age a n d h e a l t h p e r m i t t e d , t h e y d i d not i n f o r m h i m a b o u t t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d m i s t a k e s w h i c h w e r e o c c u r r i n g , because t h e a p p a r a t u s had implanted the opinion amongst the communists a n d t h e masses t h a t w e m u s t n o t w o r r y S t a l i n . T h e great h u l l a b a l o o t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s m a d e a b o u t t h e so-called c u l t o f S t a l i n w a s r e a l l y o n l y a b l u f f . I t w a s not Stalin, w h o was a modest person, w h o h a d built up this cult, b u t a l l t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s c u m a c c u m u l a t e d a t t h e h e a d o f t h e p a r t y a n d t h e state w h i c h , a p a r t f r o m a n y t h i n g else, e x p l o i t e d t h e great l o v e o f t h e S o v i e t peoples f o r S t a l i n , e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r t h e v i c t o r y o v e r f a s c i s m . I f one r e a d s t h e speeches o f K h r u s h c h e v , M i k o y a n a n d a l l t h e o t h e r m e m b e r s o f t h e P r e s i d i u m , one w i l l see w h a t u n r e s t r a i n e d
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a n d h y p o c r i t i c a l p r a i s e s these e n e m i e s p o u r e d o n S t a l i n a s l o n g a s h e w a s a l i v e . I t i s s i c k e n i n g t o r e a d these t h i n g s when y o u t h i n k that behind all this praise they were hiding t h e i r h o s t i l e w o r k f r o m t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e masses w h o were deceived, t h i n k i n g that they had to do w i t h leaders l o y a l t o M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d c o m r a d e s l o y a l t o Stalin. E v e n f o r some t i m e a f t e r S t a l i n ' s d e a t h , t h e n e w S o v i e t leaders, a n d K h r u s h c h e v a b o v e a l l , s t i l l d i d n o t speak b a d l y a b o u t h i m , i n d e e d t h e y d e s c r i b e d h i m a s a great m a n , a leader of i n d i s p u t a b l e a u t h o r i t y , etc. K h r u s h c h e v h a d t o speak i n t h i s w a y t o g a i n c r e d i t i n s i d e a n d o u t s i d e t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , i n o r d e r t o create t h e i d e a that h e w a s l o y a l t o s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n , a continuer o f t h e w o r k o f L e n i n a n d S t a l i n . K h r u s h c h e v a n d M i k o y a n w e r e the bitterest enemies of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and Stalin. These two headed the plot a n d t h e p u t s c h w h i c h t h e y h a d p r e p a r e d l o n g before, together w i t h a n t i - M a r x i s t , c a r e e r i s t e l e m e n t s o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , o f t h e a r m y , a n d l e a d e r s a t t h e base. These p u t s c h i s t s d i d not s h o w t h e i r h a n d i m m e d i a t e l y after the d e a t h o f S t a l i n , b u t , w h e n i t w a s necessary a n d t o t h e extent i s w a s n e c e s s a r y c o n t i n u e d t o a d m i n i s t e r t h e p o i s o n along w i t h t h e i r p r a i s e s f o r S t a l i n . I t i s t r u e t h a t M i k o y a n , in particular, in the m a n y meetings I have had w i t h h i m , never boosted S t a l i n , i r r e s p e c t i v e o f t h e fact t h a t i n speeches and discourses t h e p u t s c h i s t s h e a p e d p r a i s e s a n d g l o r y o n S t a l i n o n e v e r y occasion. T h e y f o s t e r e d t h e c u l t o f S t a l i n i n o r d e r t o isolate h i m a s m u c h a s possible f r o m t h e masses, and, h i d i n g b e h i n d t h i s cult, t h e y p r e p a r e d t h e catastrophe. K h r u s h c h e v and M i k o y a n w o r k e d to a plan and after the d e a t h o f S t a l i n f o u n d a n o p e n f i e l d f o r t h e i r a c t i v i t y , also because o f t h e f a c t t h a t M a l e n k o v , B e r i a , B u l g a n i n a n d V o r o s h i l o v p r o v e d t o b e not o n l y b l i n d , b u t also a m b i t i o u s , and each o f t h e m s t r u g g l e d f o r p o w e r .
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T h e y a n d others, o l d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d honest c o m munists, h a d n o w turned into typical representatives of that bureaucratic routine, of that bureaucratic legality, w h i c h d e v e l o p e d , a n d w h e n t h e y m a d e a feeble a t t e m p t t o use t h i s l e g a l i t y against t h e o b v i o u s p l o t o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s , i t w a s a l r e a d y too late. K h r u s h c h e v and M i k o y a n , in complete unity, k n e w h o w t o m a n o e u v r e a m o n g s t t h e m a n d t o set one a g a i n s t t h e other. I n a f e w w o r d s , t h e y a p p l i e d t h i s t a c t i c : s p l i t a n d d i v i d e i n t h e P r e s i d i u m , o r g a n i z e t h e forces o f t h e p u t s c h outside, c o n t i n u e t o speak w e l l a b o u t S t a l i n i n o r d e r t o h a v e t h e m i l l i o n s s t r o n g masses o n t h e i r side, a n d t h u s b r i n g closer t h e d a y o f t h e s e i z u r e o f p o w e r , t h e l i q u i d a t i o n of opponents, a n d of a w h o l e g l o r i o u s e p o c h of t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m , t h e v i c t o r y o f the P a t r i o t i c W a r , etc. A l l t h i s f e v e r i s h a c t i v i t y (and w e sensed this) w a s a i m e d t o create t h e p o p u l a r i t y o f K h r u s h c h e v i n s i d e the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d outside it. U n d e r the u m b r e l l a of the victories w h i c h the Soviet U n i o n and the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of the Soviet U n i o n had scored u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , K h r u s h c h e v d i d h i s u t m o s t t o m a k e t h e S o v i e t peoples a n d t h e S o v i e t c o m m u n i s t s t h i n k t h a t n o t h i n g h a d c h a n g e d , one great l e a d e r h a d d i e d , b u t a greater l e a d e r w a s r i s i n g , and w h a t a leader he w a s ! As principled and Leninist as t h e f o r m e r , i f n o t m o r e so, but l i b e r a l , p o p u l a r , s m i l i n g , a l l humour and jokes! M e a n w h i l e the revisionist viper, w h i c h was becoming active, s t a r t e d t o p o u r out its p o i s o n a b o u t t h e f i g u r e a n d w o r k o f S t a l i n . A t f i r s t t h i s w a s done w i t h o u t a t t a c k i n g Stalin by name, but attacking h i m indirectly. I n one o f t h e m e e t i n g s w h i c h I h a d w i t h K h r u s h c h e v , i n J u n e 1954, i n a n a l l e g e d l y p r i n c i p l e d a n d t h e o r e t i c a l w a y h e b e g a n t o e x p o u n d t o m e t h e great i m p o r t a n c e o f c o l l e c t i v e l e a d e r s h i p , a n d t h e great d a m a g e w h i c h comes
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about w h e n t h i s l e a d e r s h i p i s r e p l a c e d b y t h e c u l t o f one person, a n d m e n t i o n e d i s o l a t e d e x c e r p t s f r o m M a r x a n d Lenin, so that I w o u l d t h i n k that w h a t he was saying h a d a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t basis. H e s a i d n o t h i n g against S t a l i n , b u t h e f i r e d off a l l his b a t t e r i e s a t B e r i a , a c c u s i n g h i m o f r e a l a n d n o n - e x i s t e n t crimes. T h e t r u t h i s t h a t i n t h i s i n i t i a l stage o f K h r u s h chev's r e v i s i o n i s t assault, B e r i a w a s t h e a p p r o p r i a t e c a r d t o p l a y t o a d v a n c e t h e secret p l a n s . A s I h a v e w r i t t e n above, B e r i a w a s p r e s e n t e d b y K h r u s h c h e v a s t h e cause of m a n y evils: he h a d allegedly underrated the role of the f i r s t secretary, d a m a g e d t h e c o l l e c t i v e l e a d e r s h i p , and w a n t e d t o p u t t h e p a r t y u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e state s e c u r i t y a p p a r a t u s . O n t h e p r e t e x t o f t h e s t r u g g l e against t h e d a m a g e c a u s e d b y B e r i a , K h r u s h c h e v , o n t h e one h a n d , e s t a b l i s h e d h i m s e l f i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e p a r t y a n d state a n d t o o k c o n t r o l o f t h e M i n i s t r y o f I n t e r n a l Affairs, and on the other hand, prepared public opinion for t h e open a t t a c k w h i c h h e w a s t o u n d e r t a k e l a t e r o n Joseph V i s s a r i o n o v i c h S t a l i n , a n d o n t h e r e a l w o r k o f t h e Bolshevik Communist P a r t y of L e n i n and Stalin. M a n y o f these s u r p r i s i n g actions a n d changes m a d e an i m p r e s s i o n on us, b u t it w a s too e a r l y to be a b l e to grasp t h e t r u e p r o p o r t i o n s o f t h e p l o t w h i c h w a s b e i n g carried out. N e v e r t h e l e s s , e v e n a t t h a t t i m e w e c o u l d n o t fail t o n o t i c e t h e c o n t r a d i c t o r y n a t u r e o f v a r i o u s actions and o p i n i o n s o f t h i s n e w leader, w h o w a s t a k i n g o v e r the reins i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . T h i s same K h r u s h c h e v , w h o was n o w p a r a d i n g b e f o r e us as a d i s c i p l e of c o l l e c t i v e leadership, a f e w d a y s e a r l i e r i n a m e e t i n g w h i c h w e h a d with h i m , w h e n he spoke to us about the role of the first secretary o f t h e p a r t y a n d t h e p r i m e m i n i s t e r , p r e s e n t e d himself a s a n a r d e n t s u p p o r t e r o f t h e role o f t h e i n d i vidual a n d t h e f i r m h a n d . A f t e r Stalin's death, it seemed an allegedly collec-
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t i v e l e a d e r s h i p w a s e s t a b l i s h e d b y these a d h e r e n t s t o p r i n c i ple. T h e c o l l e c t i v e l e a d e r s h i p w a s p u b l i c i z e d t o s h o w t h a t Stalin had violated the principle of collective leadership, t h a t h e h a d d e g r a d e d t h i s i m p o r t a n t n o r m for L e n i n i s t leadership, a n d t h a t the l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e p a r t y a n d t h e state h a d b e e n t r a n s f o r m e d f r o m c o l l e c t i v e l e a d e r s h i p i n t o i n d i v i d u a l leadership. T h i s was a big lie, publicized by the Khrushchevites to prepare the g r o u n d for themselves. If the collective leadership principle h a d been violated, the b l a m e f o r t h i s m u s t b e l a i d , n o t o n t h e c o r r e c t ideas w h i c h Stalin expressed on different problems, but on the h y p o c r i t i c a l f l a t t e r y o f those o t h e r s a n d o n t h e a r b i t r a r y d e c i sions w h i c h t h e y t h e m s e l v e s took, d i s t o r t i n g t h e l i n e i n t h e v a r i o u s sectors w h i c h t h e y l e d . H o w c o u l d a l l t h e a c t i v i t y o f these a n t i - p a r t y e l e m e n t s w h o w o r k e d a r o u n d S t a l i n be checked upon, w h e n they themselves spread the idea t h a t Tse-Ka znayet vsyo*?! In t h i s w a y t h e y w a n t e d to convince the party and the people that Stalin k n o w s e v e r y t h i n g t h a t i s g o i n g on, a n d he a p p r o v e s e v e r y t h i n g . I n other w o r d s , i n t h e n a m e o f S t a l i n , a n d b y m e a n s o f their apparatchiki, they suppressed criticism a n d t r i e d to t u r n the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y i n t o a l i f e l e s s p a r t y , i n t o a n o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h o u t w i l l a n d energy, w h i c h w o u l d vegetate f r o m d a y t o day, a p p r o v i n g e v e r y t h i n g t h a t the b u r e a u c r a c y decided, concocted a n d d i s t o r t e d . In the campaign allegedly for the establishment of the collective leadership K h r u s h c h e v was t r y i n g to p e r f o r m a s l i g h t - o f - h a n d t r i c k , u n d e r c o v e r of a d e a f e n i n g c l a m o u r about t h e s t r u g g l e against t h e c u l t o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l . T h e r e were no more photographs of K h r u s h c h e v on the daily press, n o m o r e b i g h e a d l i n e s s b o o s t i n g h i m , b u t a n o t h e r stale t a c t i c w a s u s e d : a l l t h e n e w s p a p e r s w e r e f i l l e d w i t h
_________________________________________ * T h e C e n t r a l Committee k n o w s everything (Russian in the original).
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his p u b l i c speeches, h i s discourses, r e p o r t s a b o u t h i s m e e t ings w i t h f o r e i g n a m b a s s a d o r s , h i s n i g h t l y a t t e n d a n c e s a t diplomatic receptions, his meetings w i t h delegations of communist parties, his meetings w i t h A m e r i c a n journalists, businessmen a n d senators a n d W e s t e r n millionaires, w h o were friends of K h r u s h c h e v . The aim of this w h o l e tactic was to m a k e a contrast w i t h Stalin's method of w o r k i n g b e h i n d closed doors, o f his s e c t a r i a n w o r k , w h i c h , a c cording to the Khrushchevites, h a d allegedly been so h a r m f u l to the opening of the Soviet U n i o n to the w o r l d . The purpose of this Khrushchevite propaganda was to show the Soviet people that n o w they had found the genuine L e n i n i s t l e a d e r w h o k n o w s e v e r y t h i n g , w h o settles e v e r y t h i n g c o r r e c t l y , w h o has e x t r a o r d i n a r y v i g o u r , w h o is g i v i n g the proper r e p l y to everyone, whose irresist i b l e a c t i v i t y is p u t t i n g e v e r y t h i n g r i g h t i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , c l e a n i n g u p t h e c r i m e s o f t h e past, a n d a s s u r i n g p r o gress. Taken f r o m The Khrushchevites, T i r a n a 1982, A l b . ed.
WE MUST H A V E A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LIFE AND THE RICH WORLD OF THE Y O U T H
From a talk at the daily meeting of the secretaries of the CC of the PLA
November 7, 1980
Yesterday at the meeting of the Secretariat (1) we h a d a material on the w o r k w i t h the youth. In the contribution w h i c h I m a d e on this p r o b l e m , a m o n g other things, I p o i n t e d out t h a t we s h o u l d t a k e a closer l o o k at t h e m e t h o d Of w o r k o f t h e P a r t y w i t h t h e y o u t h . I w a n t t o stress some matters again today. T h e w o r k of the P a r t y w i t h the y o u t h is v e r y i m p o r tant. I t i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t s i m p l y t o g i v e t h e y o u t h g e n e r a l orientations and directives of the Party. On the contrary, i t i s necessary t o r a c k o u r b r a i n s h o w t o m a k e these d i r e c tives and orientations understandable so that they are applied effectively. T h e problem is that we must achieve in practice a more qualified leadership, w i t h broader h o r i zons, b y t h e P a r t y . T h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e P a r t y i n t h e y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n s h o u l d not b e g a u g e d a n d e v a l u a t e d b y w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f
___________________________________ 1 T h i s meeting discussed the report presented by the C e n t r a l Committee o f the L Y U A , O n the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e tasks of the 4th P l e n u m of the CC of the P L A for the r e v o l u tionary education of the youth a n d the struggle against a l i e n manifestations.
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t h e P a r t y o r some o t h e r c o m m u n i s t a t t e n d e d its m e e t i n g , b y whether or not the leaders of the y o u t h have been called o n t o r e p o r t , b u t b y t h e r e s u l t s w h i c h are a c h i e v e d i n p r a c tice, b y t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y arid b y t h e d a i l y w o r k o f t h e y o u t h . T h i s m e a n s y o u m u s t k e e p the y o u t h i n f o r m e d a n d c l e a r a b o u t t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f the P a r t y , m u s t d e t a i l these d i r e c t i v e s i n t h e concrete c o n d i tions i n w h i c h t h e y o u t h w o r k a n d l e a r n , m u s t h a v e f i r s t hand knowledge of their w o r k and problems, must live w i t h them all the time, must enter into their internal w o r l d and mobilize t h e m for ever greater achievements. The y o u t h cannot tolerate f o r m a l i s m and they t h e m selves w o r k a n d s t r u g g l e t o o v e r c o m e a n y t h i n g t h a t s m e l l s o f it. T h o s e w h o t h i n k t h a t the y o u t h o u g h t t o discuss t h e problems w h i c h w o r r y t h e m only at the meetings of their o r g a n i z a t i o n o v e r l o o k t h e fact t h a t l i f e i s b r o a d a n d deep, t h a t i t c o n t i n u a l l y g i v e s r i s e t o m a n y p r o b l e m s a l l of w h i c h cannot be raised and solved in an hour and a half a t t h e m e e t i n g o f t h e y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n w h i c h i s h e l d once a m o n t h . T h e m a n y d i f f e r e n t ideas a n d o p i n i o n s o f t h e y o u t h cannot b e b r o u g h t together a n d c h a n n e l l e d i n s u c h a s h o r t t i m e . W h a t ' s t h e use o f a s k i n g t h e y o u n g m a n w h y h e does not discuss a l l t h e p r o b l e m s w h i c h w o r r y h i m i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n ? H e comes t o the m e e t i n g o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n t o l e a r n s o m e t h i n g h e doesn't k n o w a n d t o r e c e i v e t h e o r i e n t a t i o n w h i c h h e has t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d a p p l y c o r r e c t l y o n t h e basis of t h e l i n e of t h e P a r t y , b u t he c a n n o t be r e q u i r e d to s a y e v e r y t h i n g a t t h e m e e t i n g , because t h i s i s i m p o s s i b l e a n d w o u l d m a k e the meeting boring. We must educate the y o u t h a l l the time as the P a r t y requires, e m p l o y i n g t h e m o s t v a r i e d f o r m s a n d m e a n s . I t cannot b e e d u c a t e d solely t h r o u g h m e e t i n g s , w h i c h f r e q u ently become boring a n d are reduced to meetings w h i c h simply criticize, criticize a n d criticize undesirable actions o f y o u n g people. T h e y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n has a m a j o r e d u -
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c a t i o n a l r o l e based o n t h e f u n d a m e n t a l o r i e n t a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y . A n y o n e w h o breaches n o r m s o f o u r socialist s o c i e t y w i l l be criticized, but the educational w o r k must not be continually reduced s i m p l y to meetings, s i m p l y to criticisms. The important thing is that we should k n o w and understand the y o u t h thoroughly. A n d to achieve this it is essential t h a t w e c o n t i n u a l l y g o b a c k i n r e t r o s p e c t i n o u r o w n feelings a n d in our aims in order to imagine h o w we w e r e ourselves i n e a r l i e r t i m e s . W o u l d i t b e r i g h t t o d a y if we w e r e to c o n s i d e r it a c r i m e w h e n a b o y or a g i r l e x p r e s s t h e i r feelings o f sincere l o v e f o r one a n o t h e r ? T h i s i s n o r m a l a n d n o one has a n y r e a s o n t o t h i n k t h a t people's m o r a l i t y has been r u i n e d . B o y s a n d g i r l s g o a s v o l u n t e e r s t o r a i l w a y c o n s t r u c t i o n sites a n d other actions, b u t n o scandals h a v e o c c u r r e d a n d w e h a v e n o t h e a r d o f a n y problems being created between them. T h e y w o r k there together w i t h great a r d o u r , get t o k n o w e a c h other, c r a c k j o k e s together, b e c o m e f r i e n d l y a n d s o m e t i m e s t h e y f a l l i n l o v e a n d become engaged. T h e same t h i n g occurs w h e n b o y s a n d g i r l s g o o n excursions to M t . D a j t i , M t . T o m o r and elsewhere. T h e y w o r k e d together w i t h t h e i r c o m r a d e s o n r a i l w a y c o n s t r u c t i o n sites a n d n o w t h e y a r e g o i n g o n e x c u r s i o n s together, are a t s c h o o l together, l e a r n a n d h e l p one a n o t h e r a n d one of t h e m m a y p r o p o s e to get e n g a g e d to a n o t h e r , or t h e y become f r i e n d s a n d t h i s f r i e n d s h i p leads t o l o v e a n d marriage and there is nothing w r o n g w i t h this. A l l o f u s a r e o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t o u r y o u t h are v e r y good. W e d o n o t s a y t h i s a s a s l o g a n b u t w e e x p r e s s s o m e t h i n g w h i c h i s c o m p l e t e l y t r u e . W h e n w e see w h a t goes o n i n o t h e r c o u n t r i e s w e a r e m o r e f i r m l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e y o u t h o f o u r c o u n t r y are v e r y good, b u t w e n e e d to thoroughly understand them. We must k n o w the n e w m e n t a l i t y w h i c h has been c r e a t e d t h r o u g h t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of culture and the level of social life. Social life today
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i s not w h a t i t w a s i n t h e past, b u t i s m o r e p r o f o u n d , a n d r i c h e r , a socialist l i f e w i t h w i d e d e m a n d s of a h i g h l e v e l . O u r y o u t h are outstanding for their m o r a l purity, for their political loyalty to the Party, for their ideological maturity, for their elevated educational and cultural level a n d t h e i r socialist a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s w o r k a n d p r o p e r t y . B u t w h e n r e p o r t s a r e p r e s e n t e d t o u s t h a t such a n d s u c h percentage of crimes have been committed by y o u n g people, t h a t the y o u n g w o r k e r s a r e t h e ones w h o m i s s w o r k i n t h e f a c t o r y , etc., w e m u s t n o t t h i n k t h a t the y o u n g p e o p l e d o a l l t h e b a d t h i n g s , w h i l e t h e o l d e r people are not t o b l a m e a t a l l . W h o w i l l educate t h i s y o u t h ? T h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e f a c t o r y o r the e n t e r p r i s e w i l l educate t h e m a n d it m u s t l o o k w i t h a c r i t i c a l e y e at its w o r k of m a n a g e m e n t , its w o r k w i t h t h e people, h o w i t has a c t e d t o w a r d s t h i s o r t h a t y o u n g p e r s o n w h o has f a u l t s . I f w e l o o k c a r e f u l l y a n d concretely at a young m a n or w o m a n who, for example, is m i s s i n g f r o m w o r k f o r h a l f a n h o u r , i t t u r n s out t h a t h e has s t i l l n o t b e e n f o r m e d . O f course, t h a t y o u n g f e l l o w w h o does n o t g o t o w o r k r e g u l a r l y has n o t p r o p e r l y u n d e r s t o o d that w o r k is a m a t t e r of h o n o u r a n d a d u t y . O u r t a s k is not t o a b a n d o n a n d d e r i d e t h i s y o u n g m a n , b u t b y k e e p i n g close t o h i m , b y t a l k i n g t o h i m i n a f r i e n d l y f a s h i o n , t o convince h i m to become disciplined at work, a n d we must not a l l o w h i m t o degenerate. I t seems t o m e t h a t t h e l i f e and the r i c h w o r l d of the y o u t h should be thoroughly understood b y e v e r y b o d y . A t the present time, w h e n the m a t e r i a l a n d c u l t u r a l l e v e l i n o u r c o u n t r y has r i s e n a n d i s r i s i n g e v e r higher, the i n t e r e s t s a n d d e m a n d s o f t h e y o u t h h a v e changed. T o d a y t h e y o u t h a r e n o t s a t i s f i e d w i t h w h a t w a s sufficient for us w h e n we w e r e young. Hence, another p r o b l e m w h i c h has t o d o w i t h t h e e d u c a t i o n o f t h e y o u t h is the u t i l i z a t i o n of spare t i m e , t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of v a r i o u s sports, c u l t u r a l , a r t i s t i c a n d s c i e n t i f i c a c t i v i t i e s . W h e n w e
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s p e a k a b o u t sports activities, f o r e x a m p l e , w e d o n o t m e a n that o n l y n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s h i p s s h o u l d b e h e l d . T h e r e c a n b e m a n y d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f sport a n d s p o r t i n g a c t i v i t i e s . F o r example, w h y are there not more marches a n d games? T h e language w h i c h is sometimes used telling y o u n g people: D o n ' t d o t h i s a n d don't d o that, a n d l i k e w i s e , t h e d i s t r u s t w h i c h is sometimes displayed towards t h e m cannot educate the mass o f t h e y o u t h . E v e n w h e n a w i n d o w - p a n e i s a c c i d e n t a l l y b r o k e n d u r i n g a game, i m m e d i a t e l y i t i s s a i d : The y o u t h are t o b l a m e . G e n e r a l i z a t i o n s w h i c h are out o f p l a c e a n d u n f o u n d e d are v e r y d a n g e r o u s . S p a r e t i m e a c t i v i t i e s o f e n t e r t a i n m e n t a r e n o t t h e task o f t h e y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n alone. A f t e r w o r k o r lessons y o u n g people need t o r e l a x , t o p l a y , t o r e a d , t o t a k e p a r t in a d i s c u s s i o n or s o c i a l e v e n i n g , to go to a f i l m ; t h e y also w a n t to d r i n k a coffee, to eat a cake, etc. E a c h of t h e m s h o u l d h a v e t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t o d o these i n h i s s p a r e t i m e , because i n t h i s w a y h e w i l l g o t o w o r k t h e n e x t d a y w i t h fresh strength. T h e y o u t h are the future of the country. T h e y represent the a r m s o f t h e P a r t y w h i c h a r e r i s i n g e v e r h i g h e r . I f w e d o not t a k e i n t o account t h e j u s t d e m a n d s , t h e honest desires o f these arms, w h i c h are r i s i n g c o n t i n u o u s l y , t h e n t h e a l l - r o u n d e d u c a t i o n o f t h e y o u n g people, t h e i r ideo-political tempering and further revolutionization is damaged. We have the bitter experience of the other e r s t w h i l e socialist c o u n t r i e s , l i k e t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , w h e r e the y o u t h degenerated. T h i s danger exists for our y o u t h , too, i f w e d o not w o r k p a t i e n t l y f o r t h e i r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t e d u c a t i o n . B u t o u r P a r t y has w o r k e d a n d w o r k s c o n t i n u o u s l y t o educate the y o u t h a c c o r d i n g t o its l i n e a n d w i t h its ideals, w i t h t h e q u a l i t i e s o f c o m m u n i s t m o r a l i t y . T h i s i s w h y w e h a v e s u c h a n honest a n d p a t r i o t i c y o u t h s o closely l i n k e d t o t h e P a r t y . T h e m a j o r e c o n o m i c questions w h i c h i n v o l v e u s m u s t
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never m a k e us forget the proper ideological a n d political e d u c a t i o n o f t h e y o u n g people. O u r y o u t h m u s t b e e d u c a t e d w i t h i n the norms of communist morality, in the context of the d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist society a n d e c o n o m y . T h i s e d u c a t i o n i s not b e i n g c a r r i e d out a s i t s h o u l d b y e v e r y b o d y . The education of the younger generation is not the task of the y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n alone. T h e schools, t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e masses, t h e c u l t u r a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c i n s t i t u t i o n s , m u s t a l l be engaged more thoroughly w i t h this question. The e d u c a t i o n o f t h e y o u t h c a n n o t b e c a r r i e d out b y t h e teacher i n one h o u r w h i c h has b e e n a l l o c a t e d f o r w o r k o u t s i d e lessons. ( 2 ) E d u c a t i o n is a c o n t i n u o u s process a n d r e q u i r e s work inside and outside the a u d i t o r i u m and the classroom, in collectives a n d in s m a l l groups, right d o w n to i n d i v i d u a l y o u n g persons. A l l t e a c h e r s h a v e possibilities t o d o t h i s . . . Negative attitudes in life must be criticized, but we must d e a l w i t h a n d c o r r e c t those c r i t i c i z e d i n s u c h a w a y that w e d o n o t p r e j u d i c e t h e i r l o v e f o r t h e P a r t y . T h i s i s h o w w e m u s t act w i t h t h e y o u n g people, too, because t h e y a r e v e r y s e n s i t i v e . A s w e p o i n t e d out i n t h e meeting o f t h e S e c r e t a r i a t o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , w h e n certain n e g a t i v e m a n i f e s t a t i o n s a r e n o t i c e d i n t h i s o r t h a t y o u n g p e r s o n , t h e causes m u s t b e f o u n d a n d c o m b a t e d , a n d not j u s t t h e consequences. A n d t h i s c a n b e d o n e w h e n t h e p r o b l e m i s s t u d i e d a n d w h e n w e act b y t h e m e t h o d o f persuasion. T h i s i s h o w t h e c o m m u n i s t s , t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s of the masses s u c h as those of t h e y o u t h , w o m e n , t h e t r a d e unions, etc., s h o u l d w o r k w i t h c e r t a i n i n d i v i d u a l s w i t h b a d habits s o t h a t t h e y a r e c o n v i n c e d a n d a d v a n c e o n t h e r i g h t course o f t h e P a r t y . P e o p l e m a y h a v e m a d e m i s t a k e s , b u t , i f w e act c o r r e c t l y w i t h t h e m , t h e y a r e d i s p o s e d t o l i s t e n to the a d v i c e t h e y a r e g i v e n . L e t u s t a k e a n o t h e r q u e s t i o n . W e say t h a t p e o p l e i n o u r
_______________________________________ 2 Reference is to the educational class.
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c o u n t r y h a v e n o r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f s a n d t h i s i s t r u e . B u t does this mean that religion has been totally eradicated, that t h e r e a r e n o l o n g e r r e l i g i o u s r e m n a n t s i n people's m i n d s ? It is not good f o r a b o y or g i r l to displease h i s f a t h e r or m o t h e r , but w h e n t h e l a t t e r t r y t o stop a b o y o r g i r l o f families w h i c h formerly had different religions f r o m f a l l i n g in love, they should not be annoyed that their c h i l d r e n d o not obey t h e m . W h e n t h e b o y i s good, h o n e s t and patriotic, then the g i r l w h o loves h i m w i l l take h i m e v e n i f h e r f a t h e r o r m o t h e r a r e opposed. A f t e r a l l , i t i s t h e boy and girl w h o have life ahead of them. A n o t h e r q u e s t i o n i s t h a t o f f u l f i l l i n g t h e needs o f t h e y o u t h . P a r e n t s m u s t create a w a r m f a m i l y a n d s o c i a l c i r c l e around them, show their concern to f u l f i l any reasonable requirement, without neglecting their education as the main thing. O u r y o u t h are educated, have schooling. W e , w o r k e r s o f t h e P a r t y , f r o m t h e c e n t r e t o t h e base, m u s t u n d e r s t a n d this well. We have a political advantage w h i c h we must u n d e r s t a n d . T h e y o u n g cadres w h o h a v e g r a d u a t e d f r o m school are people o f t h e masses a n d l o v e t h e P a r t y ; i f t h e P a r t y w o r k s w e l l w i t h t h e m , t h e y w i l l not t u r n i n t o t e c h nocrats. T h u s , i f w e a p p o i n t a y o u n g a g r o n o m i s t a s h e a d of a cooperative and surround h i m w i t h the proper care, according to the norms of the Party, then he w i l l not become a technocrat, a s i n t e l l e c t u a l s i n the S o v i e t U n i o n d i d . W h e r e a s i f w e l e a v e t h e y o u n g c a d r e u n a s s i s t e d , one d a y h e w i l l become a t e c h n o c r a t . H e n c e , w e m u s t a p p r e c i a t e a n d utilize this advantage w h i c h we have to the benefit of our young cadres... I n these s i t u a t i o n s t h e P a r t y m u s t d o b e t t e r a n d m o r e profound w o r k w i t h the youth. T h e y o u t h today have c u l ture, k n o w foreign languages a n d read technical a n d scientific literature. We must w o r k in order to f o r m in the y o u n g m e n and w o m e n a sound opinion based on our
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Marxist-Leninist w o r l d outlook and, by means of our r a d i o - t e l e v i s i o n a n d press, d i s p e r s e t h e f o g o f a l i e n t h i n g s and illuminate the m i n d s of our people w i t h the M a r x i s t Leninist t r u t h , w i t h our line. O u r meetings, conferences a n d t a l k s also h a v e t h e i r p o s i t i v e effects w h e n t h e y a r e c o n d u c t e d i n t h e p r o p e r w a y s . If, f a l l i n g p r e y t o t h e f o r e i g n p r o p a g a n d a a f e w of o u r y o u n g p e o p l e degenerate, these d o not c o n s t i t u t e t h e w h o l e o f o u r y o u t h . S u c h t h i n g s h a v e o c c u r r e d a n d w i l l occur. T h a t i s p a r t o f l i f e . W e w i l l also have those w h o d e v i a t e . O u r y o u t h h a v e t h e i r eyes o n t h e P a r t y . B u t t h e P a r t y , too, has its eyes o n t h e y o u t h , o n t h e f u t u r e , o n t h e w o r k and c o n t i n u o u s care t o e n s u r e t h a t w h e n e v e r a n d w h e r e v e r they are t h e y a l w a y s l i v e u p to, t h i n k a b o u t a n d w o r k f o r our r e a l i t y , k e e p i n step w i t h t h e s i t u a t i o n a n d c o n t r i b u t e w i t h a l l t h e i r m i g h t i n o r d e r t o m a k e o u r socialist H o m e land p r o s p e r o u s a n d e v e r s t r o n g e r . About the Youth, vol. 2
THE ECONOMISTS SHOULD GIVE PRECISE AND CORRECT OPINIONS BASED ON MARXISM-LENINISM
From a talk at the daily meeting of the secretaries of the CC of the PLA
December 10, 1980
I n t h e c o n t e x t o f m e a s u r e s f o r t u r n i n g some h i g h e r t y p e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s i n t o state f a r m s , a n o t h e r m a t e r i a l has b e e n p r e s e n t e d t o u s b y some e c o n o m i s t s . T h e i r m a t e r i a l centres o n t h e r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e m e m b e r s , a n d p r e c i s e l y o n the q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e m e m b e r s s h o u l d b e c o m p e n s a t e d f o r p a r t o f t h e assets o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e a n d , i f so, f o r w h a t p a r t . S o m e o f t h e m t r y t o a r g u e t h a t since w e h a v e t o d o w i t h the t r a n s i t i o n f r o m a l o w e r f o r m t o a h i g h e r f o r m o f socialist p r o p e r t y , it is not r e a s o n a b l e to c o m p e n s a t e t h e m e m b e r s f o r e v e n a p a r t of t h e assets of t h e c o o p e r a t i v e . T h e y say that compensation should be p a i d only for the cooperativists' household livestock. T h e y t r y to back this u p w i t h some q u o t a t i o n f r o m M a r x o r E n g e l s , w h i c h t h e y i n t e r p r e t i n a n erroneous, s t e r e o t y p e w a y . T h e r e f o r e , t h e y d o n o t present the p r o b l e m c o r r e c t l y . T h e q u o t a t i o n f r o m E n g e l s w h i c h t h e y g i v e , t a k e n f r o m h i s w o r k Anti-Dhring, is as f o l l o w s : ... social ownership extends to the land and other means of production, and private owner-
the
ECONOMISTS SHOULD GIVE PRECISE OPINIONS
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ship to the products, that is, the articles of consumption. And in order to make this comprehensible even to children of six..., Marx assumes, c o n t i n u e s E n g e l s , 'a community of free individuals carrying on their work with the means of production in common, in which the labour power of all the different individuals is consciously applied as the combined, labour power of the community', that is, a society organized on a socialist basis, a n d E n g e l s a g a i n quotes M a r x : The total product of our community is a social product. One portion serves as a fresh means of production and remains social. But another portion is assumed by the members as means of subsistence. A distribution of this portion among them is constantly necessary.*
P r o c e e d i n g f r o m t h i s q u o t a t i o n , these economists say t h a t i n t h e concrete i n s t a n c e o f these t h r e e h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s w h i c h w e p r o p o s e t o t u r n i n t o state f a r m s , since w e h a v e t o d o w i t h a c h a n g e w i t h i n t h e same t y p e o f o w n e r s h i p , state o w n e r s h i p a n d c o o p e r a t i v i s t o w n e r s h i p , we should not p a y compensation for part of the means of production. F o r them, the property of the whole p e o p l e i s i d e n t i c a l w i t h the j o i n t c o o p e r a t i v i s t p r o p e r t y ! T h i s i s p r e c i s e l y w h e r e these e c o n o m i s t s g o w r o n g , b e cause, t r u e , these are f o r m s of socialist o w n e r s h i p , b u t n o t the s a m e f o r m , one i s socialist p r o p e r t y o f t h e w h o l e people a n d t h e o t h e r i s socialist p r o p e r t y o f t h e g r o u p , a n d here, i n t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f these t w o f o r m s o f o w n e r s h i p , we do not deviate a fraction f r o m the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y . W h y ? B e c a u s e s o c i a l o w n e r s h i p e x t e n d s t o the land and the other means of production, the livestock,
________________________________________ * F. Engels, A n t i - D h r i n g , T i r a n a 1974, pp. 146-147, A l b . ed.
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m o t o r vehicles, etc., w h i l e p e r s o n a l o w n e r s h i p e x t e n d s t o t h e p r o d u c t , t h e a r t i c l e s o f c o n s u m p t i o n , I n t h e cooperatives, t h e p r o p e r t y o f the g r o u p exists, b u t t h e g r o u p p r o p e r t y in the cooperative of Preza, for example, is not in c o m m o n w i t h t h e g r o u p p r o p e r t y o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e o f V a q a r r ; no, i t i s the g r o u p p r o p e r t y o f P r e z a . A n d t h i s g r o u p does n o t h a v e t h e r i g h t t o b e s u p p l i e d , let u s say, w i t h m i l k f r o m the other cooperative. W h y ? Because the m i l k is the property of that group. On the other hand, the products o f t h e state f a r m o f S u k t h , w h i c h i s state p r o p e r t y , b e l o n g t o t h e state a n d i t t a k e s t h e m w h e r e v e r i t l i k e s , d i s t r i b u t e s t h e m t o t h e people a l l o v e r A l b a n i a . W h y h a v e these t w o t y p e s o f p r o p e r t y b e e n d e f i n e d i n t h i s w a y ? B e c a u s e t h e y are d i s t i n c t f r o m each other, f r o m t h e i r s o c i o - e c o n o m i c class content. W i t h i n t h e g r o u p p r o p e r t y t h e l a n d i s t h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e w h o l e people, because, i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h M a r x ' s teachings, t h e l a n d i n o u r c o u n t r y has been n a t i o n a l i z e d , w h i l e some o t h e r m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n i n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e a r e p r o p e r t y not o f t h e state, b u t o f t h e g r o u p . T h i s g r o u p has c r e a t e d these m e a n s t h r o u g h socialized w o r k in that f o r m of property w h i c h i s socialist. A n d since t h i s g r o u p has c r e a t e d these m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n itself t h r o u g h its o w n w o r k , a n o t h e r s o c i a l i z e d g r o u p , t h a t o f N d r o q , f o r e x a m p l e , does not h a v e t h e r i g h t t o p u t its h a n d s o n t h e i n c o m e o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e of P r e z a ; there is a b o u n d a r y in regard to the land, in regard to other means of production and to the products w h i c h are t u r n e d out o n t h e basis o f t h e m . O f course, M a r x a n d E n g e l s d o n o t s a y a n y t h i n g concretely about this p r o b l e m w h i c h we are discussing; t h e y g i v e t h e basic p r i n c i p l e w h i c h w e h a v e f o l l o w e d f r o m s t a r t t o f i n i s h . B e s i d e s this, M a r x has also d e f i n e d t h e stages o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n . H o w e v e r , these e c o n o m i s t s o v e r l o o k t h i s . A t f i r s t w e d i s t r i b u t e d t h e l a n d , too, t o t h e peasants a n d w e w e r e o b l i g e d t o d i s t r i b u t e it, b e a r i n g i n m i n d t h e c o n -
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crete h i s t o r i c a l c o n d i t i o n s , t h e m e n t a l i t y a n d t h e a g e - o l d aspirations of our peasantry for the land. Therefore, after L i b e r a t i o n w e c a r r i e d out t h e L a n d R e f o r m , d i s t r i b u t i n g part of the l a n d to the peasantry. However, if we judge m a t t e r s as these e c o n o m i s t s do, a p p a r e n t l y we m a d e a m i s t a k e i n d i s t r i b u t i n g t h e l a n d . H a d w e a c t e d a s t h e y say, we w o u l d have made a very grave error of principle, because w e w o u l d h a v e s k i p p e d t h e stage a n d c r e a t e d e x t r a ordinary political problems w h i c h w o u l d have endangered the w h o l e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m i n o u r c o u n t r y . I n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e L a n d R e f o r m , too, w e a c t e d a g a i n o n t h e basis o f t h e t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x w h o , w h i l e s t r e s s i n g t h e absolute necessity o f t h i s r e f o r m , teaches t h a t t o c a r r y out t h e l a n d r e f o r m m e a n s t h a t y o u m u s t t a k e t h e l a n d f r o m t h e b i g estate o w n e r s a n d g i v e i t t o the peasants w h o t i l l it, a n d t h e n create t h e state sector (and w e c r e a t e d t h i s sector, too, w i t h t h e state f a r m s ) . A f t e r distributing the land, we went on to the next stage, t h a t o f c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n , a n d h e r e a g a i n w e a c t e d according t o t h e a d v i c e o f M a r x w h o e x p l a i n e d t h i s p r o b l e m in theory, w h i l e later L e n i n taught us h o w to go about it i n t h e o r y a n d i n p r a c t i c e . O n t h i s q u e s t i o n S t a l i n , i n one o f the m e e t i n g s ( 1 ) I h a d w i t h h i m , a d v i s e d u s t o p r o c e e d c a u t i o u s l y a n d w i t h o u t haste o n t h e r o a d o f c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n . W h y d i d he say this? Because collectivization involves m a j o r p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c issues, t h e r e f o r e , i t s h o u l d not b e d o n e h a s t i l y , its stages m u s t n o t b e s k i p p e d . H a d w e t h o u g h t i n t h e s a m e w a y a s these economists, t h e n from the moment we began the collectivization we w o u l d have h a d t o c o l l e c t i v i z e t h e w h o l e lot i m m e d i a t e l y a n d n o t g r a d u a l l y . B u t i f w e h a d d o n e so, w e w o u l d c e r t a i n l y h a v e failed a n d t h e e x i s t e n c e of o u r socialist state, of t h e state
___________________________________ 1 See E n v e r H o x h a , W i t h S t a l i n (Memoirs), 8 N n t o r i Publishing House, T i r a n a 1984, pp. 97-99, 206-213, 3rd. E n g . ed.
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of the dictatorship of the proletariat, w o u l d have been placed in jeopardy. Therefore, we began collectivization by phases a n d e x t e n d e d i t g r a d u a l l y o v e r t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y . P r o c e e d i n g o n t h i s course, w e passed f r o m l a r g e - s c a l e private property to another phase in w h i c h , t h r o u g h the L a n d R e f o r m , w e d i s t r i b u t e d t h e l a n d t o t h e peasants. W e d i d not p r o c l a i m the n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f t h e l a n d , because t h e p e a s a n t r y , i n w h o m the p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s s e n t i m e n t f o r private ownership of the l a n d was very strong, w o u l d not have understood this correctly at that time. We brought out a n u m b e r o f l a w s o n t h e basis o f w h i c h the p e a s a n t d i d not h a v e the r i g h t t o a l i e n a t e t h e l a n d , t h a t is, h e d i d not h a v e t h e r i g h t t o s e l l it, t o e x c h a n g e it, o r t o l e a v e i t a s an inheritance. Thus, we d i d not p r o c l a i m the nationalizat i o n d e jure, b u t i n fact, w i t h t h e m e a s u r e s w h i c h w e t o o k g r a d u a l l y , w e h a d n a t i o n a l i z e d t h e l a n d . O n t h i s basis, w e began the collectivization and created a new f o r m of o r g a n i z a t i o n w h i c h L e n i n i s m g a v e us, t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a tive, socialism in the countryside, by means of w h i c h we socialized the w o r k and the means of production. Hence, in the creation of cooperatives we have always adhered to the course o f M a r x a n d L e n i n . W i t h the c o m p l e t i o n o f c o l l e c t i vization we came to that idea stated by M a r x that social o w n e r s h i p e x t e n d s t o t h e l a n d , t h a t is, w e s o c i a l i z e d the l a n d de jure, we n a t i o n a l i z e d it. The property of higher-type agricultural cooperatives is n o t state p r o p e r t y , b u t socialist p r o p e r t y of the g r o u p . H e r e lies t h e essence o f t h e q u e s t i o n . A n d i t i s p r e c i s e l y o n t h i s t h a t these e c o n o m i s t s a r e w r o n g w h e n t h e y s a y t h a t i n the concrete i n s t a n c e o f t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n i n t o state f a r m s w e h a v e t o d o w i t h a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n w i t h i n the same type of ownership. This is the mistake that they m a k e . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e m , t h e state p r o p e r t y a n d t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t p r o p e r t y a r e a l l e g e d l y one, a n d o n l y t h e l a b e l , t h a t is, t h e n a m e , d i s t i n g u i s h e s a c o o p e r a t i v e f r o m a state f a r m .
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B u t t h i s is n o t so. C o o p e r a t i v i s t o w n e r s h i p is a t r a n s i t i o n a l form, w h i c h we have to go through in order to arrive at o w n e r s h i p o f t h e w h o l e people. W e m u s t n e v e r f o r g e t t h i s . B u t these e c o n o m i s t s f o r g e t i t a n d g i v e a d o g m a t i c e x p l a n a t i o n o f those t h i n g s t h e y h a v e r e a d i n b o o k s w i t h o u t t a k i n g practice, the reality, into account. We created the higher-type agricultural cooperatives a s a n o t h e r m o r e a d v a n c e d stage o n t h e r o a d o f d e v e l o p m e n t of the cooperativist order a n d of the transformation of c o o p e r a t i v e s i n t o state f a r m s . A c c o r d i n g t o these e c o n o m ists, w e c o u l d h a v e gone o v e r t o state f a r m s w i t h o u t h a v i n g passed t h r o u g h t h e stage o f h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s ! (Those i n d i v i d u a l cases w h e n w e h a v e m a d e changes d i r e c t l y f r o m o r d i n a r y c o o p e r a t i v e s , a r e s o m e t h i n g else.) A s a g e n e r a l r u l e , h o w e v e r , w e c o u l d n o t act i n t h a t w a y . I n s u c h a case t h e P a r t y w o u l d h a v e m a d e a m i s t a k e , b u t it d i d n o t d o that, b u t a f t e r m u c h t h o u g h t i t c r e a t e d a b o u t 40 higher-type cooperatives. Practice showed that most of t h e m a r e g o i n g w e l l a n d some a r e g o i n g m o r e s l o w l y , b u t w e m u s t set u p o t h e r h i g h e r - t y p e cooperatives. T h e r e fore, w e m u s t p r o c e e d g r a d u a l l y , because p o l i t i c a l a n d economic problems, w h i c h are difficult to be solved, emerge o n t h i s course. T h a t i s w h y n o w w e are t h i n k i n g v e r y deeply about t r a n s f o r m i n g first only three or four of t h e m i n t o state f a r m s . H e n c e , a t f i r s t , w e w i l l s t a y w i t h i n these l i m i t s a n d continue to strengthen the other cooperatives of this type, just a s w e w i l l c o n t i n u e t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s a l l over A l b a n i a in order to create the conditions for the c o m plete c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m . T h e s e c o n d i t i o n s a r e e c o n omic, i n t h e f i r s t place, a n d h a v e t o d o w i t h a n a p p r e c i a b l e increase in the intensification of production and reduction o f t h e cost o f a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d l i v e s t o c k p r o d u c t s . I n t h i s w a y the cooperativists w i l l understand that the line of the P a r t y in connection w i t h the social ownership of the land
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a n d t h e o t h e r m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , too, i s correct a n d t o t h e i r b e n e f i t , t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e w h o l e people. T h a t , comrades, i s w h y w e are t h i n k i n g s o h a r d a n d s o d e e p l y about t u r n i n g these f e w h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s i n t o state f a r m s , w h e r e a s , a c c o r d i n g t o these economists, i t i s a p p a r e n t l y q u i t e easy t o t u r n a l l t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s i n t o state f a r m s a n d t o r e f u s e t o p a y t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e cooperative as joint owners for even a part of the m a i n means! N o doubt, w h e n t h e y j u d g e m a t t e r s i n t h i s w a y t h e y h a v e i n m i n d one o r t w o instances w h e n s o m e o n e leaves t h e c o o p e r a t i v e a n d goes t o w o r k o n a state f a r m a n d does n o t care about h i s c o w o r o t h e r m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e t h a t h e has left b e h i n d . B u t t h e p r i n c i p l e i s n o t so s i m p l e as these economists p r e s e n t it. If it w e r e t r u l y s o that t o d a y t h e masses o f t h e peasants h a v e r e a c h e d the level w h e n they can say: What do we want the c o o p e r a t i v e s ' c o w s f o r ? , t h e n t h e P a r t y w o u l d n o t need t o create h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s . W e c a n n o t base t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y o n one o r t w o s u c h instances, o r e v e n o n t h e o p i n i o n o f some h u n d r e d s o f peasants. H e r e w e h a v e to do w i t h the principles of M a r x i s m , the w h o l e political line of the Party. In this transition w h i c h we are m a k i n g so carefully a n d i n w h i c h w e see b o t h t h e p o l i t i c a l aspect a n d t h e e c o n o m i c aspect, w e m a i n t a i n t h e j o i n t o w n e r s h i p o v e r t h e l a n d a n d t h e other m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n . W i t h t h i s c h a n g e we do not distribute the other means of production, but t r a n s f e r t h e m a l l t o state o w n e r s h i p . I f w e c o n s i d e r t h e c o w s , t h e other l i v e s t o c k , t h e v i n e y a r d s , t h e f r u i t - t r e e s , t h e stalls, etc. as m e a n s of p r o d u c t i o n , a n d t h e y h a v e to be considered as means of production, f r o m this stand-point we d o n o t d i s t r i b u t e a l l these t o t h e peasants, because t h a t w o u l d break up the common property, but on the contrary, we raise the joint property of the group to a higher level, t o p r o p e r t y o f the w h o l e people.
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These means r e m a i n social property. N o w it remains t o b e seen f o r w h a t w e s h o u l d a n d f o r w h a t w e s h o u l d n o t p a y c o m p e n s a t i o n t o t h e peasants. M a r x does not a n d c o u l d not t e l l u s this. T h i s d e p e n d s o n t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d o n w h a t i t i s d e c i d e d t h e peasant s h o u l d b e p a i d f o r . D o e s t h e peasant s a y p a y m e f o r t h e stalls? W e j u d g e t h a t h e does n o t s a y this. T h e r e f o r e , w h a t s h a l l w e do? W e s h o u l d n o t p a y , w e say. L i k e w i s e , w e are c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e peasant does not s a y p a y m e f o r t h e v i n e y a r d o r the m e a n s o f t r a n s p o r t . T h e n , w h a t are t h e t h i n g s f o r w h i c h the peasant w i l l d e m a n d t o b e p a i d ? H e w i l l d e m a n d c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e c o w s a n d t h e sheep o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e , o t h e r w i s e , h e w i l l say, t h e y w e r e t a k e n f r o m us. ( W h i l e for the household animals, there is no doubt that they must be p a i d for, too.) A n o t h e r p r o b l e m is the question of w h e t h e r we decide t o p a y f o r these t h i n g s a l l a t once, o r t o s a y t o t h e p e a s a n t : W e w i l l p a y y o u i n i n s t a l m e n t s n o t w i t h i n one o r t w o years, b u t o v e r a n u m b e r of y e a r s a c c o r d i n g to o u r s i t u a tion. T h i s s t a n d does n o t v i o l a t e t h e p r i n c i p l e s i n a n y w a y . M a r x does not s a y a n y w h e r e w h a t s h o u l d b e n a t i o n a l i z e d a n d w h a t s h o u l d b e e x p r o p r i a t e d , b u t h e has g i v e n t h e explanation: social ownership extends to the l a n d and the other m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , a n d p r i v a t e o w n e r s h i p t o t h e articles o f c o n s u m p t i o n . M a r x does n o t say a n d c o u l d n o t say w h e t h e r a t t h e t i m e t h a t t h i s t r a n s i t i o n i s m a d e i t w i l l b e done w i t h o r w i t h o u t c o m p e n s a t i o n . A m o n g s t u s there a r e r e m n a n t s o f t h e t i m e o f b y g o n e r e g i m e s a n d t h e f o r m e r b o u r g e o i s s y s t e m w h i c h w i l l b e r e t a i n e d f o r some t i m e yet. W e k n o c k d o w n houses, let u s say, f o r t o w n p l a n n i n g reasons, t o s t r a i g h t e n u p t h e streets a n d w e p a y c o m p e n s a t i o n t o t h e o w n e r s o f these houses a c c o r d i n g t o the v a l u t a t i o n set b y t h e e x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e . P o l i t i c a l interests r e q u i r e t h i s p a y m e n t , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n y o u h a v e t o d o w i t h t h e peasant, i n w h o m t h e p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s p s y -
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c h o l o g y o f p r i v a t e o w n e r s h i p i s p r o n o u n c e d . O f course, w e must combat this psychology, although not w i t h a d m i n i s t r a t i v e l e g a l measures, b u t b y c o n v i n c i n g t h e peasant t h a t i n t h i s w a y h e w i l l l i v e better, h i s p r o d u c t s a n d i n c o m e w i l l be increased, etc. T h e r e f o r e , in t h e case of t h e t r a n s i t i o n t o state f a r m s , too, w e t e l l t h e peasant t h a t i n o r d e r t o b u y c o n s u m e r goods w e w i l l p a y h i m a s a w o r k e r , m o r e t h a n h e gets a t present, besides w h i c h w e s h a l l also g i v e h i m so m a n y leks extra per year for the cow a n d other things f r o m t h e assets o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e , f o r w h i c h w e c o n s i d e r the member should be compensated. M a r x has not p r o h i b i t e d u s f r o m d o i n g this, o n t h e c o n t r a r y , i n t h i s w a y w e are o n his course a n d d o not v i o l a t e a n y p r i n c i p l e . T h e economists w h o are opposed t o c o m p e n sation, a s stated above, d o not i n t e r p r e t M a r x w e l l , because t h e y equate state p r o p e r t y w i t h the c o o p e r a t i v i s t p r o p e r t y , alleging that we have to do w i t h a mechanical exchange w i t h i n the one f o r m o f p r o p e r t y . T h u s , these e c o n o m i s t s w a n t u s t o speed t h i n g s u p , t o s k i p t h e stages, t h a t is, t o d e c l i n e t o p a y t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s a n y t h i n g . T h e y d o not r e a l i z e that, i f w e d e c l i n e t o p a y a n y t h i n g , i n d i r e c t l y w e w i l l t e l l t h e others w e are g o i n g t o t a k e a l l y o u r c o m m o n assets f r o m y o u w i t h o u t c o m p e n s a t i o n , hence, d i s t r i b u t e more income per w o r k d a y to the detriment of the f u n d of a c c u m u l a t i o n . T h e r e f o r e , w h e n w e c a l l o n t h e specialists t h e y s h o u l d g i v e u s precise a n d c o r r e c t o p i n i o n s b a s e d o n dialectical interpretations of the teachings of M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m , because i n t h e concrete i n s t a n c e u n d e r d i s c u s s i o n t h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e g r o u p i s not i d e n t i c a l w i t h t h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e w h o l e people a n d w e a r e not d e a l i n g m e r e l y w i t h a c h a n g e i n names, b u t w i t h a n h i s t o r i c a l process o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d m a t e r i a l , social, p s y c h o l o g i c a l a n d other p r o g r e s s . T h e P a r t y has r e c o m m e n d e d t h e s t a n d a r d C o n s t i t u t i o n of A g r i c u l t u r a l Cooperatives w h i c h the members have adopted. T h e Constitution of A g r i c u l t u r a l Cooperatives is
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l a w f o r t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s . T h e y p r o c e e d o n t h e basis o f t h i s C o n s t i t u t i o n , w h i l e t h e state f a r m s o p e r a t e o n t h e basis o f the l a w o n e n t e r p r i s e s . H e n c e , t h i s s e p a r a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s f r o m state f a r m s has n o t b e e n d o n e f o r m a l l y . F r o m t h i s s t a n d - p o i n t , too, i t seems t o m e t h a t w i t h t h e o p i n i o n s these e c o n o m i s t s express, t h e y are n o t sufficiently linked w i t h life. On Science, vol. 2
POLAND CAN BE SAVED ONLY BY ITS WORKING CLASS
Article published in the newspaper Zri i popullit

February 13, 1981
T h e situation in P o l a n d continues to deteriorate and grow more complicated. As a result of uninterrupted strikes the e c o n o m y has b e e n d e v a s t a t e d a n d i s o n t h e v e r g e o f disaster. S o c i a l l i f e i s d e g e n e r a t i n g f r o m d a y t o d a y . C o n fusion, anarchy and corruption reign everywhere. U n d e r the pressure and threats of Solidarity, the P o l i s h p a r t y a n d g o v e r n m e n t h a v e b e e n o b l i g e d t o m a k e concessions a f t e r concessions a n d cede m a n y o f t h e i r p o s i t i o n s . A l l t h e m e a s u r e s w h i c h h a v e been t a k e n a n d t h e c o m promises made have not led to the stabilization of the s i t u a t i o n , but, o n the c o n t r a r y , h a v e m a d e m a t t e r s e v e n worse. It is Solidarity w h i c h is m a k i n g the l a w in the c o u n t r y . T h e a i m w h i c h i t has set itself i s b e c o m i n g m o r e a n d m o r e e v i d e n t : t o g r a d u a l l y t a k e o v e r state p o w e r , t o w i t h d r a w P o l a n d f r o m the W a r s a w Treaty a n d to push it t o w a r d s t h e W e s t . A l l its actions a r e s u b o r d i n a t e d t o t h i s strategy. S o l i d a r i t y , w h i c h presents itself as a w o r k e r s ' union, is an out-and-out reactionary movement. B e h i n d i t stands t h e P o l i s h C a t h o l i c C h u r c h a n d t h e V a t i c a n , w h i c h r u n i t a n d l e a d it, h o w e v e r , besides those w h o a r e r e presented by L e c h Walessa a n d company, participating in
POLAND CAN BE SAVED BY THE WORKING CLASS
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the l e a d e r s h i p o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e r e a r e also t h e C l u b o f the C a t h o l i c I n t e l l i g e n t s i a ( K O R ) , w h i c h i s a g r o u p o f representatives of internal reaction and external w o r l d c a p i t a l i s t r e a c t i o n , t h e n a t i o n a l i s t p a r t y , the C o n f e d e r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n t P o l a n d a n d some o t h e r g r o u p i n g o f this type. I t i s p r e c i s e l y these v a r i o u s r e a c t i o n a r y p o l i t i c a l forces a n d c u r r e n t s w h i c h h a v e t h e P o l i s h w o r k i n g class i n t h e i r clutches a t p r e s e n t a n d a r e m a n i p u l a t i n g i t f o r t h e i r o w n p o l i t i c a l ends. F o r the m o m e n t , these c u r r e n t s h a v e u n i t e d i n a l l i a n c e against t h e P o l i s h U n i t e d W o r k e r s ' P a r t y , w h i c h i s s p l i t into v a r i o u s f a c t i o n s a n d g r o u p s , p r o - S o v i e t a n d a n t i Soviet, n a t i o n a l i s t a n d c h a u v i n i s t , r e f o r m i s t a n d c l e r i c a l . That party is completely anti-Marxist and counter-revolutionary. T h e policy and ideology it pursues have disc r e d i t e d i t i n t h e eyes o f the masses a n d h a v e m a d e i t i n c a p a b l e o f e x e r c i s i n g its i n f l u e n c e o r i m p o s i n g its w i l l . I t i s the o m n i p o t e n t C a t h o l i c C h u r c h , its s p i r i t u a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l p o w e r , w h i c h d o m i n a t e t h e l i f e o f the P o l i s h people today. I n c a m o u f l a g e d w a y s a n d t h r o u g h t h e n e w s q u i r e s w h o are i n p o w e r , t h e V a t i c a n i s r u n n i n g not o n l y s p i r i t u a l matters b y also t e m p o r a l m a t t e r s i n P o l a n d . N o w t h e C a tholic C h u r c h is struggling to take over the r u n n i n g of the state c o m p l e t e l y t h r o u g h S o l i d a r i t y . T h e Polish C h u r c h , the V a t i c a n and Western Europe are f o l l o w i n g t h e t a c t i c o f roast t h e meat, b u t don't b u r n the spit. T h e y are a d v o c a t i n g : t a k e a step a n d consolidate the p o s i t i o n s a c h i e v e d , t a k e a n o t h e r step a n d a v o i d S o v i e t i n t e r v e n t i o n , use t h e 21 p o i n t s as an e c o n o m i c p l a t f o r m just t o d e c e i v e t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t r a n s f o r m t h e m i n t o p o l i t i c a l actions to e r o d e t h e f o u n d a t i o n s of the r e v i s i o n i s t system a n d o f t h e p s e u d o - c o m m u n i s t p a r t y . N e x t , pass f r o m the c i t y to the c o u n t r y s i d e , to t h e peasant S o l i d a r i t y , r a l l y and o r g a n i z e p o l i t i c a l l y the l a n d e d squires, w h o n e v e r p e r -
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m i t t e d c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n a n d w h o r e m a i n t h e m a i n basis o f the Polish C h u r c h and of old chauvinist traditions. W i t h i n S o l i d a r i t y , h o w e v e r , t h e r e are also t h e u l t r a ists, w h o w a n t t o o v e r t h r o w t h e F r a n c o - G e r m a n O s t p o l i t i k , a n d especially, t h e detente o f W e s t - E u r o p e a n p o w e r s w i t h the S o v i e t U n i o n . T h e u l t r a i s t s are f o r t h e t a c t i c of rapid advance and p o w e r f u l blows even if they m a y cause S o v i e t i n t e r v e n t i o n a n d a r m e d clashes. T h e y a r e operating according to the A m e r c i a n policy w h i c h aims to cause a r m e d c o n f l i c t w i t h i n P o l a n d , w h i c h w o u l d also l e a d t o t h e defeat of the t a c t i c of t h e F r a n c o - G e r m a n O s t p o l i t i k . That would be a w a y to weaken France and G e r m a n y and return t h e m to the positions of obedient lackeys, by threatening them w i t h the danger of Soviet imperialism. T h i s i s the strategy a n d these a r e t h e tactics o f i n t e r n a l Polish reaction and international reaction. These are the objectives o f the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n i n P o l a n d , w h i c h i s t a k i n g place in a c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y s i t u a t i o n w i t h i n a c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y state. T h e present r e v i s i o n i s t state is in a s i t u a t i o n w h e r e i t i s b e i n g a t t a c k e d f r o m a l l sides a n d does n o t k n o w w h i c h w a y t o g o t o escape. C l e r i c a l r e a c t i o n i s m a n i p u l a t i n g the w o r k i n g class, not t o m e n t i o n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e w h e r e i t has h a d s t r o n g bases. T h e p a r t y a n d the state, w h i c h h a v e lost a u t h o r i t y a n d i n f l u e n c e , are o b l i g e d t o m a k e concessions to the c h u r c h a n d to accept it as arbiter in t h e c o n f l i c t . I n p r a c t i c e t h e y are a t t h e m e r c y o f W y s z y n s k i . H o w e v e r , the P o l i s h r e v i s i o n i s t g o v e r n m e n t has t o please b o t h the goat a n d t h e cabbage. It has to b e h a v e w i t h great c a u t i o n a n d l i s t e n a t t e n t i v e l y also t o t h e r i g o r o u s d e m a n d s o f t h e S o v i e t a l l y . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , i t has t o t a k e i n t o account t h e d e m a n d s o f t h e r u l i n g s q u i r e a r c h y , t h e m e n of the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , of the a p p a r a t u s e s of the p a r t y , the e c o n o m y a n d the a r m y , w h o also w a n t t o p r e s e r v e t h e i r privileges.
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T h i s s i t u a t i o n has caused chaos a n d d i s i n t e g r a t i o n i n the r a n k s o f t h e p a r t y a n d t h e state. T h e y a r e n o l o n g e r operating as centralized institutions. Their rank and file listen more t o w h a t S o l i d a r i t y a n d the e p i s c o p a c y say than to the directives that come f r o m the C e n t r a l Committee and t h e o r d e r s w h i c h the g o v e r n m e n t issues. T h e r e v i s i o n ist l e a d e r s h i p is t a l k i n g a b o u t a r e v i v a l , b u t it has no p r o g r a m o f a c t i o n t o p u l l t h e c o u n t r y out o f the c r i s i s a n d does not k n o w w i t h w h o m t o u n i t e a n d w i t h w h o m t o split. T h e p r i m e m i n i s t e r s w h o w e r e c h a n g e d one a f t e r t h e other b r i n g a b o u t n o c h a n g e w h a t s o e v e r . T h e r e v i v a l has r e m a i n e d a s l o g a n d e v o i d of content. B u t i t i s not o n l y t h e P o l i s h l e a d e r s h i p t h a t i s i n great t r o u b l e . T h e K r e m l i n a n d its allies o f the W a r s a w T r e a t y are i n a s i m i l a r s i t u a t i o n . T o a l l o w P o l a n d t o s l i p t o the w e s t e r n c a m p w o u l d m e a n t o e n d a n g e r t h e a l l i a n c e , the S o v i e t h e g e m o n y i n t h e c o u n t r i e s o f the East, t o e n danger t h e v i t a l r o u t e s o f t h e S o v i e t a r m y i n E u r o p e , t o endager t h e p r e s e n t S o v i e t s t r a t e g y based o n t h e i r m i l i t a r y s t r i k i n g force. T e c h n i c a l l y i t i s n o t d i f f i c u l t f o r S o v i e t social-imperialism to undertake military intervention to establish order i n P o l a n d . B u t t h i s w o u l d e n d a n g e r t h e East-West trade relations, w o u l d jeopardize the billions of dollars w h i c h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d its satellites h a v e received a n d are r e c e i v i n g f r o m t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d f r o m W e s t e r n E u r o p e , w o u l d e n d a n g e r detente a n d w o u l d d e s t r o y the F r a n c o - G e r m a n O s t p o l i t i k , w h i c h t h e K r e m l i n w a n t s t o e x p l o i t i n its r i v a l r y w i t h American imperialism. This explains that stern propaganda and the firm stands of the organs of t h e S o v i e t press against those forces w h i c h it describes as a n t i - S o v i e t , anti-socialist, etc. T h e K r e m l i n i s o p e n l y a n d s t u b b o r n l y d e f e n d i n g its o w n P o l i s h clan w i t h i n P o l a n d , e x e r t i n g p r e s s u r e a n d m a k i n g t h r e a t s and k e e p i n g its attack forces i n readiness, w h i l e , i n o r d e r
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to s h o w t h a t it is calm, f o r a p p e a r a n c e s ' sake it e v e n a c cepts some o f the retreats w h i c h t h e P o l i s h l e a d e r s h i p i s m a k i n g . T h e a i m and desire of the Soviet U n i o n is to defeat s u b v e r s i o n w i t h s u b v e r s i o n . B u t w h e n i t sees a n y hope o f a n i n t e r n a l s o l u t i o n f a d i n g , o n l y t w o r o a d s r e m a i n open t o i t : e i t h e r t o i n t e r v e n e w i t h a r m s a n d stabilize the s i t u a t i o n t h r o u g h v i o l e n c e , o r t o accept t o t a l defeat, t h a t is, the d e s t r u c t i o n o f the W a r s a w T r e a t y a n d C o m e con. B u t S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m c a n n o t accept t h i s t o t a l defeat. K a n i a , W y s z y n s k i a n d L e c h W a l e s s a k n o w this, a n d those i n B o n n a n d P a r i s k n o w it, too. At present there is no organized political force in Poland w h i c h could take over the leadership and the resp o n s i b i l i t y t o p u l l the c o u n t r y f r o m chaos a n d a n a r c h y , f r o m the dangers w h i c h t h r e a t e n its f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d its f u t u r e . I f t h e P o l i s h people, t h e w o r k i n g class, w o r k i n g p e a s a n t r y , the p r o g r e s s i v e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , t h e gen u i n e patriots, d o not u n d e r s t a n d t h e c o m p l i c a t e d s i t u a t i o n into w h i c h the various capitalist, clerical and revisionist r e a c t i o n a r y c u r r e n t s h a v e l e d t h e m , t h e y w i l l f a l l out o f the frying-pan into the fire. T h e lack of a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t p a r t y r e m a i n s t h e greatest h a n d i c a p f o r t h e P o l i s h w o r k i n g class. W i t h o u t a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t p a r t y i t cannot f i n d its c o u r s e t o w a r d s the r e v o l u t i o n . T h e w o r k i n g class w i l l a l w a y s r e m a i n s p l i t a n d , a s s u c h , t h e capitalist-revisionist bourgeois parties w i l l manipulate it for t h e i r o w n interests. A p o l i t i c a l l y d i v i d e d w o r k i n g class, without a Marxist-Leninist communist party, w i l l always be a t o y i n the h a n d s o f those p a r t i e s a n d w i l l p l a y t h e g a m e o f r e a c t i o n a n d the r e f o r m i s t s . I n t h e present e r a , t h e r e v olution and any positive and progressive change in favour of t h e people a n d oppressed classes c a n n o t be c a r r i e d o u t if t h e y are not l e d by a r e v o l u t i o n a r y , M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t communist party. The Party of Labour of Albania, through its organ
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Zri i popullit, has e x p r e s s e d in c l e a r a n d p o l i t i c a l l y u n d e r s t a n d a b l e w a y s its o p i n i o n s o n the past a n d present e v e n t s o c c u r r i n g i n P o l a n d . I t has c o n d e m n e d the r e g i m e s o f G o m u l k a , G i e r e k and K a n i a , who, through the revisionist a n d c a p i t a l i s t l i n e t h e y h a v e p u r s u e d , a r e t o b l a m e for the s i t u a t i o n w h i c h has b e e n c r e a t e d i n P o l a n d a n d f o r t h e dangers i t presents f o r others. O u r P a r t y has d e n o u n c e d a n d e x p o s e d t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r satellites a n d t h e i r c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y p o l i c y a n d a c t i o n s ; has d e n o u n c e d a n d e x p o s e d A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d the n e o - c o l o n i a l i s t states a n d t h e i r a i m s , a n d has p o w e r f u l l y s u p p o r t e d the peoples' l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t a n d p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n s .
O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s s u p p o r t e d t h e e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l c l a i m s o f the w o r k i n g class o f e v e r y Capitalist o r revisionist country. B u t it always looks at any movement of the w o r k i n g class w i t h a class eye, f r o m the s t a n d p o i n t o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , f r o m the p o l i t i c a l angle. I t i s not d e c e i v e d b y slogans a n d s h i b b o l e t h s , b u t e x a m i n e s c a r e f u l l y w h o m the o r i e n t a t i o n s serve, w h a t c o u r s e t h e c l a i m , t h e s t r i k e o r the i n s u r r e c t i o n takes. T h i s i s the s p i r i t i n w h i c h o u r P a r t y analyses, j u d g e s a n d reaches c o n c l u sions a b o u t the s t r i k e s i n P o l a n d , too. T h e p r e s e n t s t r i k e s i n P o l a n d d o not l e a d t o r a i s i n g the l e v e l o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t o f t h e w o r k i n g class, d o n o t s e r v e t h e political and ideological emancipation, the revolutionary o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g people o r the e n h a n c e m e n t o f t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y consciousness. T h e s e s t r i k e s d o n o t assist t h e r e v o l u t i o n , b u t h e l p t o c a r r y out t h e c o u n t e r - r e v olution w i t h i n the counter-revolution. Not the Polish revolutionaries, b u t t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f r e a c t i o n , t h e f r i e n d s and a l l i e s o f the V a t i c a n a n d w o r l d i m p e r i a l i s m s t a n d a t the h e a d o f these s t r i k e s . T h e y are t h r o w i n g t h e w o r k e r s into s t r i k e s i n o r d e r t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e i r o w n c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y aims, o n b o t h the i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l planes. T h e y w a n t t o r e p l a c e one o p p r e s s i v e a n d e x p l o i t i n g r e g i m e
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w i t h another, n o less savage a n d h o s t i l e r e g i m e t o t h e P o l i s h w o r k e r s a n d people. B e i n g in favour of political and economic strikes, of popular uprisings and the revolution, Marxist-Leninists do not support the r e a c t i o n a r y a l l i a n c e s o r c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y tendencies, w h e n t h e y exist w i t h i n t h e m . O n t h e contrary, they support the revolutionary spirit, progressive a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y alliances. N o t e v e r y s t r i k e m o v e m e n t i s i n t h e interest o f t h e w o r k i n g class, i n e v e r y s i t u a t i o n and in all conditions. However, w h e n the people and the w o r k i n g class t a k e p a r t i n t h e m , t h e r e i s s o m e t h i n g p o s i t i v e w h i c h you must grasp in order to t u r n t h e m completely i n t o p o s i t i v e actions i n t h e interest o f t h e people, the w o r k i n g class a n d the r e v o l u t i o n . T h e a t t i t u d e s a n d assessments o f o u r P a r t y a b o u t t h e situation in Poland, about the strikes a n d claims of the P o l i s h w o r k i n g class h a v e b e e n c o n s i s t e n t l y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t in each phase a n d at each stage of t h e i r d e v e l o p m e n t . It has seen a n d p o i n t e d out t h e m i s t a k e n p o l i t i c a l o r i e n t a t i o n s o f the strikes, a l t h o u g h e f f o r t s w e r e m a d e b y P o l i s h r e a c t i o n to conceal their true political aims by covering t h e m up w i t h simple economic claims. L e c h Walessa, the m a n of the V a t i c a n a n d t h e P o l i s h p r i m a t e , s h o u t e d t o a n y o n e who wanted to listen to and believe h i m that allegedly he w a s not a p o l i t i c a l m a n , t h a t h e w a s n o t e n g a g e d i n p o l i t i c s , t h a t S o l i d a r i t y w a s not a p o l i t i c a l p a r t y . M a n y w e r e d e c e i v e d a n d , f i r s t o f a l l , t h e w o r k i n g class o f P o l a n d w a s m i s l e d . B u t is there a w a y out for the P o l i s h people a n d w o r k i n g class f r o m t h e c a t a s t r o p h i c s i t u a t i o n t h e y are i n , a n d i f any, w h a t i s i t ? W e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s s a y t h a t i t i s the r o a d o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n w h i c h L e n i n teaches us, t h e r o a d o f a p p l y i n g his strategy of the revolution and genuine revo l u t i o n a r y tactics o n t h e basis o f concrete s i t u a t i o n s w h i c h a r e created i n any country.
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O n c e a g a i n t h e P o l i s h w o r k i n g class d i s p l a y e d its great vitality. It overthrew G o m u l k a and brought down Gierek. It, c a n a n d m u s t also defeat K a n i a a n d h i s associates, L e c h W a l e s s a a n d t h e i n f l u e n c e o f the V a t i c a n , t h e y o k e o f the Soviet revisionists and of w o r l d capitalism, headed by American capitalism. T h e P o l a n d o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n has not d i e d a n d w i l l not die, it h a s o n l y lost its w a y . T h e y h a v e set it on a d a n gerous course. P o l a n d has t o f i n d its t r u e c o u r s e , t h e course of proletarian revolution, guided by the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideology. T h e P o l i s h w o r k i n g class, w h i c h has o u t s t a n d i n g r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a d i t i o n s , m u s t create f r o m its o w n r a n k s a new, g e n u i n e l y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d , a f t e r c r e a t i n g it, test i t a n d t e m p e r i t i n t h e class s t r u g g l e f o r the r e v o l u t i o n . T h e t i m e f o r t h i s has come, i t c a n n o t t o l e r a t e delay and procrastination. O n l y its w o r k i n g class c a n save P o l a n d f r o m t h e profound crisis it is in and b r i n g it into the light. Neither K a n i a nor Walessa, neither the Soviet revisionists nor the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s c a n d o this. T h e t r u e f r i e n d s a n d w e l l - w i s h e r s o f t h e P o l i s h people, o f t h e i r f r e e d o m a n d independence, m u s t t e l l t h e m t h e t r u t h o p e n l y a n d sincerely. T h i s i s t h e greatest a i d w h i c h c a n b e g i v e n t h e m a n d also complete support and solidarity w i t h them. T h e more q u i c k l y the P o l i s h w o r k i n g class c a n f r e e itself f r o m i l l u s i o n s a n d deceptions, t h e sooner i t w i l l f u l f i l its h i s t o r i c m i s s i o n i n t h e s e r v i c e o f its o w n h o m e l a n d a n d o f the r e v o l u t i o n .
Z r i i popullit
THE FORCE OF ALBANIAN PATRIOTISM
Article published in the newspaper Bashkimi

March 23, 1981
T h i s m o n t h m a r k s t h e 100th a n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e f i r s t p u b l i c a t i o n i n the press o f the f a m o u s p o e m , O h A l b a n i a , S u f f e r i n g A l b a n i a b y P a s h k o V a s a , ( 1 ) one o f t h e most beautiful and powerful w o r k s of A l b a n i a n poetry. Its p a t r i o t i c pathos a n d f i e r y c a l l t o r e b e l l i o n h a v e i n s p i r e d g e n e r a t i o n s o f A l b a n i a n s i n t h e i r endless w a r s f o r the f r e e d o m a n d t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e o f the H o m e l a n d , f o r the defence o f the n a t i o n a l l a n g u a g e a n d c u l t u r e , a n d f o r the u n i t y a n d progress o f the c o u n t r y . W r i t t e n i n t h e f o r m o f a n elegy, i n a n i n c i s i v e a n d p o w e r f u l r o m a n t i c s t y l e , Pashko Vasa's poem was a clear political manifesto a d dressed to t h e people a n d the w h o l e n a t i o n at one of t h e most d i f f i c u l t m o m e n t s f o r t h e A l b a n i a n l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t , w h e n the C o n g r e s s o f B e r l i n ( 2 ) h a d d e c i d e d t o p a r t i t i o n t h e A l b a n i a n t e r r i t o r y , a n d w h e n its o p e n a n d secret enemies h a d gone o v e r to a g e n e r a l o f f e n s i v e to s m a s h t h e L e a g u e o f P r i z r e n . ( 3 ) A t those hours, c r i t i c a l t o the fate o f
_______________________________________________ 1 P a s h k o Vasa, 1825-1892, outstanding patriot and activist of the A l b a n i a n N a t i o n a l League, poet and publicist. 2 It held its proceedings f r o m J u n e 13-July 13, 1878. 3 On the eve of the Congress of B e r l i n , w h i c h w o u l d revise the decisions of the T r e a t y of Santo Stefano, delegates f r o m a l l A l b a n i a n regions gathered i n the t o w n o f P r i z r e n o n
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the c o u n t r y , P a s h k o V a s a u n d e r s t o o d t h a t the o n l y force a n d the o n l y w e a p o n w h i c h c o u l d cope w i t h the s i t u a t i o n a n d c a r r y t h e A l b a n i a n cause f o r w a r d w a s t h e u n i t y o f the people. H e k n e w h o w t o s u m u p t h e A l b a n i a n r e a l i t y o f that t i m e c o r r e c t l y a n d p r e c i s e l y a n d t o e x p r e s s i n a perfect poetic f o r m that, a b o v e a l l a n d f i r s t o f a l l , the A l b a n i a n s ' r e l i g i o n i s A l b a n i a . P r e c i s e l y because t h i s p o e m c a r r i e d t h i s s p i r i t o f t h e u n i t y o f t h e n a t i o n , because i t s u m m e d u p t h e s u p r e m e interests of the n a t i o n , the s p i r i t of resistance to the e n d against e n e m i e s a n d c o n f i d e n c e i n the f u t u r e o f t h e people, it has been a b a n n e r of s t r u g g l e against r e l i g i o u s splits a n d t e r r i t o r i a l d i v i s i o n s , against s u r r e n d e r a n d s u b m i s s i o n to f o r e i g n e r s . T o d a y we honour Pashko Vasa, his political and litera r y w o r k because, l i k e the c o n t r i b u t i o n o f a l l t h e other o u t s t a n d i n g leaders o f the A l b a n i a n N a t i o n a l Renaissance, i t lies i n the f o u n d a t i o n s o f o u r free a n d i n d e p e n d e n t A l bania. S o c i a l i s t A l b a n i a i s f o r g i n g a h e a d a n d d e v e l o p i n g , its name i s r e s p e c t e d i n the w o r l d . D a y b y d a y its sons a n d d a u g h t e r s are r a i s i n g t h e i r H o m e l a n d t o n e w h e i g h t s a n d m a k i n g i t p r o s p e r . B u t i s has a r r i v e d a t the present d a y t h r o u g h b l o o d y battles, great s a c r i f i c e s a n d s e l f - d e n y i n g efforts f o r c e n t u r i e s on e n d . It has h a d to f i g h t against many p o w e r f u l and c u n n i n g enemies w h o have striven in every w a y t o t o t a l l y e l i m i n a t e the A l b a n i a n n a t i o n , t o w i p e the n a m e o f A l b a n i a f r o m the face o f the e a r t h . T h e i r arsenal o f w e a p o n s has i n c l u d e d r e l i g i o n , r e g i o n a l d i v i s i o n s and v a r i o u s l o c a l p e c u l i a r i t i e s . B y s t r i v i n g t o i d e n t i f y r e l i gion w i t h the n a t i o n , the e n e m i e s w a n t e d not o n l y t o
_______________________________________________ June 10, 1878 and decided to set up a p o l i t i c a l and m i l i t a r y union under the n a m e of the A l b a n i a n League of P r i z r e n , to conduct the struggle for self-government, national unity and the defence of the t e r r i t o r i a l integrity of A l b a n i a , w h i c h was threatened by the chauvinistic aims of the neighbouring nations.
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e n s l a v e o u r people s p i r i t u a l l y , b u t also t o a s s i m i l a t e t h e m , to eliminate their language and traditions, and to perpetuate t h e i r o w n d o m i n a t i o n a n d o p p r e s s i o n . T h e m e n o f o u r R e n a i s s a n c e opposed t h i s a g e - o l d c a m p a i g n o f d e s t r u c t i o n a n d e x t e r m i n a t i o n b y the e n e m i e s w i t h all their ardent spirit of patriotism and fought heroically in exceptionally difficult and complicated conditions in order to show that there is no l i n k between religion and the n a t i o n , t h a t the A l b a n i a n i s A l b a n i a n o n account o f h i s l a n g u a g e a n d c u l t u r e , his g l o r i o u s h i s t o r y , o n a c c o u n t o f t h e l a n d s w h e r e h i s ancestors w e r e b o r n a n d d i e d , o n a c count of his specific and unique spiritual qualities. It w a s this correct u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e i d e a of the n a t i o n , t h i s r e f u s a l to accept r e l i g i o n as a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of the n a t i o n a n d t h e e x p o s u r e o f the m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f enemies o n t h i s q u e s t i o n , w h i c h b e c a m e one o f t h e m o s t active and d y n a m i c factors in the fight for freedom a n d the t r i u m p h of independence. That was so in the time of the m e n of our Renaissance a n d i t i s s o t o t h i s d a y . R e l i g i o n has not f o r m e d n a t i o n s a n d c o u l d not d o so. T h e I t a l i a n people, f o r e x a m p l e , a r e o f t h e C a t h o l i c f a i t h , b u t t h e y f o r m the I t a l i a n n a t i o n . L i k e w i s e , t h e people o f I r a n are o f t h e M o s l e m f a i t h , b u t t h e y f o r m t h e I r a n i a n n a t i o n . W h e t h e r o r n o t a people profess a p a r t i c u l a r r e l i g i o n has no c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the nation. N a t i o n s cannot b e c r e a t e d b y s u b j e c t i v e factors o r b y decrees, o r t h r o u g h t h e desire o f g o v e r n m e n t s . T h e y a r e a r e s u l t of p r o t r a c t e d h i s t o r i c a l processes. T h e A l b a n i a n nation was created and defended stubbornly, w i t h bloodshed a n d w o r k b y its finest sons w h o t o i l e d a n d s a c r i f i c e d e v e r y t h i n g f o r it. T h e r e f o r e , a n y a t t e m p t w h i c h has been m a d e t o negate, i g n o r e o r r e p l a c e t h e A l b a n i a n n a t i o n a l i t y w i t h the r e s p e c t i v e r e l i g i o u s belief, h a s a l w a y s e n c o u n t e r e d t h e o p p o s i t i o n o f a l l A l b a n i a n s . E v e n i n those cases w h e n
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enemies have tried to break them up and drive t h e m into e m m i g r a t i o n , w h e r e v e r t h e y h a v e gone t h e y h a v e p r e s e r v e d u n d i m m e d their national identity a n d pride, their love for their language and country. A l b a n i a n p a t r i o t i s m , w h i c h has b e e n a great s p i r i t u a l force i n the past, t o w h i c h the o u t s t a n d i n g m e n o f t h i s country have appealed in order to defend the undeniable rights of our nation w i t h courage and bravery, always remains an insurmountable barrier to the evil aims of enemies and their a n t i - A l b a n i a n t r i c k e r y and intrigues
Bashkimi
WHY WERE POLICE VIOLENCE AND T A N K S USED AGAINST THE ALBANIANS OF KOSOVA?
Article published in the newspaper Zri i popullil

A p r i l 8, 1981
T h e Y u g o s l a v press, r a d i o a n d T V h a v e set u p a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y c l a m o u r o f m i s i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e reasons w h i c h i m p e l l e d t h e w o r k i n g people a n d students o f K o s o v a t o c o m e out i n d e m o n s t r a t i o n s . W h a t i m m e d i a t e l y catches one's a t t e n t i o n i n the speeches o f t h e l e a d i n g f i g u r e s a n d the endless a r t i c l e s w h i c h f i l l the pages o f t h e Y u g o s l a v n e w s p a p e r s , e s p e c i a l l y those o f B e l g r a d e , i s t h e i r m a r k e d c h a u v i n i s t overtones a n d t h e t o t a l l a c k o f a n y r e a l i s t i c analysis or objective attitude towards the tragic events in K o s o v a . N o t o n l y the shades o f R a n k o v i , b u t also t h e old ghosts o f the K a r a g e o r g e v i e s h a v e been i n v o k e d . N o w t h e y are o p e r a t i n g w i t h c l u b s a n d t a n k s , h i t t i n g h a r d a t t h e A l b a n i a n population in Y u g o s l a v i a , to suppress and s u b j u gate t h e m a n d s t r a n g l e t h e i r voice. R e g a r d l e s s o f w h a t i s said a n d w r i t t e n i n Y u g o s l a v i a , the t r u e causes o f t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s i n K o s o v a , t h e i r content, t h e d e m a n d s w h i c h are r a i s e d i n t h e m c a n n o t b e covered over w i t h misleading phraseology, however noisy, a s t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s i n B e l g r a d e are t r y i n g t o do. A n y o b j e c t i v e p e r s o n , a n y u n b i a s e d o b s e r v e r , c a n see a n d i m m e d i a t e l y u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e basic causes o f t h e r e c e n t
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events i n K o s o v a a r e the great b a c k w a r d n e s s o f t h i s r e g i o n , the p o v e r t y a n d s u f f e r i n g o f its people, a n d t h e l a c k o f democratic freedoms and political rights. T h e demonstra tions h a v e e r u p t e d a s t h e r e s u l t o f a n i n t o l e r a b l e s i t u a t i o n w h i c h has b e e n g o i n g o n f o r tens o f y e a r s a n d t h e i n c r e a s i n g l y g l o o m y prospects o f e v e r e m e r g i n g f r o m t h i s s i t u a t i o n . A c c o r d i n g t o f i g u r e s p u b l i s h e d i n t h e Y u g o s l a v press, t h e per c a p i t a i n c o m e i n K o s o v a i s a b o u t 6 times less t h a n i n S l o v e n i a , a b o u t 5 t i m e s less t h a n in C r o a t i a , a n d 3.5 t i m e s less t h a n i n S e r b i a . I n recent y e a r s , the g r o w t h r a t e o f i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n i n K o s o v a has been a b o u t f o u r o r f i v e t i m e s less t h a t of S e r b i a . T h e l e v e l of u n e m p l o y m e n t is 20 times g r e a t e r t h a n i n S l o v e n i a , a n d t w o a n d a h a l f t i m e s g r e a t e r t h a n i n S e r b i a . M o r e t h a n 110 t h o u s a n d w o r k e r s h a v e e m i g r a t e d outside K o s o v a a n d Y u g o s l a v i a i n s e a r c h o f w o r k , besides the 70 t h o u s a n d others, most of t h e m q u a l i f i e d w o r k e r s , w h o are u n e m p l o y e d i n K o s o v a . T h e leaders o f Y u g o s l a v i a a n d K o s o v a k n o w a n d a d m i t these facts. I n a speech d e l i v e r e d i n P r i s h t i n a , V . D j u r a novi, C h a i r m a n of the E x e c u t i v e C o u n c i l of Y u g o s l a v i a , s a i d : The d e v e l o p m e n t of K o s o v a is at a s t a n d s t i l l . . . It is clear that the p o l i c y of t h e a c c e l e r a t e d d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e r e g i o n i s not b e i n g r e a l i z e d t o t h e degree e n v i s a g e d i n t h e plans. O n the c o n t r a r y , t h e g a p b e t w e e n K o s o v a a n d other parts o f the c o u n t r y i s g r o w i n g w i d e r . . . E c o n o m i c i n v e s t ments i n K o s o v a a r e 4 3 p e r cent b e l o w the a v e r a g e o f Yugoslavia. In a speech d e l i v e r e d at t h e 15th m e e t i n g of t h e CC of the L e a g u e of C o m m u n i s t s of Y u g o s l a v i a ( D e c e m b e r 1980), M . B a k a l l i , C h a i r m a n o f t h e l e a d i n g b o d y o f the L e a g u e of C o m m u n i s t s of Kosova, said: The aims of reducing the differences i n t h e l e v e l o f d e v e l o p m e n t o f K o s o v a , c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e a v e r a g e o f t h e c o u n t r y , h a v e not been achieved. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e d i f f e r e n c e s h a v e b e c o m e even m o r e p r o n o u n c e d . . . A s a result, i n s t e a d o f the r a t e
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of d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e r e g i o n b e i n g 60 p e r cent a b o v e t h a t of t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y , as p l a n n e d , t h e r a t e of d e v e l o p m e n t of K o s o v a has been 46.9 p e r cent b e l o w t h e a v e r a g e of t h e c o u n t r y . T h i s t e n d e n c y f o r these d i f f e r e n c e s t o increase, he said, has been g o i n g on since 1947. T h i s process of t h e w i d e n i n g o f the gap, s a i d M . B a k a l l i , has r e a c h e d its c r i t i c a l limits. F r o m t h i s s i t u a t i o n i t i s c l e a r w h y t h e people o f K o s o v a are d i s s a t i s f i e d a n d w h y t h e y c a m e out i n d e m o n s trations and expressed this dissatisfaction in w h a t they cons i d e r e d the best w a y a n d t h e f o r m w h i c h t h e y f o u n d most a p p r o p r i a t e . Belgrade is n o w f u m i n g a n d t h u n d e r i n g against the students o f K o s o v a , b u t w h a t d i d these s t u d e n t s d o a n d w h a t d i d they demand? The Y u g o s l a v leaders personally a n d the press c o m m u n i q u s h a v e a d m i t t e d p u b l i c l y a n d officially that in the demonstrations of M a r c h 11 in P r i s h t i n a t h e students e x p r e s s e d t h e i r d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n o v e r t h e e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n , o v e r the b a d l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s , o v e r t h e discrimination w h i c h they suffer in comparison w i t h the other students a t Y u g o s l a v u n i v e r s i t i e s . A s t h e Y u g o s l a v press has f r e q u e n t l y r e p o r t e d , t h e y h a v e e x p r e s s e d t h i s d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n o n s e v e r a l occasions t o b o t h t h e l o c a l a n d c e n t r a l a u t h o r i t i e s . L i k e w i s e , the w o r k i n g people o f K o s o v a h a v e f r e q u e n t l y c o m p l a i n e d a b o u t the b a c k w a r d n e s s o f the r e g i o n a n d p o i n t e d out the n e e d f o r u r g e n t m e a s u r e s f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f the c o u n t r y . B u t n o one has l i s t e n e d t o these just a n d essential d e m a n d s . N o n o t i c e has b e e n t a k e n a n d t h e people h a v e been left t o t h e i r fate. I f a n y interest h a d been t a k e n , K o s o v a , w i t h its endless m i n e r a l resources, its f e r t i l e p l a i n s , a n d its b r a v e a n d i n d u s t r i o u s people, w o u l d not h a v e b e e n i n t h e state i t is. O f course, these assets are e x p l o i t e d , m i l l i o n s of, tons of c o a l are m i n e d , the t h e r m a l - p o w e r stations generate b i l l i o n s o f k i l o w a t t s , the molten lead flows in rivers in Trepe, the chrome,
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n i c k e l , a n d m a g n e s i t e ores a r e s t a c k e d i n m o u n t a i n s , t r a i n l o a d s o f w h e a t are t r a n s p o r t e d f r o m K o s o v a a n d t h e fine flavoured meat of K o s o v a is sold on all the markets o f E u r o p e . W h y t h e n i s K o s o v a not p r o g r e s s i n g ? T h e s e are the q u e s t i o n s w h i c h the s t u d e n t s a n d people o f K o s o v a posed t o t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s a n d t h e y r e c e i v e d b u l l e t s i n reply. T h e Y u g o s l a v leaders say t h a t i n Y u g o s l a v i a t h e nations a n d n a t i o n a l i t i e s , t h e w o r k e r s a n d v a r i o u s collec tives are s e l f - g o v e r n i n g , t h a t t h e y decide f o r t h e m s e l v e s about the e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t of enterprises, v i l l a g e s , cities, r e p u b l i c s , etc. H e r e w e d o not w i s h t o enter i n t o i d e o l o g i c a l p o l e m i c s o v e r t h e i r theories a n d practices, b u t w e w o u l d l i k e t o ask a s i m p l e q u e s t i o n : I n t h a t so-called socialist s e l f - g o v e r n i n g c o u n t r y , t h e S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t i v e R e p u b l i c of Y u g o s l a v i a , on the basis of those r i g h t s p r o v i d e d i n the Y u g o s l a v C o n s t i t u t i o n , d o t h e people a n d y o u t h o f K o s o v a h a v e t h e r i g h t , d o t h e y h a v e t h e f r e e d o m , t o ask the q u e s t i o n w h y the other r e g i o n s o f Y u g o s l a v i a a r e d e v e l o p i n g , w h i l e t h i s i s n o t o c c u r r i n g i n K o s o v a ? I t seems that someone i s h i n d e r i n g t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f K o s o v a , a n d the l e a d e r s h i p o f the F e d e r a t i o n m u s t k n o w w h o t h i s is, since i t a d m i t s t h a t K o s o v a i s p o t e n t i a l l y r i c h , b u t effec t i v e l y poor. In the speeches of s e v e r a l K o s o v a leaders, as w e l l as i n m a n y a r t i c l e s i n the press, i t has been stated t h a t t h e students i n the d e m o n s t r a t i o n s i n P r i s h t i n a , a p a r t f r o m p r o t e s t i n g a b o u t t h e i r d i f f i c u l t e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n , also demanded more freedoms and democratic rights and the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of the status of a F e d e r a t e d R e p u b l i c f o r K o s o v a . I n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , too, a q u e s t i o n a r i s e s : O n t h e basis of the so-called s e l f - g o v e r n i n g d e m o c r a c y , do t h e peoples of Y u g o s l a v i a have the right to demand such things? O n A p r i l 3 , D u a n D r a g o s a v a , S e c r e t a r y o f the P r e sidency o f t h e C C o f the L e a g u e o f C o m m u n i s t s o f Y u g o s l a -
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v i a , s a i d i n his speech a b o u t the e v e n t s o f K o s o v a : E x p e r i e n c e has s h o w n t h a t w e h a v e a l w a y s s u f f e r e d d a m a g e w h e n we have allowed moments of historic importance to u s t o s l i p by. T h i s v a l u a b l e a d v i c e w h i c h h e g i v e s i s n o t o n l y a p p r o p r i a t e f o r the l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t i v e R e p u b l i c of Y u g o s l a v i a , b u t is also a r e m i n d e r to the P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a . It is a r e c o m m e n d a t i o n not o n l y f o r t h e S e r b i a n people, b u t also f o r t h e A l b a n i a n people w h o l i v e o n t h e i r o w n t e r r i t o r i e s i n Yugoslavia. H o w e v e r , w e w a n t t o p o i n t out o n t h i s occasion t h a t the Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p has n o t f o r g o t t e n a n y t h i n g a n d i s n o t w a n t i n g to l o o k at h i s t o r y as it o u g h t to be l o o k e d at i n o r d e r t o a v o i d r e p e t i t i o n o f t h e b i t t e r past. I n t h i s same speech, D u a n D r a g o s a v a s a y s : W e h a v e solved the problem of nationalities, of national republics a n d , i n the f r a m e w o r k o f t h e S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f S e r b i a , t h e p r o b l e m o f a u t o n o m o u s r e g i o n s i n t h e best p o s s i b l e way. Dobrivoje Vidi, C h a i r m a n of the Socialist Republic o f S e r b i a , also stresses t h e s a m e t h i n g w h e n , a f t e r v e n t i n g his spleen a n d p o u r i n g out h i s great r e s e n t m e n t o n K o s o v a , h e s a y s : The a u t o n o m o u s socialist r e g i o n s h a v e c o m p l e t e i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d e q u a l i t y i n the f r a m e w o r k o f t h e S o c i a l ist R e p u b l i c of S e r b i a . T h a t is to say, complete i n d e p e n dence a n d e q u a l i t y , b u t u n d e r t h e w i n g o f S e r b i a ! T h e s e assertions b y Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s s h o w t h a t e v e n after the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r o f t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a the past h i s t o r y w a s not f o r g o t t e n : K o s o v a r e m a i n e d a n autonomous r e g i o n o f t h e R e p u b l i c o f S e r b i a a n d t h e A l b a n i a n population, compact in both nationality a n d ter r i t o r y , w a s split u p b e t w e e n t h r e e r e p u b l i c s o f t h e Y u g o slav Federation. W h y d i d this occur? It is up to Dragosava, V i d i and company to explain this ideologically, politically, geographically and economically. If such an analysis is made, t h e n i t w i l l e m e r g e h o w w o r t h l e s s are s u c h assertions
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as those of D r a g o s a v a , w h e n he s a y s : We have s o l v e d t h e p r o b l e m o f n a t i o n a l i t i e s a n d n a t i o n a l r e p u b l i c s . . . i n t h e best possible w a y . A f t e r claiming that the problems of nationalities have been s o l v e d j u s t l y i n Y u g o s l a v i a , t h e S e c r e t a r y o f t h e P r e s i d e n c y o f t h e C C o f t h e L C Y says i n one p a r t o f h i s speech: N e v e r t h e l e s s , i t w o u l d b e a n i l l u s i o n t o t h i n k t h a t we have f o u n d a lasting a n d perfect solution to this and that there w i l l b e n o p r o b l e m s b e t w e e n n a t i o n a l i t i e s . C l e a r l y , he is a d m i t t i n g t h a t a l a s t i n g a n d p e r f e c t s o l u t i o n to this v e r y c o m p l i c a t e d p r o b l e m o f n a t i o n a l i t i e s has n o t been f o u n d . H e n c e t h e c o n c l u s i o n m u s t b e r e a c h e d t h a t the peoples w h o c o m p r i s e Y u g o s l a v i a m u s t m a k e e f f o r t s t o i m p r o v e t h e s o l u t i o n o f these p r o b l e m s . S o i t i s u p t o the peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a t o f i n d b e t t e r s o l u t i o n s t o these problems democratically w i t h i n the f r a m e w o r k of the S F R of Y u g o s l a v i a . N o w the A l b a n i a n inhabitants of Kosova, who make up the o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n t h e r e , a r e d e m a n d i n g w i t h i n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l n o r m s a n d also i n t h e streets, t h a t t h e r e g i o n o f K o s o v a s h o u l d b e l i b e r a t e d f r o m t h e t u t e l a g e o f S e r b i a , a n d t h a t i t b e g i v e n t h e status of a republic w i t h i n the S F R of Y u g o s l a v i a . W h a t c r i m e h a v e t h e people o f K o s o v a c o m m i t t e d w i t h this d e m a n d , w h i c h w a s t h u s d e s c r i b e d b y t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the Y u g o s l a v F e d e r a t i o n a n d s e v e r a l m a i n l e a d e r s o f the r e g i o n o f K o s o v a ? T h e y h a v e n o t c o m m i t t e d a n y c r i m e . O n the c o n t r a r y , these l e g i t i m a t e d e m a n d s h a v e b e e n u n d e r rated, h a v e b e e n c o n s i d e r e d hostile, a n d t h a t i s w h y t h e point w a s r e a c h e d t h a t d e m o n s t r a t i o n s t o o k place. At no time have the A l b a n i a n people of K o s o v a and other p a r t s o f Y u g o s l a v i a b e e n a l l o w e d t o e x p r e s s t h e i r opinions f r e e l y a n d d e m o c r a t i c a l l y a b o u t t h e status w h i c h the r e g i o n i n w h i c h t h e y l i v e s h o u l d h a v e . O t h e r persons have decided this for them. A n d w h e n , after m a n y peaceful
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requests, t h e y d e m a n d e d i n l o u d voices, s o t h a t t h e f r a t e r n a l peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a c o u l d hear, t h a t K o s o v a b e g i v e n the status o f a r e p u b l i c w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f t h e S F R o f Y u g o s l a v i a , those w h o t u r n e d a deaf e a r t o these r e quests d i d n o t hesitate t o o p e n f i r e o n t h e A l b a n i a n s a n d order the tanks on them. A n d that is not a l l they accused the brave K o s o v a students of allegedly acting l i k e the gangsters o f C h i c a g o a n d p u t t i n g l i t t l e c h i l d r e n i n f r o n t of the demonstrations. Others m a y have such despicable ways, but never the A l b a n i a n s w h o have always fought s w o r d i n h a n d . I n fact, w h a t t h e Y u g o s l a v press c l a i m s i n this d i r e c t i o n p r o v e s t h a t t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s w e r e p o p u l a r a n d p e a c e f u l ones. T h i s c l a i m i m p l i e s t h a t i f t h e r e h a d n o t b e e n a great c r o w d o f s c h o o l p u p i l s t h e S e r b i a n p o l i c e would have m o w e d the people d o w n w i t h machine-gun fire. T h e s e t h i n g s are not e a s i l y f o r g o t t e n . T h e y d o not i n d i c a t e strength but weakness, do not indicate prudence but stupefaction. W h y does t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e F e d e r a t i o n n o t s t u d y the d e m a n d s f o r a r e p u b l i c w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f t h e F e d e r a t i o n i n a f a i r w a y , w h y does i t not i n t e r p r e t t h e m as demands w h i c h stem f r o m the Constitution of the S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t i v e R e p u b l i c o f Y u g o s l a v i a itself, b u t r u s h t o d e s c r i b e t h e m a s hostile, c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e m a n d s w h i c h r u i n the stability of and destroy Yugoslavia? Do n o t the A l b a n i a n s o f K o s o v a h a v e a l l t h e f e a t u r e s a n d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t h a t c o n s t i t u t e a n a t i o n , do t h e y n o t l i v e i n a c o m p a c t t e r r i t o r y , d o t h e y not h a v e t h e i r c o m m o n language, c u l t u r e a n d s p i r i t u a l m a k e - u p , a r e t h e y n o t c a p a b l e o f g o v e r n i n g themselves, b u t n e e d t h e t u t e l a g e o f someone else, a r e t h e y s o f e w i n n u m b e r s t h a t t h e y a r e n o t w o r t h y of being raised to the r a n k of a republic, are there not o t h e r f e d e r a l r e p u b l i c s i n Y u g o s l a v i a s o t h a t t h e republic w h i c h the A l b a n i a n s of K o s o v a d e m a n d w o u l d make an exception?
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T h e problems must be judged objectively and fairly and the position should not be reached that a l l the leaders o f e v e r y r a n k a r e set i n m o t i o n t o a r o u s e f e e l i n g s o f r e s e n t ment a n d hostility towards the A l b a n i a n s among the peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a , t h a t a l l the forces a r e m o b i l i z e d t o attack, t o abuse, t o beat, t o k i l l , t o i n j u r e a n d i m p r i s o n the flower of the valiant A l b a n i a n youth of K o s o v a and other A l b a n i a n regions. It is jeopardizing the honour a n d interests of Y u g o slavia to pour into K o s o v a half the Serbian police and the m i l i t i a o f B e l g r a d e , a r m e d t o t h e teeth, t o s u r r o u n d t h e cities o f K o s o v a w i t h t a n k s , t o c l o u d t h e s k i e s w i t h a i r c r a f t and p a c k t h e a e r o d r o m e s w i t h p a r a t r o o p s . No, this should not have occurred. We sternly denounce this u n p r e c e d e n t e d v i o l e n c e i n K o s o v a . T h o s e w h o a r e really to blame for the situation must be found, but they are not I n K o s o v a , n o r i n t h e P S R o f A l b a n i a , a s i s b e i n g h i n t e d a n d i m p l i e d i n some q u a r t e r s . T o f i n d t h e m one must p r o b e d e e p e r i n t o t h e s u b j e c t i v e a n d o b j e c t i v e reasons and t h e p o l i c y p u r s u e d b y t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p . The demonstrations and just demands of the A l b a n i a n students a n d p e o p l e o f K o s o v a h a v e b e e n seen a n d i n t e r preted f r o m a w r o n g s t a n d p o i n t , t h e y h a v e b e e n t r e a t e d in a hostile w a y a n d w i t h e x t r a o r d i n a r y brutality. We t h i n k t h a t these m a t t e r s o u g h t t o b e t r e a t e d w i s e l y a n d w i t h cool heads, b e a r i n g i n m i n d e s p e c i a l l y t h a t i n j u s t i c e s have a l w a y s b e e n done t o t h e A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a , a n d t h a t t h e c h a u v i n i s t forces h a v e s t r i v e n t o t a k e savage v e n g e a n c e i n b o t h t h e m o r e d i s t a n t a n d the m o r e recent past. N o good p u r p o s e w i l l b e a c h i e v e d b y t r y i n g t o i n t i midate a people w i t h m o n s t r o u s e p i t h e t s a n d t a n k s , as i s b e i n g done w i t h t h e A l b a n i a n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a . W i t h the Albanians of Kosova, Macedonia and Montenegro, and w i t h those w h o h a v e e m i g r a t e d o n account o f p o v e r t y
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and unemployment, matters should be talked over c a l m l y a n d reasonably and not w i t h ill-intentioned prejudgments. T h e s e people o u g h t t o e n j o y f u l l r i g h t s a n d f u l l e q u a l i t y w i t h t h e other peoples w i t h i n t h e F e d e r a t i o n o f Y u g o s l a v i a . E v e r y proposal and just demand of the Albanians w h o l i v e i n Y u g o s l a v i a , w h i c h does n o t please a n d upsets t h e federal or the regional leadership, is unhesitatingly decribed as hostile, A l b a n i a n - c h a u v i n i s t , i r r e d e n t i s t , etc. L i k e w i s e , a n y protest against i n j u s t i c e s w h i c h h a v e b e e n a n d a r e b e i n g d o n e t o t h e m , a n d these are n e i t h e r f e w n o r m i n o r ones, i s d e s c r i b e d i n these i n s u l t i n g t e r m s . W h a t does t h e e p i t h e t n a t i o n a l i s t o n t h e l i p s o f t h e Yugoslavs mean, w h e n it is applied to the Albanians? T h e w o r d n a t i o n a l i s t comes f r o m t h e w o r d natio, w h i c h means nation, nationality. A n y dictionary, large or small, e x p l a i n s this. B u t o n t h e l i p s o f t h e Y u g o s l a v s t h e e p i t h e t nationalist is a d e m a n d for submission towards the big nation, is a demand that people give up their love f o r their country, their Homeland and their nation. W h e n y o u t r y t o d e n y a n a t i o n its n a t i o n a l i t y , s o v ereignty and a l l the attributes w h i c h f l o w f r o m it, t h e n the words nation and nationality, w h i c h the Y u g o s l a v s are t a l k i n g a n d w r i t i n g a b o u t e v e r y d a y , a r e sheer d e m a g o g y . S u c h e f f o r t s cause f r i c t i o n w h i c h leads t o u n d e s i r a b l e and dangerous confrontations. If y o u t r y to suppress a n d w i p e out the traditions a n d national aspirations of a people, t h e n y o u w i l l c e r t a i n l y e n c o u n t e r a r e a c t i o n o f self-defence. O n l y M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , scientific socialism, the theory of M a r x , Engels, L e n i n and Stalin, provides a correct solution to national problems. In the Socialist Federative Republic of Y u g o s l a v i a t h i n g s h a v e gone s o f a r t h a t i n t h e R e p u b l i c o f B o s n j a H e r c e g o v i n a , i n K o s o v a a n d o t h e r places w h e r e A l b a n i a n s l i v e , a M o s l e m n a t i o n a l i t y has b e e n i n v e n t e d . It is s a i d
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that t h e M o s l e m n a t i o n a l i t y i s s o m e t h i n g s p e c i f i c t o Yugoslavia. Surprisingly, however, there is no Christian Orthodox nationality or Roman Catholic nationality in Yugoslavia. If y o u w a n t to f i n d the explanation for this y o u must read the m e m o r a n d u m of V. ubrilovi, f o r m e r political adviser to the monarchic regime, former minister of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, and now an academician of Yugoslavia, addressed to the royal g o v e r n m e n t o f S t o j a d i n o v i i n 1937. I f one r e a d s t h i s m e m o r a n d u m , one c a n u n d e r s t a n d better w h y a n y a c t i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n s o f K o s o v a , w i t h i n the f e d e r a l C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d l a w s , i s i m m e d i a t e l y d e s c r i b e d a s A l b a n i a n c h a u v i n i s m , w h y i t i s v e r y easy t o d e s c r i b e them as irredentist. In order to put t h e m into prisons and c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p s . T o h a v e t h e r i g h t t o accuse a s i r r e d e n t i s t a w h o l e p e o p l e a n d n a t i o n of m o r e t h a n 2 million inhabitants, l i k e the part of the A l b a n i a n nation w h i c h l i v e s o n its o w n l a n d s i n Y u g o s l a v i a , y o u y o u r s e l f must not b e a c h a u v i n i s t a n d m u s t h a v e w i p e d out a l l t h e causes a n d sources o f n a t i o n a l i n j u s t i c e s w h i c h h a v e b e e n spawned by imperialists a n d the old B a l k a n feudal bour geoisie. If t h e p r i n c i p l e of s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n of peoples has b e e n a p p l i e d a f t e r t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , a s i s claimed, w h y then should there by irredentism? B e f o r e t h e r e i s t a l k o f s o - c a l l e d i r r e d e n t i s m , t h e past history, t h e e c o n o m i c a n d c u l t u r a l b a c k w a r d n e s s , t h e mass unemployment and forced emigration of Albanians, w h i c h constitutes one o f t h e m o s t m a s s i v e e m i g r a t i o n s f r o m Yugoslavia to foreign countries, must be explained. T h e situation o f K o s o v a c a n n o t b e e x p l a i n e d t h r o u g h t h e w o r l d crisis, a s c e r t a i n Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s , a l l e g e d l y t h e o r e t i c i a n s o f the F e d e r a t i o n a n d K o s o v a , a r e t r y i n g t o do. In regard to the so-called A l b a n i a n chauvinism, it must b e s a i d t h a t t h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e A l b a n i a n a n d h i s h i s t o r y t h r o u g h the c e n t u r i e s i n d i c a t e t h e opposite o f t h a t
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of w h i c h the A l b a n i a n s of Y u g o s l a v i a are accused. T h e A l b a n i a n s h a v e n e v e r oppressed o r e x p l o i t e d o t h e r p e o p l e s . N e v e r have they attacked and partitioned the territories o f other peoples. T h e s e t h i n g s h a v e b e e n d o n e t o t h e A l banians. T h e r e f o r e c h a u v i n i s m m u s t b e s o u g h t a n d f o u n d elsewhere, a n d not a m o n g the A l b a n i a n s o f K o s o v a o r those o f the People's S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a , w h o c o n s t i t u t e one people a n d one n a t i o n . C h a u v i n i s m m u s t b e s o u g h t p r e c i s e l y a m o n g those Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s w h o o r d e r e d t h e a t t a c k w i t h S e r b i a n t a n k s a n d police, w h o k i l l e d , i n j u r e d , t o r t u r e d a n d i m p r i s o n e d the A l b a n i a n students, w o r k e r s a n d peasants, t h e g r a n d s o n s a n d g r a n d - d a u g h t e r s o f t h e h e roes o f o u r people, Isa B o l e t i n i , B a j r a m C u r r i , A b d y l a n d Naim Frashri, Sulejman Vokshi, Y m e r Prizreni, A z e m and Shote Galica, eriz T o p u l l i and S e l a m Salaria, the brothers and cofighters of H a j d a r Dushi, H y s n i K a p o , M i l a d i n Popovi, E m i n D u r a k u , and thousands of heroic A l b a n i a n , Montenegrin, and Macedonian partisans who fought and s h e d t h e i r b l o o d together, a s b r o t h e r s i n Y u g o s l a v i a , f o r the f r e e d o m , i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e peoples of Y u g o s l a v i a . Does B e l g r a d e d e m a n d t h a t t h e A l b a n i a n s cease t o b e p a t r i o t s ? T h i s w i l l n e v e r o c c u r ! T h e A l b a n i a n has a l w a y s d e f e n d e d h i m s e l f h e r o i c a l l y a n d has t r i u m p h e d o v e r t h e enemies because h e has a l w a y s b e e n i n t h e r i g h t . W h e r e v e r h e lives, w o r k s a n d fights, h e a l w a y s d i s p l a y s m a t u r i t y a n d p a t i e n c e T h e r e f o r e don't a n g e r t h e A l b a n i a n people, t h e y are p a t i e n t , b u t w h e n t h e A l b a n i a n s b e c o m e a n g r y , even t h e stones a r e set a b l a z e . T h e history of the A l b a n i a n s through the centuries and that of the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r have s h o w n that the sons a n d d a u g h t e r s o f o u r people h a v e s h e d t h e i r b l o o d t o h e l p t h e f r a t e r n a l n e i g h b o u r i n g peoples. T h e l o f t y s p i r i t of sacrifice a n d profound internationalist feelings charac t e r i z e o u r people. W e h a v e a l w a y s w a n t e d g o o d n e i g h b o u r l y
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relations w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a . O u r stand is unalterable. II anyone, i m p e r i a l i s m o r s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m , a t t a c k s Y u g o s l a v i a , o u r people, socialist A l b a n i a w i l l f i g h t s h o u l d e r to: s h o u l d e r w i t h t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a . T h i s i s w h a t w e h a v e s a i d a n d t h i s i s w h a t w e s h a l l do. O u r o p i n i o n a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l o p i n i o n c a n n o t accept a n d r e c o n c i l e i t s e l f t o t h e b a r b a r o u s actions b e i n g t a k e n against t h e A l b a n i a n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r ship o u g h t t o b e p r u d e n t a n d s t u d y a n d s o l v e its i n t e r n a l problems justly, a n d not be a l w a y s t r y i n g to lecture others about m o d e r a t i o n , t h e p e a c e f u l s o l u t i o n o f conflicts, a n d h u m a n r i g h t s a n d t h e r i g h t s o f peoples, etc. W e t h i n k t h a t t e m p e r s m u s t b e cooled a n d , f i r s t o f a l l , those o f t h e Y u g o s l a v leaders. T h e p r o b l e m s o f t h e A l banians w h o l i v e i n Y u g o s l a v i a s h o u l d b e s t u d i e d c a l m l y , w i s e l y a n d f a i r l y . I f t h i s i s n o t done, t h e w o u n d w i l l n o t b e healed, b u t w i l l b e c o m e m u c h deeper. W e d o n o t w a n t this t o occur, a n d w e are r e a d y t o g i v e sincere assistance w i t h a l l t h e forces o f o u r n o b l e h e a r t s a n d m i n d s t o preserve t h e f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e f r a t e r n a l peoples o f Yugoslavia, to safeguard the good neighbourly relations w h i c h h a v e b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d , t o assist o u r A l b a n i a n b r o t h e r s in every direction as before, to develop c o m m e r c i a l relations and c u l t u r a l e x c h a n g e s w i t h t h e m , a s w e d o w i t h t h e other peoples of Y u g o s l a v i a , on t h e basis of a g r e e m e n t s concluded j o i n t l y b e t w e e n t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a and the Socialist Federative Republic of Y u g o slavia. T h i s i s r e q u i r e d i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f o u r t w o states, o f our f r i e n d s h i p , o f o u r g o o d n e i g h b o u r l y r e l a t i o n s , w i t h o u t a t a n y t i m e i n t e r f e r i n g i n each other's i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s . A l b a n i a has n o t i n t e r f e r e d a n d i s n o t i n t e r f e r i n g i n the i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s of Y u g o s l a v i a . T h i s is a basic p r i n c i p l e o f our p o l i c y . I n e x p r e s s i n g o u r v i e w s a b o u t t h e recent events i n K o s o v a , w e a r e n o t i n t e r f e r i n g i n t h e i n t e r n a l
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affairs of Yugoslavia. B u t we are raising our voice, a n d we have the right to raise it w h e n injustices are done to our brothers, w h e n violence and repression are used against t h e m , w h e n s u c h slogans a s A l b a n i a n c h a u v i n i s m , i r r e d e n t i s m , etc. are u s e d t o d i s c r e d i t t h e A l b a n i a n y o u t h a n d people o f K o s o v a . W e h a v e t h i s r i g h t , j u s t a s Y u g o s l a v i a a n d a n y o t h e r state has t h e r i g h t t o d e f e n d a n d d e m a n d j u s t i c e f o r its o w n n a t i o n a l m i n o r i t i e s . T h e T r e a t y o f L o n don, the T r e a t y of Versailles, or a n y other imperialist treaty can no longer be imposed to the detriment of the A l b a n i a n people. E v e r y b o d y , f r i e n d s a n d enemies, states big and small, imperialist and revisionist, anti-communist o r pseudo-socialist, a s w e l l a s o u r c o m m u n i s t c o m r a d e s and brothers and progressive people should understand this c l e a r l y . Z r i i popullit
T H E COMMITTEE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNIQUE SHOULD E X E R T INFLUENCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND ON THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF ITS ACHIEVEMENTS
From the contribution at the meeting of the Secretariat of the CC of the PLA (1)
M a y 6, 1981
At the start of the meeting, Comrade Enver Hoxha asked the comrades of the Committee of Science and Technique a number of questions in connection with the accomplishment of the targets of the 8th Plenum of the CC of the Party, inquired about the organization, functions and competences of the Committee of Science and Technique, about its relations and cooperation with the Academy of Sciences, with the University and with the other scientific institutions of the country, etc. After listening to the answers and the contributions of the comrades in connection with the question on the agenda Comrade Enver Hoxha said among other things: T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f science i n o u r c o u n t r y i s p l e a s i n g , but I a m o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t w e s h o u l d not e m p l o y s u p e r _____________________________________ 1 T h i s meeting e x a m i n e d the report On the w o r k done for the post-graduate q u a l i f i c a t i o n of cadres and the problems w h i c h emerge in this f i e l d to accomplish the targets set by the 8th P l e n u m of the CC of the P a r t y , presented by the C o m m i t tee of Science and T e c h n i q u e .
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l a t i v e s t o describe it. I n o u r c o u n t r y t h e f o u n d a t i o n s h a v e b e e n l a i d a n d successes h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of a n u m b e r of sciences a n d v i s t a s h a v e b e e n o p e n e d t o e v e n the most a d v a n c e d sciences a n d t h e i r b r a n c h e s . I n these c o n d i t i o n s i t i s o u r d u t y t o k n o w h o w t o m a n a g e a n d e m p l o y o u r m a t e r i a l , p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l forces, n o t g r o p i n g i n the d a r k a n d n o t o n o c c a s i o n a l p r o b l e m s o f t h e m o m e n t , b u t m e t h o d i c a l l y a n d w i t h f i r s t p r i o r i t y i n those branches of science a n d t e c h n i q u e w h i c h l e a d to a g r e a t e r p o s i t i v e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a n d w h i c h , n a t u r a l l y , also r e q u i r e a higher level of technology, more profound k n o w l e d g e and more advanced methods in theoretical studies and application. B e s i d e s organs o f t h e state a d m i n i s t r a t i o n w h i c h i n fact r u n t h e w o r k , t h e r e a r e also s t u d y i n s t i t u t e s a s w e l l a s other o r g a n i s m s a t t h e c e n t r e a n d a t t h e base w h i c h employ m a n y forms and methods in scientific-research w o r k a n d a p p l i e d sciences. A m o n g these f o r m s a n d m e t h o d s some a r e a d v a n c e d (but a r e s t i l l b a c k w a r d c o m p a r e d w i t h the m o s t a d v a n c e d ones w h i c h w e h a v e t o achieve), s o m e are a r t i s a n f o r m s a n d m e t h o d s a n d , f i n a l l y , t h e r e a r e outdated forms and methods. We must recognize a n d acknowledge this uneveness of the situation. E a c h governement department, scientific institution a n d enterp r i s e m u s t n o t o n l y a c k n o w l e d g e t h i s uneveness, b u t m u s t also t a k e e f f e c t i v e m e a s u r e s a n d s t r i v e t o i m p r o v e the s i t u a t i o n t h r o u g h p e r s i s t e n t e f f o r t a n d i n p l a n n e d ways. Hence the need for recognition of the situation by the C o m m i t t e e o f S c i e n c e a n d T e c h n i q u e w h i c h w e set u p . I t m u s t set itself tasks a n d p r o v i d e o r i e n t a t i o n s f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f science a n d f o r t h e s t r i c t a p p l i c a t i o n o f scientific achievements in practice. Science a n d t e c h n i q u e h a v e t h e i r s o u r c e i n t h e a c t i v i t y
DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND ITS APPLICATION
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o f m a n , i n s o c i a l p r a c t i c e . T e c h n i q u e leads t o f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t i n science a n d science c a r r i e s t e c h n i q u e f o r w a r d . T h e y a r e c l o s e l y l i n k e d together. T h i s i s a d i a l e c t i c a l process w h i c h w e m u s t u n d e r s t a n d a n d a p p l y . In t h e q u e s t i o n s w h i c h I a s k e d I w a n t e d to f i n d out h o w w o r l d e x p e r i e n c e i s s t u d i e d , because science h a s become a q u e s t i o n of a l l c o u n t r i e s a n d peoples. H e r e I am not r e f e r r i n g t o t h e secrets o f s p e c i a l technology, b u t t o the sciences, i n g e n e r a l , w h i c h h a v e b e c o m e necessary f o r all a n d f r o m w h i c h a l l can benefit, p r o v i d e d the knowledge and practical application of t h e m is organized properly. In this d i r e c t i o n w e face m a j o r tasks. I t h i n k a n u m b e r of concepts a n d tendencies e x i s t in our c o u n t r y w h i c h e x i s t e d a m o n g o t h e r c o u n t r i e s i n t h e past. T h e t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n is, in fact, a process w h i c h b r i n g s a b o u t p r o f o u n d changes i n t h e l i f e o f society, i n the d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e e c o n o m y a n d c u l t u r e . I t seems t o m e t h a t t h i s i s its m e a n i n g a n d p u r p o s e . A n d t h i s m e a n i n g and p u r p o s e m u s t b e m a t e r i a l i z e d t h r o u g h s o u n d p l a n n i n g and precise m e t h o d s . On t h i s issue t h e r e is o f t e n a n a i v e or primitive understanding w h i c h is unable to distinguish between p u r e science a n d a m i n o r t e c h n o l o g i c a l i m p r o v e ment. W e n e e d t h e t w o , b o t h p u r e science a n d t e c h n i c a l improvement, even if it is only a minor improvement. B u t pure science is n o t s o m e t h i n g o r d i n a r y , it is a h i g h - l e v e l synthesis o f p r o t r a c t e d e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n , w h i c h opens u p broad f i e l d s o f k n o w l e d g e a n d a p p l i c a t i o n f o r t h e p r e s e n t and the f u t u r e . T h e r e f o r e , o u r people, w h e r e v e r t h e y w o r k a n d s t r u g gle, m u s t h a v e a c o r r e c t a p p r e c i a t i o n b o t h of t h e p u r e scientific w o r k a n d o f t h e w o r k f o r t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f achievements o f science i n p r a c t i c e . T h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f science begins w i t h e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n w i t h i n o r o u t s i d e t h e laboratory, a n d i s t h e n e x t e n d e d t o l a r g e - s c a l e p r o d u c t i o n .
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T h e e x p e r i m e n t s i n t h e mines, i n a g r i c u l t u r e a n d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r i e s are t h e o r i g i n o f s c i e n t i f i c syntheses w h i c h c a r r y science a h e a d . It is important that we understand (and this is the line of the Party) that it should not be the apparatuses a n d those people w h o a r e s t u c k t o t h e i r d e s k s w h o d e c i d e t h e future of the development. T h e apparatuses w h i c h the P a r t y has set u p h a v e b e e n c r e a t e d a c c o r d i n g t o o u r M a r x ist-Leninist ideology. W i t h o u t t h e m there could be no state o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , w i t h o u t t h e m there w o u l d be anarchy, anarcho-syndicalism and revisionist s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e c e n t r a l i z a t i o n . B u t o u r state a p p a r a tuses a n d t h e cadres w h o w o r k i n t h e m m u s t b e r e v o l u t i o n a r y apparatuses, s t a f f e d b y s k i l f u l , d e v o t e d , j u s t m e n , t h e y m u s t b e e n e m i e s o f sleep, o f b u r e a u c r a c y a n d routine and must be supporters of the new, the innovative a n d science. O u r i d e o l o g y i t s e l f i s science a n d i t i s p r e c i s e l y t h i s science w h i c h leads a l l t h e others a n d g u i d e s t h e m i n the i n t e r e s t s o f the d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t h e c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c tion of socialism. O u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t science i s n e i t h e r a d o g m a i n t h e o r y , n o r i s i t a d o g m a i n p r a c t i c e . T h e correct c o n c e p t i o n a n d a p p l i c a t i o n o f a l l sciences a n d t h e i r m e t h o d s i n a l l fields of our life w i l l depend on the proper understanding, the p r o p e r a s s i m i l a t i o n o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . T h e C o m mittee of Science and Technique, in particular, must bear i n m i n d these questions w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e c a p i t a l p r o b l e m s f o r o u r c o u n t r y , f o r science a n d t e c h n i q u e . Science is a s o c i a l p h e n o m e n o n , as are art, l i t e r a t u r e , l a w , etc. Science does not s p r o u t f r o m c i v i l i z a t i o n a s a n isolated e p i p h e n o m e n o n , but, o n t h e c o n t r a r y , i s d e e p l y r o o t e d i n t h e social, p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d i d e o l o g i c a l t e r r a i n . I t has e m e r g e d i n a g i v e n h i s t o r i c a l e p o c h a n d its d e v e l o p m e n t a n d use a r e c o n d i t i o n e d b y t h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e social o r d e r .
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W e observe, f o r e x a m p l e , t h a t t h e b i r t h o f r a t i o n a l t h i n k i n g of the ancient G r e e k philosophers burst the confines of mythology and ushered in the era of cosmogony. T h i s i s l i n k e d w i t h t h e l a y a n d the l i b e r a l s p i r i t o f I o n i a n s , in the time of A n a x i m a n d e r , A n a x i m e n e s , X e n o p h o n f r o m Colophon, a n d especially, Thales f r o m Miletus, and later, of outstanding philosophers such as Democritus, Aristotle, E p i c u r u s and others. A s i m i l a r explanation can be g i v e n o f t h e C a r t e s i a n m e t h o d w h i c h t r i u m p h e d i n t h e 17th c e n t u r y , w h i c h w a s t h e p r o d u c t o f this h i s t o r i c a l stage w h i c h freed philosophical t h i n k i n g f r o m church authority. T h e theory and method of Descartes was an advance in astronomy, b i o l o g y a n d p h y s i c s f o r t h a t e p o c h . H i s m e t h o d w a s a rational method w h i c h was adapted to the progressive t h i n k i n g o f t h e t i m e . I n t h e same w a y , t h e w o r k o f p h y s i c i s t s l i k e A m p e r , a n d c h e m i s t s l i k e G a y - L u s s a c , a n d others, i s linked w i t h the genius of R o m a n t i c writers and w i t h t h e bourgeois r e v o l u t i o n . H e n c e , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f science i s l i n k e d w i t h d i f ferent stages o f c i v i l i z a t i o n , w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e a c h a i n . E a c h stage of science is p a r t of t h e stage of c i v i l i z a t i o n a n d develops t o g e t h e r w i t h it, w h i l e p r e s e r v i n g t h e bases o f a c h i e v e m e n t s in past stages. It is t h e e f f o r t s of t h e society w h i c h d e v e l o p t h e science. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f science i n o u r c o u n t r y i s l i n k e d w i t h t h e stage o f t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m , w i t h t h e d i a l e c t i c a l m a t e r i a l i s t concepts, a n d n o t w i t h t h e determ i n i s t i c concepts o f 18th c e n t u r y E u r o p e . A s t h e h i s t o r y o f science s h o w s , m e c h a n i c s w a s b o r n and d e v e l o p e d o n t h e basis o f f o r m e r a c h i e v e m e n t s a n d , t h r o u g h its r a p i d progress, a r r i v e d a t t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f kinetics a n d t h e r m o d y n a m i c s . I n t h a t p e r i o d science w a s p e r v a d e d a n d d o m i n a t e d b y m e c h a n i c s . L a t e r o t h e r great q u a l i t a t i v e changes w e r e made i n science, w h i c h l e f t b e h i n d t h e stage o f m e c h a n i c i s m a n d f o r g e d a h e a d , d i f -
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f e r e n t i a t i n g a n d c o n f i r m i n g a t e v e r y step t h e d i a l e c t i c a l materialist development of the w o r l d . Rigorous discipline c h a r a c t e r i z e s p r e s e n t - d a y w o r l d science i n its a d v a n c e . W e m u s t n e v e r forget this. I h a v e p o i n t e d out at o t h e r t i m e s , too, t h a t m a t h e m a t i c s as a separate science is e x t r e m e l y r i g o r o u s , a v e r y e x a c t science. T h e r e c a n b e n o m a n o f l e a r n i n g w h o does n o t assert t h a t a n y science, e s p e c i a l l y t h e n a t u r a l sciences, must be expressed in mathematical f o r m in order to reach perfection. We have read that this applies even in biology, since t h e s t r u g g l e f o r s u r v i v a l i s e x p r e s s e d i n e q u a t i o n s . T h e economy, also, proceeds o n t h i s c o u r s e a n d uses t h e m a t h e m a t i c a l a p p a r a t u s i n o r d e r t o solve its p r o b l e m s . Electricity is the motor of the m o d e r n w o r l d a n d the m a i n characteristic of present-day civilization is the p r o d u c t i o n a n d use o f e l e c t r i c a l e n e r g y . T h e g r e a t e r p a r t o f o u r d a i l y existence t a k e s p l a c e u n d e r t h e s t a n d a r d o f t h e power of Volta, Oersted, A m p e r and Faradey. The technique and technology of m o d e r n production are inconceivable w i t h o u t the d i r e c t o r i n d i r e c t use o f e l e c t r i c p o w e r . T h e l e v e l o f t h e m a t e r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e society d e p e n d s directly on the amount of electrical energy w h i c h is cons u m e d i n a l l fields. W i t h o u t e l e c t r i c i t y t h e r e c a n b e n o progress. I h a v e s p o k e n m o r e e x t e n s i v e l y a b o u t t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f e n e r g y i n g e n e r a l o t h e r t i m e s , a n d i n a l l its Creative w o r k a n d a u x i l i a r y a c t i v i t i e s t h e C o m m i t t e e o f Science a n d T e c h n i q u e m u s t g i v e f i r s t - r a t e i m p o r t a n c e t o k n o w l e d g e a n d use o f m a t h e m a t i c a l m e t h o d s a n d t h e p r o b l e m s o f energy. S c i e n c e develops t h i n k i n g , l i b e r a t e s i t f r o m t h e s h a c k l e s of idealism, superstitions, a n d religious m y s t i c i s m . It d i s c o v e r s a n d elaborates t h e best a n d m o s t r a t i o n a l m e t h o d s o f t h i n k i n g a n d a c t i n g . B y d e v e l o p i n g science, b y t r a n s f o r m i n g n a t u r e a n d society, m a n also changes a n d d e v e l o p s h i m s e l f . T h e m o r e r a p i d l y a n d t h e f u r t h e r science advances,
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the more the fog and darkness of religion and mysticism w i l l b e left b e h i n d a n d b e d i s p e l l e d . T h e n a t u r a l a n d s o c i a l sciences c o m p r i s e t h a t s y s t e m o f k n o w l e d g e c r e a t e d h i s t o r i c a l l y b y d i f f e r e n t people a n d civilizations, the accuracy of w h i c h is confirmed by social practice. M a r x i s m teaches u s t h a t t h e sciences r e f l e c t t h e o b j e c t i v e l a w s o f n a t u r e a n d s o c i e t y i n the h u m a n m i n d . T h e t h e o r e t i c a l k n o w l e d g e w h i c h science p r o v i d e s u s w i t h i s distinct f r o m the practical or e m p i r i c a l knowledge w h i c h people g a i n e v e r y d a y i n l i f e . S c i e n c e gives a conscious c h a r a c t e r t o t h e p r a c t i c a l a c t i v i t y o f people. I t not o n l y e x p l a i n s , b u t also forsees. S c i e n c e a n d t e c h n i q u e are closely l i n k e d w i t h each other, a l t h o u g h t h e y a r e t w o d i f f e r e n t fields. T h e r e are theories a n d discussions a b o u t t h e q u e s t i o n o f w h i c h c a m e first a n d w h i c h second, t h a t is. d i d science g i v e b i r t h t o t e c h n i q u e o r w a s t e c h n i q u e t h e source o f science? I a m n o t g o i n g t o d e a l w i t h t h i s q u e s t i o n . O u r great classics m a d e i t clear l o n g ago. M a r x g i v e s tools, t e c h n i q u e a n d t e c h nology t h e i r p r o p e r v a l u e , b u t h e a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t t h e m a i n f o r c e w h i c h creates t h e m , w h i c h sets t h e m i n m o t i o n and makes t h e m more perfect every day is man. B o u r g e o i s t h e o r e t i c i a n s elevate t e c h n i q u e to a f e t i s h , and thus, d e v e l o p t e c h n i c i s m . T h e y separate t e c h n i q u e , m a k e it i n d e p e n d e n t of s o c i a l l i f e , m a k e it t h e p r o d u c t of a f e w i n v e n t o r s of genius, or an elite of scientists, t h e r e f o r e , w e s h o u l d b e c a r e f u l i n t h i s m a t t e r . I n fact, h o w e v e r , despite t h e great r o l e w h i c h o u t s t a n d i n g i n d i v i d u a l s p l a y , b o t h science a n d t e c h n i q u e a r e b o r n a n d d e v e l o p e d o n the basis of social p r a c t i c e , of t h e e x p e r i e n c e of t h e b r o a d masses o f w o r k i n g people. I stress these t h i n g s , comrades, because o u r people w h o are b u i l d i n g a n d p r o d u c i n g , m u s t b e e q u i p p e d w i t h science a n d s h o u l d d e v e l o p m o d e r n t e c h n i q u e , s h o u l d
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k n o w a n d u n d e r s t a n d these t h i n g s t h e o r e t i c a l l y f r o m t h e a n g l e o f o u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y , because o n l y i n t h i s w a y w i l l they avoid falling into capitalist-revisionist interpretations and deviations. N o w let m e c o m e c o n c r e t e l y t o t h e q u e s t i o n u n d e r discussion. F r o m the report presented to us on the p r o b l e m o f p o s t - g r a d u a t e q u a l i f i c a t i o n , i t e m e r g e s t h a t the w o r k done has n o t r e s p o n d e d to t h e needs of v a r i o u s sectors, etc., etc. I pointed out above why this occurs and that this work must be done better and in more organized ways. But I want to stress that it would be a mistake to think that the Committee of Science and Technique alone will carry out this work , w h i l e t h e o t h e r s w i l l f o l d t h e i r a r m s a n d , w i t h o u t m a k i n g t i m e l y studies o f t h e p r o b l e m s o n t h e basis o f sectors, o n t h e basis o f d e v e l o p m e n t , w i l l s i m p l y a s k f o r the n u m b e r o f people r e q u i r e d i n the g i v e n s p e c i a l i t y a n d name them, w h i c h w o u l d be quite inadequate. T h i s has occurred and is still occurring. The Committee of Science a n d T e c h n i q u e m u s t not b e a n a d j u n c t o f t h e S t a t e P l a n ning Commission, but must be a committee attached to the government. Despite the shortcomings that we have, the n u m b e r o f people w i t h s c h o o l i n g i n o u r c o u n t r y i s g o o d . T h e i n terest i n l e a r n i n g also i s g o o d a n d i t c a n n o t b e s a i d t h a t there is no rise in the level of knowledge in our country, b u t t h e c o n c l u s i o n stated i n t h e r e p o r t i s m e a n i n g f u l , t h e r e f o r e , f r o m n o w o n t h e n e g a t i v e causes w h i c h e x i s t must be examined more deeply and what is more important is that measures must be t a k e n to put this situation in order and to advance. T h e r e p o r t speaks a b o u t mass p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e q u a l i f i c a t i o n o f h i g h e r cadres, etc. I n m y o p i n i o n t h i s m a s s f o r m can be effective only w h e n the control, management
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a n d requirements for qualification are extremely rigorous. The awareness, the complete conviction must be created in everyone that wherever he works, fights and produces, it is necessary to learn, to gain qualification and not just to raise his grading, but to become able to produce the maximum and of the best quality. I t h i n k we should struggle h a r d for quality, first of all, i n t h e q u a l i f i c a t i o n courses. T h e r e p o r t speaks a b o u t t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of a f i v e - y e a r p l a n a b o u t s p e c i a l i z a t i o n , etc. T h i s i s r i g h t a n d s h o u l d b e done. B u t I w a n t to g i v e some a d v i c e : the plan made for this purpose should be realistic, and not exaggerated by desires beyond our possibilities. We s h o u l d n o t w e a k e n t h e h i g h e r schools a n d p r o d u c t i o n b y w i t h d r a w i n g cadres f r o m them allegedly to give t h e m post-graduate specialization. Well-considered and reasonable specialization can be successful a n d b e done s o u n d l y o n l y w h e n the base i s n o t w e a k e n e d . B o t h a r e i m p o r t a n t , b u t t h e base, p r o d u c t i o n , has p r i m e i m p o r t a n c e . T h i s p l a n must be w o r k e d out v e r y rigorously. If the base does n o t w o r k s e r i o u s l y o n t h i s p r o b l e m , t h e w o r k f r o m above by the C o m m i t t e e of Science a n d Technique, the S t a t e P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n a n d t h e M i n i s t r y o f E d u cation and C u l t u r e w i l l be crippled. It has been decided that this plan shall be approved in June this year. However, I ask: is this time-limit w e l l based? H a v e t h e U n i v e r s i t y a n d t h e d e p a r t m e n t s c o m p i l e d the p l a n s a n d p r o g r a m s , h a v e t h e cadres b e e n a l l o c a t e d , taking into account the w o r k load, the profile, their quantity and quality? I t seems t o m e t h a t f o r o u r c o n d i t i o n s , I a m r e f e r r i n g t o o u r p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s , t a k i n g i n t o account t h e l e v e l o f science i n o u r c o u n t r y a n d its needs, a s w e l l a s o u r t e a c h i n g , t h e o r e t i c a l a n d e x p e r i m e n t a l force, t h e t h r e e - y e a r p e r i o d set f o r s p e c i a l i z a t i o n is too l o n g .
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T h e s e a r e t h e t h i n g s I h a d t o say. N o w I w o u l d l i k e y o u , l e a d i n g cadres o f the C o m m i t t e e o f S c i e n c e a n d T e c h n i q u e , t h e c o m r a d e s o f the g o v e r n m e n t , o n w h i c h t h i s C o m m i t t e e i s dependent, a n d the r e s p e c t i v e sectors o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m mittee, to bear in m i n d the observations a n d comments w h i c h were made here in the development of the activity of the Committee. Reports and Speeches 1980-1981
THE STATUS OF A REPUBLIC FOR KOSOVA IS A JUST DEMAND
Article published in the newspaper Zri i popullit

M a y 17, 1981
O n e a f t e r t h e other, t h e p o l i t i c a l staffs o f Y u g o s l a v i a , f r o m the l o w e s t t o t h e h i g h e s t instances, f r o m t h e r e g i o n s and r e p u b l i c s u p t o t h e F e d e r a t i o n , f r o m t h e basic o r g a n izations t o t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e L C Y , m e t a n d discussed t h e e v e n t s i n K o s o v a . E v e r y w h e r e t h e r e w e r e curses against t h e p e o p l e a n d y o u t h o f K o s o v a , threats, abuse, i n s u l t s ! A w a v e o f G r e a t - S e r b a n d a n t i - A l b a n i a n chauvinism is sweeping Yugoslavia. The Yugoslav leaders are c o m p e t i n g w i t h one a n o t h e r i n o r a t o r y t o c o v e r u p t h e real causes o f t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a n d r e v o l t s o f t h e A l banian p o p u l a t i o n i n K o s o v a , t o c o n c e a l t h e m o n s t r o u s m a s sacres a n d b a r b a r i t i e s o f t h e S e r b a r m i e s , t o d e n i g r a t e t h e Albanians of K o s o v a . T h e y are a l l r u s h i n g to be the first to propose t h e m o s t d r a c o n i a n m e a s u r e s , to p r e s e n t t h e m o s t oppressive a n d i n h u m a n p l a n s a g a i n s t t h e A l b a n i a n s . In this article today, however, we do not intend to return to the explanation of the tragic events of K o s o v a , t o show w h e r e t h e y h a v e t h e i r s o u r c e a n d w h o c a u s e d them. W e h a v e e x p r e s s e d o u r v i e w a n d s t a n d o n these q u e s -
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t i o n s i n t h e a r t i c l e s p u b l i s h e d o n A p r i l 8 ( 1 ) a n d 23. ( 2 ) W e h a v e n o t h i n g t o delete f r o m t h e m o r a d d t o t h e m . W h a t w e h a d t o s a y w e s a i d o p e n l y , s t r a i g h t out, w i t h s i n c e r i t y a n d a h i g h sense of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . We thought that after the first shock a n d confusion, reason, level-headedness, r e a l i s t i c a n d o b j e c t i v e j u d g e m e n t o f the causes w h i c h l e d t o t h e n e w t r a g e d y i n K o s o v a w o u l d prevail among the Y u g o s l a v leadership, that the lofty interests o f t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a , t h e f r i e n d s h i p a n d u n i t y o f the n a t i o n s a n d n a t i o n a l i t i e s w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e i t w o u l d stand above nationalist prejudices, old a n d new. T h i s d i d not occur. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , a l l t h e g o v e r n m e n t organs a n d the o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d those o f t h e L e a g u e o f Communists were swept by a furious w a v e of chauvinism, n o t o n l y against the A l b a n i a n s o f K o s o v a , b u t also against the P a r t y of L a b o u r and the People's Socialist Republic of A l b a n i a against t h e i r correct l i n e a n d p o l i c y t o w a r d s Y u g o slavia. They are accusing A l b a n i a in so m a n y words of h a v i n g i n t e r f e r e d i n the i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f Y u g o s l a v i a . W e are s a i d t o h a v e i n t e r f e r e d because w e p u b l i c l y c o n d e m n e d the massacres t h a t w e r e p e r p e t r a t e d i n K o s o v a , because w e t o l d the t r u t h a b o u t t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e b e i n g killed, wounded and arrested there! D i d the Y u g o s l a v leaders expect us to send t h e m our congratulations on these c r i m e s a n d a t r o c i t i e s ? W e are s a i d t o h a v e i n t e r f e r e d because w e s a i d i n o u r a r t i c l e s t h a t t h e people o f K o s o v a h a v e t h e r i g h t t o d e m a n d t h e status o f a F e d e r a l R e p u b l i c ! B u t t h i s is a l e g i t i m a t e d e m a n d , a d e m a n d of t h e p e o p l e of Kosova, w h i c h we have not invented.
__________________________________________ 1 T h e article W h y W e r e P o l i c e V i o l e n c e and T a n k s U s e d Against the A l b a n i a n s of Kosova (see p. 146 of this volume). 2 T h e article W h o Incites H o s t i l i t y A m o n g s t the Peoples of Yugoslavia?, p u b l i s h e d in the newspaper Z r i i p o p u l l i t , dated A p r i l 23, 1981. (See A b o u t the Events in K o s o v a , 8 N n tori P u b l i s h i n g House, T i r a n a 1981, p. 20, E n g . ed.)
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I n recent d a y s , t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h a v e h a d a great d e a l t o say a b o u t t h i s q u e s t i o n , b u t n o b o d y has e x p l a i n e d w h y K o s o v a c a n n o t b e a r e p u b l i c . O n e a f t e r t h e other, t h e y m e r e l y repeat t h a t t h e d e m a n d of K o s o v a to b e c o m e a Federal Republic is allegedly reactionary, counter-revo l u t i o n a r y , c h a u v i n i s t i c , etc. T h i s s t a n d i s not o n l y u t t e r l y baseless b u t also i n c o m p l e t e a n d o p e n c o n t r a d i c t i o n w i t h the w a r t i m e p r o g r a m m a t i c stands o f t h e C P Y o n t h e n a tional q u e s t i o n a n d w i t h m a n y s t a t e m e n t s o f t h e t o p personalities o f t h e Y u g o s l a v p a r t y a n d state. B u t let u s refer t o d o c u m e n t s .
A F e w F a c t s of H i s t o r y about the T r e a t m e n t of the N a t i o n a l P r o b l e m of the A l b a n i a n s of Y u g o s l a v i a A t t h e L o n d o n C o n f e r e n c e o f A m b a s s a d o r s o f the Great P o w e r s , i n 1913. A l b a n i a w a s p a r t i t i o n e d . D e s p i t e t h e m a n y protests t h r o u g h d i p l o m a t i c c h a n n e l s a n d t h e a r m e d opposition of t h e A l b a n i a n people, a l a r g e p a r t of its n o r t h eastern t e r r i t o r y , K o s o v a a n d o t h e r A l b a n i a n - i n h a b i t e d regions, w a s a n n e x e d t o t h e K i n g d o m s o f S e r b i a a n d M o n tenegro. T h e P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e o f V e r s a i l l e s , i n 1919, i g n o r i n g the just d e m a n d s o f t h e A l b a n i a n people, r e c o n f i r m e d t h e partitioning of the A l b a n i a n territories, as was decided b y the i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s i n L o n d o n , a n d left t h e m t o the S e r b i a n - C r o a t i a n - S l o v e n i a n K i n g d o m , w h i c h i t c r e a t e d . F o r a long time the Communist P a r t y of Yugoslavia had condemned the national oppression of the A l b a n i a n s who were enslaved and e a r m a r k e d for extermination b y the n a t i o n a l i s t p o l i c y o f t h e G r e a t - S e r b hegemonists, a s T i t o w r o t e i n t h e n e w s p a p e r Proleter. F o r some t i m e i t h a d also u p h e l d the thesis that t h e peoples w h i c h m a d e
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up the K i n g d o m of Yugoslavia must be granted the right of s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n up to secession. In the article Against the Danger of W a r , Against the Onslaught of Fascist Reaction! Let Us U n i t e A l l the D e m o cratic Forces in the M i l i t a n t P o p u l a r F r o n t in Yugoslavia, too! p u b l i s h e d i n Proleter, o r g a n o f t h e C C o f t h e C P Y , o n F e b r u a r y 2 , 1937, T i t o w r o t e : T h e a i m o f t h i s s t r u g g l e i n w h i c h the masses o f the people w i l l s t r i v e w i t h a l l t h e i r m i g h t a n d means, has t o b e t h e u r g e n t s o l u t i o n o f t h e national question in conformity w i t h the principle of the democratic right of self-determination... I n a n o t h e r a r t i c l e , also p u b l i s h e d i n Proleter a t the e n d o f D e c e m b e r 1942, u n d e r t h e t i t l e T h e N a t i o n a l Q u e s tion in Y u g o s l a v i a in the L i g h t of the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , w h i c h is c o n s i d e r e d as a p r o g r a m m a t i c d o c u m e n t of t h e C P Y o n t h e n a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n , T i t o p o i n t e d out that, T h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a has n o t r e n o u n c e d a n d n e v e r w i l l r e n o u n c e its p r i n c i p l e , w h i c h w a s e s t a b l i s h e d b y o u r great leaders a n d teachers L e n i n - S t a l i n , t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t e v e r y people h a v e t h e r i g h t o f s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n u p to the right of secession... T h e question of Macedonia, the question of K o s o v a and M e t o h i a , the question of M o n t e negro, t h e q u e s t i o n o f S e r b i a , t h e q u e s t i o n o f C r o a t i a , t h e question of Slovenia, the question of Bosnia and Hercegovina w i l l be easily solved to everybody's satisfaction. O n l y in t h i s w a y w i l l t h e people t h e m s e l v e s s o l v e it, a n d e a c h people w i n t h i s r i g h t r i f l e i n h a n d , i n t h e p r e s e n t N a t i o n a l Liberation War. I n T h e Theses o n t h e N a t i o n a l Q u e s t i o n i n K o s o v a a n d M e t o h i a , p r e s e n t e d b y M o a P i j a d e , one o f t h e m a i n leaders o f t h e C P Y , a t t h e 5 t h N a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e h e l d i n Z a g r e b i n O c t o b e r 1940, w e r e a d , T h e s o l u t i o n o f t h e n a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n h e r e (in K o s o v a ed.) c a n b e a c h i e v e d w i t h t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e f r e e w o r k e r s a n d peasants' r e p u b l i c o f Kosova through the revolutionary overthrow of the i m -
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perialist fascist regime of the ' G r e a t - S e r b ' bourgeoisie. F o r the A l b a n i a n s , T u r k s and the S l a v Moslems, this solution w i l l mean that they achieve complete freedom of ownership of their land, are liberated f r o m national oppression a n d secure t h e c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e i r c o m p l e t e l y f r e e n a tional, political a n d c u l t u r a l development. (3) Thus the Communist P a r t y of Yugoslavia recognized t h e r i g h t o f t h e people o f K o s o v a , l i k e t h e o t h e r peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a , t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n u p t o secession, t h e right to have their o w n republic. T h e people of K o s o v a w o u l d w i n these r i g h t s b y t a k i n g p a r t i n t h e A n t i - f a s c i s t Liberation War. A n d the Albanians of K o s o v a took part in the war, m a k i n g their valuable contribution to the l i b e r a t i o n o f K o s o v a a n d t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a . B y t h e e n d o f 1944, a s F a d i l H o x h a has r e c o r d e d , t h e r e w e r e m o r e t h a n 50,000 f i g h t e r s i n t h e p a r t i s a n b r i g a d e s and other detachments in K o s o v a . D u r i n g this war, thousands of A l b a n i a n partisans laid d o w n their lives for freedom and national rights. I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e d e c i s i o n t a k e n a t the 5 t h C o n ference o f t h e C P Y o f t h e y e a r 1940, d u r i n g t h e w h o l e p e riod of the National Liberation W a r , the Regional Committee of the CP for K o s o v a and M e t o h i a maintained direct l i n k s w i t h the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e of the C P Y . It was of the s a m e r a n k a n d h a d a l l t h e a t t r i b u t e s a n d competences w h i c h the highest party organs in Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Hercegovina had. The M i l i t a r y H i g h C o m m a n d w h i c h w a s set u p i n K o s o v a d u r i n g t h e w a r w a s l i n k e d directly w i t h the S u p r e m e Headquarters of Y u g o slavia. Thus, d u r i n g the war, the Party, the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n A r m y , t h e C o u n c i l s , t h e F r o n t , etc., i n K o s o v a w e r e
_____________________________________ 3 A r h i v F.N.R.J. F o n d : C e n t r a l n i K o m i t e t K.P.J., B r o j 12-14, 1940. Teze o n a c i o n a l n o m p i t a n j u na K o s m e t u sa V Z e maljske K o n f e r e n c i j e K.P.J.
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not d e p e n d e n t o n S e r b i a a n d d i d n o t f u n c t i o n w i t h i n its f r a m e w o r k , but, l i k e those o f t h e o t h e r n a t i o n a l i t i e s , w e r e l i n k e d directly w i t h the central forums of Yugoslavia. O n the basis o f t h e decisions a n d o r i e n t a t i o n s o f t h e C P Y on the self-determination of nations, in N o v e m b e r 1943 t h e R e g i o n a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C P Y f o r K o s o v a a n d Metohia decided to convene the F o u n d i n g Conference of the N a t i o n a l Liberation C o u n c i l for K o s o v a and M e t o h i a . T h i s conference was held in the village of B u j a n in the G j a k o v a H i g h l a n d s f r o m D e c e m b e r 31, 1943 t o J a n u a r y 1-2, 1944. F o r t y - n i n e delegates, of w h o m 43 w e r e A l b a n i a n s w h i l e 6 were Serbs and Montenegrins, took part in this conference. T h e y w e r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n c o u n c i l s o f t h e m a i n centres a n d v i l l a g e s , o f t h e partisan units and communists f r o m all parts of K o s o v a . T h e conference w a s h e l d p r e c i s e l y a t t h e t i m e w h e n t h e other nations of Yugoslavia founded the supreme organs o f t h e state p o w e r t h a t e m e r g e d f r o m t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , w h e n e v e r y n a t i o n , a c c o r d i n g t o its o w n d e s i r e a n d w i l l , w a s r e a l i z i n g its r i g h t t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . The principal document of the F o u n d i n g Conference of the N a t i o n a l Liberation C o u n c i l for K o s o v a a n d M e t o h i a i s t h e R e s o l u t i o n w h i c h expresses t h e s t a n d o f t h e w h o l e people i n r e g a r d t o t h e f u t u r e o f K o s o v a . T h i s R e s o l u t i o n says, K o s o v a a n d t h e D u k a g j i n P l a t e a u is a region inhabited, for the most part, by the A l b a n i a n people w h o t o d a y , a s a l w a y s , w a n t t o b e u n i t e d w i t h A l bania. Therefore, we deem it our duty to indicate the correct r o a d w h i c h the A l b a n i a n p e o p l e m u s t f o l l o w t o r e a l i z e their aspirations. The only w a y for the A l b a n i a n people of K o s o v a and the D u k a g j i n Plateau to be united w i t h A l b a n i a is through their joint struggle w i t h the other peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a a g a i n s t t h e b l o o d - t h i r s t y n a z i o c c u p i e r s a n d t h e i r h i r e l i n g s , because t h i s i s t h e o n l y w a y
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t o w i n t h e f r e e d o m , i n w h i c h a l l t h e peoples, hence, t h e A l b a n i a n people, too, w i l l b e a b l e t o d e c i d e t h e i r f a t e t h r o u g h t h e r i g h t o f s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n u p t o secession. T h e guarantee for this is the National L i b e r a t i o n A r m y of Yugoslavia and the National Liberation A r m y of A l b a n i a w i t h w h i c h i t i s c l o s e l y l i n k e d . B e s i d e s these, o u r great allies, t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , B r i t a i n , A m e r i c a , also g u a r a n t e e t h i s (the A t l a n t i c C h a r t e r , t h e M o s c o w a n d T e h r a n C o n f e rences). ( 4 ) The Resolution of the National Liberation Council of the K o s o v a - M e t o h i a r e g i o n b e a r s t h e s i g n a t u r e s o f t h e people's heroes X h e v d e t D o d a a n d H a j d a r D u s h i , o f t h e m a r t y r s T e f i k a n g a , X h e l a d i n H a n a , a n d others, o f F a d i l Hoxha, Xhavit Nimani, Y m e r Pula, Milan Mikovi, L j u b o m i r C a n i , V e l i a M i k o v i a n d t h e o t h e r delegates w h o took p a r t i n t h e m e e t i n g . A l t h o u g h this decision was in accord w i t h the docu m e n t s o f t h e C P Y a n d t h e d e c l a r a t i o n s o f T i t o o n t h e selfdetermination of nations, it w a s opposed by the leadership of the C P Y , in w h i c h the nationalist-chauvinist spirit was a l r e a d y p r e d o m i n a n t a n d t h e a n t i - M a r x i s t stands o n h o w matters w o u l d be arranged in post-war Yugoslavia had been o u t l i n e d . T h e l e t t e r o f t h e C C o f t h e C P Y o f M a r c h 28, 1944 t o the R e g i o n a l C o m m i t t e e f o r K o s c v a - M e t o h i a , i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e decisions o f t h e B u j a n C o n f e r e n c e , s a i d , Y o u should n o t h a v e set u p t h e R e g i o n a l C o m m i t t e e , because y o u r r e g i o n i s n o t a separate c o m p a c t d i s t r i c t . . . T h e c h a r a c ter o f y o u r R e g i o n a l N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n C o u n c i l i s n o t c l e a r f r o m the Resolution. This Council can be only an initiator, a n o r g a n o f t h e p o l i t i c a l u n i t y o f t h e masses, b u t w e c a n n o t g i v e i t a state c h a r a c t e r , a l t h o u g h i t m u s t l e a d t h e l o w _______________________________ 4 T h e People's C o u n c i l of the A u t o n o m o u s R e g i o n of K o s o v a - M e t o h i a 1943-1953, P r i s h t i n a 1955, p. 10.
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r a n k i n g c o u n c i l s w h e r e t h e y exist. T h i s i s because y o u d o not have liberated t e r r i t o r i e s . . . . . . H e r e are o u r i n s t r u c t i o n s o f h o w t h e n a t i o n a l q u e s tion should be treated. First of all, y o u should understand a n d p o p u l a r i z e m o r e w i d e l y t h e decisions o f t h e 2 n d m e e t i n g o f t h e A V N O J ( 5 ) a n d t h e essence a n d p u r p o s e o f these d e c i sions. T h e s e decisions g u a r a n t e e e q u a l r i g h t s f o r a l l t h e peoples, m a k e p o s s i b l e t h e r i g h t t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . Today there must be no talk of 'unification' w i t h A l b a n i a , because at t h i s m o m e n t t h e r e is no q u e s t i o n of defining the borders between Y u g o s l a v i a and A l b a n i a , b o t h o f t h e m o c c u p i e d b y G e r m a n y , b u t these t w o c o u n tries should be liberated f r o m the nazi occupier t h r o u g h a r m e d struggle. ( 6 ) Nevertheless, the A l b a n i a n s of K o s o v a and all Y u g o slavia continued to fight the nazi occupiers w i t h deter mination, always hoping that through their fight they w o u l d w i n their national rights. I n t h e a u t u m n o f 1944 M i l a d i n P o p o v i r e t u r n e d t o K o s o v a f r o m A l b a n i a , and resumed the function of political s e c r e t a r y o f the R e g i o n a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C P Y f o r K o s o v a . I n 1943 h e h a d sent a letter t o t h e C C o f t h e C P Y i n w h i c h he sought a concrete d e f i n i t i o n of t h e c o n t e n t of t h e p r i n ciple of self-determination and how this principle w o u l d be applied to the A l b a n i a n s of Kosova. In this letter M. P o p o v i w r o t e , W e h a v e a l w a y s stressed t h e s l o g a n o f selfdetermination for the future. T h e A l b a n i a n people could not b e m o b i l i z e d against t h e ' l i b e r a t o r ' o c c u p i e r i n t h i s w a y . H e goes o n t o d e m a n d t h a t the C C o f t h e C P Y t a k e a concrete s t a n d a n d d e f i n e the f o r m o f t h e s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n
5 T h e A n t i - f a s c i s t C o u n c i l of N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n of Y u g o slavia. 6 Z b o r n i k d o k u m e n t a i podataka o Narodno-oslobobila k o m R a t u jugoslovenskih naroda. T o m I, K n j i g a , 19. B o r b e na K o s o v u 1941-1944, Dok. 104, str. 462-464. B e o g r a d 1969.
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o f t h e A l b a n i a n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a . ( 7 ) B u t the Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p t u r n e d a deaf ear to t h i s i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t c o m m u n i s t , t h i s son o f M o n t e n e g r o , a n d p r o c e e d e d o n its course. W h e n Y u g o s l a v i a was liberated, the A l b a n i a n s o f K o sova a n d t h e o t h e r r e g i o n s e x p e c t e d that, i n r e t u r n f o r the c o n t r i b u t i o n t h e y m a d e i n t h e w a r against the occupiers, for the blood of thousands of fighters w h o fell on the battle f i e l d s , a n d f o r t h e countless s a c r i f i c e s o f t h e w h o l e people, they w o u l d be given political freedoms and national rights o n a n e q u a l f o o t i n g w i t h t h e o t h e r peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a . B u t i n s t e a d o f this, i n F e b r u a r y 1945 a m i l i t a r y a d m i nistration was established in K o s o v a . At this time, while most of the K o s o v a brigades were fighting in Croatia and S l o v e n i a for the liberation of the whole of Yugoslavia, the S e r b - M o n t e n e g r i n 52nd a n d 46th Divisions, the Macedonian 50th D i v i s i o n a n d o t h e r s p o u r e d i n t o K o s o v a . T h o u s a n d s o f A l b a n i a n s accused o f v a r i o u s c r i m e s w e r e k i l l e d a n d m a s sacred. T h o u s a n d s o f o t h e r s w e r e sent t o t h e f r o n t u n d e r the p r e t e x t o f m i l i t a r y m o b i l i z a t i o n . W h i l e the m i l i t a r y administration r u l e d and made the l a w i n K o s o v a , t h e w h o l e o f K o s o v a h a d b e e n p u t o n the a u c t i o n b l o c k o f B e l g r a d e . T h e f i r s t v a r i a n t w h i c h the Y u g o s l a v leadership discussed w a s the d i v i s i o n of K o s o v a among three Republics Montenegro, Serbia a n d M a c e d o n i a . T h u s a f u r t h e r p a r t i t i o n i n g o f t h e A l b a n i a n regions, similar to that decided by the Yugoslav K i n g d o m , was being designed. At a meeting of the CC of the C P Y h e l d a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f 1945, M i l a d i n P o p o v i s t r o n g l y opposed t h i s p r o p o s a l . H e d e c l a r e d t h a t t h i s p r o p o s a l w a s openly contrary to the aspirations and rights of the A l banians of Kosova, rights w h i c h they had w o n w i t h the blood they h a d shed a n d the contribution they had made d u r i n g the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r .
___________________________________ 7 C e n t r a l A r c h i v e s o f the P L A , f i l e M . Popovi.
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N e x t i t w a s discussed t h a t K o s o v a s h o u l d r e m a i n a n autonomous unit, neither separate n o r dependent on the F e d e r a t i o n , b u t a n n e x e d t o one o f t h r e e R e p u b l i c s : S e r b i a , Macedonia or Montenegro. F i n a l l y it was decided that K o sova should be annexed by the Republic of Serbia. (8) T h e solution w h i c h the Y u g o s l a v leadership gave the question of K o s o v a w a s not a just solution of the n a t i o n a l question. T h i s was an arbitrary stand, an open negation of the sovereign rights of the population of K o s o v a , a n d a v i o l a t i o n o f t h e p r i n c i p l e o f the s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e peoples. O n l y one v a r i a n t w a s n o t discussed i n B e l g r a d e a t t h a t t i m e t h a t K o s o v a also c o u l d b e u n i t e d w i t h A l b a n i a . H a d t h e people o f K o s o v a n o t e x p r e s s e d t h i s w i s h a t t h e B u j a n Conference? W e r e not A l b a n i a a n d Y u g o s l a v i a t w o allied states t h a t h a d f o u g h t a n d shed b l o o d t o g e t h e r ? T h e status o f K o s o v a w a s d e c i d e d u n d e r t h e d i c t a t e o f the G r e a t - S e r b chauvinist ideology, w h i c h w a s inherited f r o m the Y u g o s l a v K i n g d o m and preserved i n post-war Y u g o s l a v i a . T h i s e m e r g e d also f r o m w h a t T i t o t o l d u s i n 1946, t h a t K o s o v a a n d t h e o t h e r r e g i o n s i n h a b i t e d b y Albanians belong to A l b a n i a and we shall return them to y o u , b u t n o t n o w , because t h e G r e a t - S e r b r e a c t i o n w o u l d n o t accept s u c h a thing. ( 9 ) Tito admitted that K o s o v a belonged to A l b a n i a , but h e w a s not sincere i n s a y i n g so, because t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r ship had already decided that K o s o v a w o u l d r e m a i n under S e r b i a . I n fact, a y e a r e a r l i e r h e h a d d e c l a r e d t o t h e A l b a n i a n d e l e g a t i o n o f K o s o v a t h a t the peoples o f K o s o v a a n d M e t o h i a w i l l create s u c h a p r o f o u n d f r a t e r n i t y a n d u n i t y that it w i l l be all the same to the A l b a n i a n people
_____________________________________ 8 K o s o v a 2. 1973, pp. 76-78. 9 C e n t r a l A r c h i v e s o f the P L A , f i l e : V i s i t o f the A l b a n i a n delegation to Y u g o s l a v i a , 1946.
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whether they live w i t h i n the borders of A l b a n i a or Y u g o slavia. ( 10 ) W h a t T i t o concealed, t h e G r e a t - S e r b c h a u v i n i s t R a n k o v i d e c l a r e d o p e n l y , w i t h n o k i d gloves. S p e a k i n g a b o u t the question of the annexation of K o s o v a by Serbia at the extraordinary meeting of the Anti-fascist Convention of S e r b i a i n A p r i l 1945, h e stated t h a t t h i s a n n e x a t i o n is t h e best a n s w e r t o those w h o t r u m p e t a b o u t t h e d a n g e r o f the partitioning of the 'Serbian' territory, w h o m a k e the accusation that the National L i b e r a t i o n W a r w i l l w e a k e n t h e S e r b s i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e C r o a t s a n d t h e others. ( 1 1 ) A n d t h e p r e s e n t Y u g o s l a v leaders, i n t h e i r a t t e m p t s t o r e j e c t t h e d e m a n d t h a t K o s o v a s h o u l d e n j o y t h e status o f a F e d e r a l R e p u b l i c , are t r y i n g t o p r o v e t h a t a l l e g e d l y t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e o f K o s o v a t h e m s e l v e s d e c i d e d of t h e i r o w n free w i l l that K o s o v a should be incorporated into the Republic of Serbia. T h e people of K o s o v a neither requested nor decided that K o s o v a should be annexed to the Republic of Serbia. T h i s decision w a s t a k e n by the top forums of Serbia in an a r b i t r a r y manner. T h i s emerges clearly f r o m the d o c u ments of that time. Duan Mugoa, w h o had replaced M i l a d i n Popovi, assassinated a m o n t h e a r l i e r b y the agents o f O Z N A ( 1 2 ) , also s p o k e a t t h e a b o v e - s a i d A p r i l 1945 m e e t i n g o f the A n t i fascist C o n v e n t i o n o f S e r b i a . D u a n M u g o a said, I e x p r e s s the d e s i r e o f t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n C o u n c i l o f K o s o v a a n d M e t o h i a t h a t w e , t h e peoples o f K o s o v a a n d M e t o h i a , too, should be annexed to f r a t e r n a l F e d e r a l Serbia. (13) This de claration of D u a n M u g o a is considered as the expression o f t h e f r e e w i l l a n d s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e people o f
________________________________________ 10 R i l i n d j a , A p r i l 15, 1945. 11 Borba, A p r i l 8, 1945. 12 T h e Y u g o s l a v Secret Service. 13 B o r b a , A p r i l 8, 1945.
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K o s o v a . O n A p r i l 9 , 1945, t h e n e w s p a p e r B o r b a w i t h b i g h e a d l i n e s i n f o r m e d the p u b l i c t h a t t h e m e e t i n g o f t h e A n t i - f a s c i s t C o n v e n t i o n o f t h e l i b e r a t e d people o f S e r b i a acccepted t h e desire o f t h e peoples o f K o s o v a a n d M e tohia to be united w i t h Federal Serbia. B u t o n J u n e 30, 1945, f o r g e t t i n g w h a t i t has c e n s u r e d on A p r i l 8, t h e n e w s p a p e r Borba in one of its m a t e r i a l s p u b l i s h e d t h e last p a r t o f the speech o f D u a n M u g o a , i n w h i c h he revealed that K o s o v a had made no demand and taken no decision to be annexed to Serbia. D u a n M u g o a h a d s a i d : W e h a v e not t a k e n t h i s d e c i s i o n i n o u r C o n v e n t i o n yet, because m i l i t a r y r u l e i s s t i l l i n f o r c e i n K o s o v a a n d M e t o h i a . A t t h e f i r s t o p p o r t u n i t y , a s soon a s t h e military rule in Kosova and Metohia is lifted, we w i l l take the d e c i s i o n i n o u r C o n v e n t i o n o n a n n e x a t i o n t o F e d e r a l Serbia. T h u s , w h a t h a d b e e n d e c i d e d p r e v i o u s l y i n B e l grade w o u l d be endorsed in Kosova. What, then did Kosova gain waged and all the blood it shed? w a s not e v e n g r a n t e d t h e r i g h t s a s w a s done w i t h V o j v o d i n a , b u t o f a n oblast* o f F e d e r a l S e r b i a . status u p t i l l 1968. f r o m a l l that struggle it In the n e w Y u g o s l a v i a it of an autonomous region, was reduced to the status K o s o v a remained in this
T h e people o f K o s o v a d i d not r e c o n c i l e t h e m s e l v e s t o this situation and persisted in demanding their rights. In 1968, on the occasion of t h e d i s c u s s i o n of a m e n d m e n t s to the C o n s t i t u t i o n , the A l b a n i a n s o f K o s o v a once a g a i n r a i s e d the question of their n a t i o n a l rights a n d put f o r w a r d t h e i r d e m a n d o f the status o f a r e p u b l i c f o r K o s o v a . T h i s d e m a n d was presented openly a n d publicly at the meetings of political activists held in the communes of P r i s h t i n a , G j i l a n , etc. T h e K o s o v a press of O c t o b e r 1968 s a i d t h a t in a n u m b e r of meetings in several communes demands for a republic,
________________________________ * P r o v i n c e (Serbian in the original).
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the r i g h t of s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , etc., h a v e b e e n expressed. ( 14 ) A delegation of the C o m m u n i s t League of K o s o v a M e t o h i a also p r e s e n t e d t h i s d e m a n d t o T i t o a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f N o v e m b e r 1968. T i t o o p p o s e d t h i s l a w f u l d e m a n d o f t h e A l b a n i a n s o f K o s o v a a n d r e f u s e d it, s a y i n g t h a t the r e p u b l i c i s n o t t h e o n l y f a c t o r w h i c h solves a l l t h e p r o blems. ( 1 5 ) I t w a s c l e a r t h a t t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p d i d n o t i n tend t o g i v e t h e A l b a n i a n s o f K o s o v a t h e status o f a r e p u b l i c . That i s w h y massive demonstrations, i n w h i c h A l banian y o u t h a n d citizens took part, b r o k e out in N o v e m b e r 1968 i n v a r i o u s cities o f K o s o v a . T h e y d e m a n d e d t h a t t h e y be given the national rights for w h i c h they had fought and shed t h e i r b l o o d , s u c h a s t h e r i g h t t o k e e p t h e i r n a t i o n a l flag, t h e r i g h t o f t w o l a n g u a g e s ( A l b a n i a n a n d S e r b i a n ) , the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a n A l b a n i a n u n i v e r s i t y , t h e r i g h t o f s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d t h e status o f a r e p u b l i c . T h e d e m onstrations w e r e v i o l e n t l y s u p p r e s s e d b y t h e p o l i c e forces. A f t e r the demonstrations the Y u g o s l a v leadership agreed t o t h e A l b a n i a n s ' d e m a n d f o r b i l i n g u a l i t y a n d t h e national flag, and established the U n i v e r s i t y of Prishtina. However, the d e m a n d for the republic was rejected. A l though the autonomous region was given certain w i d e r competences a f t e r t h e s a n c t i o n i n g o f t h e a m e n d m e n t s t o the C o n s t i t u t i o n , K o s o v a r e m a i n e d , a s a l w a y s , u n d e r t h e tutelage of S e r b i a . F r o m w h a t has b e e n s a i d , i t emerges t h a t t h e d e m a n d of t h e A l b a n i a n s of K o s o v a f o r t h e status of a F e d e r a l Republic, for the recognition of their national rights, is not a new p r o b l e m that emerged for the first time in the d e m o n s t r a t i o n s of P r i s h t i n a a n d o t h e r cities, a n d is n o t a p r o b l e m s t i r r e d u p b y socialist A l b a n i a . T h e p e o p l e o f K o s o v a h a v e a l w a y s f o u g h t f o r these r i g h t s . B u t t h e y
____________________________________ 14 R i l i n d j a , September 8, 1968 a n d October 6, 1968. 15 R i l i n d j a , N o v e m b e r 4, 1968.
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have been systematically denied them, starting f r o m the 2 n d m e e t i n g o f the A V N O J o f N o v e m b e r 29, 1943, w h i c h treated the A l b a n i a n s of K o s o v a a n d other regions of Yugoslavia as national minorities, destined to live under the umbrella of other republics, w h i l e the right to sove r e i g n t y a n d the f o r m a t i o n o f a r e p u b l i c w a s r e c o g n i z e d t o others, s u c h a s M o n t e n e g r o a n d M a c e d o n i a . A s i t t u r n s out f r o m t h e a b o v e - c i t e d d o c u m e n t s , t h e S e r b b o u r g e o i s i e a n d S e r b c h a u v i n i s m h a v e a l w a y s b e e n obstacles t o t h e f u l l r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e n a t i o n a l r i g h t s o f t h e people o f K o s o v a . P r e c i s e l y because the j u s t d e m a n d s o f t h e p e o p l e o f K o s o v a , such as the d e m a n d for the republic, are not to the l i k i n g o f t h i s bourgeoisie, t h e y a r e c a l l e d i r r e d e n t i s t , c o u n t e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y , c h a u v i n i s t etc. T h e demonstrations in Prishtina, w h i c h began peacefully but w h i c h Belgrade turned into a blood bath, can b e e x p l a i n e d a n d u n d e r s t o o d o n l y i f one b e a r s i n m i n d this sinister development, this a n t i - M a r x i s t h a n d l i n g of t h e n a t i o n a l p r o b l e m o f K o s o v a a n d these c h a u v i n i s t s o l u t i o n s , w h i c h h a v e b e e n i m p o s e d o n i t w h e n i t has d e m a n d e d its c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s . W h y do the gentlemen of Belgrade keep this developm e n t o f t h e p r o b l e m o f K o s o v a secret? W h y a r e t h e y not m a k i n g this analysis at their current meetings? T h e y have a reason. A n d the reason is that any analysis of the constitutional problem of Kosova w i l l lead to the conclusion that the A l b a n i a n s have not been g i v e n the rights for w h i c h t h e y f o u g h t a n d s h e d t h e i r b l o o d t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e other peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a , t h a t n a t i o n a l o p p r e s s i o n i s s t i l l a p p l i e d against t h e m u n r e l e n t i n g l y , t h a t i n Y u g o s l a v i a a c h a u vinist policy is pursued towards Kosova. The problem o f K o s o v a i s n o t s o l v e d e i t h e r b y s a y i n g t h a t these d e m o n s trations have been organized by irredentists, or by using terror and violence, or by accusing A l b a n i a of interfering in the internal affairs of Yugoslavia.
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T h e P o l i c y of the A l b a n i a n State Does N o t E n d a n g e r but Defends the S F R o f Y u g o s l a v i a T h e i d e o l o g i c a l c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e t w e e n socialist A l b a n i a and self-administrative Y u g o s l a v i a are w e l l k n o w n . The i d e o l o g i c a l p o l e m i c b e t w e e n us is n o t a d e v e l o p m e n t of recent t i m e s . W e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s h a v e felt, f e e l a n d w i l l feel it our permanent duty to defend M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . W e h a v e f o u g h t against r e v i s i o n i s t - o p p o r t u n i s t - r e f o r m ist t h e o r i e s a n d v i e w s o f w h a t e v e r h u e a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e to do so. T h i s is o u r r i g h t , j u s t as it is t h e r i g h t of a l l t h e anti-Marxists and the different parties of the bourgeoisie t o f i g h t us, a n d i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n t h e y d o n o t h a n g b a c k . We have the f u l l right to defend our system of the dictatorship of the proletariat. Others have the right to d e f e n d t h e i r systems. T h e i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e r e s u l t i n g from this is natural and inevitable. T h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s c l a i m t h a t t h e y d o not w a g e t h i s sort of s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t us. T h i s is n o t t r u e a n d n e v e r has been. W e w a g e t h e i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e a n d w e s a y so, w h e r e a s t h e y w a g e it, b u t d o n ' t s a y so. They claim that such an ideological struggle weakens the state, c o m m e r c i a l a n d c u l t u r a l r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n A l b a n i a a n d Y u g o s l a v i a . W e assert a n d o b s e r v e t h a t t h e y h a v e not b e e n w e a k e n e d . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e y h a v e b e e n s t r e n g t h e n e d , a n d t h i s i s d u e n o t o n l y t o t h e i r w i l l , b u t also t o ours. N e i t h e r t h e Y u g o s l a v s n o r w e h a v e m a d e i d e o l o g i c a l concessions t o e a c h other, b u t w e h a v e a g r e e d o n m a t t e r s o f c o m m o n i n t e r e s t a n d h a v e d i s a g r e e d o v e r those q u e s t i o n s on w h i c h we can never be reconciled. O u r state r e l a t i o n s h a v e d e v e l o p e d o n t h e basis o f t h e recognized p r i n c i p l e s o f g o o d n e i g h b o u r l i n e s s . W e w a n t them to proceed in this w a y in the future. If the Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p does n o t w a n t s u c h a t h i n g , n o one w i l l h i n d e r
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i t f r o m a c t i n g o t h e r w i s e . W e s h a l l t r y t o f i n d a modus vivendi w i t h it, w i t h o u t v i o l a t i n g p r i n c i p l e s . Y o u w h o have launched the n e w a n t i - A l b a n i a n c a m paign in Yugoslavia pretend that y o u have slackened y o u r v i g i l a n c e against t h e s o - c a l l e d h o s t i l e a c t i o n s o f t h e People's S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a t o t h e S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t i v e R e p u b l i c o f Y u g o s l a v i a . T h i s i s n o t t r u e , because y o u have waged the ideological struggle openly. Y o u c l a i m that y o u have been big-hearted for the sake o f c o n t i n u i n g the g o o d r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n o u r t w o c o u n t r i e s . T h i s i s not t r u e , e i t h e r . Y o u d o n o t s u f f e r f r o m e n l a r g e m e n t o f the h e a r t a n d y o u h a v e w a g e d t h e i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e against o u r basic d o c t r i n e , M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a n d o u r regime of the dictatorship of the proletariat relentlessly. W h y do y o u conceal this? D e s p i t e this, h o w e v e r , a n o t h e r r e a l i t y exists, t h a t o f t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e g o o d n e i g h b o u r l i n e s s i n o u r state relations. We hope that this r e a l i t y endures a n d advances. I n recent t i m e s y o u g i v e t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t y o u w a n t t o r e s t r i c t these r e l a t i o n s . T h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h i s f a l l s o n you. I t seems t h a t y o u a r e g o i n g t o step u p t h e baseless and mistaken anti-Albanian campaign which you have l a u n c h e d i n recent t i m e s a n d w h i c h i s n e i t h e r n e w n o r w e a k , a n d r a i s e i t t o a m o r e s t r i d e n t p i t c h . G o a h e a d , w e are not a f r a i d . Y o u g o y o u r w a y , w e s h a l l g o o u r s . Y o u claim h y p o c r i t i c a l l y that y o u have not i n f o r m e d Y u g o s l a v o p i n i o n a n d y o u r y o u t h a b o u t the m i s e r y w h i c h prevails in A l b a n i a , about the A l b a n i a n people's lack of freedoms and rights, about the smashing of churches and mosques, about the closing of our doors to the hordes of tourists, a b o u t t h e c l o s i n g o f o u r p o r t s t o t h e S o v i e t n a v y , about t h e m a n y c a m p s a n d p r i s o n e r s , etc. F o r o u r p a r t , w e s h a l l speak e v e n m o r e t h a n w e h a v e done a b o u t t h e Yugoslav paradise. We have spoken about this econ-
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omic, s p i r i t u a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l p a r a d i s e a n d p r o s p e r i t y i n Yugoslavia, however we shall refresh the m e m o r y of our people a n d y o u t h a b o u t a l l t h e e v i l s t h a t t h e A l b a n i a n people h a v e seen a n d e x p e r i e n c e d a t y o u r h a n d s , b o t h before a n d a f t e r t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r . T h i s i s i n t h e logic o f t h i n g s a n d t h e f i g h t y o u w a n t t o i n c i t e . C o n t r a r y to the facts of history, y o u have c l a i m e d that Y u g o s l a v i a a l l e g e d l y d e f e n d e d A l b a n i a . I n t h e last P l e n u m of the CC of the League of C o m m u n i s t of Y u g o s l a v i a w h i c h met solely to attack K o s o v a and assail the People's Socialist R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a , a m o n g s t others, m a n y a u t h o r i z e d voices w e r e h e a r d t o s a y t h a t F e d e r a t i v e Y u g o s l a v i a i s the d e f e n d e r o f t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a . T h i s is a p a t e r n a l i s t i c e x p r e s s i o n a n d a o n e - s i d e d s t a t e ment. N o t w i t h o u t p u r p o s e a n d f r o m p o s i t i o n s o f t h e great-state m e g a l o m a n i a , i t w a s o v e r l o o k e d t h a t socialist A l b a n i a also is a s t r o n g d e f e n d e r of t h e S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t i v e Republic of Yugoslavia. W e oppose t h e p r e s e n t f o r e i g n a n d i n t e r n a l p o l i c y o f Y u g o s l a v i a , because w e t h i n k i t i s f r a u g h t w i t h m a n y dangers f o r Y u g o s l a v i a i t s e l f a n d f o r A l b a n i a , f o r t h e Balkans and Europe, regardless of the pretentious claims about s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d t a l k a b o u t a n i n d e p e n d ent, n o n - a l i g n e d p o l i c y , etc. Every government and every individual who understands p o l i t i c s a n d f o l l o w s t h e s i t u a t i o n s t h a t d e v e l o p i n the w o r l d , c a n see t h e d a n g e r s o f t h i s c o u r s e o f t h e Y u g o s l a v p o l i c y . T h i s p o l i c y has e x p o s e d Y u g o s l a v i a t o t h e greedy a m b i t i o n s a n d p o s s i b l e aggressions o f A m e r i c a n imperialism and Soviet social-imperialism. This threat is the o u t c o m e o f t h i s s h o r t - s i g h t e d p o l i c y w h i c h also causes the i n s t a b i l i t y w i t h i n Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s n o t o n l y a d v o c a t e t h e i r selfa d m i n i s t r a t i v e s y s t e m , b u t also r e c o m m e n d i t t o o t h e r s a s the most p e r f e c t f o r m o f socialist system. T h e y p r e s e n t
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their foreign policy as if it w i l l disarm and destroy the aggressive i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s , a s i f i t w i l l b r i n g peace a n d p r o s p e r i t y t o the w o r l d . T h i s m e g a l o m a n i a c p r e t e n t i o n i s not o n l y n a i v e b u t also a f r a u d w h i c h i s b e i n g e x p o s e d e v e r y d a y b y w o r l d events. Y u g o s l a v i a r e g a r d s t h e fact t h a t i t i s u p t o its n e c k in debt as a great m e r i t . It calls t h i s conomie i n d e p e n d e n ce. It calls the p o l i c y of n o n - a l i g n m e n t p r o t e c t i o n a n d defence o f its i n d e p e n d e n c e , w h e n , b y l a w , t h e i m p e r i a l i s t and Soviet multi-national companies are guaranteed 50 per cent o f t h e p r o f i t f r o m t h e j o i n t e c o n o m i c v e n t u r e s i n Y u g o s l a v i a . It describes as wise, open, a n d sincere t h e i n f l u x of foreign tourists and the emigration of Y u g o s l a v w o r k e r s to a l l t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s of t h e w o r l d . It d e s c r i b e s as a gesture o f good c o n d u c t t h e p e r m i s s i o n i t g i v e s t h e S o v i e t w a r s h i p s t o enter, m a k e r e p a i r s a n d o b t a i n s u p p l i e s i n t h e Y u g o s l a v ports. I t calls t h e great e c o n o m i c c r i s i s w h i c h h a s a f f l i c t e d Y u g o s l a v i a , t h e great i n c r e a s e i n i n f l a t i o n , a n d t h e r i s i n g cost o f l i v i n g f o r t h e w o r k i n g masses, i n e v i t a b l e a n d almost normal. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p , a l l these t h i n g s h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h e i t h e r s e l f - a d m i n istration or the independent policy or the policy of n o n - a l i g n m e n t . These, s a y t h e Y u g o s l a v t h e o r e t i c i a n s , a r e t w o issues w h i c h d o n o t i n t e r f e r e w i t h one a n o t h e r , t h e f o r m e r (the crisis) is n o t a consequence of t h e l a t t e r (the policy). The A l b a n i a n s l i v i n g in Y u g o s l a v i a and the People's S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a w h i c h incites t h e m w i t h its tatist. b u r e a u c r a t i c , S t a l i n i s t , n a t i o n a l i s t , i r r e d e n t i s t p o l icy, a r e t o b l a m e f o r these t h i n g s . N o , M e s s r s Y u g o s l a v leaders, d o not f e a r t h e t r u t h , be j u s t a l i t t l e r e a l i s t i c , f o r it is n o t as y o u c l a i m . D o y o u r e a l l y w a n t us, too, t o f o l l o w y o u r c o u r s e ? T h i s w i l l n e v e r h a p p e n . W e m a y e v e n l i v e poor, b u t w e want to live free and b u i l d our o w n well-being w h i c h is
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rising day b y day. A n d this w e are doing w i t h our o w n forces. W e a r e n o t i n d e b t t o a n y o n e a n d d o not s e l l o u r country to foreign capital of the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a , the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d o t h e r s . W e a r e n o t l o c k e d a w a y i n s e l f - i s o l a t i o n , b u t engage i n honest t r a d e w i t h m u t u a l benefit, j u s t a s w e d e v e l o p c u l t u r a l - e d u c a t i o n a l e x c h a n g e s . I t i s a fact t h a t w e h a v e s u c h r e l a t i o n s w i t h y o u , too, a n d trade between us is developing every year. I t i s n o t h a r d f o r a n y o n e t o guess w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n i f socialist A l b a n i a w e r e t o o p e n its d o o r s t o S o v i e t , A m e r ican and other capitalist countries' capital, to the hordes of h i p p y tourists, w h a t w o u l d happen if A l b a n i a were to open t h e p o r t s o f S a r a n d a , V l o r a , D u r r s a n d S h n g j i n t o the S o v i e t w a r s h i p s , a s Y u g o s l a v i a does w i t h its p o r t s . I f this w e r e done, n o t o n l y t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a , b u t also t h e S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t i v e R e p u b l i c o f Y u g o s l a v i a , t h e R e p u b l i c o f G r e e c e , a n d t h e w h o l e o f the Balkans and Europe w o u l d be endangered. T h i s w e h a v e n o t done a n d n e v e r w i l l . N e i t h e r t h e S o v i e t s n o r a n y b o d y else w i l l see o u r ports, e v e n t h r o u g h b i n o c u l a r s . I n o r d e r t o e n t e r t h e A l b a n i a n ports, a n y e n e m y w i l l h a v e t o d o s o o v e r o u r d e a d bodies. B e c a u s e i t p u r s u e s a p r i n c i p l e d , correct a n d u n w a v e r i n g policy, because i t s t i c k s t o its c o u r s e c o n s i s t e n t l y a n d w i t h d e t e r m i n a t i o n , A l b a n i a i s a n i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r o f peace, s t a b i l i t y , s e c u r i t y a n d defence i n t h e B a l k a n s a n d E u r o p e , a s has b e e n its t r a d i t i o n t h r o u g h o u t its l o n g h i s t o r y . T h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d i m p e r i a l i s t w o r l d has p e r p e t r a t e d m a n y e v i l s against t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e a t a l l t i m e s . N o w , too, i t i s t r y i n g t o d i s t o r t t h e t r u t h a b o u t A l b a n i a . I t h a s r o b b e d i t o f its assets a n d does n o t w a n t t o r e t u r n t h e m . I t refuses o r hesitates t o p a y t h e w a r r e p a r a t i o n s t o A l b a n i a a t a t i m e w h e n i t has p a i d t h e m t o a l l t h e others. A n d a l l t h i s i s because t h e A l b a n i a n people, a s m a l l p e o p l e
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w a n t t o l i v e free, i n d e p e n d e n t a n d s o v e r e i g n i n t h e i r o w n c o u n t r y . T h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e h a v e d o n e n o one a n y h a r m , only good. B u t no force w i l l d e p r i v e t h e m of t h e i r legitimate rights. M e s s r s Y u g o s l a v leaders, f o r g e t y o u r m o r b i d passions for a moment and think w i t h cool heads: Does this policy o f the A l b a n i a n state e n d a n g e r o r d e f e n d t h e S o c i a l i s t Federative Republic of Yugoslavia? We have declared and we declare again officially a n d publicly that if the Socialist Federative Republic of Y u g o slavia is attacked, we A l b a n i a n s of the People's Socialist Republic of A l b a n i a w i l l fight shoulder to shoulder w i t h t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a . D o e s t h i s u n d e r m i n e o r d e f e n d the Yugoslav Federation? D o y o u t h i n k that, a t t h e s u p r e m e m o m e n t w h e n t h e A l b a n i a n people of the People's Socialist Republic of A l b a n i a , u n i t e d w i t h t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a , a r e f i g h t i n g shoulder to shoulder as they d i d d u r i n g the Second W o r l d W a r , against an enemy or enemies i n v a d i n g our t w o c o u n tries, t h e A l b a n i a n people l i v i n g o n t h e i r o w n t e r r i t o r i e s i n Y u g o s l a v i a w i l l t u r n t h e g u n a g a i n s t u s a n d oppose u s , t a k i n g t h e side o f t h e S o v i e t - B u l g a r i a n s o r some o t h e r a g gressor? W h y , M e s s r s Y u g o s l a v leaders, d o y o u d i s t o r t o u r d e clarations and t r y to put in our m o u t h things we have not said? We have declared and we declare again that we have not raised a n d are not raising t e r r i t o r i a l claims. W h y do y o u accuse u s o f b e i n g c h a u v i n i s t s , i n c i t e r s o f i r r e d e n t i s m , a n d n a t i o n a l i s t s ? O f course, b y l e v e l l i n g s u c h u n f o u n d e d a n d p r e p o s t e r o u s accusations a g a i n s t us, y o u w a n t t o c o n c e a l something grave and unjust on your part. W e d o not h a v e t h e slightest i n t e r e s t i n w e a k e n i n g t h e Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia. On the contrary, we w a n t it strengthened, but not at the expense of the Albanians of Kosova. T h e weakening of the Federation
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i s t o t h e l i k i n g o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t aggressor S o v i e t U n i o n a n d the B u l g a r i a n r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s h i p . T h i s t r u t h w e state openly, w h i l e y o u a r e a f r a i d t o d o so. M o r e o v e r , y o u a r e blowing your trumpets clamouring that the People's S o cialist R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a w a n t s t o u n d e r m i n e t h e Y u g o slav F e d e r a t i o n , t h a t t h e h e r o i c A l b a n i a n p e o p l e a n d y o u t h of K o s o v a , w h o a r e d e m a n d i n g t h e status of a R e p u b l i c , a r e counter-revolutionaries and seeking to destroy the F e deration. Three times y o u have inflicted heavy bloodshed on the m a r t y r e d A l b a n i a n p e o p l e l i v i n g i n Y u g o s l a v i a , 5 0 thousand of w h o m fought shoulder to shoulder w i t h the Yugoslav brothers and w i t h the f r a t e r n a l A l b a n i a n people w h o sent t h e i r o w n l i b e r a t i o n shock b r i g a d e s t o Y u g o s l a v i a t o f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e n a z i - f a s c i s t occupiers, t h e B a l l i s t s , t h e Cetnici and Ustae. Despite this w a r , y o u shed their blood i n 1945, i n 1968 a n d a g a i n c o v e r e d t h e m i n b l o o d i n 1981. C a n things go on in this way, Messrs Y u g o s l a v leaders? C a n t h i s b e c a l l e d a j u s t s o l u t i o n o f t h e n a t i o n a l question, a slogan y o u are t r u m p e t i n g e v e r y d a y ? W o u l d y o u t o l e r a t e such a t e r r o r a g a i n s t y o u r people, w o u l d y o u h a v e b e e n s o cool-headed a n d p a t i e n t , a s t h e K o s o v a p e o p l e h a v e s h o w n themselves t o b e i n t h e f a c e o f these a t r o c i t i e s ? D o e s t h e A l b a n i a n population l i v i n g in Y u g o s l a v i a not have the r i g h t t o l i v e i n peace a n d f r e e d o m ? H a s i t n o t t h e r i g h t t o stop t h e U D B - m e n f r o m b r e a k i n g i n t o its h o m e s a n d dishonouring the w i v e s a n d daughters, f r o m i m p r i s o n i n g and t o r t u r i n g innocent people? Does it not have the right t o d e f e n d i t s e l f a g a i n s t these i n h u m a n a c t i o n s ? T h e A l b a n i a n s o f Y u g o s l a v i a o u g h t t o h a v e a l l these rights a n d t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a w i l l d e f e n d t h e m w h e n these r i g h t s a r e d e n i e d t h e m , e s p e c i a l l y when they are d r o w n e d in blood, as occurred recently a l l over K o s o v a . Y o u c a l l these t r u t h s w e assert a n d these r i g h t s w e
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defend publicly interference in the internal affairs of Y u g o s l a v i a , s u b v e r s i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f T i r a n a , etc. N o , g e n t l e m e n , i t i s n o t s o a n d n o one b e l i e v e s w h a t y o u a r e s a y i n g . T h e A l b a n i a n people w h o l i v e i n Y u g o s l a v i a h a v e their own brains and k n o w what they are doing. They do n o t n e e d us, t h e A l b a n i a n s o f t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c of Albania, to teach and incite them. T h e y are brave and loyal, they k n o w h o w to d e m a n d w h a t belongs to t h e m , just as they k n o w h o w to defend themselves. Messrs. Y u g o s l a v leaders, m a k e a correct assessment of t h e l o f t y v i r t u e s of this part of the A l b a n i a n nation w h i c h lives in Y u g o s l a v i a , don't m a k e t h e m e n e m i e s b y v i o l a t i n g t h e r i g h t s t h a t b e l o n g t o t h e m , because t h i s i s n o t good, e i t h e r f o r y o u or for them.
T h e A l b a n i a n N a t i o n Is O n e , It H a s the O n e H i s t o r y , C u l t u r e and L a n g u a g e In our opinion, the educational, c u l t u r a l and scientific relations w h i c h the People's Socialist Republic of A l b a n i a has d e v e l o p e d w i t h K o s o v a , i n t h e f i r s t place, b u t also w i t h the Socialist Republics of Macedonia and Montenegro to a lesser e x t e n t (and t h i s n o t f o r l a c k of g o o d w i l l on o u r p a r t ) , h a v e been q u i t e n o r m a l , f r u i t f u l , u s e f u l a n d c o r r e c t f o r b o t h sides. T h e s e r e l a t i o n s h a v e d e v e l o p e d t h r o u g h j o i n t agreements and w i t h the a p p r o v a l of our t w o G o v e r n ments. We believe the G o v e r n m e n t of the Socialist Federative R e p u b l i c o f Y u g o s l a v i a has g i v e n its a p p r o v a l t o b o t h t h e A u t o n o m o u s Region of K o s o v a a n d the t w o Federative Republics where A l b a n i a n s live. However, this is a matter w h i c h i s n o t u p t o us. T h e fact t h a t these r e l a t i o n s w e r e d e v e l o p e d i n t h e p r o p e r w a y i s d u e t o b o t h sides. T h e s e relations h a d no political character, they stirred up neither
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n a t i o n a l i s m , c h a u v i n i s m n o r i r r e d e n t i s m . T h e r e has been n o c o m p l a i n t a b o u t l a c k o f correctness, v i o l a t i o n o f t h e l a w s o f e i t h e r R e p u b l i c b y t h e people w h o h a v e t r a v e l l e d t o a n d f r o m o u r c o u n t r i e s , a n d n o t e v e n t h e slightest i n c i d e n t has o c c u r r e d . W e a r e f u l l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t these r e l a t i o n s , a s y o u f r e q u e n t l y l i k e to repeat, s e r v e d as a b r i d g e f o r s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e r e l a t i o n s o f t h e A l b a n i a n people w i t h the peoples of Y u g o s l a v i a . The leadership of the Yugoslav Federation described these e c o n o m i c , c o m m e r c i a l , e d u c a t i o n a l a n d c u l t u r a l r e l ations b e t w e e n t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a and the A u t o n o m o u s Region of K o s o v a , after the troubles that o c c u r r e d t h e r e , t h r o u g h n o f a u l t o f o u r s a n d w i t h o u t the slightest i n c i t e m e n t o r i n t e r f e r e n c e o n o u r p a r t , a s interference i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f Y u g o s l a v i a , i n c i t e ment o f g r e a t - A l b a n i a n c h a u v i n i s m , t e r r i t o r i a l c l a i m s a n d i r r e d e n t i s m . I t d e s c r i b e d these r e l a t i o n s , w h i c h h a d l o n g been d e v e l o p i n g i n b r o a d d a y l i g h t a n d n o t i n d a r k corners, a s the basic i n s p i r a t i o n o f A l b a n i a n n a t i o n a l i s m , i m p o r t e d f r o m T i r a n a b y o u r scientists, professors, a c a d e m i c i a n s , singers a n d dancers. T h i s s l a n d e r o u s a n d h o s t i l e o p i n i o n has n e v e r b e e n e x p r e s s e d b e f o r e , e i t h e r as c r i t i c i s m or as r e p r o o f b y t h e Y u g o s l a v side. On the contrary, we w a n t to emphasize that top personalities o f t h e A l b a n i a n l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e F e d e r a t i o n a n d the R e g i o n , w h o d i s p l a y e d t h e greatest f e r o c i t y against t h e demonstrators in P r i s h t i n a a n d elsewhere, have always taken our people of art and culture w h o went to K o ssva a s e x a m p l e s a n d h a v e p u b l i c l y p r a i s e d a n d t h a n k e d them for their behaviour. The Y u g o s l a v leadership forgets that the A l b a n i a n n a t i o n i s one, i r r e s p e c t i v e o f t h e fact t h a t one p a r t l i v e s i n the P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a a n d t h e o t h e r i n t h r e e p a r t s o f t h e F e d e r a t i v e Y u g o s l a v i a . I t h a s t h e one
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h i s t o r y , c u l t u r e a n d l a n g u a g e , h a s i t s c o m m o n heroes, poets, p a i n t e r s , m u s i c i a n s a n d artists. T h i s i s its g r e a t h e r itage, w h i c h i t preserves, c u l t i v a t e s a n d develops. T h e s e are t h e m a i n f e a t u r e s of a n a t i o n . D o the Y u g o s l a v s t h i n k t h a t these f e a t u r e s o f t h e A l b a n i a n n a t i o n a l i t y s h o u l d d i e out, s h o u l d b e d e s c r i b e d a s signs a n d p h e n o m e n a o f a n o u t d a t e d r o m a n t i c n a t i o n a l i s m and a reprehensible chauvinism? C a n the exchange of opinions between people f r o m socialist A l b a n i a a n d t h e A l b a n i a n s l i v i n g i n Y u g o s l a v i a o n t h e e n r i c h m e n t o f t h e A l b a n i a n l a n g u a g e , t h e genesis o f t h e A l b a n i a n people, t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e i r ancestors, t h e s o c i a l a n d n a t u r a l sciences b e c o n s i d e r e d a n i n c i t e m e n t o f A l b a n i a n c h a u v i n i s m a n d i r r e d e n t i s m ? C a n o u r f o l k songs a n d dances p e r f o r m e d i n Y u g o s l a v i a b e c o n s i d e r e d i n c i t e ment of chauvinism and irredentism? This is our heritage, the heritage of a l l Albanians, and of the People's Socialist Republic of A l b a n i a in particular. We have beforehand submitted the plans of c u l t u r a l and educational collaboration and the programs of performances of artistic groups to y o u a n d y o u h a v e a p p r o v e d t h e m . T h e p u b l i c has l i k e d them very much and applauded them. Everybody likes what is beautiful and healthy. O u r a r t i s t i c e n s e m b l e s h a v e gone e v e r y w h e r e . T h e y have been w e l l received a n d applauded w i t h great a d m i r ation and enthusiasm by the G r e e k people and their leaders, b y t h e a r t - l o v e r s a n d t h e press o f t h a t c o u n t r y . L i k e w i s e , t h e T u r k i s h people a n d t h e i r l e a d e r s o f e v e r y r a n k h a v e l i k e d o u r f o l k songs a n d dances v e r y m u c h . T h e s a m e t h i n g h a s occurred i n France, i n Italy, i n A l g e r i a , i n Tunisia, i n the N o r d i c countries and everywhere. N o b o d y has accused us either of nationalism or of c h a u v i n i s m . T h e y have respected our feelings a n d we have respected theirs. We ask: W h y this stand of the Yugoslav leaders? W h a t is it in their heads a n d feelings that is w o r r y i n g t h e m ?
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W h y don't they h a v e a clear conscience? Or do they t h i n k t h a t m o r e p e o p l e o r g r o u p s o f p e o p l e h a v e gone f r o m A l b a n i a to Y u g o s l a v i a t h a n have come here f r o m Y u g o s l a v i a ? T h e statistics s h o w t h e o p p o s i t e a n d w e r e j o i c e o v e r it. Or do they w a n t to f i n d a groundless excuse to restrict these r e l a t i o n s , t o c u t d o w n o n s c i e n t i f i c , c u l t u r a l a n d a r t i s t i c e x c h a n g e s a n d t h e n u m b e r o f people c o m i n g a n d going? M r D u a n R i s t i , C h a i r m a n o f t h e C o n v e n t i o n o f K o s o v a , let t h e cat o u t o f t h e b a g w h e n h e s a i d t h a t a l l the p r o t o c o l s o n t h e c o l l a b o r a t i o n o f t h e c u l t u r a l - e d u cational and other institutions and organizations of K o s o v a with A l b a n i a should no longer be implemented. I f t h e y w a n t to, t h e F e d e r a t i o n a n d t h e o t h e r c o m p e t e n t organs c a n d o w h a t R i s t i asks. T h i s i s t h e i r r i g h t . W e d o not f o r c e t h e d o o r s o f t h e o t h e r s o p e n . F o r o u r p a r t , w e w i l l keep our doors open to a l l sincere friends, w h o e v e r they m a y be, a n d e s p e c i a l l y t o o u r A l b a n i a n b r o t h e r s w h o l i v e in Yugoslavia. T h i s w i l l help t h e m to become acquainted w i t h the A l b a n i a n hell, as the m a i n leaders of the Autonomous Region of K o s o v a and the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia call our country, and to compare i t w i t h t h e Y u g o s l a v p a r a d i s e , a s w e c a l l it. We are stating our opinion in advance: If the Y u g o slavs d o t a k e these n a t i o n a l i s t , c h a u v i n i s t m e a s u r e s , t h i s w i l l b e a great m i s t a k e o n t h e i r p a r t . T h e A l b a n i a n s o f Yugoslavia and the entire A l b a n i a n people w i l l condemn them a n d w i l l r i g h t l y say that the Y u g o s l a v s are a f r a i d o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f A l b a n i a n c u l t u r e , b u t n o t o f decadent culture! We tell the Yugoslavs in a friendly w a y that such measures w i l l n o t c a l m t h e A l b a n i a n p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n K o sova a n d t h e o t h e r r e g i o n s o f Y u g o s l a v i a . W e a r e c o n v i n c e d that the h e a l t h y Y u g o s l a v p u b l i c o p i n i o n a n d w o r l d o p i n i o n w i l l also c o n d e m n t h i s act. O n c e a g a i n i t i s o u r d u t y t o t e l l t h e Y u g o s l a v leaders
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t o k e e p c o o l i n t h e i r j u d g e m e n t a n d actions. T h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p s h o u l d l o o k i n t o t h e needs o f t h e A l b a n i a n s o f Y u g o s l a v i a w i t h most rigorous fairness, should not treat them badly and discriminate against them, should seriously a n d objectively consider the legitimate demands of the people o f K o s o v a a n d s h o u l d not h a r m a n d i l l - t r e a t t h e h e r oic A l b a n i a n y o u t h , e s p e c i a l l y t h e s t u d e n t y o u t h , t h e t e a c h ers, professors a n d a l l t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a o f K o s o v a a n d t h e other A l b a n i a n r e g i o n s o f Y u g o s l a v i a , s h o u l d n o t c o n s i d e r the U n i v e r s i t y of P r i s h t i n a and the A l b a n i a n elementary a n d s e c o n d a r y schools a s hotbeds o f enemies, c o u n t e r r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , c h a u v i n i s t s , etc., s h o u l d n o t d i s m e m b e r the U n i v e r s i t y of P r i s h t i n a on the pretext that there is o v e r p r o d u c t i o n o f g r a d u a t e s a n d scatter t h e A l b a n i a n s t u d e n t s t h r o u g h o u t a l l t h e u n i v e r s i t i e s o f Y u g o s l a v i a . N o one i s d e c e i v e d a n d e v e r y b o d y u n d e r s t a n d s w h y t h i s i s done. T h e A l b a n i a n does not forget his n a t i v e p l a c e w h e r e h e i s h o n o u r e d . D o n o t a t t e m p t t o cut off t h e h e a d o f t h e y o u t h , t h e b e a u t i f u l A l b a n i a n f l o w e r o f K o s o v a , because the Albanians have never spared their blood for knowledge a n d freedom. There can never be overproduction of people w i t h schooling if production in Kosova, w h i c h is potentially rich a n d e f f e c t i v e l y poor, i s i n c r e a s e d . S e r i o u s m e a s u r e s m u s t b e t a k e n f o r t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t o f K o s o v a , a s f o r t h e rest y o u m a y shout a s l o u d a s y o u please t h a t i n t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a the p e o p l e h a v e n o t h i n g t o eat, n o f r e e d o m , t h e r e are n o c h u r c h e s a n d mosques. T h e A l b a n i a n w o r k e r o f K o s o v a , w h o w o r k s deep i n t h e m i n e s , does not accept t h a t t h e u n d e r g r o u n d w e a l t h s h o u l d be exploited w h i l e the w e a l t h on the surface be abandoned, that his brothers should be impoverished and killed by bullets. W e say these t h i n g s t o c e r t a i n Y u g o s l a v leaders, w h o a r e reasonable, s o t h a t t h e y w i l l b e a r these t r u t h s i n m i n d ,
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because c e r t a i n o t h e r i r a s c i b l e , despotic a n d a n t i - A l b a n i a n leaders h a v e b o l t e d off i n a desperate g a l l o p w h i c h m a y cause s t i l l m o r e d a n g e r o u s catastrophes, f o r w h i c h i t w i l l b e difficult to f i n d reasonable solutions later. We do not want to tell y o u how to r u n y o u r country, or to interfere in y o u r internal affairs, but we are telling y o u this f o r t h e c o m m o n g o o d o f o u r t w o c o u n t r i e s , b e c a u s e y o u h a v e m a d e m a t t e r s v e r y tense w i t h t h e K o s o v a people, w i t h the A l b a n i a n s of other regions and the A l b a n i a n econ omic e m i g r a n t s o u t s i d e Y u g o s l a v i a . Y o u a r e c r e a t i n g a d i v i sion a m o n g t h e l a t t e r . I t i s n o t t h e d i p l o m a t i c agencies o f the P S R A a b r o a d t h a t create t h i s d i v i s i o n , b u t y o u , M i s t e r Mini. We are f u l l y convinced that K o s o v a cannot be f o r undermining the Federation. B u t the Federation must study and f i n d a j u s t s o l u t i o n t o t h e great p r o b l e m o f t h e r i g h t s o f the A l b a n i a n s o f K o s o v a , w h i c h t h e y t h e m s e l v e s h a v e placed b e f o r e y o u a n d w h i c h T i t o , M o a P i j a d e a n d M i l a d i n P o p o v i h a v e dealt w i t h f r o m t h e t h e o r e t i c a l a n d p r a c t i c a l aspects. C a l m must be restored in K o s o v a , but the r e m o v a l of a certain M a h m u t B a k a l l i * a n d the promotion of a M a h m u t akalli ** w i l l n o t c a l m it. K o s o v a w i l l r e t u r n t o c a l m i f t h e state o f siege i s l i f t e d , t h e S e r b i a n a r m y a n d p u n i t i v e p o l i c e are w i t h d r a w n , i f t h e s i t u a t i o n i s n o r m a l i z e d , t h e i n n o c e n t p r i s o n e r s w i t h w h o m t h e j a i l s a r e f u l l a r e released, a n d i f the b o d i e s o f those k i l l e d i n d e m o n s t r a t i o n s are r e t u r n e d to t h e i r f a m i l i e s , because t h i s is a s a c r e d a n d h u m a n i t a r i a n matter. Y o u m u s t s t u d y t h e d e m a n d o f t h e p e o p l e o f K o s o v a for a R e p u b l i c c a r e f u l l y a n d f a i r l y , m u s t s o l v e its e c o n o m i c problems correctly. T h i s is the o n l y w a y to restore c a l m in Kosova, only in this w a y w i l l it be a friend of other
_______________________________________ * grocer. ** jackal.
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r e p u b l i c s , w i t h i n the S o c i a l i s t F e d e r a t i v e R e p u b l i c o f Y u g o slavia. K o s o v a seeks t h e status o f a R e p u b l i c w i t h i n t h e Y u g o s l a v F e d e r a t i o n . T h i s status r e p r e s e n t s t h e a s p i r a t i o n o f a great people, w h o r i g h t l y d e m a n d t h e status o f s o v e r e i g n t y a n d not t h a t o f a n a t i o n a l m i n o r i t y , w h i c h i t w a s u n j u s t l y allocated at Jajce. T h e enemy of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, the Great-Serb M i l o v a n Gilas, in h i s w r i t i n g s h a s r e v e a l e d t h e reasons f o r t h i s i n j u s t i c e , w h i c h r e g r e t t a b l y t h e present Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p has n e v e r d i s avowed. T h e d e m a n d o f K o s o v a t o b e g r a n t e d t h e status o f a F e d e r a l R e p u b l i c is a j u s t one. It h a s d e s e r v e d it because o f t h e s t r u g g l e i t has w a g e d t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e o t h e r p e o p l e s o f Y u g o s l a v i a against f a s c i s m . T h e G r e a t - S e r b c h a u v i n i s m has cost K o s o v a h e a v y b l o o d s h e d a n d c r e a t e d s u c h a s i t u a t i o n t h a t e x p e d i e n t s c a n h a r d l y c u r e it. M e s s r s . Y u g o s l a v leaders, d o y o u w a n t t h i s w o u n d t o t u r n to gangrene? Y o u must t h i n k it over yourselves. We d o n o t w i s h s u c h a t h i n g o n y o u . T h i s disease m u s t b e c u r e d a t once, j u s t l y a n d c o u r a g e o u s l y . T h e w o u n d cannot be healed w i t h manoeuvres, w i t h combinations, w i t h juggling, w i t h threats to force people say w h a t is dictated to them. F r a t e r n i t y is achieved w i t h o p e n hearts, w i t h s i n c e r i t y , w i t h p e o p l e w h o m t h e A l b a n i a n s o f K o s o v a l o v e a n d t r u s t . T h e y c a n a n d m u s t close t h e great g u l f w h i c h w a s o p e n e d t h r o u g h n o f a u l t o f t h e A l b a n i a n people o f K o s o v a . W e f e e l i t o u r d u t y t o t e l l y o u these t r u t h s i n a f r i e n d l y s p i r i t . R e j e c t t h e m i f y o u w i s h , a t t a c h a n y e p i t h e t y o u care t o use t o us. L e t t h e p r o g r e s s i v e w o r l d j u d g e b o t h u s a n d you. T h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a a n d t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e w a n t f r i e n d s h i p w i t h one another, b u t t h e f r i e n d s h i p m u s t be established on sound foundations.
THE DEMAND FOB A REPUBLICAN STATUS IS JUST
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P u r e E t h n i c Entity, S m a l l A l b a n i a a n d Greater A l b a n i a T h e raising of swords a n d shields against us on the p a r t o f t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p has c e r t a i n l y b e e n d o n e i n order to cover up something horrible and reprehensible w h i c h o c c u r r e d i n t h e streets o f t h e cities a n d c o u n t r y roads o f K o s o v a , w h e r e t h e b l o o d o f t h e people f l o w e d i n t o r r e n t s . H o w many were killed and how were they killed? This i s k e p t secret, b u t t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e o f K o s o v a k n o w t h e i r sons a n d d a u g h t e r s w h o h a v e b e e n k i l l e d , t o r t u r e d and imprisoned, or have disappeared. T h e more the t r u t h i s h i d d e n , t h e m o r e d a n g e r o u s i t becomes. B l o o d i s t h i c k e r than w a t e r ! T h i s should not be forgotten. T h e complete t r u t h a b o u t t h e t r a g e d y o f K o s o v a w i l l c o m e out, i t w i l l b e t e r r i b l e a n d w i l l h a v e consequences. M r Stane Dolanc, i n the i n t e r v i e w h e gave foreign j o u r n a l i s t s a b o u t t h e e v e n t s i n K o s o v a , s a i d a m o n g other things, The P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a does not h a v e a f i n g e r i n these events. M r D o l a n c i s one o f the m a i n leaders, i f n o t t h e m a i n one, o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia. W h a t he said w a s b a s e d o n facts. B u t w h o cooked up the lie? W h o distorted the t r u t h ? I n w h o s e i n t e r e s t w a s i t t o accuse t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t Republic of A l b a n i a of h a v i n g a finger in the disturbances in Kosova? Let the Y u g o s l a v leadership discover this, Mr M i n i a n d M r . V i d i , b u t w h a t w a s concocted w a s a monstrosity, an outburst of hatred w h i c h opened such a g u l f t h a t e v e r y p o l i t i c a l l y i m m a t u r e Y u g o s l a v c o u l d equate the n a m e A l b a n i a n w i t h t h e e n e m y o f t h e peoples o f Yugoslavia. Those w h o opened this gulf are answerable to t h e i r o w n peoples, i n c l u d i n g t h e A l b a n i a n s w h o l i v e i n Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e y are a n s w e r a b l e t o h i s t o r y .
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T h e entire Central Committee of the League of C o m munists of Yugoslavia unanimously and unjustly condemned t h e events i n K o s o v a , c o n d e m n e d t h e p e o p l e o f K o s o v a , condemned the A l b a n i a n s of Yugoslavia, condemned the People's Socialist R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a as aiders a n d abet t o r s i n these d i s t u r b a n c e s . However, we k n o w h o w to make distinctions between those w h o s p o k e i n t h e t o p f o r u m o f t h e L e a g u e o f C o m munists of Yugoslavia. We observed that the m a i n leaders of the neighbouring Republics of Montenegro and Macedonia, a n d also o f C r o a t i a a n d S l o v e n i a , a l t h o u g h t h e y c o n d e m n e d t h e events, s h o w e d t h e m s e l v e s m o r e c o o l - h e a d e d , m o r e r e strained, more far-sighted about the situations that w o u l d develop later between the A l b a n i a n s and the Yugoslavs, be tween the Socialist Federative Republic of Y u g o s l a v i a a n d the People's Socialist R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a . W e c a n n o t m a k e t h e s a m e assessment o f t h e m a i n leaders o f S e r b i a , s u c h a s M e s s r s M i n i , V i d i , S t a m b o l i . T h e i r speeches a r e c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y u n r e s t r a i n e d f e r o c i t y , b y G r e a t - S e r b c h a u v i n i s m against t h e A l b a n i a n people w h o live in Y u g o s l a v i a and against the People's Socialist R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a , in a v e i n never heard before. A s f o r those A l b a n i a n l e a d e r s w h o t o o k t h e f l o o r in this top f o r u m of the League of C o m m u n i s t s of Y u g o s l a v i a , o r outside it, i t m u s t b e s a i d t h a t t h e i r speeches w e r e c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y h y s t e r i a a s g r e a t a s i t w a s s e r v i l e , a n d des i g n e d t o serve t h e i r bosses V i d i , M i n i , S t a m b o l i a n d others. O b v i o u s l y , these people c a n n o t b r i n g c a l m t o K o s o v a . T h e people o f K o s o v a h a t e these k n a v i s h leaders. I n a l l t h e m e e t i n g s o f t h e h i g h state a n d p a r t y f o r u m s of the Socialist Federative R e p u b l i c of Y u g o s l a v i a and the League of C o m m u n i s t s of Y u g o s l a v i a voices w e r e raised saying: The relations w i t h A l b a n i a must be re-examined, etc., etc. T w i c e w i t h i n t h i r t y y e a r s y o u h a v e a g g r a v a t e d m a t t e r s t o b r e a k i n g p o i n t w i t h socialist A l b a n i a .
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Do you t h i n k y o u can frighten us? Do y o u imagine t h a t t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a owes its e x i s t e n c e t o y o u ? Y o u a r e w r o n g ! Y o u r eyes are b l i n d e d with Great-Yugoslav megalomania. W e h a v e c o o l heads a n d f i e r y hearts. W e s h a l l get b y even w i t h restrictions y o u intend to impose on the relations between our t w o countries. T h e smoke w i l l go straight up f r o m o u r c h i m n e y a s u s u a l e v e n i f y o u b r e a k o f f these relations altogether. F o r o u r p a r t , w e d o n o t w a n t a n y s u c h t h i n g , because it is not we w h o created the difficult situations in K o s o v a and the w h o l e of Yugoslavia. Y o u yourselves have created them. We have nothing at all to do w i t h them. Therefore, the a c c u s a t i o n s y o u m a k e against u s are o n l y a p r e t e x t w h i c h y o u raise artificially in order to cover up the ugly events. W e t e l l y o u once a g a i n , b e w a r e ! K e e p c o o l ! D o n o t turn y o u r faults into a conflict w i t h the People's Socialist R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a , because t h i s i s i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f o u r enemies. Mr M i n i committed a dangerous provocation in the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e L C Y w h e n h e s a i d t h a t the A l b a n i a n l e a d e r s h i p , t h r o u g h its s p o k e s m e n , its d i p l o m a c y , i n c l u d i n g its e m b a s s y i n B e l g r a d e , a n d its agencies, i n c i t e d the A l b a n i a n i r r e d e n t i s t g r o u p s w h o s e a i m w a s t o d e s t a b i l i z e and d i s i n t e g r a t e Y u g o s l a v i a . W e t h i n k t h a t t h i s p e r s o n a l i t y i s not s p e a k i n g i n t h e n a m e o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e S F R Y , because, i f m a t t e r s stood a s M r M i n i c l a i m s , t h a t one or t w o persons, or a w h o l e e m b a s s y staff c a r r y out s u b v e r s i v e a c t i v i t y , t h e n t h e Y u g o s l a v G o v e r n m e n t has t h e right, j u s t a s t h e A l b a n i a n G o v e r n m e n t a n d a n y other g o v e r n m e n t has t h e r i g h t i n s u c h cases, t o d e c l a r e t h e m personae non gratae, a n d e v e n b r e a k off d i p l o m a t i c r e l a tions. Neither the Y u g o s l a v G o v e r n m e n t nor the A l b a n i a n
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G o v e r n m e n t h a v e done this, because s u c h a n a c t i v i t y d o e s not exist. M r M i n i k n o w s this practice. B u t the things h e says a r e i n v e n t e d in o r d e r to d e f e n d a lost cause. N e v e r t h e l e s s , a f t e r M r M i n i ' s speech w e d r e w t h e c o n clusion that he h a d apparently put a l l our embassies in dif f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s , let a l o n e t h e A l b a n i a n e m b a s s y i n B e l g r a d e , under surveillance. T h i s was confirmed by the minister of internal affairs of Yugoslavia, Franjo Herlevi, w h o w h i l e a c c u s i n g the A l b a n i a n d i p l o m a t i c r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s i n v a r i o u s countries and in Belgrade of h a v i n g incited the events in K o s o v a , r e v e a l e d t h a t o u r embassies e v e r y w h e r e h a d been p l a c e d u n d e r c o n t r o l o f t h e Y u g o s l a v secret p o l i c e . T h i s s h o w s t h a t t h e Y u g o s l a v secret s e r v i c e i s a c t i v e i n other c o u n t r i e s i n s h a d o w i n g t h e A l b a n i a n embassies, t h u s v i o l a t i n g t h e s o v e r e i g n t y o f those c o u n t r i e s a n d t h e i n t e r national laws. This activity is impermissible and repre hensible. H e r l e v i ' s c l a i m s are concoctions o f t h e people i n h i s service, i l l - i n t e n t i o n e d s l a n d e r s w h i c h s u i t those r e a c t i o n a r y circles, a t h o m e a n d a b r o a d , w h i c h are i n t e r e s t e d i n c a u s i n g t h e d e t e r i o r a t i o n a n d t h e b r e a k i n g off o f r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n the Socialist Federative Republic of Y u g o s l a v i a a n d the People's Socialist R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a . The Serb Peter Stamboli spoke like an incorrigible Great-Serb. He was defending the S e r b i a n interests to the detriment of the Albanians, w h e n he said, among other things, t h a t T h e a t t e m p t t o a c h i e v e e t h n i c p u r i t y o b j e c t i v e l y leads t o n a t i o n a l i s m . H e d e s c r i b e d t h i s a t t e m p t a s fascist. W e ask M r S t a m b o l i : I s t h e S e r b i a n p e o p l e n o t a n e t h n i c e n t i t y ? Does h e n o t c o n s i d e r t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e also a n e t h n i c e n t i t y ? W i t h o u t doubt, these t w o peoples a r e t w o e t h n i c entities. I f M r S t a m b o l i does not c o n s i d e r t h e S e r b i a n p e o p l e a p u r e e t h n i c e n t i t y , because A l b a n i a n s , M o n t e n e g r i n s ,
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Bosnians a n d T u r k s l i v e together w i t h them, likewise the A l b a n i a n p e o p l e is n o t a p u r e e t h n i c e n t i t y , e i t h e r , because i n K o s o v a , w h e r e t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y i s of A l b a n i a n n a t i o n a l i t y , t h e r e is also a S e r b i a n , M o n t e n e g r i n and T u r k i s h m i n o r i t y l i v i n g t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e m . I n these i d e n t i c a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s , M r S t a m b o l i e m p l o y s a sleight o f h a n d : t h e A l b a n i a n e t h n i c e n t i t y i s n a t i o n a l i s t and fascist, b u t n o t t h e S e r b i a n . H o w e v e r , h e can't get a w a y w i t h this sleight of h a n d : either both ethnic entities lead t o n a t i o n a l i s m a n d f a s c i s m , o r n e i t h e r o f t h e m d o so, b u t i n n o w a y c a n i t b e t h a t one does a n d t h e o t h e r does not. W h y does M r S t a m b o l i n o t s a y m o r e o p e n l y t h a t t h e greater e t h n i c e n t i t y m u s t d o m i n a t e t h e s m a l l e r one, t h a t the f o r m e r m u s t b e s o v e r e i g n i n t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d t h e latter m u s t not, because t h i s i s t o t h e l i k i n g o f t h e b o u r geoisie o f t h e g r e a t e r e t h n i c e n t i t y w h i c h w a n t s t o e x p l o i t the s m a l l e r ? In practical terms this Great-Serb theoritician, w h o follows t h e s a m e u l t r a - r e a c t i o n a r y l i n e a s t h e n o t o r i o u s a c a d e m i c i a n C u b r i l o v i , b y a d v o c a t i n g t h e thesis t h a t t h e pure e t h n i c e n t i t y leads t o f a s c i s m , n a t i o n a l i s m , m e a n s that the A l b a n i a n e t h n i c e n t i t y m u s t b e d e s t r o y e d , m u s t lose its n a t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d degenerate, because i t has become a t h o r n in o u r flesh. F o r M r Stamboli only the Serbian ethnic entity can live i n f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e o t h e r peoples, w h i c h h e c o n siders a s t h i r d - r a t e o r f o u r t h - r a t e peoples, w h e r e a s w e r e t h e Albanian ethnic entity to become sovereign in K o s o v a , it could not l i v e i n f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e S e r b i a n , M o n t e n e g r i n and T u r k i s h m i n o r i t i e s o f t h i s r e g i o n . The r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n A l b a n i a n s , S e r b s a n d T u r k s have been s e r i o u s l y upset, states M r S t a m b o l i . T h i s i s true, b u t these r e l a t i o n s h a v e b e e n upset o n l y b e t w e e n the Serbs a n d t h e A l b a n i a n s , a n d n o t b e t w e e n t h e A l b a n i a n s , Montenegrins a n d T u r k s .
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W h y have relations between the Serbs a n d the A l banians been upset? R e a d La Fontaine's fable, The W o l f a n d t h e L a m b , a n d y o u w i l l f i n d t h e reasons, M r S t a m boli. F r o m the meeting of the C e n t r a l Committee of the League of C o m m u n i s t s of Yugoslavia, the attacks against the P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a a n d t h e P a r t y of Labour of A l b a n i a were repeated at various public meetings in the Republic of Serbia, this time w i t h u n r i v a l l e d v i r u l e n c e . S o m e s p e a k e r , i n a r a b i d , G r e a t - S e r b a n d fascist s p i r i t , w e n t s o f a r a s t o say, W e s h o u l d d e s t r o y t h e S t a l i n i s t regime in Albania. D e l e n d a C a r t h a g o , shouts t h i s n e w C a t o i n t h e Serbian forums. B u t the People's Socialist R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a is not Carthage a n d a G r e a t - S e r b Scipio w h o w o u l d d e s t r o y A l b a n i a has n o t been b o r n yet. W e h a v e w o n e v e r y t h i n g w i t h o u r blood, s h o u t e d t h i s n e w C a t o . B u t w i t h w h a t has A l b a n i a w o n h e r f r e e d o m ? W i t h o u t b l o o d s h e d ? O n t h e c o n t r a r y , she has w o n i t w i t h b l o o d , h e r o w n b l o o d . S h e has s h e d h e r b l o o d also f o r t h e f r e e d o m o f t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a . W e h a v e n e v e r r e g r e t t e d this, n o r w i l l w e e v e r r e g r e t i t i n t h e f u t u r e . I f n e e d be, w e w i l l s h e d i t a g a i n . T h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a i s h e a l t h y a n d f u l l o f d y n a m i s m . S o m e b o d y else is the sick m a n of the Balkans. T h e n e w C a t o s o f S e r b i a accuse u s A l b a n i a n s o f h a t i n g t h e S e r b i a n people. T h i s i s a m o n s t r o u s s l a n d e r . W e h a v e l o v e d t h e S e r b i a n people a n d s t i l l do. W e hate o n l y S e r b i a n c h a u v i n i s m , A l b a n i a n c h a u v i n i s m , a n d a n y other c h a u v i n i s m , because w e are M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , because w e are i n t e r nationalists. I n o r d e r t o disguise t h e i r c h a u v i n i s m , t h e G r e a t - S e r b chauvinists label us G r e a t - A l b a n i a n chauvinists. T h e slogan o f greater A l b a n i a w a s c o i n e d b y t h e fascist I t a l y o f M u s s o l i n i , a n d e v e r y b o d y k n o w s the e x p a n s i o n i s t - a g g r e s -
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sive a i m s w h i c h h e a n d t h e B a l l i s t s h a d , j u s t a s t h e S e r b i a n C e t n i c i . O u r t w o peoples f o u g h t h e r o i c a l l y , s h o u l d e r t o shoulder, a g a i n s t these c o m m o n e n e m i e s a n d v a n q u i s h e d them. In the period after the w a r the relations between the A l b a n i a n a n d Y u g o s l a v friends and allies should have been put i n o r d e r . W e p e r f o r m e d o u r i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t d u t y . W e fought t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e Y u g o s l a v p a r t i s a n s f o r t h e l i b e r ation o f Y u g o s l a v i a . I t w a s u p t o y o u t o s o l v e the p r o b l e m o f Kosova in the correct road, but y o u d i d not f u l f i l this duty. A s w e s a i d above, y o u t a l k e d a b o u t t h e r i g h t s o f t h e Albanians in Yugoslavia in principle, but in practice you did the opposite a n d y o u c o n t i n u e y o u r e x e r c i s e i n d e m a g o g y . T h e A l b a n i a n s o w e t h e i r o r i g i n n e i t h e r t o the R o m e o f the C a e s a r s n o r t o t h e S l a v s o f S t e f a n D u a n , n e i t h e r t o t h e Sultans o f t h e O t t o m a n s n o r t o M u s s o l i n i ' s fascist I t a l y . The A l b a n i a n p e o p l e h a v e t h e i r o w n h i s t o r y g o i n g b a c k to m a n y c e n t u r i e s , a h i s t o r y f u l l of s t r u g g l e s f o r f r e e d o m , for existence. T h e e n e m i e s t r i e d t o e x t e r m i n a t e t h e m , b u t failed. T h e A l b a n i a n people f o u g h t a n d l i v e d t h r o u g h t h e centuries. T h e y r e m a i n e d a c o m p a c t e t h n i c e n t i t y , a l t h o u g h d i v i d e d a n d f r a g m e n t e d . H e w h o denies t h i s r e a l i t y n o t o n l y makes h i m s e l f r i d i c u l o u s b u t also r e v e a l s h i s o w n s a v a g e l y chauvinist feelings. The A l b a n i a n s of the small A l b a n i a of nearly three m i l l i o n i n h a b i t a n t s , o r o f greater A l b a n i a ( a t e r m u s e d b y the I t a l i a n o c c u p i e r a n d n o w u s e d also b y y o u i n o r d e r t o accuse u s o f b e i n g c h a u v i n i s t s ) o f m o r e t h a n f i v e m i l l i o n inhabitants, are a l l A l b a n i a n s . T h e r e is nothing y o u can do about it, M e s s r s S e r b i a n c h a u v i n i s t s . T h e r e a r e t w o G e r manies, one of t h e E a s t a n d one of t h e West, j u s t as t h e r e are t w o K o r e a s , one o f t h e N o r t h a n d one o f t h e S o u t h . H o w ever, n o b o d y d o u b t s t h a t t h e r e is a single G e r m a n p e o p l e and n a t i o n , j u s t as t h e r e is a single K o r e a n p e o p l e a n d nation.
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T h e A l b a n i a n s are one e t h n i c e n t i t y , one people, w h e t h e r y o u c a l l t h e m s m a l l A l b a n i a o r greater A l b a n i a . T h e s e A l b a n i a n s o f t h i s A l b a n i a , s m a l l o r greater, w h o r e p r e sent a c o m p a c t people w i t h a l l t h e f e a t u r e s of a t r u e n a t i o n , h a v e not o c c u p i e d t h e t e r r i t o r i e s o f others, n o r h a v e t h e y violated anybody's rights. T h e y have merely demanded their o w n rights, have defended t h e m a n d w i l l defend them. This you find unnatural, call it Great-Albanian chauvinism, nationalism, even fascism. W h e n K o s o v a seeks t h e status o f a r e p u b l i c w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f t h e F e d e r a t i o n f o r w h i c h 50,000 p a r t i s a n s h a v e f o u g h t , y o u dare call this a counter-revolutionary demand, A l b a n i a n nationalism, a n d a p p l y m a n y such epithets to it. Y o u c o m e out i n o p e n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e d e c l a r e d p r i n ciples a n d w h a t y o u r m a i n leaders, t o w h o m y o u s i n g h y m n s day a n d night, have said. Y o u come out in opposition to the principles of international law, to the principles of good neighbourly relations, therefore y o u cannot have p r o g r e s s i v e a n d r e a s o n a b l e w o r l d o p i n i o n o n y o u r side. T h e w a y t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p i s s e e k i n g t o solve t h e problem of Kosova and overcome the difficulties in w h i c h t h e c o u n t r y f i n d s itself s h o w s t h a t i t i s a c t i n g w i t h g r e a t haste a n d i n u t t e r c o n f u s i o n . T h e s t a n d s i t m a i n t a i n s a n d t h e actions i t i s u n d e r t a k i n g r e s p o n d n e i t h e r t o t h e i n t e r e s t s o f Y u g o s l a v i a n o r t o those o f A l b a n i a , n e i t h e r t o B a l k a n n o r t o E u r o p e a n s e c u r i t y , a b o u t w h i c h t h e Y u g o s l a v leaders, posing as protagonists of the H e l s i n k i spirit, m a k e m u c h ado. W i t h s u c h actions t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p does not s t r e n g t h e n the p o s i t i o n o f t h e S F R Y b u t w e a k e n s it.
Z r i i popullit
WHEN THE PARTY WAS BORN

Reminiscences (Excerpts)
T h e grave situation w h i c h was imposed on the H o m e l a n d b y fascist o c c u p a t i o n c h a r g e d u s c o m m u n i s t s w i t h great r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s . W h e r e a s i n t h e d e c i s i v e d a y s b e f o r e A p r i l 7 t h e c o m m u n i s t groups, d i v i d e d a n d s t r u g g l i n g against one a n o t h e r , w e r e u n a b l e to create a s i n g l e l e a d e r ship a n d t o m o b i l i z e t h e p e o p l e f o r a r m e d actions against the aggressors, n o w t h e s i t u a t i o n f o l l o w i n g t h e o c c u p a t i o n made o r g a n i z e d , u n i n t e r r u p t e d c o m m u n i s t w o r k e v e n m o r e essential. W e h a d t o act t o o r g a n i z e o u r s e l v e s f o r resistance and t o s h o w p e o p l e w h a t I t a l i a n f a s c i s m w a s a n d w h a t aims i t h a d ; w e h a d t o d e n o u n c e its d e m a g o g y , t h e c h a r a c t e r o f the m e a s u r e s i t t o o k a n d t h e c u n n i n g m e t h o d s i t e m ployed, c l a i m i n g t h a t i t c a m e t o rescue t h e c o u n t r y f r o m Zog, t h a t A l b a n i a w o u l d h a v e its o w n g o v e r n m e n t , etc. W e had t o o r g a n i z e t h e r e s i s t a n c e a n d t h e p r o p a g a n d a against the q u i s l i n g g o v e r n m e n t o f V r l a c i , w h i c h c a r r i e d o u t t h e masquerade o f the u n i o n o f A l b a n i a w i t h the I t a l i a n E m p i r e , h e a d e d b y V i c t o r E m m a n u e l III, w h o a l i t t l e e a r l i e r had a s s u m e d t h e t i t l e o f E m p e r o r o f E t h i o p i a a n d n o w also a s s u m e d t h e t i t l e o f K i n g o f A l b a n i a . T o a c c o m p l i s h these t a s k s w a s u n d o u b t e d l y d i f f i c u l t , but not i m p o s s i b l e . T h e b i g d e m o n s t r a t i o n s w h i c h b u r s t out a l l over t h e c o u n t r y i n t h e f i r s t d a y s o f A p r i l against
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t h e I t a l i a n threat, t h e d e m a n d s f o r w e a p o n s w h i c h t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e people m a d e t o t h e t r e a c h e r o u s f e u d a l government of Zog, the general expression of readiness to fight, the attacks on the Italian troops d i s e m b a r k i n g at Durrs, Vlora, Saranda and Shngjin, were the signal for us communists that only by organizing and a r m i n g ourselves a n d b y f i g h t i n g w o u l d w e b e a b l e t o d r i v e o u t t h e enemy w h o n o w threatened the v e r y existence of o u r c o u n t r y a n d p e o p l e ; t h e y w e r e t h e best c o n f i r m a t i o n o f t h e fact t h a t o u r people w o u l d not t o l e r a t e t h e o c c u p a t i o n a n d that w i t h a reliable leadership they w o u l d rise to t h e i r feet a n d h u r l t h e aggressors i n t o t h e sea. Nevertheless, although we members of various c o m munist groups were aware of the need for struggle against the o c c u p i e r a n d e n g a g e d i n v a r i o u s p r a c t i c a l f o r m s o f i t , w e w e r e not m a n a g i n g t o f i n d a c o m m o n l a n g u a g e , t o i r o n out o u r i d e o l o g i c a l d i f f e r e n c e s a n d u n i t e o u r forces a n d efforts. T h i s w a s v e r y d a m a g i n g t o t h e j o i n t s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t the common enemy. E v e n as groups, the occupation f o u n d us not p r o p e r l y organized. T h e w o r k of the groups h a d n o t been e x t e n d e d t o t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e p e o p l e a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y , despite t h e c o r r e c t i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e Comintern, which Comrade A l i Kelmendi had brought in 1932, a n d , s u b s e q u e n t l y , t h e n e w d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e 7 t h C o n gress o f t h e C o m i n t e r n , w h i c h r e a c h e d A l b a n i a i n 1937, a n d r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t w e s h o u l d g o a m o n g t h e masses, w o r k w i t h them and there build and strengthen the n e w cells. T h e s e i n s t r u c t i o n s , i n the s p i r i t a n d the l i g h t o f t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f the 7 t h C o n g r e s s o f t h e C o m i n t e r n , w e r e defined in M o s c o w at a meeting organized by the B a l k a n S e c t i o n o f t h e C o m i n t e r n , a t W h i c h the state o f t h e c o m munist movement in A l b a n i a and the tasks w h i c h faced it w e r e a n a l y s e d . T h e b r o a d p e r s p e c t i v e s w h i c h these d i r e c t i v e s opened u p f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f the c o m m u n i s t
WHEN THE PARTY WAS BORN (EXCERPTS)
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m o v e m e n t i n A l b a n i a w e r e sabotaged b y t h e T r o t s k y i t e elements. T h e C o m m u n i s t G r o u p o f K o r a accepted a n d a d o p t e d the i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e C o m i n t e r n . T h i s g r o u p a c h i e v e d c o n s i d e r a b l e success i n its a c t i v i t y w i t h w o r k e r s , w i t h t h e youth, a n d the craftsmen a n d s m a l l shopkeepers. N e v e r theless, t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e c o m r a d e s o f t h e K o r a group was sectarianism, w h i c h was expressed in closed w o r k w i t h i n t h e c i t y o f K o r a , w h i l e outside K o r a a n d i n other cities t h e g r o u p c a r r i e d out v e r y i n e f f e c t i v e w o r k , i f a n y a t a l l . C e r t a i n a n t i - M a r x i s t elements o f t h i s g r o u p t o o k a d v a n t a g e o f t h e s e c t a r i a n i s m a n d other w e a k n e s s e s w h i c h hindered the development a n d the extension of the c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t , w i t h t h e r e s u l t t h a t some m e m b e r s o f o u r g r o u p i n T i r a n a s p l i t a w a y f r o m us. S o m e o f t h e m had formed a Trotskyite group, headed by A r i s t i d h Qendro, a s e a r l y a s i n 1936, w h i l e others, l e d b y A n a s t a s L u l a a n d S a d i k P r e m t e , w e r e s h o w i n g signs o f a n e w f a c t i o n , w h i c h later, a f t e r t h e o c c u p a t i o n of the c o u n t r y , e m e r g e d as a separate g r o u p k n o w n a s t h e Y o u t h G r o u p . I r e m e m b e r t h a t soon a f t e r the o c c u p a t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y the K o r a g r o u p sent t w o r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s t o T i r a n a t o m a k e contact w i t h A n a s t a s L u l a a n d some o f h i s c o m r a d e s i n order t o m a k e c l e a r t o t h e m t h e n e w t a s k s i n t h e s i t u a t i o n of occupation a n d to persuade them to maintain their links w i t h the group. However, the envoys of the K o r a group were quite unable to persuade Anastas L u l a and company, w h i l e i n t h e ideas a n d l i f e o f t h i s g r o u p t h e y s a w v i l e a n t i c o m m u n i s t T r o t s k y i t e acts o f u t t e r i m m o r a l i t y . H o r r i f i e d , they p a r t e d f r o m A n a s t a s L u l a ' s g r o u p a n d w h e n t h e y r e p o r t e d t o us, t h e K o r a g r o u p q u i t e r i g h t l y d e c i d e d t o b e g i n t h e i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e against those T r o t s k y i t e s . That group h a d embraced a l l the theories and practices o f a n a r c h i s t T r o t s k y i t e g a n g s t e r s : r o b b e r y , lies, c o r r u p t i o n , w i f e s w a p p i n g . T h e y b r o u g h t o u t n e w theories w h i c h
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were causing great h a r m to our struggle. A c c o r d i n g to A n a s t a s L u l a , A n d r e a Z i s i a n d o t h e r T r o t s k y i t e s , the occ u p a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y h a d its b a d aspect, b u t also its g o o d aspect: i t w a s f a v o u r a b l e , because t h e b o u r g e o i s i e w o u l d become e s t a b l i s h e d , i n d u s t r y w o u l d b e b u i l t , t h e w o r k i n g class w o u l d b e c r e a t e d , a n d t h e n , i t w o u l d b e p o s s i b l e t o talk about the f o r m a t i o n of a genuine communist party, then it w o u l d be possible to talk about struggle against t h e occupiers. W e m u s t w a i t f o r t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , w o r k w i t h t h e p e a s a n t r y does n o t b r i n g results, w a s t h e p r o p a g a n d a t h e y s p r e a d . O f c o u r s e t h e theories o f those c h i e f s w e r e n o t o n l y a n t i - c o m m u n i s t , but they served the occupiers and sabotaged the o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e people's resistance a n d s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e m . T h e K o r a g r o u p w a g e d a m e r c i l e s s s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t these t r a i t o r s a n d t h e i r theories a n d actions, w h i c h w e r e n o t o n l y T r o t s k y i t e , b u t w e r e also i d e n t i c a l w i t h those o f the A l b a n i a n fascist p a r t y , c r e a t e d b y t h e o c c u p i e r s . T h e K o r a g r o u p h a d a c o r r e c t l i n e o n these c a p i t a l p r o b l e m s , b u t i t has t o b e s a i d t h a t K o o T a s h k o ' s b a d influence interfered w i t h the broad development of this line. Outside K o r a , and especially in T i r a n a w h e r e the w o r k of the group h a d been left in the hands of K o o T a s h k o , t h e process h a d v i r t u a l l y m a r k e d t i m e . C l a i m i n g that it was he w h o had brought the instructions of the C o m i n t e r n f r o m M o s c o w , K o o T a s h k o posed a s a b i g shot, as the representative of the International in A l b a n i a , but the t r u t h was that he d i d not k n o w h o w to w o r k w i t h people and was as sectarian as he was opportunist. Zogite reaction h a d attacked the K o r a group, but, nevertheless, i t r e m a i n e d the biggest, m o s t i m p o r t a n t g r o u p , n o t o n l y because o f its n u m b e r s , b u t e s p e c i a l l y because t h e ideas o f t h i s g r o u p w e r e m o r e c o r r e c t t h a n those o f o t h e r groups. O u r K o r a g r o u p t o o k a correct v i e w o f t h e great d a n g e r o f t h e fascist o c c u p a t i o n a n d f o u g h t i n its o w n
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w a y s , b u t h a d i t a c t e d e n e r g e t i c a l l y a n d w i t h t h e necessary maturity, through sounder and more intelligent organizational w o r k to liquidate all that mountain of pers o n a l resentments, c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , s q u a b b l e s a n d a m b i t i o n s o r slanders, w h i c h w e r e n o t l a c k i n g a m o n g c o m m u n i s t groups, it w o u l d have exerted a greater influence t o b r i n g t h e c o m m u n i s t s t o g e t h e r a n d w o u l d h a v e speeded u p t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y . F a c i n g t h e great d a n g e r o f fascism w h i c h h a d occupied the country, the road of M a r x ist-Leninist u n i t y was greatly neglected. Consequently, even after the occupation the groups not only r e m a i n e d in t h e i r o l d positions, b u t t h e i r s q u a b b l e s a n d c o n t r a d i c t i o n s were increased and exacerbated. K o o Tashko and Anastas L u l a w e r e a great h i n d r a n c e t o i m p r o v i n g t h e s i t u a t i o n i n this direction. Nevertheless, the fact is that in K o r a , where C o m r a d e M i h a L a k o led the group, i n general, the w o r k went w e l l . E s p e c i a l l y on the eve of the occupation a n d immediately after, the activity of the group became more vigorous t h a n e v e r . W e m e t r e g u l a r l y , d i s c u s s e d a n d d e t e r m i n e d t h e stands w h i c h we h a d to take to the great a n d difficult problems t h a t f a c e d us. I n t h e f i r s t place, w e h a d t o s a f e g u a r d a n d f u r t h e r strengthen the sound u n i t y w i t h i n our communist group, m u s t n o t p e r m i t a n y s p l i t s i n its r a n k s o r a n y s i g n o f f e a r o r p a n i c i n t h e face o f t h e t e r r o r a n d r e p r i s a l s o f t h e fascist r e g i m e . I r e m e m b e r t h a t i n t h e e a r l y d a y s o f A p r i l , w h e n t h e o c c u p y i n g forces h a d s t i l l n o t e n t e r e d t h e c i t y , s o m e o n e p r o p o s e d t h a t some o f o u r c o m r a d e s k n o w n t o the a u t h o r i t i e s a n d t h e fascist agents f o r t h e i r a n t i - f a s c i s t a c t i v i t y s h o u l d l e a v e K o r a i n o r d e r t o escape i n t e r n m e n t or prison. S t e r n objections burst out: A l l t h e p e o p l e o f K o r a , a l l t h e people o f A l b a n i a a r e anti-fascists, w e p o i n t e d out i n t h e m e e t i n g . T h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e a r e d e m o n s t r a t i n g i n the streets s h o u t i n g ' D o w n
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w i t h fascism!' Then, h o w can the communists w i t h d r a w f r o m the p e o p l e ? T h e opposite i s w h a t m u s t b e done. W e m u s t b e t h e f i r s t i n actions a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , w e m u s t s h o w t h e people t h e t r u e r o a d o f t h e s t r u g g l e a n d l i b e r a t i o n , we must convince t h e m through our o w n example! A n d i n fact t h i s i s w h a t o c c u r r e d . T h e c o m m u n i s t s o f the K o r a group, of w h i c h the workers of the city made u p t h e m a i n core, w e r e n o t f r i g h t e n e d o r s t o p p e d b y a n y danger. T h e w o r k e r s h a d a great i n f l u e n c e o n t h e p u p i l s , w h o a t t h a t t i m e w e c a l l e d students. T h e L y c e o f K o r a w a s a n i m p o r t a n t s u p p o r t f o r the resistance a g a i n s t f a s c i s m . T h e p u p i l s o f t h i s L y c e , w i t h t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y teachers, intensified the spirit of the anti-fascist demonstrations of A p r i l 1939 d a y b y day, a n d later, e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r t h e founding of our Communist Party, they turned the Lyce i n t o a r e a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y h o t b e d , a source of cadres of t h e P a r t y and partisans of the N a t i o n a l Liberation A r m y . T h e i d e a o f m y g o i n g t o T i r a n a to b e c o m e a s h o p keeper was not accidental and d i d not arise s i m p l y f r o m m y d i s m i s s a l f r o m m y job. N o , t h i s w a s s o m e t h i n g c a r e f u l l y considered and calculated by our communist group. As I have already mentioned, especially after the fascist occupation of A l b a n i a , the C o m m u n i s t G r o u p of K o r a became m o r e t h a n e v e r a w a r e o f its o l d w e a k n e s s o f b e i n g closed w i t h i n t h e c i t y o f K o r a . T h i s i s o l a t i o n h a d n o t o n l y hindered the further extension of the ranks of the group a n d a l l the w o r k t h a t h a d t o b e done t o e x p l a i n the s i t u a t i o n t o the masses a n d m o b i l i z e t h e m , b u t i t h a d also l i m i t e d the possibilities to establish links of collaboration w i t h the other communist groups. K o o Tashko, w h o stayed m a i n l y i n T i r a n a , was not doing any good organized w o r k or even propaganda by w o r d o f m o u t h . K o o ' s w o r k consisted o f a f e w a c a d e m i c c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s , b u t e v e n these w i t h
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h e s i t a t i o n a n d f e a r t h a t h e m i g h t b e detected b y t h e police. In g e n e r a l , I c a n say he w a s b o t h a m e g a l o m a n i a c a n d a c o w a r d . O f course w e d i d not a r r i v e a t t h i s c o n c l u s i o n a b o u t K o o i m m e d i a t e l y a n d a t t h a t p e r i o d , but o n l y l a t e r a n d g r a d u a l l y , because h i s w o r k s h o w e d w h a t h e w a s , w h i l e a t f i r s t w e d i d n o t k n o w h i m p r o p e r l y . W i t h some comrades of our group w h o were in T i r a n a at that time, such as w i t h Xhevdet Doda, and w i t h D e m i r Godelli in P e q i n a n d others, a l l h e d i d w a s h o l d s k i n - d e e p c o n v e r s a tions, t r y t o get t o k n o w t h e m i n d i v i d u a l l y , curse a n d s t r u g g l e against o t h e r c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e S h k o d r a group and Anastas Lula's faction, w h i c h was s t e a d i l y a s s u m i n g t h e f o r m o f a separate g r o u p . B u t K o o a b u s e d these g r o u p s i n d i s c r i m i n a t e l y , w i t h o u t m a k i n g a n y d i s t i n c t i o n a m o n g s t t h e i r m e m b e r s , some o f w h o m w e r e resolute communists, and without t a k i n g any initiative to m a k e approaches to or talk w i t h them. Therefore, the need h a d a r i s e n f o r m o r e o r g a n i z e d a n d i n t e n s i v e w o r k outside K o r a , especially in T i r a n a , w h i c h was not only the centre o f fascist r e a c t i o n a t t h a t p e r i o d , b u t also t h e p l a c e w h e r e the m a i n representatives of the other communist groups w e r e l o c a t e d a n d o p e r a t i n g . P r e c i s e l y at these m o m e n t s I w a s dismissed f r o m my job a n d the centre of our c o m munist group took this opportunity to send first me and s u b s e q u e n t l y some o t h e r c o m r a d e s t o T i r a n a . T h e r e , o n t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e centre, w e h a d t o set u p t h e T i r a n a b r a n c h o f t h e C o m m u n i s t G r o u p o f K o r a , t o e x t e n d the activity of the group on sound foundations and organize the a n t i - f a s c i s t m o v e m e n t i n t h e c a p i t a l a n d t h e other districts of the country. A f t e r w e discussed a n d reached agreement w i t h M i h a , P i l o a n d o t h e r c o m r a d e s a b o u t the m a i n d i r e c t i o n s o f o u r w o r k i n T i r a n a a n d o t h e r zones, t h e w a y h a d t o b e f o u n d t o e s t a b l i s h o u r s e l v e s t h e r e s o t h a t w e c o u l d act l e g a l l y u n d e r t h e eyes o f the people a n d t h e a u t h o r i t i e s . I n t h e
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c o u r s e o f these discussions t h e i d e a arose o f e m b a r k i n g on a c o m m e r c i a l v e n t u r e , t h a t is, of o p e n i n g a s h o p in Tirana, w h i c h we called Flora and w h i c h was v e r y q u i c k l y t o b e c o m e one o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t bases o f t h e communist and anti-fascist m o v e m e n t . . . W e w e r e p r e o c c u p i e d b y t w o m a i n , basic o b j e c t i v e s f o r t h e great i d e a l w h i c h w a s b u r n i n g i n o u r m i n d s a n d hearts: to increase the n u m b e r of members of the group w i t h resolute workers, w i t h craftsmen, w i t h r e v o l u t i o n a r y students a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l s a s m u c h a s p o s s i b l e a n d i n a l l t h e cities, a n d t o m a k e a start i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e w h e r e o u r w o r k w a s , y o u m i g h t say, a l m o s t z e r o ; a n d t h e second objective, t o e l i m i n a t e o n a p r i n c i p l e d basis t h e q u a r r e l s a n d disagreements w i t h the other communist groups w h i c h were operating in Tirana, S h k o d r a and elsewhere a n d to a c h i e v e a t r u e u n i t y w i t h t h e m , because t h e q u e s t i o n v i t a l to our country, the formation of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , d e p e n d e d o n this. The m a i n decisive t h i n g w a s extension of l i n k s w i t h the w o r k e r s , because t h e y w o u l d c o m p r i s e t h e steel b a s e of the P a r t y w h i c h we were going to f o r m . We understood t h a t i f w e w o u l d a c h i e v e this, t h e r e w a s n o f o r c e w h i c h c o u l d defeat us. O n t h i s q u e s t i o n w e h a d t a k e n g o o d i n i t i a l steps. W e h a d c r e a t e d contacts a n d h a d h e l d m e e t i n g s w i t h r e v o l u t i o n ary workers, but this activity had to be intensified. T h e n e w w o r k e r c o m r a d e s w e r e a d v i s e d t o create l i n k s a n d t o associate w i t h t h e y o u n g people o f o t h e r g r o u p s , t o get i n t o f r i e n d l y conversation w i t h them, to speak against the fascist e n e m y , against t h e q u i s l i n g s a n d s o o n , b u t c a u t i o u s ly and without exacerbating the situation, w h i l e preserving t h e i n d i v i d u a l i t y of o u r P a r t y . L i s t e n comrades, I stressed t o t h e m , this has great i m p o r t a n c e f o r t h e f u t u r e . and A n t h i s i s w h a t w a s done. T h e y a l l w o r k e d t i r e l e s s l y considerably extended their circles w i t h courageous
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young workers. These active young workers were impatient, t h e y w a n t e d s t r u g g l e a n d actions against t h e e n e m y . T h e y c a m e a l l t h e t i m e t o t h e F l o r a shop w h e r e t h e y f o u n d m e o r P i l o , a n d a f t e r t h e y h a d r e p o r t e d t o us, a s k e d t h e usual question: What should we do today, w h a t should we do tomorrow? I n t h i s s a m e p e r i o d I w e n t t o G j i r o k a s t r a , too. E l e m e n t s of different communist groups h a d been active there for y e a r s . I m e t some o f these c o m r a d e s a n d w e t a l k e d a b o u t the p r o b l e m s f a c i n g t h e A l b a n i a n people, a n d f i r s t o f a l l , facing the A l b a n i a n communists. A m o n g other things I p o i n t e d o u t that, a l t h o u g h w e w e r e m e m b e r s o f d i f f e r e n t groups, w e o u g h t t o w o r k c l o s e l y together, because w e h a d t h e s a m e i d e a l s a n d w e r e f i g h t i n g f o r a c o m m o n cause. I t o l d t h e c o m r a d e s t h a t o u r f i g h t against t h e o c c u p i e r s cannot r e a l l y get g o i n g o r b e c r o w n e d w i t h success w i t h o u t rejecting the unhealthy views and spirit of groups, therefore w e o u g h t t o m a k e e v e r y e f f o r t t o f i n d a c o m m o n language a n d t o create t h e c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h w i l l l e a d u s towards the f o u n d i n g of a single party, the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a . T h a t i s t h e t a s k w h i c h faces a l l t h e s o u n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces o f t h e c o u n t r y , w h i c h faces e v e r y comrade regardless of whether he is in the leadership of the g r o u p or a r a n k - a n d - f i l e m e m b e r , r e g a r d l e s s of w h e t h e r h e w o r k s a n d struggles i n T i r a n a , i n K o r a , i n S h k o d r a , i n G j i r o k a s t r a o r a n y w h e r e else. M e a n w h i l e our w o r k in the countryside was still weak, therefore i t e m e r g e d a s a n i m p o r t a n t t a s k t o create l i n k s with the peasantry. At that t i m e we fought especially against A n a s t a s L u l a ' s T r o t s k y i t e v i e w s a b o u t t h e p r o b l e m o f the c o u n t r y s i d e , v i e w s w h i c h a r o u s e d c o n f u s i o n a n d , i f they w e r e s p r e a d , w o u l d cause v e r y great d a m a g e , n o t only t o t h e w o r k o f t h e p a r t y w h i c h w e w e r e g o i n g t o f o r m , but also t o the o u t c o m e o f t h e w a r against t h e o c c u p i e r s . A c c o r d i n g t o Anastas L u l a and his followers, the A l -
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banian peasantry was backward, conservative and r e a c t i o n a r y a n d the c o m m u n i s t s c o u l d not w o r k o r create o r g a n i z e d l i n k s a n d bases w i t h i t ! I s h a l l h a v e some m o r e t o say a b o u t the r e a c t i o n a r y v i e w s o f A n a s t a s L u l a a n d h i s associates, b u t h e r e I w a n t t o p o i n t out t h a t t h e K o r a g r o u p not o n l y h a d correct v i e w s o n t h i s p r o b l e m , b u t also s t r u g g l e d t o d e f e n d its v i e w s . E s p e c i a l l y a f t e r w e came to T i r a n a , our interest a n d attention to the peasantry was further increased. This theme had interested and a t t r a c t e d m e p e r s o n a l l y f o r some t i m e , n o t o n l y because as a c o m m u n i s t I w a s a w a r e of a n d u n d e r s t o o d t h e n e e d f o r l i n k i n g t h e cause o f t h e w o r k i n g class w i t h t h a t o f t h e p e a s a n t r y , but also f o r a n o t h e r r e a s o n : I h a d b e e n a c q u a i n t e d w i t h a n d a d m i r e d t h e great r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d p a t r i o t i c t r a d i t i o n s o f the A l b a n i a n p e a s a n t r y s i n c e m y c h i l d h o o d a n d y o u t h , its ceaseless struggles f o r f r e e d o m a n d n a t i o n a l independence... W i t h o u t the peasantry our P a r t y w o u l d be unable to f u l f i l its m i s s i o n . C o m p a r i n g t h e v i e w s o f A n a s t a s L u l a a n d company on the character of our peasantry w i t h the distorted a n d denegrating views of the Esadists, the Zogites a n d the money-lending bourgeoisie on this problem, I saw c l e a r l y t h a t i n essence t h e y w e r e a l m o s t i d e n t i c a l . T h e r e fore, w e h a d t o f i g h t h a r d against t h e T r o t s k y i t e a n d r e a c t i o n a r y v i e w s o n t h e p e a s a n t r y , because o n l y i n t h i s w a y w o u l d w e create a g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y . At first, however, this struggle was waged more f r o m t h e t h e o r e t i c a l angle, because c o n c r e t e l y t h e c o u n t r y s i d e w a s u n t o u c h e d t e r r i t o r y f o r us. I n t h i s d i r e c t i o n w e stressed t h e v i e w o f toilers, a s w e e x p r e s s e d it, w h e n w e e x plained to the comrades of the group f r o m the theoretical aspect t h e p r o b l e m o f t h e a l l i a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g class w i t h the peasantry, w h i c h was v i t a l to the liberation of t h e H o m e l a n d . T h e w o r k e r c o m r a d e s u n d e r s t o o d t h i s need, a l t h o u g h i t m u s t b e a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t t h e people o f K o r a
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w e r e s o m e w h a t s e c t a r i a n a b o u t it. T h r o u g h p a t i e n t p e r suasion w e w e r e s t r u g g l i n g t o g r a d u a l l y o v e r c o m e t h i s obstacle. F o r m y p a r t , I h a d b e g u n t h e w o r k t h r o u g h t h e contacts I h a d e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h M y s l i m P e z a . ( 1 ) A f t e r m y m e e t i n g w i t h t h e eta o f P e z a , w e i m m e d i a t e l y began t o s e n d o u r c o m r a d e s t h e r e . L i k e w i s e , o n the basis o f the a g r e e m e n t w h i c h w e a c h i e v e d w i t h t h e S h k o d r a group o n c o m m o n actions, s u b s e q u e n t l y t h e S h k o d r a g r o u p sent c o m r a d e s to t h a t eta. T h u s , t h e c o m r a d e s of t h i s g r o u p , too, w e r e f i g h t i n g a l o n g s i d e o u r c o m r a d e s a n d t h i s w a s a fine t h i n g w h i c h was to strengthen the belief that this group, too, w a s f o r struggle, a n d thus, one of t h e baseless accusations w h i c h some r a i s e d a b o u t t h e g r o u p w a s o v e r come. W e also e s t a b l i s h e d contact w i t h t h e peasants o f D a j t i and K r u j a , because w e h a d g o o d c o m r a d e s t h e r e . M e a n w h i l e , I c o n t i n u e d t o e x t e n d m y contacts w i t h m y f o r m e r colleagues, a n t i - Z o g i t e a n d a n t i - f a s c i s t teachers. O u r circles were b e i n g e x t e n d e d also w i t h o t h e r i n t e l l e c t u a l s some o f w h o m I k n e w a n d some K o o T a s h k o k n e w . K o o T a s h k o , as an older m a n and a former vice-consul in N e w Y o r k , (2) worked especially w i t h the elderly nationalists w h o had gone i n t o e x i l e i n t h e t i m e o f Z o g a n d h a d r e t u r n e d w i t h the wagons o f t h e I t a l i a n s . K o o e n j o y e d t a l k i n g a n d there w a s n o d a n g e r o f h i m c o m p r o m i s i n g h i m s e l f w i t h them. Besides our efforts to extend the w o r k of our group
__________________________________________ 1 M y s l i m P e z a (1897-1984). Democratic patriot a n d a n t i Zogite fighter. A f t e r the occupation of the country he became one of the most distinguished figures of the A n t i - f a s c i s t N a tional L i b e r a t i o n W a r . H e was vice-president o f the D e m o c r a tic F r o n t of A l b a n i a , vice-president of the P r e s i d i u m of the People's A s s e m b l y (1946-1982), People's H e r o and H e r o of S o c i a list L a b o u r . 2 F r o m 1922-1925 K o o T a s h k o was vice-consul of the A l b a n i a n government t o N e w Y o r k .
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a n d the anti-fascist p r o p a g a n d a a m o n g the people w e h a d also w o r k e d a n d a c h i e v e d some successes o n t h e other m a i n question, t h a t o f contacts w i t h t h e other c o m m u n i s t groups. First, however, I w a n t to say something, in general, about the s i t u a t i o n a n d m a i n v i e w s o f t h e S h k o d r a g r o u p a n d the Y o u t h G r o u p , a s I h a v e d o n e a b o u t t h e K o r a group. The t r u t h is that we created a complete idea about t h e s i t u a t i o n o f these t w o g r o u p s w h e n w e b e g a n o p e n discussions a n d m a d e s e l f - c r i t i c i s m o n b e h a l f o f t h e g r o u p s d u r i n g those h i s t o r i c d a y s a n d n i g h t s w h e n w e l a i d t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a . B e f o r e t h a t t i m e n o g r o u p h a d a correct a n d a c c u r a t e o p i n i o n about the other g r o u p . T h e o p i n i o n s o f t h e K o r a g r o u p about the other g r o u p s a n d t h e i r o p i n i o n s a b o u t o u r g r o u p w e r e i n f l a g r a n t c o n t r a d i c t i o n w i t h one a n o t h e r . I n o u r p e r s o n a l ideas t h e r e w e r e some n u a n c e s w h i c h s h o w e d t h a t s o m e t h i n g w a s c h a n g i n g , t h a t some r o a d o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d r a p p r o c h e m e n t b e t w e e n u s w a s o p e n i n g u p , but, i n g e n e r a l , w e h a d t o obey t h e s a m e r i g o r o u s s t a n d o f t h e group and this k i n d of discipline kept us still divided, cold a n d r e s e n t f u l t o w a r d s one a n o t h e r . I t w a s p r e c i s e l y t h e m e e t i n g s i n the f i r s t d a y s o f N o v e m b e r 1941 t h a t s h e d f u l l light on the good points, the weaknesses a n d the shortcomings in the w o r k of groups, a n d on w h a t things l i n k e d us together a n d h o w we should unite, a n d on w h a t t h i n g s d i v i d e d u s a n d h o w w e s h o u l d get r i d o f t h e m once a n d f o r a l l . B u t t h i s t o o k place l a t e r . N o w let u s d w e l l o n t h e concrete s i t u a t i o n of t h e g r o u p s . I n g e n e r a l , the S h k o d r a g r o u p w a s m a d e u p o f g o o d comrades. T h e y i n c l u d e d w o r k e r s , s t u d e n t s a n d a f e w i n t e l l e c t u a l s , b u t f e w peasants, i f a n y a t a l l . O f course, l i k e every group, it had sympathizers f r o m various strata. T h e S h k o d r a g r o u p , too, h a d a closed c h a r a c t e r ; m o s t of its members were in Shkodra, but a n u m b e r of members of
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the g r o u p , w o r k e r s a n d e s p e c i a l l y students, w e r e i n T i r a n a . I n the S h k o d r a g r o u p t h a t i n t e r n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d discipline w h i c h the K o r a group had created was lacking. T h e l i n k s o f its m e m b e r s w e r e loose; t h e i r actions w e r e not d i c t a t e d by a m o r e or less a f f i r m e d l e a d e r s h i p , a n d individual instructions a n d directives were issued acc o r d i n g t o t h e occasion. T h e S h k o d r a g r o u p c o u l d n o t b e c o n t r o l l e d , n o t because its m e m b e r s d i d n o t m e e t a n d d i d n o t r e c e i v e i n s t r u c t i o n s , b u t because t h e m e e t i n g s w h i c h they h e l d w e r e e x t r e m e l y secret a n d n o t h i n g w a s s a i d outside t h e m a b o u t actions. T h e S h k o d r a g r o u p h a d n o t accepted t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f the C o m i n t e r n t o d i s s o l v e t h e s e c t a r i a n cells, t o s e n d the c o m m u n i s t s a m o n g t h e masses o f w o r k e r s , peasants a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l s , t o w o r k w i t h t h e m a n d t o create n e w , clean, p o w e r f u l cells r e a d y f o r t h e s t r u g g l e w i t h t h e best of t h e m . These v i e w s of the leadership of the S h k o d r a group against t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e C o m i n t e r n w e r e i n c o n f l i c t w i t h the love w h i c h m a n y fine members of the S h k o d r a group n u r t u r e d for c o m m u n i s m , the Soviet U n i o n , Stalin and t h e C o m i n t e r n , a n d t h i s w a s t r a g i c . T h e s e m e m b e r s included V a s i l Shanto, Q e m a l Stafa, K r i s t o Themelko, T u k J a k o v a ( w h o s u b s e q u e n t l y b e t r a y e d the P a r t y a n d c o n s p i r e d w i t h t h e Y u g o s l a v T i t o i t e s against t h e P a r t y a n d t h e socialist H o m e l a n d ) , N e x h m i j e X h u g l i n i , A l i D e m i , N a z m i Rushiti, Q a m i l G a v o i and m a n y other comrades. T h e comrades of the S h k o d r a group were resolute a n t i Zogites a n d a n t i - f a s c i s t s a n d , e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r t h e o c c u p a tion, they, too, t h r e w t h e m s e l v e s i n t o r e v o l u t i o n a r y actions, d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , d i s t r i b u t i n g leaflets, etc. B u t t h i s g r o u p had a t its h e a d a c u n n i n g T r o t s k y i t e , Z e f M a l a , w h o w h e n h e w a s i m p r i s o n e d t o l d Zog's p o l i c e a l l h e k n e w a b o u t h i s o w n g r o u p a n d o t h e r c o m r a d e s . H e posed a s a n i n tellectualized proletarian, but was nothing but a petty
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demagogue and intriguer w h o carried on u n d e r m i n i n g work. He published two numbers of an allegedly theoretical b u l l e t i n o f the g r o u p ( w h i c h w a s c a l l e d t h e G r e e n B u l l e t i n f r o m the c o l o u r o f the cover) w i t h w h i c h t o n u r t u r e its m e m b e r s . B u t the ideas a n d o p i n i o n s w h i c h h e s p r e a d w e r e extracts f r o m Trotskyite manuals w h i c h w e r e published i n fascist I t a l y . ( T h e K o r a g r o u p , too, p u b l i s h e d a b u l l e t i n w h i c h l o o k e d a t t h r o u g h t o d a y ' s eye h a d n o great w e i g h t , a l t h o u g h m i s t a k e s o f t h e l i n e i n its a r t i c l e s w e r e rare.) F r o m the f i r s t m o m e n t s w h e n i t w a s f o r m e d a s a s e p a r a t e g r o u p the S h k o d r a g r o u p t r i e d t o l i n k u p w i t h t h e K o a g r o u p , but, u n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h i s w a s r e p l a c e d b y a c o n n e c t i o n w i t h h a r m f u l consequences: a b o u t the e n d o f 1937, Zef M a l a c a m e i n t o contact w i t h N i k o X o x i , a v i l e , T r o t s k y i t e element, w h o b e t r a y e d t h e K o r a g r o u p a n d A l i Kelmendi. W h e n h e s a w h e w a s u n a b l e t o d o m i n a t e the K o r a g r o u p , N i k o X o x i , s t u f f e d w i t h a l l the a r c h e o - M a r x i s t diversionist rubbish of A n d r e a Zisi, went to S h k o d r a and T i r a n a and there very q u i c k l y he found a c o m m o n language w i t h Zef M a l a , a s y o u m i g h t say, t h e pot f o u n d the l i d t o f i t it. A f t e r e n g a g i n g in a series of i n t r i g u e s , s l a n d e r s a n d c a u s i n g c o n f u s i o n , these t w o renegades m a n a g e d t o t a k e over the r e i n s o f l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e S h k o d r a g r o u p . A f t e r t h i s a n t i - M a r x i s t l i n k - u p w e s a w a l l sorts o f theories a l i e n t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t i n A l b a n i a spring up in this group, w h i c h hindered it f r o m f i n d i n g and e m b r a c i n g a correct r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i n e . In the second h a l f of 1940 the leaders of the S h k o d r a g r o u p h a d m a d e deals w i t h the Y o u t h G r o u p , w h i c h w a s l e d b y A n a s t a s L u l a . E s p e c i a l l y a f t e r the l i n k - u p w i t h t h i s g r o u p , t h e p e n e t r a t i o n o f e r r o n e o u s ideas b e c a m e e v e n m o r e p r o n o u n c e d . U n l i k e the C o m m u n i s t G r o u p o f K o r a , w h i c h w a s based o n the w o r k e r s a n d w a s c o m p r i s e d m a i n l y o f w o r k e r s , the S h k o d r a and the Youth groups concentrated their atten-
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t i o n m o s t l y o n t h e school, o n t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a . T h e t h e o r e t i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l ideas i m p a r t e d t o these y o u n g people, e s p e c i a l l y by the leaders of the Y o u t h G r o u p , as well as by Zef M a l a and N i k o X o x i , had no sound M a r x i s t bases, nevertheless, e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r t h e fascist o c c u p a t i o n , these g r o u p s i n t e n s i f i e d t h e i r e f f o r t s t o w i n o v e r a s m a n y of the s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l students as possible, e s p e c i a l l y in T i r a n a , S h k o d r a a n d V l o r a a n d , t o a lesser extent, i n t h e other cities o f the c o u n t r y . F o r a l l its s h o r t c o m i n g s , the c o m m u n i s t p r o p a g a n d a c a r r i e d out w i t h t h e s c h o o l y o u t h w a s t o play a positive role. T h e g r a v e m o m e n t s w h i c h the H o m e l a n d w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g u n d e r the fascist o c c u p a t i o n , the h a t r e d w h i c h the y o u t h n u r t u r e d f o r the occupiers, the d r i v e a n d e n t h u siasm seething i n t h e i r y o u t h f u l hearts, y o u m i g h t say, n a t u r a l l y w r o t e off t h e a i m s a n d d r e a m s o f a n t i - M a r x i s t leaders a b o u t t h e quiet p r e p a r a t i o n of pleiads f o r the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s o f the f u t u r e ! N o , the r e v o l u t i o n a r y y o u t h who came u n d e r the i n f l u e n c e of one or t h e other g r o u p , did not d o t h i s f o r the t o m o r r o w t h a t n e v e r comes, b u t d i d i t f o r t o d a y , f o r t h e m o m e n t , f o r the s t r u g g l e w h i c h w a s b o i l i n g u p a n d u p t o e r u p t . T h e y e n t e r e d the c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d c o n s i d e r e d t h e m s e l v e s c o m m u n i s t s w i t h the sacred i d e a t h a t t h e y m u s t t h r o w t h e m s e l v e s i m m e d i a t e l y into d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a n d actions, t h a t is, t a k e up the cause of the w a r a n d the r e v o l u t i o n w h i c h w e r e p r o b l e m s o n the order o f t h e d a y . T h i s i s the m a i n r e a s o n w h y . despite the leaders' w o r k of sabotage, the r a n k - a n d - f i l e of these g r o u p s were f o r the w a r a n d f o r the P a r t y , a n d e x e r t e d t h e i r great influence i n s e t t l i n g the d i s a g r e e m e n t s w h i c h e x i s t e d b e tween g r o u p s . B o t h i n the S h k o d r a g r o u p a n d i n t h e K o r a g r o u p n o s m a l l role w a s p l a y e d b y h a r m f u l localist s o l i d a r i t y , w h i c h h a d n o s o u n d basis. B u t t h e m i s t a k e s w e r e m o r e pronounced i n the S h k o d r a g r o u p , because o f the T r o t s k y i t e
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influence of Zef Mala, N i k o X o x i and A n d r e a Zisi and others, w h i l e r e s o l u t e c o m m u n i s t s w i t h c l e a r ideas l i k e A l i K e l m e n d i , M i h a L a k o , P i l o Peristeri and other proletarians led the K o r a group. A n o t h e r d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n these t w o g r o u p s w a s t h e stand adopted towards M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t literature and theory. T h e members of the S h k o d r a group w e r e more assiduous r e a d e r s t h a n those o f t h e K o r a g r o u p . T h e K o r a group was characterized more by practical action. H o w e v e r , i t m u s t b e s a i d that, w h i l e t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e S h k o d r a group and the Youth G r o u p d i d more reading, the literature w h i c h they used w h i c h came f r o m Greece or Italy, was uncontrolled a n d the interpretation of w h a t was read was erroneous; in the Youth G r o u p especially the interpretation was Trotskyite. E q u a l l y distorted and basically u n - M a r x i s t w a s the a i m f r o m w h i c h the leaders o f these g r o u p s p r o c e e d e d i n t h e p r o f o u n d s t u d y w h i c h t h e y a l l e g e d l y m a d e o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e w h i c h came i n t o t h e i r hands. U n d e r t h e i n f l u e n c e o f Z e f M a l a a n d N i k o X o x i , b e f o r e t h e fascist o c c u p a t i o n , t h e S h k o d r a g r o u p e m b r a c e d the anti-Marxist theory of the training and the preservat i o n o f cadres, a t h e o r y b r o u g h t t o A l b a n i a b y t h e a r c h e o Marxist adventurer and trickster A n d r e a Zisi. According to t h i s theory, t h e c o n d i t i o n s f o r a t r u e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e o f t h e masses d i d not e x i s t i n A l b a n i a , i n d e e d , n e i t h e r t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e bourgeoisie, n o r t h e class s t r u g g l e e x i s t e d ! C o n s e q u e n t l y , those w h o f o l l o w e d this v i e w had arrived at the conclusion that u n t i l the conditions for the revolution(!) h a d been created, the communists should not do anything, but prepare themselves theoretically, to acquaint themselves thoroughly w i t h the literature, a n d to protect themselves, t h a t is, to h i d e f r o m t h e r e a l s t r u g g l e w i t h t h e a i m that, w h e n t h e d r e a m e d of m o m e n t came, these learned m e n c o u l d p r o c l a i m t h e i r k n o w l e d g e i n the streets a n d t a k e p o w e r !
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R e g a r d l e s s o f t h e a i m a n d o r i e n t a t i o n o f t h e leaders on this problem, however, it must be said that the w o r k done o n s t u d y i n g t h a t p a r t o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e w h i c h w a s truly M a r x i s t was to play and did play a positive role in the r e v o l u t i o n a r y a r m i n g o f t h e s o u n d r a n k - a n d - f i l e o f the groups. Most of the members of the S h k o d r a group were brave, courageous people. D e s p i t e t h e i r T r o t s k y i t e leaders, Z e f M a l a a n d N i k o X o x i , t h e y w o r k e d t o o r g a n i z e the f i g h t against f a s c i s m . W e m u s t n o t forget t h a t t h e y w e r e u n d e r the s u r v e i l l a n c e n o t o n l y of t h e Z o g i t e police, b u t also of the police of t h e C a t h o l i c c l e r g y . T h i s w a s a great d a n g e r i n S h k o d r a w h i c h i n f e c t e d people l i k e a disease. Z e f M a l a , t h e l e a d e r o f the g r o u p , e n d e d u p a s a n agent o f the Z o g i t e police, w h o b e t r a y e d a l l t h e c o m r a d e s a n d the w o r k t h e g r o u p d i d . Z o g ' s p o l i c e a r r e s t e d the m a i n comrades o f the S h k o d r a g r o u p , t r i e d t h e m a n d c o n d e m n e d them to various terms of imprisonment. W h e n A l b a n i a was i n v a d e d , Q e m a l , V a s i l a n d others b r o k e out o f t h e p r i s o n and Q e m a l w a s w o u n d e d i n t h e a r m w h e n t h e g e n d a r m e s pursued him. W h a t s t a n d d i d the S h k o d r a g r o u p t a k e t o w a r d s t h e occupiers a n d t h e T r o t s k y i t e c h i e f s ? I t m u s t b e s a i d t h a t a l l its m e m b e r s , l i k e those o f t h e K o r a g r o u p a s w e l l a s the r a n k - a n d - f i l e of t h e Y o u t h G r o u p , w e r e as a w h o l e opposed t o t h e o c c u p i e r s a n d t h e q u i s l i n g s . T h e y h a t e d the fascist o c c u p i e r a n d w a n t e d t o fight, t h e r e f o r e , t h e y came out e n b l o c i n d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a n d i n actions. O n the other h a n d , h o w e v e r , as I m e n t i o n e d above, t h e r e w a s c o n f u s i o n i n t h e i r r a n k s caused b y t h e p s e u d o - M a r x i s t theories w h i c h t h e T r o t s k y i t e s spread. T h i s c o n f u s i o n w a s e l i m i n a t e d i n stages i n t h e r a p i d f l o w o f events w h i c h followed. T h e s e w e r e t h e good a n d b a d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e S h k o d r a g r o u p . I t i s u n d e r s t a n d a b l e t h a t i n these c o n d i t i o n s
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there were quarrels and a struggle between it and the K o r a g r o u p f o r h e g e m o n y o v e r s u c h questions a s w h i c h i s the p a r t y , w h i c h has l i n k s w i t h t h e C o m i n t e r n , w h i c h has the correct line, w h a t r o l e the w o r k e r s w i l l p l a y a n d w h a t r o l e the p e a s a n t r y , w h a t v i e w s s h o u l d b e t a k e n o f the f a m i l y , m a r r i a g e , p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y , a n d m a n y o t h e r things and, undoubtedly, the opposing v i e w s we h a d on these questions d i v i d e d u s f r o m one a n o t h e r a n d n e i t h e r side m a d e concessions. B u t a p a r t f r o m q u e s t i o n s o f p r i n c i p l e w h i c h d i v i d e d us, o u r l i n k s w e r e d a m a g e d also b y the p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s a r r o g a n c e o f K o o T a s h k o , w h o n u r t u r e d the i d e a t h a t it i s useless t o t r y t o t a l k t o t h e m o r m a k e approaches t o t h e m . A n d i t w a s e v e n m o r e r e g r e t t a b l e t h a t h e w a s r e f e r r i n g e v e n t o those c o m r a d e s o f the S h k o d r a group, like V a s i l Shanto and Q e m a l Stafa, w h o had proved t h e i r courage a n d c o m m u n i s t d e t e r m i n a t i o n b e f o r e Zog's courts. W h a t w a s the Y o u t h G r o u p ? H e r e I a m not g o i n g t o w r i t e its h i s t o r y because t h e P a r t y h a s done t h a t i n its analyses, b u t I w a n t to p o i n t out some t r u t h s . T h i s g r o u p h a d its c e n t r e i n T i r a n a . I t h a d b r a n c h e s i n o t h e r cities. especially in V l o r a . At the head of this group were t w o hot-headed a n a r c h i s t T r o t s k y i t e s , A n a s t a s L u l a (Qorri) * a n d S a d i k P r e m t e (Xhepi). ** I n t h e t i m e o f Z o g these t w o elements posed a s a n t i - Z o g i t e . w h i l e i n t h e t i m e of o c c u p a t i o n as a n t i - I t a l i a n . T h e y posed as c o m m u n i s t s , b u t the theories w h i c h t h e y s p r e a d h a d n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h c o m m u n i s m . T h e s e t w o elements s o w e d c o n f u s i o n among the youth. A f t e r a t t a c k i n g the t r e a c h e r o u s f a c t i o n a l w o r k o f A r i s t i d h Q e n d r o i n T i r a n a i n 1937, t h e K o r a g r o u p r e g a r d e d
___________________________________ * The Blind. ** X h e p i , short f o r m for Rexhep, meaning pocket.
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these t w o elements a s its m e m b e r s a n d p u t t h e m i n contact w i t h the c o m r a d e s o f the g r o u p w h o w e n t t o a t t e n d s c h o o l or to w o r k in Tirana. However, Anastas L u l a and Sadik Premte, by t a k i n g over f r o m A r i s t i d h Qendro all his a n t i M a r x i s t baggage a n d t a k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f t h e l o c a l i s m o f the K o r a g r o u p w h i c h d i d not c a r r y out its w o r k p r o p e r l y i n a l l those places w h e r e t h e r e w e r e y o u n g people, f o r m e d their o w n f a c t i o n i n the K o r a g r o u p . A s t i m e passed, t h i s f a c t i o n , w h i l e r e t a i n i n g some f o r m a l l i n k s w i t h the K o r a g r o u p , i n t e n s i f i e d its d i s r u p t i v e w o r k a n d at t h e b e g i n n i n g of 1940 e m e r g e d as a separate group. T h i s w a s the t i m e w h e n w e w e r e w o r k i n g a n d s t r u g g l i n g t o settle d i s a g r e e m e n t s w i t h the S h k o d r a g r o u p and, i n d e e d , h a d succeeded in c r e a t i n g a sort of j o i n t C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e b e t w e e n the K o r a g r o u p a n d the Shkodra group. I am n o t g o i n g to d w e l l on the essence of t h i s agreement, w h i c h a t the m e e t i n g t o f o u n d t h e P a r t y w e r i g h t l y described as an a g r e e m e n t f r o m above, a s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c g r a f t i n g , b u t I o n l y w a n t t o p o i n t out t h a t p r e c i s e l y w h e n the so-called j o i n t C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e w a s f o r m e d , i t w a s discovered t h a t t h e r e w a s s t i l l a n o t h e r g r o u p w h i c h h a d been c a m o u f l a g e d u p t i l l t h a t t i m e . T h a t w a s the Y o u t h G r o u p . Its open emergence, the a t t a c k w h i c h i t l a u n c h e d against t h e K o r a g r o u p a n d a l l its a n t i - M a r x i s t a r s e n a l made t h e w o r k s t a r t e d f o r the s e t t l i n g o f d i s a g r e e m e n t s even m o r e d i f f i c u l t . In Tirana Anastas L u l a and Sadik Premte maintained contact w i t h m a n y y o u n g people w h o m t h e y h a d t u r n e d into e n t h u s i a s t s f i l l e d w i t h i m m o r a l . T r o t s k y i t e , gangster theories. T h e y d i r e c t e d t h e c o u r a g e a n d a n t i - Z o g i t e a n d later a n t i - f a s c i s t a n d a n t i - I t a l i a n d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f these young people i n t o a n a r c h i s t a n d gangster actions. T h e s e were c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of o n l y some of the young people of this group a n d o n l y i n T i r a n a , those w h o h a d become a n d
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remained later the lieutenants of Q o r r i and X h e p i in their ideas a n d actions. B u t a l l t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e Y o u t h G r o u p i n T i r a n a , i n K o r a and especially i n V l o r a , were not l i k e this. W i t h t h e i r T r o t s k y i t e slogans, A n a s t a s L u l a a n d S a d i k P r e m t e w e r e a b l e o n l y t o w a g e a f a c t i o n a l s t r u g g l e against the K o r a g r o u p b y m a k i n g t h e a c c u s a t i o n t h a t i t w a s not a communist group, but they were quite unable to extinguish o r e v e n t o w e a k e n its s t r u g g l e against Z o g a n d t h e o c c u p i e r s . T h i s w a s t h e i r A c h i l l e s ' heel. I n g e n e r a l , t h e r a n k - a n d - f i l e of the Youth G r o u p were pure, extremely patriotic, courageous. a n t i - Z o g i t e a n d a n t i - I t a l i a n a n d t h e y l o v e d c o m m u n i s m . I n V l o r a , i n p a r t i c u l a r , despite t h e fact t h a t X h e p i w a s f r o m those parts, h e c o u l d not a n d d a r e d n o t r e s t r a i n t h e a n t i - f a s c i s t a c t i v i t y against t h e I t a l i a n occupiers, b e cause h e w a s f a c e d w i t h H y s n i K a p o , ( 3 ) a r e s o l u t e c o m m u n ist, a n t i - Z o g i t e a n d anti-fascist, a c o m r a d e w i t h great d e c i s i v e i n f l u e n c e i n V l o r a , w h o stood a t t h e h e a d o f m a n y young comrades of the city, the C o m m e r c i a l School and the v i l l a g e s . I m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e f o u n d i n g o f the P a r t y , H y s n i K a p o became the pillar of the new organization of the Communist P a r t y w h i c h was being built in V l o r a and, under the leadership of the Party, fought together w i t h h i s c o m r a d e s t o t o t a l l y w i p e out t h e h o s t i l e i n f l u e n c e o f X h e p i a n d Q o r r i i n V l o r a , w h e r e t h e y a t t e m p t e d t o create t h e i r h o s t i l e f a c t i o n . H y s n i K a p o ' s s t r u g g l e against t h e m i n defence o f the n e w P a r t y w a s t h e s i g n a l f o r t h e f i n a l l i q u i d a t i o n o f the T r o t s k y i t e v i e w s a n d p r a c t i c e s o f t h e heads o f t h e f o r m e r Y o u t h G r o u p a n d some o f t h e i r
_______________________ 3 H y s n i K a p o (1915-1979). One of the most distinguished leaders of our P a r t y and the A l b a n i a n state. He w a s member of the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the CC of the P L A since 1946, secretary of the CC of the P L A (1956-1979), People's H e r o and H e r o of Socialist L a b o u r .
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f o l l o w e r s , w h o d i d n o t c o m e t o t h e i r senses e v e n after the f o r m i n g o f t h e P a r t y . I a m not g o i n g t o speak about t h e Z j a r r i * G r o u p o r a n y other, because t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g M a r x i s t a b o u t them and their leaders w e r e open provocateurs. T h e founding of the P a r t y smashed them completely. This then, in general, was the situation of the m a i n c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s i n A l b a n i a a t the t i m e w h e n w e , w h i l e w o r k i n g legally in Flora, w e r e increasing our efforts t o r e a c h a g r e e m e n t w i t h o u r opponents w i t h w h o m , i n fact, w e o u g h t t o h a v e b e e n c o m r a d e s f i g h t i n g f o r t h e one i d e a l . A t the m o m e n t s w h e n w e h a d i n t e n s i f i e d o u r e f f o r t s more t h a n e v e r a n d w e r e m o v i n g t o w a r d s f i n d i n g a common language for the final rapprochement between groups, a n i m p o r t a n t event w a s t o e x e r t its r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g i n f l u e n c e o n t h e e n t i r e p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n i n the w o r l d , a s w e l l a s o n the c o m m u n i s t a n d a n t i - f a s c i s t m o v e ment i n A l b a n i a : o n J u n e 22, 1941, t h e H i t l e r i t e h o r d e s launched their perfidious attack on the Soviet U n i o n . T h e H i t l e r i t e a t t a c k o n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n w a s a great shock f o r a l l t h e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s a n d i n d i v i d u a l communists. B e f o r e t h i s a t t a c k took place w e h a d h a d t o wage a s t e r n s t r u g g l e against t h e p r o p a g a n d a of t h e fascist and p s e u d o - d e m o c r a t s w h o , m i s r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e n o n - a g g r e s sion pact b e t w e e n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d G e r m a n y , s l a n d e r e d that the S o v i e t U n i o n h a d f o r m e d a n a l l i a n c e w i t h H i t l e r i t e G e r m a n y , t h a t t h e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s s h o u l d not fight t h e fascist occupiers, because I t a l y w a s t h e a l l y o f Hitlerite G e r m a n y w i t h w h i c h the Soviet U n i o n was l i n k e d in the n o n - a g g r e s s i o n pact. The d u t y devolved on us communists to combat the
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fascist p r o p a g a n d a a n d , a t t h e same t i m e , t o m a k e c l e a r t o e v e r y b o d y a n d not o n l y t o o u r r e l a t i o n s , because t h e r e w e r e e v e n c o m r a d e s o f t h e g r o u p s w h o d i d not u n d e r s t a n d the s i t u a t i o n , w h y t h e S o v i e t U n i o n h a d s i g n e d t h e n o n aggression pact w i t h H i t l e r i t e G e r m a n y . The barbarous Hitlerite attack on the Soviet U n i o n not o n l y s h o c k e d us, b u t s h o w e d c l e a r l y t h a t w e a n d n o t the enemies w e r e r i g h t , t h a t S t a l i n h a d n e v e r b e t r a y e d c o m m u n i s m and the Soviet U n i o n . W i t h the Soviet Union's e n t r y i n t o t h e w a r o u r great hope a n d c o n f i d e n c e i n o u r v i c t o r y w a s s t r e n g t h e n e d . N o w t h e A l b a n i a n people's f i g h t against f a s c i s m w o u l d h a v e a n o t h e r great s u p p o r t : t h e w a r o f the S o v i e t peoples l e d b y S t a l i n against G e r m a n n a z i s m . N o w t h e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s a n d o u r people, w h o h a d not sat w i t h f o l d e d a r m s , w o u l d step u p t h e i r efforts a n d f i g h t a l l o v e r the c o u n t r y . A l l o f u s h a d t o f i g h t t h e o c c u p i e r s a n d the q u i s l i n g s . T h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d the g r o u p s h a d t o p u t aside t h e i r squables a n d r e s e n t m e n t s once a n d f o r a l l . . . B e s i d e s disagreements, a t t h a t t i m e t h e r e w a s also strict secrecy b e t w e e n c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s . E a c h g r o u p f a n a t i c a l l y a n d j e a l o u s l y p r o t e c t e d its o w n m e m b e r s a n d d i d not r e a d i l y a l l o w a m e m b e r o f one g r o u p t o m a k e contact w i t h t h e m e m b e r s o f a n o t h e r g r o u p . T h e f e a r e x i s t e d e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g t h e leaders t h a t one g r o u p m i g h t take the m e m b e r s o f t h e o t h e r ! T h i s fear w a s n o t without foundation. Trotskyite a n d factionalist elements such as A r i s t i d h Qendro. N i k o X o x i , Zef M a l a . Anastas L u l a , S a d i k P r e m t e a n d others h a d m a d e i t a l i n e o f t h e i r a c t i v i t y t o c a r r y out d i s r u p t i v e w o r k i n o t h e r g r o u p s w i t h the a i m o f s p l i t t i n g t h e others f r o m a n t i - M a r x i s t p o s i t i o n s and taking members from them. T h e sound communist elements of the K o r a group a n d such c o m r a d e s o f the S h k o d r a g r o u p , a s Q e m a l , V a s i l a n d others, t h o u g h t a n d acted q u i t e d i f f e r e n t l y o n t h i s
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p r o b l e m . I n w a n t i n g t o e s t a b l i s h l i n k s w i t h one a n o t h e r w e h a d n e v e r p r o c e e d e d f r o m the separatist a i m o f w i n n i n g over t h i s o r t h a t m e m b e r o f t h e other g r o u p . N o , w e proceeded f r o m t h e correct p r i n c i p l e t h a t w e w e r e a l l c o m m u n i s t s , c o m r a d e s o f c o m m o n ideals, t h a t w e w e r e f i g h t i n g f o r a c o m m o n cause, hence w e o u g h t t o t a l k a n d unite f o r t h e sake o f these l o f t y ideals a n d n o t f o r the selfish, s e c t a r i a n a i m s of g r o u p s or f a c t i o n s . It w a s p r e c i s e l y f r o m these m o t i v e s t h a t I p r o c e e d e d w h e n I i n s i s t e d to K o o T a s h k o t h a t I s h o u l d meet V a s i l S h a n t o a n d Q e m a l S t a f a a n d t h e y p r o c e e d e d f r o m the same m o t i v e s w h e n t h e y took the i n i t i a t i v e a n d m e t me. F o r t u n a t e l y , e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r t h e fascist o c c u p a t i o n of the country, the r a n k - a n d - f i l e c o m m u n i s t s o f d i f f e r e n t g r o u p s began t o l i n k u p a n d t a l k together o n t h e j o b , a t school, etc., l i k e r e a l c o m m u n i s t s a n d t o t a k e p a r t i n j o i n t actions, i n d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , s t r i k e s a n d protests, r e g a r d l e s s o f w h a t the f a c t i o n a l i s t a n d T r o t s k y i t e leaders s a i d a n d the o r d e r s they issued. A s t i m e passed t h i s l i n k i n g u p o f t h e c o m m u n ists f r o m b e l o w g r e w s t e a d i l y s t r o n g e r a n d m o r e w i d e s p r e a d , a t h i n g w h i c h w a s c e r t a i n l y a n i m p o r t a n t factor i n the creation o f t h e P a r t y itself. T h e n I met V a s i l S h a n t o a n d Q e m a l S t a f a t i m e after time. A t these m e e t i n g s the m a i n d i s a g r e e m e n t s b e t w e e n our g r o u p s w e r e b e i n g i r o n e d out m o r e a n d m o r e , w h i l e gradually we reached agreement in principle that in the near f u t u r e o u r g r o u p s s h o u l d b e d i s s o l v e d a n d w e s h o u l d decide t o f o u n d the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a . A s I have a l r e a d y p o i n t e d out, t h e f i r s t steps t o w a r d s this h i s t o r i c u n i f i c a t i o n w e r e t a k e n t h r o u g h the j o i n t actions a n d a c t i v ities w h i c h w e r e s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s i n g , e s p e c i a l l y f r o m A u g u s t to N o v e m b e r 8, 1941. A m o n g these, the a g r e e m e n t to send members f r o m t h e t w o g r o u p s to the eta of P e z a h a d special i m p o r t a n c e . N e v e r t h e l e s s , m u c h s t i l l r e m a i n e d t o be done, b o t h to w i n t h e a g r e e m e n t of the other g r o u p s
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t o o u r a i m a n d t o f u r t h e r i r o n out the f o r m e r d i s a g r e e m e n t s o r n e w ones w h i c h e m e r g e d . T h e r e f o r e , i n t h i s p e r i o d o u r meetings w i t h V a s i l b e c a m e m o r e f r e q u e n t . . . F o r o u r p a r t we, as a g r o u p , h e l d a n u m b e r of w o r k i n g meetings a n d p r e p a r e d o u r s e l v e s w e l l f o r t h e b i g m e e t i n g w h i c h w a s t o b e h e l d b e t w e e n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f the three communist groups in w h i c h comrades M i l a d i n [Popovi] a n d D u a n [Mugoa] w o u l d t a k e p a r t , too. We decided that we should put forward, in the first place and above all, the question that the first day of the meeting should be considered the historic day of the dissolution of groups and the founding of the Communist Party of Albania , w h i l e t h e d i s c u s s i o n , p r o c e e d i n g f r o m this basis, c o u l d a n d s h o u l d c o n t i n u e as l o n g as n e c e s s a r y t o clear u p a l l t h e p r o b l e m s a n d d i s a g r e e m e n t s w h i c h e x i s t e d . I i n s i s t e d f i r m l y on t h i s m a t t e r , because I w a s c o n vinced that we should not go to a joint meeting w i t h o u t b e i n g d e t e r m i n e d f o r t h e great a i m o f the d i s s o l u t i o n o f g r o u p s a n d the f o r m a t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y . W e m u s t not a l l o w o u r s e l v e s o r t h e o t h e r s t o g o t o this meeting s i m p l y to m a k e accusations a n d to q u a r r e l , I t o l d the comrades, b u t w e m u s t g o t h e r e i n o r d e r t o achieve our objective. I p r o p o s e d t h a t w e s h o u l d ask M i l a d i n t o get t h e a p p r o v a l o f the others o n t h e q u e s t i o n t h a t r i g h t f r o m the outset the m e e t i n g s h o u l d t a k e t h e d e c i s i o n i n p r i n c i p l e t o found the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a , so that we could t h e n c o n t i n u e t h e d i s c u s s i o n a n d debate as m e m b e r s of a f o r m e d p a r t y . T h i s d e c i s i o n w a s necessary because f r o m t h e o t h e r g r o u p s t h e r e w o u l d b e elements, e s p e c i a l l y s u c h people a s A n a s t a s L u l a a n d S a d i k P r e m t e , a n d p e r h a p s others, too, w h o d i d not w a n t t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y . As Trotskyites they were against this organization, there fore, i t w a s t o t h e i r a d v a n t a g e t o c o n t i n u e t o d e e p e n t h e split. A l l the c o m r a d e s a g r e e d t o m y p r o p o s a l .
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T h e second q u e s t i o n w h i c h w e d e c i d e d i n o u r g r o u p w a s the w a y i n w h i c h the p r o b l e m s s h o u l d b e p r e s e n t e d . W e discussed t h a t w e s h o u l d d e f e n d t h e correct i d e o l o g i c a l p o l i t i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l l i n e o f the K o r a g r o u p , n o t in a f a c t i o n a l s p i r i t , b u t in a t r u e c o m m u n i s t s p i r i t , s h o u l d a c k n o w l e d g e the w e a k n e s s e s i n o u r w o r k a n d accept t h e just c r i t i c i s m w h i c h t h e o t h e r s w o u l d m a k e o f u s a n d accept t h e m w i t h o u t heat o r r a n c o u r . W e w o u l d c o n s u l t w i t h one a n o t h e r a n d a d o p t a s t a n d a b o u t e a c h c r i t i c i s m w h i c h w o u l d b e m a d e o f us. W e h a d t o c r i t i c i z e s t r o n g l y a n d unhesitatingly a l l the anti-Marxist, Trotskyite and l i q u i d a t i onist v i e w s o f a l l t h e g r o u p s a n d leaders, w h i c h h a d p l a y e d an i n i m i c a l role in the A l b a n i a n communist m o v e m e n t . . . A l l of us were preparing for this day w h i c h would m a r k t h e greatest h i s t o r i c e v e n t f o r o u r people. M a n y o f u s h a d gone u n d e r g r o u n d , because r a b i d r e a c t i o n w a s operating everywhere, but we continued the w o r k we h a d started w i t h a n e w o p t i m i s m , w i t h great hope, w h i c h g a v e u s m u c h g r e a t e r s t r e n g t h . E v e n t h o u g h the t e r r o r w a s b e c o m i n g e v e r m o r e savage, o u r people's w a r w a s e x t e n d i n g . Demonstrations, strikes, distribution of leaflets and a r m e d attacks o n t h e o c c u p i e r s a n d q u i s l i n g s h a d become m o r e widespread. O c t o b e r 28, the date of the M a r c h on R o m e a n d , at the same t i m e , the f i r s t a n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e a t t a c k w h i c h t h e I t a l i a n fascists l a u n c h e d o n t h e G r e e k people i n 1940, a n attack w h i c h w e h a d d e n o u n c e d a y e a r b e f o r e b y p u t t i n g u p leaflets i n the streets, w a s a p p r o a c h i n g . W e d e c i d e d t h a t o n O c t o b e r 2 8 o f t h e y e a r 1941 w e should o r g a n i z e a b i g d e m o n s t r a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e o c c u p i e r s and the V r l a c i q u i s l i n g g o v e r n m e n t . O u r g r o u p p r o p o s e d that w e s h o u l d c a r r y o u t a l a r g e - s c a l e j o i n t a c t i o n w i t h t h e other groups, i n w h i c h the p e o p l e a n d the y o u t h w o u l d participate w i d e l y , w i t h m e m b e r s o f a l l t h e c o m m u n i s t groups a t t h e h e a d o f t h e m . T h e c o m r a d e s o f o u r g r o u p
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a u t h o r i z e d m e t o meet V a s i l S h a n t o a n d A n a s t a s L u l a a n d t o c a l l together the c o m m i s s i o n o f a c t i o n ( w h i c h w e h a d established i n p r i n c i p l e , b u t w h i c h h a d n e v e r met). W h e n I spoke about t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n w h i c h w e i n t e n d e d t o o r ganize, V a s i l gave h i s a p p r o v a l w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n , w h i l e Q o r r i , stammering, said we should call the commission together a n d discuss it t h e r e . T h e c o m m i s s i o n met. V a s i l S h a n t o , A n a s t a s L u l a , M u stafa G j i n i s h i , M u s t a f a K a a i , H a s a n R e i a n d I w e r e present. I m a d e the p r o p o s a l a n d the d i s c u s s i o n b e g a n . V a s i l and Mustafa K a a i immediately approved the proposal f o r c a r r y i n g out t h e a c t i o n . M u s t a f a G j i n i s h i w a s i n f a v o u r , b u t h e a d d e d t h a t w e m u s t t a k e care because t h e y m i g h t open f i r e o n us, etc. F a t a n d lazy, H a s a n R e i was unable to make up his m i n d , w h i l e Anastas hesitated. H e w a s c e r t a i n l y against it, b u t c o u l d not say so. W e d e c i d e d t h a t the d e m o n s t r a t i o n s h o u l d b e h e l d a n d s h o u l d b e g i n f r o m the R e x c i n e m a , ( 4 ) w h e r e t h e fascists w e r e g o i n g t o h o l d a c o m m e m o r a t i v e c e r e m o n y . W e w e r e t o p a c k the c i n e m a w i t h o u r people w h o , a s soon a s the m e e t i n g o p e n e d , w o u l d b e g i n t o shout the s l o g a n s : D o w n w i t h f a s c i s m ! , etc., s m a s h the seats a n d p o u r out i n t h e streets s h o u t i n g anti-fascist slogans a n d s i n g i n g p a t r i o t i c songs. O u t s i d e other c o m r a d e s a n d p a t r i o t s w o u l d b e w a i t i n g f o r t h e m . I t w a s d e c i d e d t h a t each g r o u p s h o u l d d o its o w n w o r k i n o r d e r to go to the d e m o n s t r a t i o n in a b o d y , a n d we p a r t e d . A s w e h e a r d l a t e r , a s soon a s w e c a m e out f r o m t h e commission, Anastas L u l a h a d met X h e p i w h o was w a i t i n g for h i m , and told h i m : T e l l the c o m r a d e s t h a t i t d e m o n s t r a t i o n s h a l l not be held. was decided that the
B u t t h e y w e r e u n a b l e t o stop the d e m o n s t r a t i o n o r t o stop m e m b e r s o f t h e i r g r o u p f r o m p a r t i c i p a t i n g . T h i s was a continuation of the disruptive w o r k of

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sabotage o f these c a m o u f l a g e d e n e m y elements w h o , b o t h a t t h i s p e r i o d a n d b e f o r e a n d a f t e r the f o u n d i n g o f t h e P a r t y , r a i s e d countless serious obstacles a n d d i f f i c u l t i e s f o r us. T h e fact i s t h a t a t t h i s p e r i o d t h e y s e e m e d t o s u p p o r t the i d e a o f c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n g r o u p s a n d a g r e e d t o t a k e part i n t h e F o u n d i n g M e e t i n g a n d i n the j o i n t actions t h a t w e r e c a r r i e d out o n t h e eve o f t h i s event. T h e reasons f o r this are n u m e r o u s a n d w e l l k n o w n , b u t I w a n t t o stress one t h i n g : A n a s t a s L u l a a n d S a d i k P r e m t e u n i t e d w i t h u s not because t h e y h a d a n y t r a c e o f c o m m u n i s m i n t h e i r m i n d , not because t h e y w e r e g r i e v e d f o r t h e H o m e l a n d w h i c h w a s l a n g u i s h i n g i n s l a v e r y , o r because t h e y w e r e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t the cause o f o u r people's w a r , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e y a v o i d e d these c a r d i n a l p r o b l e m s . H o w e v e r , the c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e s i t u a t i o n c o m p e l l e d t h e m to act as they d i d . F i r s t o f a l l , i t w a s t h e base o f t h e i r g r o u p , the sound c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y y o u n g people l i n k e d w i t h t h e m , w h o consciously, u n d e r t h e i n f l u e n c e o f events a n d o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d s y m p a t h i z e r s o f o t h e r groups, u n i t e d w i t h t h e i d e a o f j o i n t actions a n d w i t h the i d e a o f f o r m i n g t h e P a r t y a s q u i c k l y a s possible. A t that p e r i o d A n a s t a s L u l a a n d S a d i k P r e m t e w e r e a w a r e that t h e y w o u l d b e r e j e c t e d b y the r a n k a n d f i l e o f t h e i r group i f t h e y d i d n o t s w i m w i t h t h e c u r r e n t . So, t h e y j o i n e d u p . B u t , r e g r e t t a b l y t h e y j o i n e d u p a s saboteurs. This was to be proved v e r y quickly. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e c o m r a d e s o f the S h k o d r a g r o u p played a m a j o r r o l e i n w i n n i n g t h e m t o the i d e a o f j o i n t actions a n d t h e c r e a t i o n o f the P a r t y . A s i s k n o w n these two groups, t h a t o f S h k o d r a a n d t h e Y o u t h G r o u p , h a d reached a n agreement, b u t w h e r e a s a t f i r s t c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e tween t h e m w a s o n a d i s t o r t e d a n t i - M a r x i s t basis, later, a n d especially f r o m the second h a l f o f 1941, t h e S h k o d r a g r o u p , besides i m p r o v i n g its o w n i n t e r n a l s i t u a t i o n , also e x e r t e d
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an i n f l u e n c e on the base of the Y o u t h G r o u p so t h a t it s a w the p e r s p e c t i v e m o r e c l e a r l y . In the a u t u m n of 1941 a n d i n O c t o b e r , especially, e v e n A n a s t a s L u l a a n d S a d i k P r e m t e s a w t h e y c o u l d n o t r e m a i n aloof f r o m t h i s w o r k . The w o r k of our comrade, M i l a d i n Popovi, w h o frequently met c o m r a d e s o f t h e Y o u t h G r o u p , i n c l u d i n g A n a s t a s L u l a a n d S a d i k P r e m t e a t t h a t p e r i o d , p l a y e d its r o l e i n this. T h u s , these t w o elements came r o u n d t o t h e c o m m o n idea o f f o r m i n g the P a r t y , b u t t h e y c a m e t o i t r e l u c t a n t l y , because t h e y h a d n o a l t e r n a t i v e , a n d w i t h d a r k a i m s o f sabotage. T h e i r a t t e m p t to sabotage the b i g d e m o n s t r a t i o n of 28 O c t o b e r 1941 w a s p a r t of these aims, b u t t h e i r e f f o r t s w e r e u n s u c c e s s f u l i n t h i s case, too. It was a big, p o w e r f u l and furious demonstration just a s w e h a d foreseen. W e f o u g h t w i t h t h e c a r a b i n i e r i a n d fascist m i l i t i a a n d b l o o d f l o w e d . T h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n h a d a n e x t r e m e l y great echo. I t b e c a m e t h e t o u c h s t o n e f o r t h e unity of A l b a n i a n communists and showed the inexhaustible s t r e n g t h o f o u r people, t h e i r h a t r e d f o r a n d d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o f i g h t against f a s c i s m a n d the q u i s l i n g s . A l l t h i s resistance w h i c h w a s b u i l d i n g u p u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s , the e x p o s u r e w h i c h w a s b e i n g m a d e o f t h e o c c u p i n g p o w e r a n d its tools h a d s h o w n u p the q u i s l i n g g o v e r n m e n t o f V r l a c i i n its t r u e c o l o u r s . N o w fascist I t a l y n e e d e d a n i r o n h a n d , a t r i e d a n d h a r d e n e d c r i m i n a l t o s u p p r e s s t h e people, i n o r d e r t o e x t e r m i n a t e the c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e p a t r i o t s e n masse, t o c a r r y out demagogy no longer f r o m the feudal and anti-peasant positions t h r o u g h t h e f i g u r e o f V r l a c i , b u t f r o m t h e n a t i o n a l i s t a n d d e m o c r a t i c positions. A n d fascist I t a l y f o u n d this c r i m i n a l h a n d i n the p e r s o n o f M u s t a f a M e r l i k a ( K r u j a ) , w h o one m o n t h l a t e r w a s a p p o i n t e d p r i m e m i n i s t e r i n place of the deposed V r l a c i . This barbarous quisling, as a fascist senator, had
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d i s t i n g u i s h e d h i m s e l f f o r h i s r a b i d h a t r e d a n d s t a n d against c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e people, a s w e l l a s f o r h i s s p e c u l a t i o n w i t h the patriotic feelings of the A l b a n i a n s of K o s o v a in o r d e r t o p l u n d e r t h e w e a l t h o f the p e o p l e o f K o s o v a i n f a v o u r o f t h e A l b a n i a n fascist m e r c h a n t b o u r g e o i s i e w h i c h w a s b e i n g c r e a t e d , a n d t o s t r e n g t h e n the e x p l o i t a t i o n b y plundering Italian companies w h i c h speculated to the d e t r i m e n t o f t h e w h o l e A l b a n i a n people. I n u n d e c l a r e d talks and in meetings in the cinemas M u s t a f a K r u j a threatened the communists w i t h bullets and called for collaboration w i t h democratic nationalists of the type o f A l i K l c y r a a n d c o m p a n y , w h o h a d l o n g been f e e d i n g from the Italian trough. As prime minister Mustafa K r u j a was t o f i l l t h e p r i s o n s w i t h o u r c o m r a d e s a n d w i t h p a triots, w a s t o h a n g a n d k i l l , t o i n c r e a s e t h e A l b a n i a n fascist m i l i t i a a n d m a k e i t a t o o l o f t h e I t a l i a n fascist m i l i t i a . B u t o u r resistance a n d s t r u g g l e w e r e ablaze. T h e p o w e r f u l d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f O c t o b e r 28, 1941, w h i c h the A l b a n i a n communists organized and led, proved this. On the following day I was obliged to go underground. T h i s , too, has its o w n h i s t o r y . On the m o r n i n g of October 29 the carabinieri appeared s u d d e n l y a t F l o r a . T w o o f t h e m , w i t h t h e i r chests c r i s s crossed w i t h s h i n y l e a t h e r belts a n d t h e i r r e v o l v e r holsters open, c a m e i n s i d e , w h i l e t h e others stood outside. O n l y at that m o m e n t d i d we realize w h a t a great mistake we had made. We h a d thought that in the great confusion of the p r e v i o u s d a y ' s c l a s h , t h e fascists c o u l d n o t h a v e i d e n t i f i e d u s a m o n g those h u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s o f d e m o n s t r a tors w h o s h o o k T i r a n a . B u t n o w h e r e w e r e a l l o f u s w o r k e r s o f t h e F l o r a s h o p f a c i n g the t e r r i b l e t r a p . E n v e r H o x h a ! s h o u t e d one o f t h e c a r a b i n i e r i , Dove * E n v e r H o x h a ? !
___________________________________ * W h e r e is? (Italian in the original).
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P i l o [Peristeri] a n d Ilo D u r d h a stood f r o z e n a t the c o u n ter w i t h n a p k i n s i n t h e i r hands. A m o m e n t ' s silence f o l l o w e d , but I p u l l e d m y s e l f together, l o o k e d u p f r o m b e h i n d the t i l l w h e r e I w a s s i t t i n g as o w n e r - p a r t n e r a n d v e r y p o l i t e l y t r i e d the o n l y p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t c o u l d h a v e b e e n t r i e d : H e is here, i n s i d e , w a i t a m o m e n t , please, a n d I ' l l i n f o r m him, I s a i d i n a c a l m voice a n d w i t h e x e m p l a r y readiness, as if I c o u l d h a r d l y w a i t to do these I t a l i a n s a valuable service! I h a d h i t the target. T h e y b e l i e v e d me. I w e n t i n t o the i n n e r r o o m of the shop, c a l l i n g in a l o u d voice, E n v e r , y o u are wanted, q u i c k l y o p e n i n g the s m a l l b a c k d o o r w h i c h h a d b e e n p u t i n e s p e c i a l l y f o r s u c h a n occasion, I j u m p e d i n t o a n a r r o w lane, crossed t h e y a r d o f a n o l d w o m a n ' s house a n d f r o m t h e r e , t h r o u g h t h e V l a c h q u a r t e r , I r e a c h e d the great b o u l e v a r d , w h i c h I crossed quietly, but k e e p i n g m y eyes s k i n n e d f o r a n y m o v e m e n t . A f e w m o m e n t s later, w h e n I h a d e n t e r e d t h e people's q u a r t e r across the b o u l e v a r d , I w a s c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e fascists w e r e left w i t h n o t h i n g b u t m y n a m e . I s a i d g o o d - b y e to o u r d e a r F l o r a , the modest shop, w h e r e f o r t w o y e a r s o n e n d w e h a d s o l d cigarettes a n d sausage l e g a l l y , w h i l e i l l e g a l l y w e p r e p a r e d f o r t h e r e v o l u t i o n . F l o r a w a s a s m a l l shop w i t h w a l l s o f m u d a n d b r i c k , b u t w i t h i n those w a l l s w e , a h a n d f u l of the sons of the people, g a t h e r e d tte tte a n d a r d e n t l y d i s c u s s e d our communist work, reported on w h a t we h a d achieved a n d w o r k e d out p l a n s f o r g r e a t e r a n d m o r e f r u i t f u l w o r k ; t h e r e we i r o n e d out a series of d i s a g r e e m e n t s w i t h the c o m r a d e s o f other c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s ; f r o m t h e r e w e set out w i t h l e a f l e t s a n d o n m i s s o n s t o e v e r y c o r n e r o f t h e c a p i t a l a n d to other cities of t h e c o u n t r y . T h e r e I h a d m e t m y u n f o r g e t t a b l e comrades, p a t r i o t s a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , V a s i l Shanto, Qemal, Misto, M i h a l , D u l l K e t a and w i t h scores of other sons a n d d a u g h t e r s of the people.
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A n d n o w I w a s o b l i g e d t o p a r t w i t h it, o b l i g e d t o p u t a n e n d t o m y l e g a l w o r k . B u t I d i d not r e g r e t t h i s p a r t i n g . I t w a s b o u n d t o h a p p e n v e r y soon i n one w a y o r a n o t h e r , because i t w a s o b v i o u s t h a t t h e t i d e o f the p o p u l a r i n s u r r e c t i o n w a s r i s i n g a n d the h o u r o f t h e great d e c i s i o n w a s a p p r o a c h i n g . T h e o n l y t h i n g that k e p t m e a n x i o u s l y w o r r i e d a l l o f t h a t d a y w a s the fate o f the rest o f m y c o m r a d e s . H o w e v e r , l a t e t h a t e v e n i n g I s p r a n g t o m y feet f u l l o f j o y w h e n I s a w P i l o enter t h e i l l e g a l base w h e r e I w a s e s t a blished. He w a s in h i g h spirits. Y o u p u l l e d it off b e a u t i f u l l y , he s a i d . W h a t a slip! A n d he told me in detail about the confusion and anger of the carabinieri w h e n they realized what had occurred. F o r t u n a t e l y , t h e y h a d done n o t h i n g t o o u r c o m r a d e s . A p p a r e n t l y t h e i r n a m e s h a d not y e t b e e n e n t e r e d o n the lists of the fascist police. W e got d o w n t o w o r k i m m e d i a t e l y . T h e r e w a s n o t i m e to lose, the 8th of N o v e m b e r w a s a h e a d of us. In the d a r k n e s s of the n i g h t b e f o r e the d a w n of 8 N o v e m b e r , w e set o u t f o r t h e s m a l l h o u s e w h i c h w a s a w a i t i n g us. In these r e m i n i s c e n c e s I s h a l l not d e s c r i b e it, because the house w h e r e the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a was f o u n d e d has n o w b e c o m e a n o u t s t a n d i n g m o n u m e n t of our country, k n o w n to y o u n g and old in A l b a n i a , as w e l l as to t h o u s a n d s a n d t h o u s a n d s of f o r e i g n f r i e n d s , c o m r a d e s a n d v i s i t o r s . A l l the s u r r o u n d i n g lanes a n d a l l e y s w e r e g u a r d e d b y c a l m a n d resolute a r m e d c o m r a d e s . E a r l i e r , c a r e f u l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s h a d been m a d e o f a l l t h e f a m i l i e s a r o u n d t h e house. T h e y w e r e f a m i l i e s o f p o o r w o r k e r s , apprentices a n d p a t r i o t s . In the d a r k n e s s of the n i g h t we e n t e r e d t h e s m a l l house one b y one, i n o r d e r a n d i n silence. A l l the w i n d o w s h a d b e e n sealed f r o m i n s i d e w i t h b l a n k e t s . N o l i g h t c o u l d b e seen. N o s o u n d c o u l d b e h e a r d . C o m p l e t e i l l e g a l i t y . W e
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e n t e r e d t h a t s m a l l house w i t h great hopes, w i t h i n d e s c r i b a b l e j o y a n d confidence, b u t I t e l l y o u f r a n k l y , o v e r r i d i n g a l l t h i s we f e l t a c e r t a i n a n x i e t y . U n d o u b t e d l y e a c h of us, c o m i n g t h e r e w i t h t h e great desire f o r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f the P a r t y , a s k e d h i m s e l f : H o w w i l l t h i n g s go? W i l l w e achieve our sacred aim? There I f o u n d M i l a d i n , Duan, V a s i l a n d Q e m a l . I e m b r a c e d w i t h the Y u g o s l a v c o m r a d e s a n d t h e others. B u t t o t e l l t h e t r u t h , t h e c o m r a d e s o f t h e Shkodra group and I embraced w i t h more than usual w a r m t h . W h e n t h e leaders o f t h e Y o u t h G r o u p c a m e o u r m e e t i n g w a s cool, b u t w i t h n o s i g n o f h o s t i l i t y . W e h a d a l l g a t h e r e d . F r o m o u r g r o u p , those a l l o c a t e d to take part in the meeting were K o o Tashko, P i l o P e risteri, Enver H o x h a , K o i X o x e and Sotir V u l l k a n i . W e h a d a l l a r r i v e d w i t h the e x c e p t i o n o f K o i X o x e , w h o m we had dispatched to K o r a a few days earlier to i n f o r m M i h a a n d the c o m r a d e s t h e r e a b o u t t h e p o l i c y w e h a d decided to pursue at the F o u n d i n g Meeting, as w e l l as to g i v e t h e f i n a l i n s t r u c t i o n s a b o u t a b i g d e m o n s t r a t i o n w h i c h we had decided should be organized in K o r a on N o v e m b e r 8 . T h o s e present f r o m t h e S h k o d r a g r o u p w e r e Q e m a l Stafa, V a s i l Shanto, K r i s t o T h e m e l k o and T u k J a kova, w h i l e f r o m the Youth G r o u p , R a m a d a n i t a k u , Anastas Lula, Sadik Premte and a comrade f r o m Kosova were present... On N o v e m b e r 8, 1941 t h e f i r s t m e e t i n g of r e p r e s e n t a tives of the three communist groups commenced. A s t h e longest e s t a b l i s h e d a n d biggest g r o u p i n t h e communist movement of Albania up till that time, the honour of opening the F o u n d i n g M e e t i n g belonged to the K o r a group. As I have noted earlier, the group had charged me to speak. I rose to my f e e t : Comrades, I b e g a n . It is a great j o y and honour
WHEN THE PARTY WAS BORN
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for our K o r a group, and for me personally, that we have been g i v e n t h e r i g h t t o speak first. I w a s v e r y m o v e d , but g r a d u a l l y the m o t o r got started. First, I said, I i n v i t e t h e m e e t i n g to h o n o u r t h e m e m o r y o f a l l those c o m m u n i s t c o m r a d e s a n d o t h e r b r a v e fighters, A l b a n i a n s a n d foreigners, w h o have fallen and are f a l l i n g o n t h e b a t t l e f i e l d f i g h t i n g a g a i n s t f a s c i s m f o r t h e peoples' f r e e d o m ; t o h o n o u r t h e m e m o r y o f A l i K e l m e n d i , M u j o U l q i n a k u a n d t h e o r d i n a r y sons o f o u r people w h o resisted t h e fascist i n v a d e r s w i t h r i f l e s ; t o h o n o u r t h e m e m o r y o f heroes o f the S p a n i s h W a r , o f heroes o f t h e great S o v i e t U n i o n w h o are g i v i n g t h e i r l i v e s i n t h e w a r f o r f r e e d o m against t h e n a z i beast; t o h o n o u r o u r b r o t h e r s , the Y u g o s l a v c o m m u n i s t heroes w h o h a v e f a l l e n o n t h e f i e l d o f battle. W e a l l stood i n silence f o r one m i n u t e . T h e n , I e x pressed o u r h e a r t f e l t t h a n k s t o the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a a n d its C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e f o r the assistance they w e r e g i v i n g u s t h r o u g h c o m r a d e s M i l a d i n a n d D u a n w h o , t o g e t h e r w i t h us, s t r o v e a n d m a d e t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n to the a c h i e v e m e n t of t h i s d a y ' s m e e t i n g . A f t e r t h i s I p r e s e n t e d t h e p r o p o s a l o f the K o r a g r o u p about f o u n d i n g t h e P a r t y o n t h e f i r s t day, a s w e h a d d e c i d e d i n o u r g r o u p , f o r the reasons w h i c h I h a v e a l r e a d y m e n t i o n e d w h e n w e h a d discussed t h e m a t t e r i n the g r o u p a n d a b o u t w h i c h t h e d o c u m e n t s o f the P a r t y speak. I h a v e s p o k e n a b o u t some of these reasons p r e v i o u s l y a n d they h a v e been p r e s e n t e d i n o t h e r d o c u m e n t s , b u t h e r e I w a n t to m e n t i o n some t h i n g s as I r e m e m b e r t h e m : Comrades, I s a i d as soon as I h a d b e g u n my speech, on b e h a l f of the K o r a g r o u p I w i s h to w e l c o m e the f i r s t j o i n t m e e t i n g o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e t h r e e c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s a n d the c o m r a d e s present. W e hope t h a t the p r o c e e d i n g s o f t h i s m e e t i n g w i l l a c h i e v e c o m p l e t e
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success. F o r o u r p a r t w e are c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e d i s c u s s i o n w h i c h w i l l take place i n this meeting w i l l b e f r u i t f u l , but t h i s depends o n a l l o f us. W e o f t h e K o r a g r o u p are c o n v i n c e d also t h a t y o u , too, h a v e come h e r e n o t s o t h a t w e w i l l q u a r r e l l i k e enemies, b u t i n o r d e r t o discuss m a t t e r s f i e r c e l y i f n e e d be, b u t a s c o m m u n i s t s . A b o v e all it is the principles w h i c h w i l l guide our w o r k w h i c h h a v e a n d m u s t h a v e p r i o r i t y f o r us. T h e s e p r i n c i p l e s m u s t b e u n s u l l i e d , a l w a y s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e precepts o f o u r great teachers M a r x . E n g e l s , L e n i n a n d S t a l i n . T h e s e are t h e principles w h i c h must foster and guide our political, ideological, organizational and m i l i t a r y opinions and actions, f i r s t o f a l l , a n d t h e n those o f a l l A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s . I s t h i s w h a t has o c c u r r e d u p t i l l n o w ? W e o f t h e K o r a g r o u p w a n t t o s a y a t t h e outset t h a t w e b e l i e v e these p r i n c i p l e s h a v e b e e n u n d e r s t o o d a n d a p p l i e d i n various ways by the communist groups: sometimes they h a v e been a p p l i e d w e l l , s o m e t i m e s t h e y h a v e b e e n h a l f a p p l i e d , a n d i n m a n y cases t h e y h a v e b e e n b a d l y d i s t o r t e d . W e h a v e g a t h e r e d here p r e c i s e l y t o p u t o u r M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s i n order, w h i l e w e m u s t reject, f i g h t a n d k i c k out t h e d i s g u i s e d T r o t s k y i t e , a n a r c h i s t a n d fascist v i e w s . W e s h a l l discuss a l l these t h i n g s a n d w e are of the opinion that we should keep nothing back in the corners of our minds, but should honestly l a y on the table e v e r y t h i n g t h a t w e h a v e i n o u r m i n d s a n d hearts, because o n l y i n this w a y w i l l w e b e a b l e t o r e a c h a g r e e m e n t a n d t o serve o u r great cause w h i c h has t o d o w i t h the p r e s e n t and the future of the people and the H o m e l a n d . We c o m m u n i s t s , especially, m u s t p l a c e the cause o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e people a n d t h e H o m e l a n d a b o v e e v e r y t h i n g . The purpose of our lives is and w i l l r e m a i n the struggle f o r t h e h a p p i n e s s o f t h e people. T h e r e f o r e , c o m r a d e s , f i r s t let u s c o n s i d e r the present, t h e n w e can c o n s i d e r t h e
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past a n d t o g e t h e r a r r i v e a t c o n c l u s i o n s a b o u t h o w t o organize a n d l e a d t h e s t r u g g l e i n t h e f u t u r e . It is c l e a r to e a c h of us t h a t o u r H o m e l a n d is s u f f e r i n g greatly. F o r m o r e t h a n t w o y e a r s o u r people h a v e been l a n g u i s h i n g u n d e r t h e h e e l o f detested I t a l i a n f a s c i s m a n d the t r e a c h e r y o f the q u i s l i n g s . T h e s a t r a p A h m e t Z o g , the b i g l a n d o w n e r s a n d t h e l o c a l b o u r g e o i s i e p r e p a r e d this u n e n d u r a b l e s l a v e r y f o r o u r c o u n t r y a n d o u r people. O u r people h a v e n e v e r b o w e d i n s u b m i s s i o n t o f o r e i g n e r s and l o c a l despots. A l w a y s t h e y h a v e t a k e n u p a r m s , through the centuries they have fought for freedom and have w o n , h a v e b e e n s u p p r e s s e d a g a i n a n d a g a i n h a v e risen i n r e b e l l i o n a n d h a v e shed t h e i r b l o o d d e m o n s t r a t i n g that t h e A l b a n i a n s c a n n o t l i v e w i t h o u t f r e e d o m . T h e o c c u p a t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y w a s a great shock to a l l of us. T h e i d e a of t h e l i b e r a t i o n of t h e H o m e l a n d f i l l e d o u r h e a r t s a n d e n g a g e d o u r energies, b u t t h e occupiers f o u n d us c o m m u n i s t s d i v i d e d a n d q u a r r e l l i n g , at a time w h e n w e o u g h t t o h a v e b e e n m o r e u n i t e d t h a n ever. The w h o l e c o u n t r y w a s s e e t h i n g l i k e a v o l c a n o a b o u t t o erupt. P o w e r f u l people's d e m o n s t r a t i o n s b u r s t o u r e v e r y where. It i s t r u e t h a t t h e great d u t y a n d h o n o u r d e v o l v e d on us, t h e c o m m u n i s t s of v a r i o u s g r o u p s , to o r g a n i z e these demonstrations a n d s t a n d i n t h e f o r e f r o n t o f t h e m , b u t w e d i d n o t p e r f o r m o u r t a s k a s w e s h o u l d h a v e done. Together w i t h t h e people w e , too, s h o u t e d : ' W e a p o n s , weapons, w e w a n t w e a p o n s ! ' , b u t f r o m w h o m were w e d e m a n d i n g these w e a p o n s ? F r o m A h m e t Z o g , t h e treacherous b a n d i t c h i e f w h o s o l d out the H o m e l a n d and w h o , t o escape t h e people's anger, f l e d w i t h h i s suitcases f i l l e d w i t h g o l d ? O r d i d w e d e m a n d t h e m f r o m the Z o g i t e o f f i c i a l s , s e n i o r o f f i c e r s a n d o t h e r t r a i t o r s w h o were g e t t i n g r e a d y t o w e l c o m e t h e o c c u p i e r s w i t h f l o w e r s ? This was a mistake which we communists made.
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W e s h o u l d not h a v e a s k e d f o r w e a p o n s , because those w h o held them, the feudal landowners and the bourgeoisie, w e r e o u r enemies, enemies o f the people. T h e s e e n e m i e s c o u l d n o t h a v e g i v e n u s w e a p o n s , because t h e y n e e d e d t h e m t h e m s e l v e s t o d r o w n t h e people's resistance i n blood and to support the occupier. We should have attacked the depots, seized the w e a p o n s b y force, a r m e d the people and organized them in guerrilla u n i t s a n d eta a n d a t t a c k e d the e n e m y e v e r y w h e r e . W e d i d not p u t u p this resistance a t f i r s t . W h y ? B e c a u s e , i n t h e f i r s t place, w e communists ourselves were divided and unorganized, because w e d i d n o t a l l c o n c e i v e t h e s t r u g g l e against the o c c u p i e r i n the s a m e w a y . T h i s state o f a f f a i r s a m o n g s t u s w a s g r e a t l y i n t h e interests o f the a r c h e o - M a r x i s t s , T r o t s k y i t e s a n d agents o f the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d f a s c i s m , w h o t o o k a d v a n t a g e o f i t t o s p r e a d t h e i r hostile, a n t i - c o m m u n i s t a n d a n t i - A l banian theories more easily w i t h the a i m of keeping us s p l i t a n d d i v i d e d a s t h e y h a d d o n e d u r i n g the Z o g i t e r e g i m e . F o r m o r e t h a n t w o y e a r s the I t a l i a n occupiers, the q u i s l i n g s a n d t h e p s e u d o - d e m o c r a t i c t r a i t o r s h a v e been e x e r t i n g a l l t h e i r s t r e n g t h t o c r u s h the s t e a d i l y m o u n t i n g resistance o f t h e people. W e , t h e c o m m u n i s t s , e n t e r e d the f i g h t against t h e o c c u p i e r s , b u t t h i s w a s m o r e a 'bloodless' w a r : t o p r e v e n t people e n r o l l i n g i n t h e A l b a n i a n fascist p a r t y , t o b o y c o t t t h e ' d o p o l a v o r o ' ( 5 ) a n d ' D a n t e A l i g h i e r i , ' ( 6 ) t o r e f u s e t o g i v e t h e fascist salute a n d s o o n . O f course w e d i d n o t f a i l t o c a r r y out p r o p a g a n d a against the occupiers, m i n o r acts of sabotage or to dist r i b u t e some leaflets. B u t , w i t h o u t w a n t i n g t o g o i n t o d e t a i l . I h a v e to a d d t h a t t h e t h r e e g r o u p s d i d n o t w a g e
______________________________________ 5 A f t e r W o r k (It), fascist organizations to mislead the workers and the youth. 6 Association to disseminate the Italian language and the fascist culture in A l b a n i a .
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e v e n this s t r u g g l e i n t h e s a m e w a y a n d a s w e s h o u l d h a v e done. T h e r e w e r e g r o u p s t h a t w a g e d t h i s s t r u g g l e u n d e r the i n f l u e n c e o f t h e v i e w s o f t h e i r a r c h e o - M a r x i s t a n d Trotskyite leaders such as N i k o X o x i , A r i s t i d h Qendro, A n d r e a Z i s i , D h i m i t r F a l l o , Z e f M a l a a n d others, w h o w e r e a n d are p r o v o c a t e u r s a n d d i s g u i s e d fascist agents. Consequently, our communist groups rather than think about organizing and beginning the w a r properly, tried o n l y t o r e a c h s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c agreements w i t h one another. N a t u r a l l y , w e h a d f i r s t t o create u n i t y a n d get r i d of factionalism, but this could not be achieved w i t h such a c o m p r o m i s e w h i c h b r o u g h t n o t h i n g c o n s t r u c t i v e , because i t e x t e n d e d t h e f i e l d s f o r t h e d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f defeatist ideas: ' w e c a n n o t b e g i n t h e w a r , ' ' w e h a v e n o p r o l e t a r i a t , ' 'we cannot f o r m a c o m m u n i s t p a r t y yet,' ' f i r s t w e m u s t prepare the cadres,' a n d o t h e r T r o t s k y i t e slogans l i k e these, w h i c h s t a n k of t h e fascist occupiers, at w h o s e w o r k s h o p s they h a d t h e i r source. A t t h i s m o m e n t t h e p r o f o u n d silence w h i c h h a d p r e v a i l e d a m o n g t h e a u d i e n c e w a s b r o k e n a s someone shifted i r r i t a b l y i n h i s c h a i r . A n a s t a s L u l a c o u l d h a r d l y keep his seat. I p a u s e d in my speech f o r a m o m e n t a n d s a w that h e w a s w i p i n g h i s glasses w i t h the c o r n e r o f h i s jacket. T h e n , t a k i n g a d v a n t a g e of the b r i e f pause I m a d e , Anastas i n t e r j e c t e d : Excuse me, h e s a i d w i t h r e s e n t m e n t a n d s a r c a s m , but I t h i n k we s h o u l d respect some r u l e s . We gave t h e representative o f K o r a t h e h o n o u r o f o p e n i n g t h e m e e t i n g and the r i g h t t o speak. B u t d o y o u h e a r w h a t h e i s s a y i n g ? ! H e i s not s p e a k i n g f o r the K o r a g r o u p , h e i s s p e a k i n g f o r all, on b e h a l f of a l l of us. W h a t is t h i s ? ! No, I s a i d k e e p i n g my t e m p e r . I h a v e not u n d e r taken t o speak o n b e h a l f o f a l l . B u t . o n b e h a l f o f t h e comrades o f t h e K o r a g r o u p a n d o n t h e i r i n s t r u c t i o n s ,
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f i r s t , I w a n t to present to t h e m e e t i n g a p r o p o s a l w h i c h seems to us v e r y i m p o r t a n t a n d a m a t t e r of p r i n c i p l e . What is this proposal! Sadik P r e m t e came to the a i d o f A n a s t a s . W e h a v e n o t yet b e g u n t h e analysis. H a v e a l i t t l e patience, c o m r a d e s A n a s t a s a n d S a d i k , because w e h a v e j u s t b e g u n t o speak a n d a l l o f u s w i l l speak, a n d I w e n t o n w i t h m y speech a g a i n . The past of the c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s m u s t be m a d e a lesson f o r us. T o d a y w e h a v e great hopes. O p p r e s s i o n a n d d i r e p o v e r t y are h u r t i n g the people d e e p l y . T h e y are r e a d y t o t a k e u p w e a p o n s a n d f i g h t . T h e y o u t h are b u r n i n g t o f i g h t . W e c o m m u n i s t s are c o n v i n c e d t h a t w e w i l l w i n , t h a t t h e v i c t o r y w i l l g o t o t h e people. H i t l e r i t e G e r m a n y has a t t a c k e d the g l o r i o u s S o v i e t U n i o n , b u t w i t h o u t a n y d o u b t i t w i l l b e s m a s h e d b y the S o v i e t peoples a n d the Red A r m y organized and tempered in revolution by L e n i n and Stalin. We must organize the armed struggle as q u i c k l y as possible. It is up to us c o m m u n i s t s to p r e p a r e , o r g a n i z e a n d l e a d the g e n e r a l u p r i s i n g . B u t h o w c a n w e organize and lead it? Split into groups, divided w i t h all k i n d s o f o p i n i o n s a s w e are, w h e n t h e r e i s n o c o - o r d i n a t i o n of o u r actions? C o m r a d e s , are w e g o i n g t o c o n t i n u e e v e n i n t h i s u n d e r g r o u n d m e e t i n g , w h i c h w e are h o l d i n g u n d e r t h e t h r e a t o f t h e savage o c c u p i e r t h a t has c a p t u r e d o u r c o u n t r y , to q u a r r e l a n d f a i l to f i n d a c o m m o n l a n g u a g e as c o m m u n i s t s i n t h e face o f t h e s t o r m ? W e o f the K o r a g r o u p think we should go on l i k e this no longer. W h y . is this the w a y M a r x teaches u s ? I s t h i s t h e w a y L e n i n a n d S t a l i n teach u s ? N o . t h e y t e a c h u s t h e opposite. W e m u s t b e u n i t e d l i k e a f i s t against the e n e m y , m u s t be o r g a n i z e d and fight the enemies mercilessly u n t i l we w i n our total victory. W e m u s t f i g h t a s o u r people h a v e a l w a y s f o u g h t f r o m the t i m e o f S k a n d e r b e g a n d e v e n before, a l l t h r o u g h
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their h i s t o r y . L i k e o u r people w h o h a v e n e v e r sat w i t h folded a r m s , we, too, m u s t f i g h t f o r a free, d e m o c r a t i c A l b a n i a w i t h o u t occupiers, w i t h o u t t r a i t o r s , w i t h o u t o p pression a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n . A n d f o r t h i s w e m u s t u n i t e l i k e communist brothers, l i n k e d together for a single aim. We can m a k e no progress by going on as we have done up till now, we cannot and must not continue any longer w i t h c o m p r o m i s e s l i k e t h e p r e v i o u s ones. E v e r y t h i n g m u s t b e done i n a n o r g a n i z e d w a y . W e m u s t j u d g e e v e r y t h i n g and act i n e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e w a y o u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideology s h o w s us, f o l l o w i n g t h e e x a m p l e o f t h e B o l s h e v i k Party. T h i s ideology must guide our meeting today, w h i c h , I t h i n k , c a n n o t a c h i e v e t h e r e s u l t s we are a i m i n g at if it is g u i d e d by t h e u n h e a l t h y s p i r i t of g r o u p s . In o r d e r t o p u t a n e n d t o t h i s g r o u p s p i r i t , f i r s t o f all w e m u s t decide t o d i s s o l v e t h e g r o u p s a n d f o r m the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a . A r e w e o r are w e n o t Albanian communists? Do we or do we not want to form and h a v e o u r o w n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , w h i c h w i l l l e a d our people i n t h e f i g h t a n d a c c o m p l i s h the m i n i m u m a n d m a x i m u m p r o g r a m w h i c h w e w i l l d e f i n e ? L e t us, f i r s t , answer these m a i n q u e s t i o n s a n d , i f w e are c o m m u n i s t s , let us discuss m a t t e r s as s u c h , w i t h a sense of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , w i t h clear m i n d s a n d open hearts. I p a u s e d f o r a m o m e n t , t o o k a deep b r e a t h , in o r d e r to g a i n c o n t r o l of my f e e l i n g s a n d , in a s o m e w h a t l o u d e r voice, I s a i d : C o m r a d e s , the p r o p o s a l o f t h e K o r a g r o u p i s : Let us form the Communist Party of Albania on the basis of the mandates which the comrades of the groups gave us before we came to this meeting and, after first deciding solemnly and unanimously to found the Communist Party of Albania, let us continue the debate and discussion. Our decisive a i m is the f o r m a t i o n of the P a r t y .
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T h e o b j e c t i v e needs d e m a n d this, t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e c o m m u n i s t s , the h i s t o r i c m o m e n t s t h r o u g h w h i c h o u r c o u n t r y i s p a s s i n g a n d the people w h o are c a l l i n g o n u s t o t h r o w ourselves i n t o the f i g h t t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e m d e m a n d this. C o m r a d e s , w e c a n n o t p u t o f f t h i s m a i n objective another m o m e n t longer. The time and the situation demand the immediate formation of our C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of the new L e n i n - S t a l i n type, as the v a n g u a r d of the n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t a n d t h e s t r u g g l e f o r a people's d e m o c r a t i c A l b a n i a . The party w h i c h we shall found w i l l give correct s o l u t i o n s t o a l l t h e p r o b l e m s a n d q u e s t i o n s w e s h a l l discuss. T h i s t i m e w e c o m m u n i s t s w i l l t h i n k , discuss, decide a n d act w i t h a n e w s p i r i t , w i t h a n o t h e r s t y l e a n d m e t h o d , because f r o m n o w o n w e a n d a l l o u r c o m r a d e s w i l l h a v e o u r Communist Party. T h a t is a l l I h a d to s a y at t h e start, comrades, I s a i d a n d sat d o w n . 1 w a s c a r e f u l l y w a t c h i n g e v e r y m o v e m e n t of the c a l m , silent, t h o u g h t f u l faces o f t h e c o m r a d e s , w h o l i s t e n e d a t t e n t i v e l y t o m y speech. U n l i k e the others, A n a s t a s a n d X h e p i were a little fidgety w h i l e I was speaking and, when I h a d f i n i s h e d , t h e i r faces w e r e f r o w n i n g a n d g l u m . W e h a d a b r e a k a n d s m o k e d one c i g a r e t t e a f t e r t h e other. F o r my p a r t , I w a s pleased, b u t also w o r r i e d . I was concerned especially about the stand of the S h k o d r a g r o u p a n d some o f A n a s t a s a n d X h e p i ' s c o m r a d e s . I f t h e y u n i t e d w i t h us, I w o u l d n o t m i n d w h a t Q o r r i a n d X h e p i did. The Party would overwhelm them. D u r i n g the b r e a k I n o t i c e d t h a t M i l a d i n w a s t a l k i n g w i t h Q e m a l and Vasil, while Duan talked w i t h Anastas and Baca. T h e t w o g r o u p s t a l k e d q u i e t l y . A n a s t a s sat w i t h h i s head hanging but f r o m time to t i m e raised it to put in a w o r d , w h i l e X h e p i listened to w h a t D u a n and Q o r r i were saying. Qemal and Vasil were cheerful, talking
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freely w i t h M i l a d i n . I h a d n o d o u b t that they w e r e t a l k ing a b o u t t h e t h i n g s I h a d p r e s e n t e d . W e r e t u r n e d t o the m e e t i n g a g a i n . Q e m a l S t a f a t o o k the f l o o r . W e l i s t e n e d a t t e n t i v e l y . I r e m e m b e r o n l y t h e essence of the m a i n ideas of h i s contribution. He made a correct introduction about the struggle w h i c h w e c o m m u n i s t s s h o u l d w a g e against f a s c ism a n d t h e n w e n t o n t o p r o v e w i t h t h e o r e t i c a l a r g u ments a n d w i t h e x a m p l e s f r o m l i f e w h a t f a s c i s m w a s a n d the d a n g e r i t posed. H e s a i d t h a t f a s c i s m w a s t h e s w o r n enemy o f the peoples, the c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e r e v o l u tion. H e q u o t e d some e x c e r p t s f r o m D i m i t r o v ' s f a m o u s report. H o w e v e r , we, c o n t i n u e d Q e m a l , to a g r e a t e r or lesser extent, d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d o r p r o p e r l y a p p l y the instructions, a d v i c e a n d d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e C o m i n t e r n a n d D i m i t r o v . T h a t w a s a great m i s t a k e o n o u r p a r t a n d w e o f the S h k o d r a g r o u p m a k e s e l f - c r i t i c i s m f o r this. W e have some c r i t i c i s m t o m a k e o f the K o r a g r o u p , too, b u t I am not g o i n g to raise it n o w , because I agree w i t h E n v e r that w e s h o u l d r e t u r n t o these m a t t e r s later. T h i s w a s v e r y p l e a s i n g a n d h e a r t - w a r m i n g t o me, because I r e a l i z e d t h a t Q e m a l a n d h i s c o m r a d e s m u s t agree w i t h m e a n d o u r p r o p o s a l f o r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f the Communist Party of Albania. Then, Qemal continued: Of course, since w e a r e c o m m u n i s t s , w e m u s t l o o k things r i g h t i n the eye a n d t r y t o j u d g e t h e m c o r r e c t l y and r e a l i s t i c a l l y , because, to t e l l t h e t r u t h , to one e x t e n t or another, we h a v e not l o o k e d at t h e issues as t r u e communists. A n d f o r t h i s t h e r e are m a n y reasons, w h i c h it is our d u t y to a n a l y s e so as to d i s p e l the c o n f u s i o n a n d darkness f r o m o u r m i n d s . W e m u s t e l i m i n a t e the conceit and i n t r i g u e w h i c h h a v e t a k e n r o o t i n some a n d w h i c h , i n our o p i n i o n , h a v e c r e a t e d the g r a v e state o f r i v a l r y ,
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because e v e r y g r o u p c o n s i d e r e d itself a p a r t y a n d e a c h p r e t e n d e d t h a t i t w a s l i n k e d w i t h the C o m i n t e r n . E v e n those groups w h i c h h a d n o c o n n e c t i o n s w e r e s e e k i n g l i n k s w i t h i t i n a l l directions. T h e y w e r e s e e k i n g seals o f a p p r o v a l . J u s t let u s ensure a n y seal l i k e t h a t o f the r o t t e n Z i s i a n d t h e ' p a r t y ' is formed! interjected P i l o w i t h a laugh. T h a t ' s p r e c i s e l y w h a t happened, Q e m a l a g r e e d . B u t w e f o r g o t t h a t n o seal c o u l d m a k e t h e p a r t y , because the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y i s not m a d e b y a n y seals w h i c h are secured, b u t b y t h e efforts, b y t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e i t wages a t t h e h e a d o f the masses. T h a t w a s the situation, he c o n t i n u e d , but n o n e of us m a d e a s o u n d , p r i n c i p l e d a n a l y s i s o f o u r w o r k . A s w e k n o w these u n h e althy sentiments brought about the outbreak of the u n p r i n c i p l e d s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n us. T h e e n e m y o c c u p i e d t h e c o u n t r y a n d w e q u a r r e l l e d w i t h one a n o t h e r i n s t e a d o f attacking the enemy. We of the S h k o d r a group t h i n k that an end must be put to such a situation. W h y must it be ended? C o n t i n u i n g his speech, Q e m a l l i n k e d the issue w i t h the w o r l d w a r a n d w i t h t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f o u r c o u n t r y , w i t h the a b s o l u t e n e e d t o o r g a n i z e t h e a r m e d s t r u g g l e . T h u s , he, too, a r r i v e d a t o u r c o n c l u s i o n a n d h e e n d e d h i s speech b y e x p r e s s i n g f i r m l y : W e a p p r o v e the p r o p o s a l o f the K o r a g r o u p w h i c h Comrade E n v e r H o x h a presented, to found the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a immediately. A n y subsequent discussion a n d c o n c l u s i o n w i l l b e p u t off t i l l t h e p a r t y i s f o r m ed. M y h e a r t w a s f i l l e d w i t h i n d e s c r i b a b l e j o y . I t seemed t o m e t h a t Q e m a l h a d been m y c o m r a d e t h r o u g h o u t t h e w h o l e o f m y life, f r o m c h i l d h o o d u p t o t h a t m o m e n t w h e n , i n t h a t s m a l l r o o m , w e w e r e d i s c u s s i n g one o f the greatest issues i n a l l t h e a g e - l o n g h i s t o r y o f o u r
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people. I w a n t e d t o e m b r a c e h i m a n d h i s c o m r a d e s s t r o n g l y . I t seemed t o m e t h a t a l l t h e obstacles w e r e w i p e d out, t h e party w o u l d c e r t a i n l y b e b o r n . I w a i t e d i m p a t i e n t l y f o r a b r e a k in t h e p r o c e e d ings. O n c e w e e m e r g e d f r o m t h e r o o m I a p p r o a c h e d Qemal, g a v e h i m m y h a n d , p u l l e d h i m t o m e a n d e m b r a c e d h i m s t r o n g l y . W e k i s s e d a n d s a i d t o one a n o t h e r , Long l i v e o u r C o m m u n i s t P a r t y t h r o u g h t h e c e n t u r i e s ! Then, I e m b r a c e d V a s i l a n d T u k , w h i l e A n a s t a s s t o o d apart, s m o k i n g f u r i o u s l y a n d t u r n i n g o v e r h i s c u n n i n g plans i n h i s h e a d . A l l o u r g r o u p s h o o k h a n d s w i t h Qemal. M e a n w h i l e Q o r r i a n d X h e p i , w h o w e r e g r e e n w i t h anger, m a d e n o m o v e t o w a r d s Q e m a l , j u s t a s t h e y m a d e n o move t o w a r d s m e w h e n t h e c o m r a d e s w e r e c o n g r a t u l a t i n g m e after I s p o k e . H o w e v e r , R a m a d a n i t a k u a p p r o a c h e d Qemal and shook hands w i t h h i m just as he h a d done with m e . . . The break passed q u i c k l y and we returned to the room w h e r e t h e t a l k s w e r e t a k i n g place. B y n o w i t w a s dark, because i n N o v e m b e r t h e d a y s g r o w s h o r t e r a n d nights f a l l q u i c k l y . . . S o o n w e w e r e b a c k i n o u r places. T h e m e e t i n g recommenced. T h e s m a l l k e r o s e n e l a m p o n t h e t a b l e threw a p a l e l i g h t o v e r o u r faces. It w a s assisted a l i t t l e b y the f l a m e s o f t h e f i r e b u r n i n g o n t h e h e a r t h , o n w h i c h V a s i l o r t h e c o m r a d e s s i t t i n g closest t o i t t h r e w a little w o o d f r o m t i m e to t i m e . A pot of beans, f o r s u p p e r was s i m m e r i n g o n t h e f i r e a n d t h e i r b u b b l i n g a c c o m p a n i e d the c o n t r i b u t i o n o f t h e u n h a p p y A n a s t a s L u l a . As far as I remember he began his contribution differently f r o m u s : W e h a v e gathered, s a i d A n a s t a s , to discuss t h e w o r k w h i c h the d i f f e r e n t c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s h a v e done and t o j u d g e t h e l i n e w h i c h each o f t h e m has f o l l o w e d , t o decide w h i c h g r o u p s h a d a c o r r e c t Une a n d w h i c h
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a w r o n g l i n e . N a t u r a l l y , o u r g r o u p has a l o t t o s a y i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y against t h e K o r a g r o u p a n d against its leader, K o o T a s h k o , i n p a r t i c u l a r , w h o w a s one o f t h e m a i n c u l p r i t s f o r t h e s p l i t . H o w e v e r , w e o f the ' Y o u t h ' G r o u p have noticed that for a long period he had not been alone. He a n d a n u m b e r of o t h e r c o m r a d e s of h i s g r o u p h a v e d a m a g e d t h e cause, h a v e a l w a y s p o s e d a s the l a w - m a k e r s of communism, have pretended that their group alone was the party, and that only they h a d links w i t h the Comintern. Anastas was commencing w i t h attacks in order to sabotage t h e m e e t i n g . I t w a s a p p a r e n t t h a t h e h a d n o t m a d e e v e n the slightest f o r m a l c o r r e c t i o n t o his course. H i s s t a n d w a s t r u l y r e v o l t i n g , b u t w e h a d t o m a i n t a i n o u r a p l o m b , because w e k n e w v e r y w e l l that h e w a s a d i r t y p r o v o c a t e u r . K o o ' s face f l u s h e d w i t h anger and he figeted in his chair. Anastas continued: Whenever any comrade returned f r o m political exile abroad, the leadership of the K o r a group immediately claimed that directives of the C o m i n t e r n had arrived (obviously he was referring to the directives w h i c h reached the A l b a n i a n communist movement in 1937), but we were aware that other comrades not of the K o r a group and w h o had l i n k s w i t h the C o m i n t e r n came and t h e y b r o u g h t d i r e c t i v e s (he w a s r e f e r r i n g t o A n d r e a Z i s i the a r c h e o - M a r x i s t , w h o c a m e f r o m G r e e c e b r i n g i n g his seal m a d e i n A t h e n s , w h i c h r e a d s o m e t h i n g l i k e t h i s : ' A C P , S e c t i o n o f the C o m i n t e r n ' ) . W h o Were w e t o b e l i e v e ? A t that t i m e w e b e l i e v e d those w h o o u r c o m m u n i s t consciousness told us were right, so we began to w i t h d r a w gradually f r o m t h e K o r a g r o u p u n t i l i n 1940 w e e m e r g e d a s a s e p a r a t e g r o u p . T h e K o r a g r o u p has accused a n d s t i l l accuses us of b e i n g splitters, f a c t i o n a l i s t s , T r o t s k y i t e s , a r c h e o - M a r x i s t s a n d w h a t e v e r else i t l i k e s . W e a r e n o n e o f these t h i n g s , b u t w e a r e g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r y M a r x i s t s .
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Koo could stand this no more and said to Q o r r i : Trotskyites is just w h a t y o u are! A n d the worst T r o t s k y i t e s at t h a t ! T h i s w a s j u s t w h a t A n a s t a s w a n t e d , because h e w a s ready f o r that, a n d h e r e p l i e d : Don't y o u i n t e r r u p t m y speech, K o o T a s h k o , because that i s w h a t y o u ' v e a l w a y s done, y o u ' v e a l w a y s b e e n arrogant. While y o u have been a 'lamb' Anastas Lula, I interposed, a n d w h a t ' s m o r e , i d e o l o g i c a l l y w e c a n describe y o u as an 'angel'. I s h a l l speak a b o u t t h e i d e o l o g i c a l issues later, said A n a s t a s , because w e h a v e g a t h e r e d h e r e p r e c i s e l y t o consider o u r w o r k f r o m t h e i d e o l o g i c a l aspect. W e must t h r a s h out these m a t t e r s f i r s t a n d t h e n c o m e t o t h e conclusion a b o u t w h o i s o n the r i g h t course, y o u o f t h e K o r a g r o u p , o r we. A t that m o m e n t Q e m a l joined i n s a y i n g : Define that 'we' better! W h a t do y o u mean by 'we'? This made it clear that Q e m a l Stafa d i v i d e d the S h k o d ra group f r o m the Youth G r o u p . A n a s t a s w a s s h a k e n because h e w a s left o n h i s own w i t h o u t allies, b u t w i t h t h e coldness of a s n a k e he replied t o Q e m a l ' s i n t e r j e c t i o n : Of c o u r s e I a m s p e a k i n g f o r o u r ' Y o u t h ' G r o u p , but I cannot u n d e r s t a n d , C o m r a d e Q e m a l , w h y y o u o f the S h k o d r a g r o u p h a v e n o w c h a n g e d y o u r o p i n i o n s , because o u r t w o g r o u p s h a v e b e e n i n u n i t y o f t h o u g h t s a n d actions. W e w e r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t o u r i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o litical stands w e r e correct c o m m u n i s t stands. W e o f t h e ' Y o u t h ' G r o u p are s t i l l o f t h a t o p i n i o n . This was Qorri's second provocation, this time aimed a t the S h k o d r a g r o u p , m a d e d e l i b e r a t e l y b o t h t o insult a n d t o t h r e a t e n t h a t g r o u p lest i t b r o k e a w a y from his g r o u p .
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Q e m a l gave h i m a n instant, f i r m r e p l y : O u r t w o g r o u p s h a v e h a d s i m i l a r o p i n i o n s o n a lot o f things, but h a v e also h a d d i f f e r e n c e s . T h e t h i n g t h a t united us was the spirit of factional w o r k w h i c h had b l i n d e d o u r eyes a n d d i d n o t a l l o w u s t o see t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e t w e e n o u r t w o g r o u p s , because w e h a d d i r e c t e d the edge o f o u r s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e K o r a g r o u p . H o w e v e r , c o m m u n i s t s a r e people w h o r e f l e c t , because n e w h o r i z o n s are b e i n g o p e n e d t o us, a n d t h e y h e l p u s t o j u d g e m o r e p r o f o u n d l y a b o u t the s i t u a t i o n a n d m a j o r e v e n t s w h i c h a r e t a k i n g place. T h i s c h a n g e i n o u r o p i n i o n s is not j u s t a bourgeois change, as y o u t h i n k , A n a s t a s L u l a , b u t a c o m m u n i s t change, s a i d Q e m a l . Y o u a r e q u i t e r i g h t , C o m r a d e Q e m a l , I s a i d , that i s w h a t w e c o m m u n i s t s o f t h e K o r a g r o u p t h i n k , too. Anastas was being pinned w i t h his back to the w a l l . B u t as t h e people say, a s n a k e has s e v e n l i v e s , h e doesn't d i e e v e n i f y o u cut off a b i t o f h i s t a i l . Anastas L u l a continued: Of course y o u h a v e t h e r i g h t t o c h a n g e y o u r o p i n i o n s (this w a s f u r t h e r p r o v o c a t i o n , e v e r y t h i n g h e s a i d d u r i n g t h e w h o l e p e r i o d o f the m e e t i n g w a s p r o v o c a t i o n ) , b u t w e h a v e the r i g h t t o d e f e n d o u r o p i n i o n s . A n d t h e opinion of our group is contrary to the procedure of the action w h i c h y o u proposed, C o m r a d e E n v e r . Y o u put t h e issue i n a d i s t o r t e d w a y ; i n s t e a d o f f i r s t d i s c u s s i n g t h e issue a n d t h e n seeing w h e t h e r o r n o t o u r o p i n i o n s a r e i n a c c o r d , w h e t h e r o r n o t the t i m e has c o m e t o decide o n t h e f o r m a t i o n o f the p a r t y , y o u o f t h e K o r a g r o u p propose t h a t w e s h o u l d f o r m t h e p a r t y f i r s t a n d then discuss t h e issue. That was another cunning manoeuvre of Anastas L u l a a n d S a d i k P r e m t e i n o r d e r t o sabotage t h e f o r m a t i o n o f the p a r t y . A f i r m r e p l y h a d t o b e g i v e n t o h i m . b u t care h a d
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to be t a k e n to a v o i d exacerbating the situation to the extreme b e f o r e f o u n d i n g t h e p a r t y . T h i s h a d t o b e b o r n e i n m i n d , n o t o n a c c o u n t o f those t w o i n c o r r i g i b l e T r o t s k y i tes, b u t o n a c c o u n t o f t h e r a n k - a n d - f i l e m e m b e r s o f t h e Youth G r o u p , w h o w e r e m i s l e d a n d w h o w o u l d c e r t a i n l y become g o o d m e m b e r s o f t h e p a r t y w e w e r e g o i n g t o form. A n i m m e d i a t e f l a r e - u p m i g h t cause t h e i r w i t h d r a w a l from the meeting, a t h i n g w h i c h could enable t h e m to h a v e an argument to say to their group : We undertook no comitment. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , w e h a d t o b e v e r y c a r e f u l t o wards t h e m a n d succeed i n f o u n d i n g t h e p a r t y w h i c h w a s the u n c h a n g e a b l e d e s i r e o f a l l t h e c o m m u n i s t s o f t h i s group, too, r e g a r d l e s s of t h e o p i n i o n s a n d desires of their chiefs. O n c e t h e p a r t y w a s f o r m e d , t h e d i s c u s s i o n could d e v e l o p i n t o h e a t e d a r g u m e n t s , because t h e n t h e y would t a k e p l a c e w i t h i n t h e p a r t y , w i t h i n its M a r x i s t Leninist n o r m s . Therefore, without allowing Anastas to go any f u r ther w i t h h i s w o r k of sabotage, I i n t e r v e n e d : Comrade Anastas, the proposal of the K o r a group is not w r o n g at a l l . It is L e n i n i s t , it is n o t in t h e least in contradiction w i t h the theory and norms that guide the activity o f t h e B o l s h e v i k P a r t y w h i c h L e n i n f o u n d e d . Were L e n i n s t i l l a l i v e o r i f w e h a d t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t o a s k Stalin, t h e y w o u l d c e r t a i n l y a d v i s e u s : ' F i r s t f o r m y o u r communist p a r t y , because y o u h a v e d r a g g e d m a t t e r s u p long e n o u g h , t h e n m a k e B o l s h e v i k s e l f - c r i t i c i s m , set n e w tasks, a n d g o f o r w a r d i n t o b a t t l e a n d t o v i c t o r y a s t h e v a n g u a r d of t h e w o r k i n g class.' Therefore, i t i s n o t t h e d i f f e r e n c e s w h i c h w e ' v e h a d up till now, but the lofty task w h i c h the situation imposes on us that must determine our decision to f o u n d the p a r t y . O u r differences m u s t b e settled, m u s t b e i r o n e d out t h r o u g h discussion a n d debates, b u t not a b o u t t h e q u e s t i o n o f 'whether o r not w e s h o u l d f o r m t h e p a r t y ' . T h e s i t u a -
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t i o n i s r i p e t o create t h e p a r t y w i t h s u c h a u n i t y t h a t i t w i l l b e u p t o the task o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e H o m e l a n d . This is what we think. W h o d o y o u m e a n b y 'we'?, i n t e r j e c t e d S a d i k P r e m t e immediately. A r e you referring to yourself and your f o u r comrades, o r y o u i n c l u d e a l l o f u s w i t h t h a t ' w e ' ? ! W h e n I s a y 'we' I r e p l i e d to X h e p i , of c o u r s e I have in m i n d m u c h more than myself and the four c o m r a d e s o f the K o r a g r o u p . W e h a v e n ' t c o m e h e r e b y accident, w e h a v e b e e n sent here. O u r c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s h a v e sent us, a n d w h e n I s a y ' w e ' I h a v e i n m i n d a l l t h e conscious r a n k - a n d - f i l e c o m m u n i s t c o m r a d e s w h o are d e m a n d i n g t h e f o u n d i n g o f t h e p a r t y a t a l l costs. A n d b e l i e v e me, S a d i k , t h a t ' w e ' i n c l u d e s t h e soundest p a r t of the members of y o u r group, w h e t h e r or not y o u a n d A n a s t a s l i k e it. It's not t r u e . A n d w e don't a l l o w y o u t o s p e a k o n behalf of our comrades! Anastas L u l a sprang up a n g r i ly. T o a v o i d g i v i n g cause f o r f u r t h e r h e a t i n g o f t e m p e r s , I t u r n e d q u i e t l y t o A n a s t a s a n d S a d i k a n d once a g a i n explained to t h e m the reason f r o m w h i c h we proceeded in the proposal w h i c h we made. Q e m a l S t a f a stood s h o u l d e r t o s h o u l d e r w i t h m e : Comrades, h e s a i d , this m a j o r q u e s t i o n w h i c h C o m r a d e E n v e r presented should not be t a k e n as if here we have to do only w i t h the desire a n d w i l l of the comrades of the K o r a group. No, this is the w i l l o f a l l o f us, o f a l l c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e m o c r a t s . I e x p r e s s e d my o p i n i o n , b u t I w a n t to stress t h a t t h e people a r e d e m a n d i n g t h a t w e l e a d t h e m i n the struggle w h i c h they have begun, but the communist g r o u p s d i v i d e d b y a l l k i n d s o f ideas c a n n o t p l a y t h i s l e a d i n g role. O n l y a p a r t y w i t h u n b r e a k a b l e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
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unity c a n l e a d t h e s t r u g g l e . T h e r e f o r e , A n a s t a s , w e a r e m a k i n g n o m i s t a k e i f w e f o r m the p a r t y f i r s t , a n d t h e n discuss o u r differences. H a v i n g said this a n d t u r n i n g to me, Q e m a l added in a v e r y f r i e n d l y f a s h i o n : Excuse me for interrupting you, Comrade E n v e r . . . I , w h o r e m a i n e d o n m y feet a l l t h i s t i m e , c o n t i n u ed: C o m r a d e s , w e , t h e g r o u p s , h a v e s c o r e d some successes, but w e ' v e also m a d e m i s t a k e s . N o t o n l y y o u A n a s t a s , but w e o f t h e K o r a g r o u p a n d those o f t h e S h k o d r a group, a l l of us, to a g r e a t e r or lesser extent, h a v e made m i s t a k e s . W e a r e n o t g o i n g t o c o n c e a l t h e m , b u t o n the c o n t r a r y , a r e g o i n g t o c o n d e m n t h e m a l l f r o m whatever side t h e y h a v e b e e n m a d e . A t t h i s m e e t i n g , w h i c h I c o n s i d e r h i s t o r i c , it is n o t t h e w i l l of a n y one group t h a t s h o u l d p r e d o m i n a t e , b u t t h e s o u n d w i l l o f Marxist-Leninists, the i r o n w i l l of A l b a n i a n communists who h a v e d e c i d e d t o f o r m t h e i r p a r t y a n d f i g h t v a l i a n t l y , ready t o m a k e t h e u l t i m a t e s a c r i f i c e f o r t h e i r people, u n t i l the p e o p l e are l i b e r a t e d once a n d f o r a l l f r o m t h e bondage o f occupiers, l a n d o w n e r s a n d t h e l o c a l b o u r g e o i sie. T h e w i l l o f those c o m m u n i s t s s h o u l d p r e v a i l w h o h a v e decided t o c a r r y o u t t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t o b r i n g t h e w o r k i n g class t o p o w e r i n o r d e r t o b u i l d s o c i a l i s m . C o m r a d e s , a l l o f u s k n o w w h a t sort o f p a r t y w e want, w h a t sort o f p a r t y w e s h o u l d f o r m a n d w i t h w h a t features we m u s t t e m p e r it. I s a i d at t h e outset, b u t I stress it once a g a i n , t h a t we a r e g o i n g to create a p a r t y o f the L e n i n - S t a l i n t y p e , i n w h i c h f a c t i o n s a n d t h e group s p i r i t , s u c h a s t h e y h a v e b e e n a m o n g s t u s u p t i l l now, c a n n o t e x i s t . T h i s s i t u a t i o n m u s t b e e n d e d ! I n our n e w p a r t y w h i c h w e ' r e g o i n g t o f o u n d w e m u s t e s t a blish u n i t y o f t h o u g h t a n d a c t i o n a n d n o t i m p o s e t h e w i l l o f one o r t h e other. O u r p a r t y w i l l b e g u i d e d b y
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one t h e o r y , b y t h e t h e o r y o f M a r x a n d L e n i n ; a n y d e v i a tion f r o m it and the bearers of the deviations w i l l be punished mercilessly. In our party there w i l l be democracy i n the e x p r e s s i o n o f o p i n i o n s , b u t t h e r e w i l l also b e d i s c i p l i n e a n d c e n t r a l i s m . W e w i l l discuss a n d d e c i d e o n these m a t t e r s one b y one a n d w i l l also decide o n t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e p a r t y , w h a t f o r m s its cells a n d c o m m i t t e e s w i l l h a v e . I n this d i s c u s s i o n w e w i l l also h a v e t h e a s sistance o f C o m r a d e M i l a d i n . T h e r e f o r e , I t u r n e d t o A n a s tas a g a i n , I t h i n k t h e r e i s n o s o u n d r e a s o n w h y y o u s h o u l d n o t associate y o u r s e l f l i k e t h e o t h e r t w o g r o u p s w i t h the proposal that first we should found the p a r t y and then develop our discussion as members of the party and no longer as members of groups, should discuss t h e issues i n t h e s p i r i t a n d o n t h e basis o f a c o m munist party and not in the spirit of communist groups. A t t h i s p o i n t I w o u n d u p a n d sat d o w n . T h e c o m r a d e s proposed we should take a break. A f t e r the b r e a k , R a m a d a n i t a k u spoke. I m e t B a c a f o r the f i r s t t i m e a t t h i s m e e t i n g . H e m a d e a g o o d impression on me, and my heart w a r m e d to h i m i m m e d i a t e l y . H e s p o k e l i t t l e , w a s r e s t r a i n e d i n h i s gestures a n d c o n v e r s a t i o n , a n d s m o k e d cigarettes i n h a l i n g t h e smoke deeply. He was y o u n g although he looked older because o f h i s moustaches, a n d f o r t h i s r e a s o n w e n i c k n a m e d h i m Baca. B a c a , w h o s p o k e i n a deep voice, d i d n o t g o o n f o r l o n g . I n substance h e s a i d : We have gathered here to solve our problems, because w e c a n n o l o n g e r g o o n i n t h e w a y w e h a v e done. I w a n t u s t o f o r m t h e p a r t y a n d I agree w i t h w h a t C o m r a d e E n v e r proposed. I am in the same group w i t h Anastas and Sadik, but I cannot understand Anastas' reasoning. I am convinced that m a n y comrades of our
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g r o u p w i l l t h i n k t h e s a m e w a y a s I do. W h a t i s w r o n g w i t h f o u n d i n g the party as q u i c k l y as possible? We have criticism a n d self-criticism to make, but f r o m n o w on I want the p a r t y a n d not the groups. Therefore, I am for t h e f o u n d i n g o f t h e p a r t y . A f t e r these f e w w o r d s B a c a sat d o w n . H i s w o r d s were another b l o w to Q o r r i and X h e p i , but this time to their s u r p r i s e , f r o m a c o m r a d e o f t h e i r o w n g r o u p . F o l l o w i n g Baca, M i l a d i n spoke. Duan translated w i t h occasional corrections f r o m Baca. He spoke for about an hour. First, he t h a n k e d us for rescuing h i m f r o m the internment camp a n d for the great trust a l l of us displayed towards h i m . He said that this trust is due to the C o m munist P a r t y of Yugoslavia. I am a m e m b e r of that P a r t y and, on the proposal o f the A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s , I h a v e b e e n i n s t r u c t e d b y i t t o g i v e m y modest a i d a n d w h a t s m a l l e x p e r i e n c e I have, p l a c i n g t h e m a s a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t i n t h e s e r v i c e o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a w h i c h y o u a r e g o i n g to form, he continued. A m o n g a l l the A l b a n i a n c o m munist comrades I have found a communist affection and s i n c e r i t y t o w a r d s m e . Y o u o p e n e d y o u r h e a r t s t o m e and so d i d I. We have been acquainted for o n l y a short time, b u t i t seems a s i f w e h a v e k n o w n e a c h o t h e r l o n g since. T h i s s i t u a t i o n has been c r e a t e d because w e are internationalist communists. A f t e r s p e a k i n g a b o u t h i s l o v e f o r t h e A l b a n i a n people, about h i s respect f o r t h e m , f o r t h e i r courage, t h e i r m a n liness, t h e i r t r u s t w o r t h i n e s s a n d t h e i r w i s d o m , w i t h w h i c h I am w e l l - a c q u a i n t e d , he said, because I h a v e l i v e d among A l b a n i a n s i n K o s o v a a n d M o n t e n e g r o , M i l a d i n continued: Y o u have told me about the A l b a n i a n communist movement, a b o u t t h e e x i s t e n c e o f groups, w i t h v a r i o u s opposing v i e w s , a b o u t the g o o d r e s u l t s a n d t h e s h o r t -
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comings and mistakes that have shown up in their w o r k . W e h a v e discussed t h i n g s t o g e t h e r f r a n k l y . A s a c o m r a d e , as a c o m m u n i s t , I h a v e o p e n l y e x p r e s s e d some ideas o f m i n e w h i c h m a y o r m a y n o t b e correct, b e c a u s e I cannot c l a i m t o k n o w t h e s i t u a t i o n i n y o u r c o u n t r y a n d y o u r w o r k a s w e l l a s y o u do. Y o u y o u r s e l v e s are i n a p o s i tion to k n o w and do k n o w the situation of the country, the people a n d y o u r c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s , n o t o n l y i n gen e r a l , l i k e t h e i d e a I h a v e b e e n a b l e to get of it, b u t in depth and in an analytical way. It is up to y o u to analyse a n d decide. I a m c o n v i n c e d t h a t y o u w i l l decide c o r r e c t l y . W h e n y o u consider it reasonable I w o u l d l i k e y o u to a l l o w me to speak, to e x p r e s s my o p i n i o n on a series of problems of principle w h i c h I am sure y o u w i l l raise, to give y o u the experience of my P a r t y on h o w it has s o l v e d some analogous p r o b l e m s . Y o u y o u r s e l v e s w i l l j u d g e whether or not w h a t I have to say is reasonable. T h e decisions w h i c h y o u w i l l t a k e a r e u p t o y o u a n d t o n o b o d y else. W e l i s t e n e d t o t h i s f i n e c o m r a d e , t o t h i s sincere c o m m u n i s t w i t h great a t t e n t i o n . M i l a d i n g a v e a b r i e f b u t clear o u t l i n e o f t h e i n t e r national situation. He spoke about the decisive role of the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e g r e a t S t a l i n , a n d a b o u t t h e partisan w a r in Yugoslavia led by the Communist P a r t y of Yugoslavia. A f t e r speaking about the importance w h i c h the f o r m a t i o n o f t h e p a r t y i n o u r c o u n t r y w o u l d h a v e , M i l a d i n concluded: I f u l l y associate m y s e l f w i t h C o m r a d e E n v e r H o x h a ' s p r o p o s a l t h a t b e f o r e a n y t h i n g else t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a s h o u l d b e f o r m e d a s q u i c k l y a s possible. S u c h a great h i s t o r i c act is correct p o l i t i c a l l y , i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d organizationally. T h e situation w h i c h has matured requires this. O u r faces b e a m e d w i t h j o y . T h i s Y u g o s l a v i n t e r n a -
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tionalist c o m m u n i s t , o u r c o m r a d e , w a s o f t h e s a m e o p i n i o n a s w e . W e a d j o u r n e d f o r a b r e a k . A l l o f us, i n c l u d i n g Q o r r i a n d X h e p i , e m b r a c e d M i l a d i n . T h e signs were g o o d . W e sat d o w n t o s u p p e r w i t h a n e x c e l l e n t appetite a n d g r e a t j o y i n o u r hearts. L i k e t h e o t h e r c o m r a d e s I no l o n g e r f e l t t h a t b u r d e n of a n x i e t y I h a d f e l t a t t h e start. T h e s k y w a s a l m o s t clear. A f t e r supper we went straight back to the meeting. K o o T a s h k o a s k e d f o r t h e f l o o r . N a t u r a l l y , a t the outset he supported the proposal about founding the party, tried to give a theoretical outline about just a n d unjust w a r s a n d w e t h o u g h t t h a t h e w a s g o i n g t o close h i s c o n t r i b u tion quietly a n d gently w i t h this. B u t K o o T a s h k o forgot what we had decided a n d began to make insinuations about other g r o u p s , p r e c i s e l y o n t h e p r o b l e m s w h i c h w e h a d t o discuss a f t e r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e p a r t y . I t was j u s t a s w e l l t h a t h e d i d n o t g o o n f o r l o n g a n d sat d o w n q u i c k l y because I w o u l d h a v e b e e n o b l i g e d t o interevene. N e v e r t h e l e s s , h i s professorial, embrouill* tone a n d h i s i n s i n u a t i o n s d i d n o t f a i l to cause a coldness which was q u i c k l y cleared a w a y by P i l o Peristeri a n d Vasil Shanto, w h o spoke to the point and briefly in favour o f the i m m e d i a t e f o u n d i n g o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Albania. K o i X o x e , T u k J a k o v a and other comrades e x pressed s i m i l a r o p i n i o n s . T h e last t o speak w e r e A n a s t a s . f o l l o w e d b y S a d i k P r e m t e . W e l i s t e n e d i n silence. T h i s time A n a s t a s s p o k e b r i e f l y . I w i t h d r a w w h a t I s a i d b e f o r e a n d associate m y s e l f with the proposal that we should f o r m the C o m m u n i s t Party of Albania. S a d i k P r e m t e also e x p r e s s e d s o l i d a r i t y w i t h t h e rest. F o r a m o m e n t silence f e l l . F o r m a n y o f u s t h e s o l i d a r i t y o f A n a s t a s a n d S a d i k w a s a l w a y s suspect.
_________________________________ * Involved (French in the original).
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Let us put it to the vote. E v e r y o n e has expressed his opinion, said K o o Tashko. L e t u s p u t it, b u t w h o i s t o d o so? H e r e w e a r e a l l e q u a l . . . , put i n Anastas L u l a not w i t h o u t malicious i n tent. This t r u l y w a s something that h a d not occurred to u s before. B u t M i l a d i n rose t o t h e occasion. T h e issue here, c o m r a d e s , is n o t one of l e a d e r s or presidiums, he said. The problem is quite simple: the p r o p o s a l c a n b e p u t t o t h e v o t e b y t h e one w h o p r e s e n t e d it. T h e n , v e r y e x c i t e d I rose t o m y feet a n d s a i d : Comrades, on the basis of the proposal of the C o m munist Group of Kora and the opinions expressed by all present, I am putting the following resolution to the vote: 'Today on November 8, 1941, the representatives of three communist groups, of Kora, Shkodra and the 'Youth', meeting in plenary session and after constructive discussion in the communist spirit, basing themselves on the mandate given them by the comrades of their groups, founded the Communist Party of Albania.' A l l in f a v o u r r a i s e t h e i r hands. A l l present raised their hands. T h e r e w a s no vote against o r a b s t e n t i o n . A l l o f u s w e r e f i l l e d w i t h i n d e s c r i b a b l e j o y . T h e m a i n step, t h e d e c i s i v e task w h i c h w e h a d set ourselves w h e n w e set out f o r t h i s h i s t o r i c m e e t i n g , h a d b e e n c r o w n e d w i t h success! Then, I declared: The Communist Party of Albania has been founded unanimously. Long live the Communist Party of A l b a n i a ! H a p p y a n d d e e p l y m o v e d a l l o f u s rose t o o u r feet, r a i s e d o u r c l e n c h e d fists i n s a l u t e a n d u n d e r t h e l i g h t of the k e r o s e n e l a m p s a n g The Internationale, k e e p i n g o u r vioces l o w , a n d t h e n cheered a n d c h e e r e d f o r t h e C o m munist Party of Albania, but always in an undertone:
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Long live the Bolshevik Party!, Long live Stalin!, Glory to M a r x , Engels, Lenin!, Long l i v e the C o m m u nist P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a ! , D o w n w i t h f a s c i s m ! , L o n g live o u r h e r o i c p e o p l e ! A n d s o o n . . .
T h u s , o n t h e n i g h t o f N o v e m b e r 8 , 1941, o u r P a r t y was b o r n , t h e P a r t y w h i c h w a s t o l e a d t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e i n t h e greatest b a t t l e s o f t h e i r w h o l e h i s t o r y . I t w a s b o r n f r o m t h e b o s o m o f t h e people, f r o m t h e i r r e v o l u tionary fire and ardour u n d i m m e d through the centuries, it e m e r g e d l i k e a s u n s h i n i n g t h r o u g h the h i d e o u s darkness o f t h e fascist e n s l a v e m e n t a n d t e r r o r w h i c h h a d engulfed t h e p e o p l e a n d t h e H o m e l a n d .
T h e n e x t d a y a n d u p t i l l N o v e m b e r 14, t h e debates continued. A l l the c o m r a d e s w h o t o o k p a r t i n t h e m e e t ing spoke. T h e debates w e r e tense a n d f r e q u e n t l y fierce. It was o f t e n f o r g o t t e n t h a t since N o v e m b e r 8, we o u g h t to have s p o k e n f r o m t h e basis o f t h e e s t a b l i s h e d P a r t y , i n the s p i r i t o f t h i s P a r t y , a n d m a n y c o n t i n u e d t o a r g u e f r o m g r o u p positions. K o o T a s h k o took the floor. He tried to back up his statement w i t h q u o t a t i o n s w i t h o u t r e f e r e n c e f r o m o u r classics, w h i c h h e c l a i m e d t o h a v e l e a r n e d i n M o s c o w . K o o naturally defended the line of the K o r a group, a t h i n g that w a s correct. W e a l l d i d t h i s w h e n w e spoke, b u t i n his e n t h u s i a s m t o d e f e n d t h i s l i n e , K o o T a s h k o a t t r i buted a l l t h e g o o d a n d p o s i t i v e aspects o f t h e w o r k o f the K o r a g r o u p t o h i s leadership. O f course h e w a s not o b j e c t i v e i n d o i n g this. M e a n w h i l e , h e forgot t o point out t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d m i s t a k e s i n the w o r k o f that g r o u p . H i s s e l f - c r i t i c i s m o f t h e w o r k o f t h e group w a s feeble a n d n o n - e x i s t e n t i n r e g a r d t o h i m s e l f .
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directives. T h e K o r a group, h e s a i d a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , w a s t h e o n l y A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t g r o u p w h i c h accepted a n d p u t t h e m i n t o practice, w h i l e t h e o t h e r g r o u p s n o t o n l y r e f u s e d t o accept t h e m , b u t also c o m b a t e d t h e m f i e r c e l y a n d in the most condemnable f o r m of factionalism. At this point K o o opened the chapter of his criticisms and attacks on the S h k o d r a group and the Youth G r o u p , c r i t i c i s m s w h i c h w e r e correct i n p r i n c i p l e . H e b e g a n f r o m the enemy of communism, the archeo-Marxist N i k o X o x i who, after he was condemned by the K o r a group, took r e f u g e i n the S h k o d r a g r o u p , w h e r e h e b e c a m e one o f its leaders, a n d t o g e t h e r w i t h Z e f M a l a o r g a n i z e d t h e s t r u g g l e n o t j u s t against t h e K o r a g r o u p , b u t a g a i n s t M a r x i s m , against t h e C o m i n t e r n a n d , n a t u r a l l y , a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d S t a l i n . I t w a s l o g i c a l t h a t these elements w o u l d f o l l o w t h e c o u r s e o f T r o t s k y a n d s o they did, w h i l e the Green B u l l e t i n w h i c h they put out was nothing but a T r o t s k y i t e rag. K o o T a s h k o d i d not overlook A r i s t i d h Qendro, Anastas L u l a a n d Sadik P r e m t e . H e accused A n a s t a s L u l a n o t o n l y o f b e i n g a close associate o f A r i s t i d h a n d S a d i k , o f c r e a t i n g t h e f a c t i o n s u b s e q u e n t l y c a l l e d t h e Y o u t h G r o u p w i t h i n the r a n k s o f t h e K o r a g r o u p , b u t also o f i n v o l v i n g t h e S h k o d r a g r o u p a n d s e t t i n g i t o n a w r o n g course. T h e discussion w e n t o n i n t h i s e l e c t r i f i e d w a y a l l d a y w i t h one c o m r a d e a f t e r a n o t h e r t a k i n g t h e f l o o r a n d o f t e n i n t e r r u p t i n g one a n o t h e r not p o l i t e l y , b u t s o m e t i m e s w i t h a fierceness t h a t w e n t b e y o n d a c c e p t a b l e b o u n d s . A n a s t a s L u l a s p o k e after K o o . H e t r i e d t o a t t a c k a l l the w o r k o f t h e K o r a g r o u p w i t h v i n d i c t i v e , baseless s l a n d e r s a n d allegations. H e w e n t s o f a r a s t o a t t a c k A l i K e l m e n d i , saying that he was hasty and u n f a i r in the
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c r i t i c i s m s a n d c o n d e m n a t i o n s h e h a d m a d e against N i k o X o x i and Aristidh Qendro. W e c o u l d n o t t o l e r a t e a c c u s a t i o n s against A l i K e l m e n di and forgot that we were meeting under conditions of complete i l l e g a l i t y . W a t c h y o u r step, A n a s t a s L u l a , I s h o u t e d at h i m , because y o u a r e s p e a k i n g f r o m a T r o t s k y i t e p o s i t i o n a n d we cannot a l l o w anyone to attack the unsullied figure of the m o s t o u t s t a n d i n g m i l i t a n t o f t h e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d a c o m r a d e of t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t movement. We do no permit y o u to sully the figure of our veteran communist comrade w h o taught us h o w we must f i g h t Z o g , t h e f e u d a l l a n d o w n e r s a n d t h e b o u r g e o i sie, t o i m p u g n t h e r e p u t a t i o n o f the m a n w h o b r o u g h t u s D i m i t r o v ' s speech ( 7 ) a n d f o u g h t u n t i l h i s d e a t h , a l w a y s honoured by the international communist movement. Are y o u Anastas L u l a t r y i n g to compare the figure of this great A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t w i t h t w o d i r t y a r c h e o M a r x i s t s sent t o A l b a n i a b y t h e b l a c k e s t G r e e k r e a c t i o n to f i g h t c o m m u n i s m ? P i l o P e r i s t e r i j u m p e d t o h i s feet i n f u r y a n d a t t a c k e d Anastas L u l a w i t h c l e a r facts a b o u t t h e i m m o r a l a c t i vities o f h i m a n d S a d i k P r e m t e , w h o h a d e l e v a t e d these activities t o p s e u d o - M a r x i s t theories. S u c h t h e o r i e s a n d v i e w s are d i a b o l i c a l a n d vile, roared P i l o . T o accept t h e m m e a n s t o d e m o r a l i z e o u r p u r e youth, t o set t h e m o n t h e r o a d o f c o r r u p t i o n . A r e y o u , Anastas, s e e k i n g t o b r e a k u p t h e f a m i l y a n d its code of honour w i t h your Trotskyite theories?! We c o m m u nists o f t h e K o r a g r o u p , c o n t i n u e d P i l o , k n o w a l l about the u n d e r m i n i n g a c t i v i t y o f N i k o X o x i a n d h i s v i l e intrigues t o s p l i t us, b u t w i t h A l i , M i h a a n d other c o m r a _______________________________________ 7 In 1932 A l i K e l m e n d i brought to A l b a n i a George D i m i trov's instructions on the creation of the communist movement on a sounder p o l i t i c a l and organization p l a t f o r m in A l b a n i a .
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des w e d e f e a t e d N i k o X o x i a n d h e w e n t a w a y a n d m a d e up w i t h you. Well, y o u are welcome to h i m . He showed w h a t h e was, a n agent o f Z o g , w h o b e t r a y e d t h e c o m r a des present here, Q e m a l S t a f a , V a s i l S h a n t o a n d o t h e r s to t h e enemy. Q e m a l Stafa took the floor and m a d e a correct and m a t u r e c o n t r i b u t i o n . I t w a s a p p a r e n t t h a t he, V a s i l a n d h i s other comrades w e r e more realistic in their judgement of situations, saw the events and the activities of the S h k o d r a g r o u p i n t h e past a s w e l l a s t h e i r c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e Youth G r o u p f r o m a different stand-point. In substance, Qemal said: W e reject the i r r e s p o n s i b l e s t a t e m e n t s o f K o o T a shko and of the K o r a group, generally, that we of the S h k o d r a g r o u p are n o t c o m m u n i s t s , b u t T r o t s k y i t e s . N o , c o n t i n u e d Q e m a l , w e a r e conscious a n d r e s o l u t e c o m m u nists, w e h a v e f o u g h t w i t h c o n v i c t i o n i n o r d e r t o d i s s e m i n a t e c o m m u n i s m i n A l b a n i a t o t h e best o f o u r a b i lity. There have been mistakes in our w o r k , we k n o w a n d a d m i t this, b u t t h e y c a m e a b o u t because e v i l , a n t i c o m m u n i s t people l i k e Z e f M a l a a n d N i k o X o x i got i n t o the S h k o d r a group and w e r e able to take advantage of o u r i m m a t u r i t y to spread wrong, h a r m f u l , Trotskyite o p i n i o n s a n d ideas a m o n g s t us. ( Q e m a l w i t h c o m m u n i s t h o n e s t y l i s t e d t h e m one b y one). B u t w h a t a b o u t t h e K o r a group and K o o Tashko, personally, didn't they m a k e mistakes? He d i d not speak about t h e m , b u t I a m g o i n g t o d o so, because t h i s i s m y r i g h t . A n d Qemal began as follows: I condemn Anastas L u l a for that judgement he made about comrade A l i K e l m e n d i . I believe now, and t h i s w a s m y o p i n i o n p r e v i o u s l y , too, t h a t A l i K e l m e n d i was a communist fighter and, although I never met h i m , I respected a n d s t i l l respect h i m a s a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t c o m m u n i s t w h o came f r o m t h e S o v i e t U n i o n .
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W h y , t h e n , d i d the S h k o d r a g r o u p n o t accept t h e d i r e c tives o f t h e C o m i n t e r n ? W e m a d e a m i s t a k e . E v e r y b o d y k n o w s y o u made a mistake, K o o Tashko interrupted h i m . But w h y did y o u m a k e a mistake?! Tell us that! Yes, r e p l i e d Q e m a l , I w i l l d o that, s o l i s t e n t o me, c o m r a d e K o o . A n d h e w e n t o n : W e m a d e a m i s take because y o u m a d e a m i s t a k e , too. W i t h y o u r g r o u p spirit y o u w a n t e d t o e x p l o i t these d i r e c t i v e s t o r a i s e y o u r group a b o v e t h e others. O b v i o u s l y , w e o f t h e S h k o d r a group, too, w e r e i n f e c t e d a n d h e a v i l y i n f e c t e d w i t h this s p i r i t a n d s o i t c a m e a b o u t t h a t w e d i d n o t accept the d i r e c t i v e s . W e t r i e d t o e s t a b l i s h contact, b u t w e f e l l among p r o v o c a t e u r s . B u t y o u , K o o T a s h k o , c o n t i n u e d Qemal, did y o u , in particular, m a k e any attempt to persuade us, t o c o m e a n d discuss w i t h u s ? N o , r i g h t t o the e n d y o u d i d not. A l l y o u k n e w w a s t o pose a s ' a great m a n ' , ' w i t h great k n o w l e d g e ' , ' w i t h great theories.' Only E n v e r approached us and talked w i t h us as a comrade, w h i l e y o u n e v e r did. Please, son, d o n ' t d e n y m y w o r k , K o o o b j e c t e d angrily. In t h e discussions a y e a r o r t w o ago, w h e n w e reached a g r e e m e n t w i t h y o u , w a s I n o t p r e s e n t a n d d i d I not m a k e m y c o n t r i b u t i o n ? ! A r e y o u referring to the compromise? Q e m a l asked K o o w i t h bitterness. D u r i n g t h e t w o d a y s t h a t w e h a v e been here, w e h a v e c o n d e m n e d t h a t sort o f ' a g r e e m e n t ' as a d i r t y c o m p r o m i s e w i t h o u t f o u n d a t i o n s . A s a s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c c o m p r o m i s e . L i f e i t s e l f destroyed it b e f o r e it c a m e i n t o o p e r a t i o n , I i n t e r j e c t e d . T h a t i s true, c o n t i n u e d Q e m a l . So, c o m r a d e K o o , it is u n f i t t i n g f o r y o u , w h o say that y o u have h a d links w i t h t h e C o m i n t e r n , t o o . . . I h a v e so! s h o u t e d K o o . T h e n , t r y t o m a i n t a i n its r e p u t a t i o n . I m e a n t i t
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w a s u n f i t t i n g f o r y o u t o boast t o u s a b o u t past a c t i o n s w h i c h w e r e w r o n g . W e , too, w e r e i n v o l v e d i n t h o s e actions s u c h a s t h e c o m p r o m i s e w e m e n t i o n e d , b u t n o w w e condemn the stand we took at that time. Therefore, I appeal to y o u to reflect on y o u r stands a n d to recognize y o u r m i s t a k e s a n d f a u l t s a n d those o f t h e K o r a g r o u p . As for the ' Y o u t h ' Group, continued Qemal, I am of the o p i n i o n , a n d I speak o n b e h a l f o f t h e S h k o d r a g r o u p , that the r a n k and file of this group are sound l i k e ours and that of the K o r a group. B u t anti-communist, T r o t s k y i t e ideas h a v e p e n e t r a t e d i n t o o u r g r o u p a n d i n t o t h e others, ideas w h i c h i n t h i s n e w l i g h t w e c a n n o w see more clearly. However, you, Anastas L u l a , and you, S a dik, w h o spoke in the same language as Anastas, are not s h o w i n g yourselves to be sincere communists in a n y w a y . Y o u are d o d g i n g t h e issues. I n o u r v i e w y o u h a v e m a d e a n d are c o n t i n u i n g t o m a k e g r a v e m i s t a k e s , b u t the worst of it is that y o u are not m a k i n g the slightest a t t e m p t t o r e c o g n i z e them. Qemal ended his contribution by calling on t h e m to change their ways. T h e debate a n d d i s c u s s i o n w e n t o n i n t h i s w a y e v e r y day. A l l of us w e r e a d v a n c i n g in our analyses. T h e c r i ticisms w e r e t a k i n g the correct course a n d being backed w i t h more solid arguments, the self-criticisms were becoming more and more p r o f o u n d and the c o m m o n m i s t a k e s a n d m i s t a k e s o f each separate g r o u p w e r e g r a d u a l l y being acknowledged. Thus, day by day the t e r r a i n w a s being cleared of impediments. The days w e r e passing f i l l e d w i t h debates. T h i s w a s a great s c h o o l f o r us, a s c h o o l w h i c h we h a d never h a d before. In the contributions to discussion everyone expressed his opinion w i t h o u t hesitat i o n a b o u t h o w w e s h o u l d j u d g e a n d act o n t h i s o r t h a t p r o b l e m i n t h e f u t u r e . I can't r e m e m b e r h o w m a n y t i m e s all the comrades spoke or intervened in the discussion.
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For my part I spoke m a n y times, sometimes to interject a short r e p l y , s o m e t i m e s a t some l e n g t h . T h e o t h e r c o m r a des a c t e d i n t h e s a m e w a y . I remember that I spoke after Q e m a l and supported his v i e w s o n a n u m b e r o f m a t t e r s . T h e s u b s t a n c e o f w h a t I said w a s t h i s : I associate m y s e l f w i t h t h e c r i t i c i s m C o m r a d e Q e m a l made o f o u r K o r a g r o u p f o r s e c t a r i a n i s m a n d t h e l a c k of a h e a l t h i e r c o m r a d e l y s p i r i t a n d g r e a t e r p a t i e n c e in the debates w e h a v e h e l d i n t h e past w i t h c o m r a d e s o f o t h e r groups. C o m r a d e K o o d i d n o t p o i n t out t h i s w r o n g s t a n d , but I a m s t r e s s i n g i t a n d w e h a v e t o a c k n o w l e d g e it, b e cause i t has c a u s e d great h a r m i n t h e past. W e m u s t n o t allow s u c h m a n i f e s t a t i o n s t o pass i n t o t h e P a r t y a n d m u s t free o u r s e l v e s f r o m t h e m , b u t w i t h o u t a c k n o w l e d g i n g them w e c a n n o t c o m b a t t h e m . T h e s e c t a r i a n i s m o f t h e K o r a g r o u p has b e e n expressed also i n its a c k n o w l e d g e d p a r o c h i a l i s m , w h i c h has d a m a g e d t h e e x t e n s i o n o f t h e w o r k o f t h e g r o u p and p r e v e n t e d i t f r o m m a k i n g contacts o n a m o r e e x t e n sive scale w i t h t h e c o m m u n i s t a n d d e m o c r a t i c m o v e m e n t all o v e r t h e c o u n t r y . T h e c o m r a d e s i n K o r a also h a v e exerted a n i n f l u e n c e o v e r t h e c o m r a d e s o f t h e K o r a group, w h o a r e n o t i n K o r a , t o w o r k i n a m o r e o r less closed a n d p a r o c h i a l w a y . S u c h v i e w s a n d stands n a r r o w t h e h o r i z o n s o f w o r k a n d v i s i o n , create a f e e l i n g o f s e l f - s a t i s f a c t i o n a n d e g o t i s m a n d f o s t e r t h e conceit, especially a m o n g s t those w h o h a v e s u c h t e n d e n c i e s i n their c h a r a c t e r . In s u c h a s i t u a t i o n , c o m r a d e K o o (I t u r n e d t o w a r d s him), o u r K o r a g r o u p let t h e w a y o p e n t o t h e T r o t s k y ites N i k o X o x i , A r i s t i d h Q e n d r o a n d o t h e r s t o l e a v e K o r a and m a k e c o n t a c t w i t h r e v o l u t i o n a r y y o u n g people i n different cities o f o u r c o u n t r y , t h u s d e s t r o y i n g t h a t n e cessary r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k w h i c h t h e g r o u p i t s e l f s h o u l d
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h a v e done w i t h t h e m i n o r g a n i z e d w a y s . W h a t d i d those o f o u r g r o u p d o f o r those i n T i r a n a a n d i n S h k o d r a ? W h a t d i d you do in Tirana, comrade K o o ? H o w did the ' Y o u t h ' G r o u p emerge as a faction f r o m our K o r a group? D o n ' t w e , too, h a v e o u r s h a r e o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r these m i s takes, these d e v i a t i o n s a n d t h i s s t e r i l e s t r u g g l e w h i c h went on amongst groups? I t h i n k we have, if we analyse our w o r k somewhat more profoundly. Naturally, I do n o t accept t h e m i s t a k e s a n d f a u l t s o f o t h e r g r o u p s a n d their members, either for our group or for us as i n d i v i d u a l s . B u t t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t w e are t o b l a m e f o r those mistakes and faults, we have to acknowledge t h e m and not w a s h o u r h a n d s o f them. Then, I went on to examine another question: Comrade V a s i l and y o u Anastas Lula, I said t u r n i n g towards them, you a n d y o u r groups made a great mistake that y o u d i d not adopt the C o m i n t e r n directives. T h i s gravely damaged the advance of the communist m o v e ment in A l b a n i a , permitted the penetration of T r o t s k y i s m i n t o o u r r a n k s a n d h i n d e r e d t h e o r g a n i z e d mass s t r u g g l e against Z o g a n d h i s r e g i m e . Y o u m u s t a c k n o w l e d g e these mistakes. For our part we have no reason to acknowledge them, o b j e c t e d A n a s t a s . T h a t w a s t h e t y p e h e w a s . H e made vindictive hints, but said nothing to back t h e m up. H o w come y o u don't acknowledge y o u r mistakes? demanded Sotir V u l l k a n i . Tell us why. F i r s t , t e l l m e w h e n those i n s t r u c t i o n s a r r i v e d i n A l b a n i a ? said Anastas in a tone of gloating t r i u m p h . I r e a l i z e d w h a t t h e o l d f o x w a s g e t t i n g at. so I replied calmly: In 1937. B u t i n 1937 w e w e r e n o t e v e n a f a c t i o n , let a l o n e a group, s a i d A n a s t a s g r a v e l y . W e b e g a n to create o u r g r o u p i n 1938 a n d e m e r g e d a s a n i n d e p e n d e n t g r o u p i n
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1940. W h y , t h e n , s h o u l d w e b e a r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r s o m e thing that happened before we were 'born'? H e g a v e t h e c o m r a d e s a t r i u m p h a n t l o o k a n d sat d o w n c o n v i n c e d t h a t h e h a d s t r u c k us. B u t I d i d n o t l e a v e h i m long to savour his triumph. A n a s t a s L u l a , I s a i d , y o u s h o u l d p u t aside t h e sophisms a n d c u n n i n g ' a r g u m e n t s ' o f a b a d j u g g l e r w i t h figures, a n d j u d g e m a t t e r s c o r r e c t l y ! T r u e , t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s o f the C o m i n t e r n a r r i v e d i n A l b a n i a i n 1937, b u t t h e y w e r e not j u s t f o r t h a t y e a r , b u t f o r t h e w h o l e p e r i o d a h e a d o f us, t h a t is, f o r t h e t i m e w h e n y o u b e g a n t o f o r m your faction and the t i m e w h e n y o u came out openly as a g r o u p . M o r e o v e r , t h e essence of t h e m t h e necessity f o r t h e l i n k i n g o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s w i t h t h e masses, the w o r k w i t h t h e masses, t h e f o r m a t i o n o f a b r o a d a n t i fascist f r o n t i s v a l i d f o r t o d a y , f o r t o m o r r o w a n d w i l l b e v a i l d f o r t h e f u t u r e , too. W i t h o u t w i n n i n g o v e r t h e masses, w i t h o u t c r e a t i n g s t r o n g l i n k s w i t h t h e w h o l e p e o ple, w i t h a l l t h e f o r c e s a r o u n d t h e P a r t y , o u r cause w i l l not a d v a n c e . T h e g r e a t l e a d e r s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t t e a c h u s this, t h i s i s t h e s p i r i t o f t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e C o m i n t e r n . Therefore, A n a s t a s L u l a , I r e - e m p h a s i z e t h a t y o u s h o u l d acknowledge the grave mistakes w h i c h y o u have made up t i l l n o w a n d m u s t n o t a l l o w t h e m t o b e repeated. O n l y t h e K o r a g r o u p accepted a n d a d o p t e d them, said K o o b o a s t f u l l y . It i s true, I c o n t i n u e d , t h a t t h e K o r a g r o u p m a d e n o m i s t a k e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n a n d f o r t h i s w e are i n d e b t e d , first o f a l l , t o A l i K e l m e n d i f o r t h e c o r r e c t o r i e n t a t i o n s he had given our group when he was in Albania. We accepted t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e C o m i n t e r n a n d t r i e d t o p u t them i n t o p r a c t i c e . B u t w e m u s t j u d g e t h e m a t t e r c o r r e c t l y : H o w d i d w e a p p l y these d i r e c t i v e s ? D i d w e c o m p l e tely l i q u i d a t e t h e o l d closed s e c t a r i a n cells a n d d i d w e g o a m o n g t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e p e o p l e ? D i d w e set t o
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w o r k t o create s o u n d m i l i t a n t n e w cells f r o m t h e r a n k s o f t h e people a n d t o b u i l d a t r u l y o r g a n i z e d d e t a c h m e n t not only of w o r k e r s of K o r a but of the w h o l e c o u n t r y ? C o m r a d e Koo, I turned to h i m , we must recognize openly that we d i d not f u l f i l the tasks we undertook. T r u e , w e d i s b a n d e d t h e cells, b u t those w e f o r m e d a l i t t l e l a t e r w e r e j u s t a b o u t t h e s a m e as t h e f o r m e r ones, w i t h a small difference in their numbers and principles. It is true that the influence of the group was felt a bit more amongst the masses, b u t o n l y i n t h e c i t y o f K o r a , I t i s t r u e that the y o u t h of K o r a were organized better and w e r e under the influence of the group, but outside the city, in the countryside and outside the district the question w a s left t o s p o n t a n e i t y . W i t h t h e f e w s m a l l n u c l e i t h a t w e c r e a t e d t h e r e w e c a n n o t p r e t e n d t h a t o u r g r o u p ser i o u s l y took i n h a n d a n d a p p l i e d t h e g r e a t i d e a s o f the C o m i n t e r n properly. We cannot avoid o u r great r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d c a n n o t f a i l t o a c k n o w l e d g e these d e fects a n d s h o r t c o m i n g s . T h e o t h e r g r o u p s acted c o m p l e t e l y in opposition to the directives of the C o m i n t e r n and, of course, t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i s g r e a t e r . I p e r s o n a l l y s t i l l p u t g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e o n these questions, I stressed, because t h e y h a v e h a d h a r m f u l consequences f o r o u r w o r k i n t h e past, a n d i f w e d o not m a k e a c l e a n sweep o f t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d m i s t a k e s w h i c h the groups have had, our n e w l y f o r m e d P a r t y w i l l suffer greatly. A r e we going to go on m a i n t a i n i n g the group spirit in our C o m m u n i s t P a r t y ? In no w a y ! W e m u s t b u r y t h i s s p i r i t once a n d f o r a l l h e r e t o d a y . B u t we w o u l d be naive to t h i n k that w h e n we emerge f r o m this meeting everything w i l l go smoothly. No, we w i l l have to wage a merciless struggle against the spirit and the unhealthy methods of the group w o r k and w i l l fight factions and factionalists w i t h o u t hesitation. W e m u s t emerge f r o m t h i s m e e t i n g f r e e d f r o m t h e f e e l i n g
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of the superiority or i n f a l l i b i l i t y of any group and armed w i t h t h e f e e l i n g o f t h e steel M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a w h i c h w e h a v e f o r m e d . W h e n we were discussing the political, ideological and o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s t a n d s w e h a d t a k e n a g a i n s t t h e fascist occupiers a n d t h e q u i s l i n g g o v e r n m e n t , I m a d e a n o t h e r short i n t e r p o l a t i o n a m o n g s t those o f c o m r a d e s o f v a r i o u s groups: W e o f t h e K o r a g r o u p , I p o i n t e d out, h a v e s a i d and say that we have not been w r o n g either in line or the stand w h i c h we have m a i n t a i n e d and continue to m a i n t a i n a g a i n s t t h e fascist o c c u p i e r s . I n r e g a r d t o t h e t w o other g r o u p s , a n d m o r e p r e c i s e l y t h e i r l e a d e r s , t h r o u g h their w r o n g views, they have t r i e d a n d up to a point have managed to hinder the anti-fascist activity of the r a n k a n d - f i l e c o m m u n i s t s , t h e y o u t h a n d others. T h a t m e a n s t o say, o b j e c t e d S a d i k P r e m t e , that y o u , too, a r e o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t t h e S h k o d r a g r o u p a n d our ' Y o u t h ' G r o u p h a v e n o t b e e n o p p o s e d t o t h e I t a l i a n fascist o c c u p a t i o n . T h i s i s a n a c c u s a t i o n . . . I d i d n ' t s a y a n y s u c h t h i n g , I r e p l i e d . K o o T a s h k o said it openly, but that's w h a t y o u r r e m a r k i s g e t t i n g at, c o n t i n u e d S a d i k . It i s n ' t at a l l as S a d i k P r e m t e says, I p o i n t e d out to t h e m e e t i n g . T h e issues I am g e t t i n g at are t h e s e : If K o o T a s h k o w i t h h i s i l l - c o n t r o l l e d a n d i r r i t a b l e remarks has i m p l i e d that the t w o other groups have not taken a stand against the occupiers, I dissociate myself f r o m t h i s o p i n i o n o f h i s . A l l o f us, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e p e o ple, rose a g a i n s t t h e o c c u p i e r s a n d t h e t r a i t o r s , a l l o f u s came o u t i n d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a n d d e m a n d e d w e a p o n s t o fight, b u t w e h a v e t o r e c o g n i z e t h a t w e w e r e n o t i n a position to organize the struggle and attack the enemy in the first days. L a t e r we recovered, organized our resistance a n d p r o p a g a n d a a g a i n s t t h e o c c u p i e r b e t t e r a n d
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thought more seriously about the war, but even then we d i d not manage to have all the groups do this w o r k i n t h e same w a y . M y o p i n i o n i s t h a t the K o r a g r o u p took a m o r e c o r r e c t v i e w o f t h e p r o b l e m s a n d t h e tasks a h e a d o f us. T h e S h k o d r a g r o u p w a s r e s o l u t e l y opposed to t h e o c c u p i e r , w a s a n t i - f a s c i s t , b u t , as I p o i n t e d out e a r l i e r , its l e a d e r s w e r e n o t c l e a r o n a n u m b e r o f m a j o r issues o f p r i n c i p l e . M e a n w h i l e , t h e l e a d e r s of the ' Y o u t h ' G r o u p and precisely the t w o comrades w h o a r e here, A n a s t a s L u l a a n d S a d i k P r e m t e , w e r e n o t a t a l l c l e a r o n these issues a n d , m o r e o v e r , t h e r e was an anti-communist and Trotskyite tinge to their views. W e protest a g a i n ! Y o u are m a k i n g a g r a v e a c c u s a t i o n a g a i n s t S a d i k a n d me, s a i d A n a s t a s , s p r i n g i n g t o h i s feet. W h a t i s t h e basis f o r w h a t y o u s a y ? ! I base w h a t I s a i d on a series of v i e w s a n d s l o g a n s w h i c h y o u have adopted and propagated, I said a n d I e x p l a i n e d the defeatist c o n t e n t o f t h e i r s l o g a n , the t i m e t o f i g h t h a s n o t c o m e yet, because w e h a v e n e i t h e r organization n o r weapons, a n d I w e n t on to denounce a n d condemn the views of such leaders as A r i s t i d h Qendro, A n d r e a Z i s i and others that we should i n f i l t r a t e t h e A l b a n i a n fascist p a r t y a n d t h e p o l i c e i n o r d e r t o f i n d o u t w h a t i s b e i n g d o n e there, t h a t it s h o u l d n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d w r o n g t o b e t r a y secrets t o t h e police, etc. I n fact, t h e r a n k a n d f i l e o f t h e g r o u p s d i d n o t accept these slogans, b u t t h e a n t i - M a r x i s t l e a d e r s w h o m I m e n t i o n e d , w h o w e r e agents o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d t h e o c c u p i e r , managed to impose themselves in a thousand w a y s on and keep the rank-and-file comrades under restraint. We had to e x p l a i n the S o v i e t - G e r m a n Non-aggression Pact to the comrades of the K o r a group, I continued. W e d i d t h i s a m o n g t h e people, too, because t h i s w a s a very delicate question w h i c h the enemy w a s e x p l o i t i n g
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t o the m a x i m u m , s o w e h a d t o e x p l a i n t h e c o n t e n t a n d aim o f t h a t p a c t t o t h e c o m r a d e s , t o m a k e c l e a r t o them and convince t h e m that the Soviet U n i o n w a s and remained w h a t it h a d been, the glorious h o m e l a n d of Lenin and Stalin. C o n t i n u i n g to explain this problem, I underlined that while the S h k o d r a group was not as active as it should have been, t h e Y o u t h G r o u p w a s t o t a l l y i n a c t i v e i n this d i r e c t i o n , i n d e e d , i t u s e d t h e n o n - a g g r e s s i o n p a c t to serve t h e T r o t s k y i t e t h e o r i e s of its l e a d e r s . Y o u see, Anastas s a i d , it i s p r o v e d t h a t y o u w e r e w r o n g a n d w e were r i g h t w h e n w e s a i d t h a t t h e t i m e t o f i g h t has n o t come, and h e c o n t i n u e d , w e are r i g h t t o c o n s i d e r t h a t w e m u s t wait u n t i l t h e c o u n t r y i s i n d u s t r i a l i z e d a n d t h e p r o l e t a r i a t created a n d t h e n f o r m t h e p a r t y , that w e m u s t t r a i n t h e cadres b e f o r e w e h u r l o u r s e l v e s i n t o t h e struggle, w e m u s t protect a n d n o t s a c r i f i c e t h e cadres, a n d o t h e r s u c h rubbish n o w w e l l - k n o w n t o a l l . H o w e v e r , t h i s h o s t i l e w o r k b y the T r o t s k y i t e l e a d e r s o f g r o u p s i m p e d e d t h e r a l l y i n g o f c o m m u n i s t energies i n r e s i s t a n c e a n d s t r u g g l e . T h e s e Trotskyite chiefs continued their defeatist a c t i v i t y even when the S o v i e t U n i o n w a s a t t a c k e d . T h e y t r i e d t o sabotage the s t r i k e s a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s w h i c h , i n t h e e n d , t h e Kora group and S h k o d r a group managed to organize jointly. I c o n t i n u e d to speak also a b o u t t h e close c o l l a b o r a t i o n w e had m a n a g e d t o e s t a b l i s h w i t h t h e o u t s t a n d i n g p a t r i o t , M y s l i m P e z a , a n d w i t h o t h e r p a t r i o t s . I s p e c i a l l y stressed the q u e s t i o n of the peasantry, pointing out c l e a r l y its great role i n o u r l i b e r a t i o n w a r a n d s a y i n g t h a t t h e K o r a group h a d t a k e n a c o r r e c t v i e w o f t h i s v i t a l q u e s t i o n in principle, but h a d done v e r y little about it in practice. The others h a d u n d e r r a t e d i t b o t h i n t h e o r y a n d i n p r a c tice, w h i l e A n a s t a s L u l a a n d c o m p a n y , w i t h their anti-
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Leninist theory, had abandoned the peasantry to the bourgeoisie a n d f a s c i s m . I d e m a n d e d t h a t w e s h o u l d a p p r e c i a t e a l l these m a j o r q u e s t i o n s c o r r e c t l y , because w e h a d t o m a k e u p f o r t h e t i m e w e h a d lost. F i e r y debates t o o k p l a c e a b o u t these p r o b l e m s j u s t a s a b o u t the p r e v i o u s ones. A n a s t a s ' g r o u p c a p i t u l a t e d . H e w a s o b l i g e d t o a d m i t r e l u c t a n t l y t h a t some o f h i s ideas h a d b e e n w r o n g , b u t . . . t h a t i t w a s n ' t p r e c i s e l y like t h a t . . . , that in practice, it w a s so b u t . . . , a h u n d r e d buts. A l l h i s a d m i s s i o n s w e r e j u s t t o t h r o w dust i n o u r eyes, a n d , a s l i f e i t s e l f s h o w e d , t h e y w e r e rocks above and below the water, were mines laid in t h e r o a d o f o u r resistance a n d f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e o c c u p i e r s . T h i s r o a d h a d t o b e c l e a r e d f o r t h e P a r t y a n d t h e people, the visible and invisible mines had to be defused. Ther e f o r e , d u r i n g those days, a t those f i e r y m o m e n t s w h e n t h e f a t e o f t h e people a n d t h e H o m e l a n d w a s d e c i d e d , t h e A l b a n i a n communists waged a great fierce battle and triumphed. T h e communists of the groups w h o w e r e present at this meeting were freed f r o m a lot of h a r m f u l v i e w s w i t h w h i c h t h e y h a d c r a m m e d t h e i r heads. T h e y b r o u g h t t h e m out i n the open, d i s c u s s e d t h e m f r e e l y a n d c o n d e m n e d t h e m , m a d e f i e r c e c r i t i c i s m s o f one a n o t h e r a n d gained immensely f r o m this great school. In praticular, our whole new P a r t y w h i c h we had formed was to gain a great d e a l . W h a t w o u l d this P a r t y be like, h o w w o u l d it be o r g a n i z e d , w h a t w o u l d b e its m i n i m u m p r o g r a m f o r the times we were passing through? A l l the comrades of t h e g r o u p s w h o t o o k p a r t i n t h e d i s c u s s i o n o f these v i t a l questions gave their opinions w h i c h were in general i n a c c o r d . I , too, dealt w i t h t h i s p r o b l e m a t l e n g t h i n m y c o n t r i b u t i o n , s a y i n g i n essence:
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C o m r a d e s , w e h a v e d e c i d e d t h e m a j o r issue, t h e main thing, we have founded the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a o n a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t basis. L i k e w i s e , w e h a v e f r a n k l y d i s c u s s e d t h e g o o d a n d b a d aspects o f t h e c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s . It's t r u e w e h a v e a t t a c k e d t h e e v i l s , but w e m u s t c o n t i n u e t o s t r u g g l e a n d , f r o m n o w o n , w e must n o t a l l o w these o r s i m i l a r m i s t a k e s dressed u p in other forms to occur again in the n e w circumstances w h i c h t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r w i l l create f o r us. W e m u s t p u t t h e g o o d aspects o f t h e g r o u p s , e s p e c i a l l y the p o s i t i v e aspects o f t h e w o r k t h e y h a v e done, i n t h e service o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e w a r , b u t w e m u s t n o t content o u r s e l v e s w i t h those f e w r e s u l t s w h i c h h a v e been a c h i e v e d . I n o r d e r t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e u n i t y i n t h e Party, f r o m n o w on we must not permit any d i s c r i m i n a tion i n t h e r a n k s o f m e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y i r r e s p e c t i v e from w h a t group they have come. T h e r e must not be any g r o u p p r e j u d i c e s r e t a i n e d i n t h e b a c k o f a n y o n e ' s minds. That's right, interjected V a s i l Shanto, and I propose t h a t f r o m n o w o n w e s h o u l d n o t h e a r a n y o n e s a y : 'I am a m e m b e r of this or that group.' F r o m n o w on there are o n l y m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a . I agree c o m p l e t e l y , I s a i d a n d c o n t i n u e d . T h e r e are n o l o n g e r m e m b e r s o r l e a d e r s o f g r o u p s , t h e y d o n ' t exist a n y m o r e . F r o m n o w o n t h e r e w i l l b e t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the P a r t y , t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a n d t h e r e g i o n a l committees. T h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y l i q u i d a t e d t h e groups f o r ever, h e n c e t h e s p i r i t a n d p r a c t i c e o f t h e i r w o r k m u s t b e e l i m i n a t e d , too. W i t h t h e e l e c t i o n o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e b y t h i s m e e t i n g w e l i q u i d a t e 'the p o w e r and i n f l u e n c e ' of l e a d e r s of c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s . I repeat once m o r e w h a t V a s i l s a i d : t h e r e are n o l o n g e r m e m b e r s o f groups. F r o m n o w o n t h e r e are o n l y m e m b e r s o f the Communist P a r t y of A l b a n i a .
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W h o w i l l b e t h e s o l d i e r s o f t h e P a r t y , t h a t is, its first members? T h e comrades here discussed this a n d t h e others w i l l discuss i t l a t t e r . I associate m y s e l f w i t h the idea that the soldiers of our P a r t y w i l l be the o r g a nized members of the f o r m e r communist groups of S h k o d r a , K o r a a n d t h e ' Y o u t h ' a f t e r t h e y h a v e b e e n screened, therefore, we should take the decision that i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h i s m e e t i n g w e s h o u l d p r e p a r e e x a c t lists o f t h e m e m b e r s of g r o u p s as q u i c k l y as possible. I s a y e x a c t m e a n i n g t h a t t h e lists s h o u l d n o t b e e n l a r g e d w i t h p e o p l e w h o h a v e n o t b e e n a c t i v e o r w h o a r e suspect, i n o r d e r t o increase t h e n u m b e r s o t h a t one o r t h e o t h e r g r o u p w i l l dominate in the Party. B u t neither should we present s h o r t lists i n o r d e r t o c o n c e a l a n d r e t a i n a c t i v i s t s f o r eventual factional w o r k outside the P a r t y . These lists must be handed over as q u i c k l y as possible to the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e w h i c h w i l l b e elected. T h e r e has b e e n a great d e a l of d i s c u s s i o n on t h e foundations on w h i c h the P a r t y must be built. My opin i o n is that our P a r t y should be built f o l l o w i n g t h e example of the Bolshevik Party, b o t h organizationally and ideologically. A c c o r d i n g to this experience, as far as I k n o w , its basic u n i t m u s t b e t h e c e l l , i n w h i c h t h e communists w i l l militate. The members of the cell w i l l elect its s e c r e t a r y a n d t h e c o m m u n i s t s o f t h e r e g i o n o r t h e i r delegates w i l l elect t h e r e g i o n a l c o m m i t t e e o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a . F o r the t i m e being, I think that the Central Committee should appoint the m a i n cadres o f t h e r e g i o n a l c o m m i t t e e s a n d t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d organizational secretary u n t i l the conditions are created for their election to be done by the regional organ i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y . W h e n w e create s u i t a b l e c o n d i t i o n s , t h e w h o l e P a r t y w i l l s e n d delegates t o t h e N a t i o n a l C o n ference w h i c h w i l l p l a y t h e r o l e o f t h e P a r t y C o n g r e s s a n d i n these c i r c u m s t a n c e s , a s s u c h , w i l l b e t h e h i g h e s t
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instance of the leadership of the P a r t y , w h i c h w i l l det e r m i n e its l i n e a n d elect t h e D e f i n i t i v e C e n t r a l C o m mittee. In the meeting there w e r e vigorous a n d concrete discussions, v a l u a b l e debates a n d p r o p o s a l s a b o u t t h e f u n c t i o n i n g , n o r m s a n d p r i n c i p l e s o f the n e w P a r t y . A l m o s t all t h e c o m r a d e s rose a n d s p o k e one a f t e r t h e other, o r expressed t h e i r o p i n i o n s i n v a r i o u s i n t e r p o l a t i o n s . W i t h these d i s c u s s i o n s a n d debates t h e p r o g r a m m a t i c l i n e o f the P a r t y , t h e f o u n d a t i o n s a n d n o r m s o n w h i c h i t w o u l d b e b u i l t , w e r e b e i n g w o r k e d out. T h u s , a m o n g s t o t h e r things, w e s t r e s s e d : In our P a r t y there w i l l be democratic centralism, open a n d s i n c e r e b o l s h e v i k c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m w i l l p r e v a i l . I n a l l its a c t i v i t y o u r P a r t y w i l l base itself on and be guided by the theory of M a r x , Engels, L e n i n and S t a l i n . O u r P a r t y i s a g a i n s t f a c t i o n s a n d g r o u p s , which i t w i l l fight mercilessly. O u r P a r t y w i l l encourage the e x p r e s s i o n o f o p i n i o n s , b u t t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e m a j o r i t y w i l l predominate over that of the minority, w h i c h must obey t h e m a j o r i t y . O u r P a r t y m u s t h a v e steel d i s c i p l i n e , must h a v e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y o f t h o u g h t a n d a c t i o n . W i t h o u t i n t e r n a l steel d i s c i p l i n e a n d u n i t y o u r P a r t y , w h i c h w i l l d o b a t t l e w i t h a l a r g e n u m b e r o f enemies, cannot l e a d t h e f i g h t s u c c e s s f u l l y . The P a r t y w i l l combat a l l a n t i - M a r x i s t ideologies and c u r r e n t s . I n o r d e r t o a c c o m p l i s h t h i s e f f e c t i v e l y , however, w e m u s t i n s i s t e n e r g e t i c a l l y o n r a i s i n g t h e t h e o retical, p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l e v e l o f t h e cadres a n d members o f t h e P a r t y b y s t u d y i n g t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t theory. Our P a r t y must be the organized v a n g u a r d of the w o r k i n g class, w h i l e it c o n s i d e r s t h e p e a s a n t r y as a f r i e n d l y class, a n a l l y o f t h e w o r k i n g class, a n d w i l l r e l y h e a v i l y o n i t because o u r p e a s a n t r y w i l l p l a y a m a j o r role,
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d u r i n g the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r a n d after. This was an important problem w h i c h had to be stressed a n d a l l the c o m m u n i s t s h a d t o b e c l e a r a b o u t i t . O u r P a r t y h a d been f o u n d e d a s a P a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class, w h i c h w o u l d b e g u i d e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t i d e o l o g y r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e fact t h a t i n o u r c o u n t r y t h i s class w a s v e r y s m a l l , m a d e u p o f a n u m b e r o f w a g e labourers, apprentices and craftsmen, and w e r e scarcely tested i n t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f s t r i k e s a n d clashes, o r t r a d e u n i o n a n d class struggles. T h e r e h a d b e e n w o r k e r s ' s t r i k e s i n t h e past i n v a r i o u s cities o f o u r c o u n t r y , b u t t h e y w e r e o n a s m a l l scale a n d not c o - o r d i n a t e d w i t h one a n o t h e r , b o t h because t h e n u m b e r o f w o r k e r s w a s s m a l l a n d because t h e r e w a s n o organization in trade-unions and no developed industrial b o u r g e o i s i e . T h e w o r k e r s ' s t r i k e s l i k e those i n K o r a , K u o v a a n d S h k o d r a , n a t u r a l l y , h a v e h a d a n e c o n o m i c class c h a r acter, b u t t h e y h a d also a s s u m e d a n a n t i - s t a t e c h a r a c t e r a gainst the g o v e r n m e n t a n d its o p p r e s s i v e m e a s u r e s . T h e s t r i k e w i t h t h e m o s t m a r k e d class c h a r a c t e r w a s t h a t o f t h e K u o v a workers, w h i c h was directed at the same time against c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t e r s , w h o w e r e t h e I t a l i a n concession holders. W h i l e the Puna association in K o r a had the i n i t i a l forms of the rally of w o r k e r s and craftsmen of the city to defend their economic rights against the e m p l o y e r s . T h i s a s s o c i a t i o n h a d also s t r u g g l e d f o r d e m o c r a t i c a n d p o l i t i c a l r i g h t s u p t o t h e p o i n t t h a t its m e m b e r s a n d s y m p a t h i z e r s c a m e o u t i n t h e streets d e m a n d i n g bread a n d f i g h t i n g w i t h Z o g ' s g e n d a r m e r i e . O f course, I am not going to d w e l l at length on this p r o b l e m here, because t h e P a r t y h a s m a d e a g e n e r a l a n a l y s i s o f t h i s c a p i t a l q u e s t i o n a n d o u r h i s t o r i a n s a n d sociologists w i l l c e r t a i n l y deepen i t w i t h f u r t h e r studies, b u t I w a n t t o p o i n t out that, w h e n w e f o u n d e d t h e P a r t y , w e r e c o g nized the political, ideological and organizational short-
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c o m i n g s a n d w e a k n e s s e s i n t h e w o r k i n g class, b u t also r e c o g n i z e d its f i g h t i n g t r a d i t i o n s , r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t a n d historic mission, therefore at the F o u n d i n g M e e t i n g of the Party we u n d e r l i n e d that our P a r t y w o u l d be the o r g a n i zed v a n g u a r d d e t a c h m e n t o f t h e w o r k i n g class. But, w h i l e bearing this in m i n d , the P a r t y never underestimated the role a n d great weight of the peasantry i n the w a r a n d r e v o l u t i o n . F r o m its e a r l i e s t d a y s t h e P a r t y took i n t o a c c o u n t t h a t i n t h e f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e o c c u p i e r s , i t a n d t h e class w h i c h i t r e p r e s e n t e d h a d t o r e l y o n t h e peasantry. T h e p e a s a n t s w e r e oppressed t o t h e l i m i t , h a d little o r n o l a n d , l i v e d i n m e d i a e v a l f e u d a l i g n o r a n c e a n d unheard of w a n t . A d d e d to the misery of the peasantry over t h e c e n t u r i e s caused b y t h e beys, t h e f e u d a l l o r d s , the u s u r i o u s g r a n d a n d p e t t y b o u r g e o i s i e , b y t h e aghas and b i g l a n d o w n e r s , w a s t h e o p p r e s s i o n i m p o s e d b y t h e Italian o c c u p i e r s , t h e p l u n d e r e r s o f t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n dependence o f t h e H o m e l a n d , w h o w e r e b r i n g i n g i n t h e i r own c o l o n i s t s a n d d r i v i n g t h e peasants f r o m t h e i r l a n d . O u r peasants h a d great r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a d i t i o n s . T h e y had f o u g h t m o r e t h a n t h e c i t y - d w e l l e r s a g a i n s t a series o f occupiers, a g a i n s t t h e i r e n s l a v i n g l a w s , a g a i n s t t a x e s and s o o n . T h e m o u n t a i n s a n d t h e v i l l a g e s , f r o m w h i c h our peasants p o u r e d d o w n u p o n t h e enemies, h a v e a l w a y s been t h e centres o f r e s i s t a n c e a n d l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e s . The p r o g r e s s i v e e l e m e n t s o f t h e c i t y , w h e t h e r f i g h t e r s with the pen or the rifle, h a d the peasantry as t h e i r m a i n base. I n r e g a r d t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e k n o w l e d g e , the l a n g u a g e a n d s c h o o l i n g i t c a n b e s a i d t h a t t h i s b e g a n i n the cities, b u t w h e n i t c a m e t o f i g h t i n g , t h e p r o g r e s s i v e and r e v o l u t i o n a r y e l e m e n t s o f t h e cities h a d t h e p e a s a n t r y a s t h e i r allies. N a t u r a l l y , i n those t i m e s w h e n t h e w o r k ing class d i d n o t e x i s t , t h e p e a s a n t r y w a s s u b j e c t e d t o various i n f l u e n c e s . T h e n , too, a s t r u g g l e w a s w a g e d o v e r who w o u l d w i n t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e p e a s a n t r y , t h e e m e r g -
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ENVER HOXHA
i n g b o u r g e o i s i e o r t h e beys, t h e f e u d a l l o r d s a n d t h e b i g landowners. T h e beys and the f e u d a l lords supported by the O t t o m a n and other occupiers maintained their d o m i n a t i o n o v e r t h e p e a s a n t r y b y m e a n s o f force, a l t h o u g h often enough they could not restrain the outbursts of the a n g e r o f t h e p e a s a n t r y against o c c u p i e r s a n d f e u d a l l o r d s . T h e f o l k songs, t h e g l o r i o u s h i s t o r y o f each e p o c h handed d o w n by w o r d of mouth, tell of this. However, the progressive elements w h o were emergi n g f r o m the u r b a n bourgeoisie and the progressive patr i o t i c elements w i t h i n f l u e n c e , w h o b r o k e a w a y f r o m t h e i r class o f beys a n d f e u d a l l o r d s , s t r u g g l e d t o a w a k e n t h e p e a s a n t r y a n d b e c a m e c o m p e t i t i v e w i t h t h e f e u d a l class i n o r d e r t o u n d e r m i n e its i n f l u e n c e i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e . O f course, t h e r e w e r e o t h e r f a c t o r s w h i c h c o m p e t e d i n t h e struggle, w h i c h I h a v e b r i e f l y m e n t i o n e d , s u c h a s t h e v a r i o u s r e l i g i o n s , i n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e heads o f w h i c h a s s i s t e d b o t h t h e f o r e i g n e r s a n d t h e e x p l o i t i n g class o f feudal lords and the bourgeois speculators. Nevertheless, a m o n g t h e believers, a m o n g p e o p l e o f a l l r e l i g i o n s , especially the Moslems and the O r t h o d o x Christians, there w e r e l i b e r a l c u r r e n t s w h i c h stressed t h e s i d i n g o f t h e peasantry w i t h the progressive bourgeoisie. T h e patriotic r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t , t h e s t r u g g l e against p o v e r t y a n d o p pression impelled our p r o u d peasantry not towards athei s m , a s w e c o m m u n i s t s u n d e r s t a n d it, b u t o n t h e c o u r s e of t h i n k i n g : I h a v e a r e l i g i o n , because t h a t ' s t h e w a y i t is, because I w a s b o r n o f t h a t r e l i g i o n a n d t h a t ' s h o w I w i l l die. I n t h e g r e a t s t r u g g l e w h i c h a w a i t e d u s w e w e r e g o i n g t o r e l y p r e c i s e l y o n these masses, o n these traditions, therefore in my contribution I pointed out: The P a r t y must combat sectarianism and opportunism, both in thought and action. We must increase the ranks of the Party, first of all, w i t h sound w o r k e r elements, b u t also w i t h peasants a n d o t h e r r e v o l u -
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t i o n a r y f i g h t e r s . A l l those w h o a r e a d m i t t e d t o t h e P a r t y must b e tested i n s t r u g g l e f o r t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f its aims. W e m u s t close t h e d o o r s o f t h e P a r t y t o spies a n d p r o v o c a t e u r s , t o gossips a n d c o w a r d s , t o f a c t i o n a l i s t s , a n a r c h i s t s a n d i n t r i g u e r s w h o w i l l t r y t o p e n e t r a t e its r a n k s i n o r d e r t o cause c o n f u s i o n a n d t o create t h e terrain for anti-Party Trotskyite work. T h e m e r c i l e s s o r g a n i z e d s t r u g g l e against the o c c u p i e r s and traitors must occupy the m a i n place in the p r o g r a m of our Party. O u r a i m is the general armed uprising, in w h i c h the w h o l e people must be mobilized, but in order t o r e a c h t h i s stage t h e s i m p l e r f o r m s o f s t r u g g l e , d e m o n s t r a tions, acts of sabotage, e x e c u t i o n s of e n e m i e s a n d r e p e a t e d actions m u s t b e c a r r i e d out. I n t h e cities t h e P a r t y m u s t o r g a n i z e t h e g u e r r i l l a u n i t s , w h i l e i n the v i l l a g e s i t m u s t f o r m p a r t i s a n eta a n d u n i t s o f f r e e d o m f i g h t e r s f r o m w h i c h , i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e w a r , i t w i l l o r g a n i z e the b i g units w h i c h w i l l f o r m t h e people's a r m y . T h e r e f o r e , t h e P a r t y m u s t e x t e n d its w o r k a m o n g t h e masses a n d c a r r y out w i d e - r a n g i n g p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t y e v e r y w h e r e i n o r d e r t o m o b i l i z e t h e people, a l l honest i n d i v i d u a l s , a l l t h e p a t r i o t i c a n d a n t i - f a s c i s t forces i n t h e great s t r u g g l e . T h e w h o l e people m u s t b e c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e o n l y w a y t o escape f r o m s l a v e r y i s t o f i g h t a r m s i n h a n d a n d that they w i l l t r i u m p h i n t h i s f i g h t . T h e people m u s t b e c o n vinced about the strength and the correct line of the Party. O u r new P a r t y must be in the forefront of the f i g h t ; w h e r e v e r t h e d a n g e r i s greatest, w h e r e v e r t h e sacrifices are greatest, t h a t i s w h e r e t h e c o m m u n i s t s must be. The P a r t y must tell the people that it is fighting so they t h e m s e l v e s w i l l t a k e p o w e r a n d , w h e n t h i s i s a c h i e v e d , the P a r t y w o u l d c a r r y o u t m a j o r economic, c u l t u r a l a n d social r e f o r m s . T h e P a r t y w i l l t e l l the people that, ' f r e e d o m must b e w o n , i t i s n o t d o n a t e d . ' T h e r e f o r e , t h e C o m m u n i s t
280
ENVER HOXHA
P a r t y of A l b a n i a w h i c h has been f o r m e d w i l l lead the N a t i o n a l Liberation W a r and the people to victory. T h i s m u s t b e the great m i s s i o n o f t h e P a r t y i n g e n e r a l o u t l i n e . A f t e r these o p i n i o n s h a d b e e n e x p r e s s e d a n d a l l t h e c o m r a d e s h a d d i s c u s s e d these i m p o r t a n t p r o b l e m s , f i n a l l y w e d e c i d e d u n a n i m o u s l y t h a t these p r i n c i p l e s a n d t h e conclusions and decisions of this historic meeting, w h i c h founded the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a , should be summed up in the Resolution of the M e e t i n g of the M a i n Communist Groups of A l b a n i a on the F o r m a t i o n of the Party. A f t e r a l l t h i s w e came t o t h e f i n a l q u e s t i o n : t h e election of the C e n t r a l Committee. First, the comrades agreed t o t h e p r o p o s a l t h a t t h i s C o m m i t t e e w h i c h w e w o u l d elect w o u l d b e p r o v i s i o n a l u n t i l t h e c a l l i n g o f a N a t i o n a l Conference of the P a r t y . B u t w h o w o u l d be elected? T h i s w a s n o t a s i m p l e p r o b l e m , b e a r i n g i n m i n d t h a t chiefs o f t h e f o r m e r g r o u p s , those w h o h a d a l w a y s pretended to be at the head of everything, were t a k i n g part in the meeting, and they w o u l d certainly have l i k e d to be in the leadership of the n e w P a r t y . A n d then, w h i c h f o r m e r h e a d o f a g r o u p w o u l d b e the c h i e f a t t h e head of the C e n t r a l Committee? The C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a h a d been founded, but the confusion of the f o r m e r groups h a d not been and could not be eliminated so q u i c k l y f r o m t h e m i n d s a n d consciousness o f t h e i r m e m b e r s . Therefore, m a n y comrades i n c l u d i n g me w e r e of the opinion that the f o r m e r chiefs of the groups should be l e f t out o f t h e l e a d e r s h i p a l t o g e t h e r . T h i s d e c i s i o n w o u l d have exceptional importance for unity of leadership of the n e w l y formed Party, and consequently for the w h o l e Party. Because we judged matters in this way, we had to f i n d a w a y a t a l l costs t o l e a v e out t h e c h i e f s . A n d the possibilities for this existed. Besides the period before the
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meeting, t h e s i x o r s e v e n d a y s o f debates a t t h e m e e t i n g , especially, h a d s h o w n u p t h e c h i e f s i n t h e i r t r u e c o l o u r s . T h e y h a d b e e n a t t a c k e d m o r e h e a v i l y t h a n a n y o n e else and b l a m e d f o r t h e f o r m e r w e a k n e s s e s i n t h e c o m m u n i s t movement of A l b a n i a . At this point M i l a d i n , in his role of arbitre a m o n g the groups, i n t e r v e n e d t o m a k e a w i s e i n t e r p o l a t i o n . H e s a i d : Comrades, here I am t a k i n g account of an opinion or a proposal w h i c h comrade Tashko made sometimes ago. He p r o p o s e d t h a t as one of t h e h e a d s of t h e f o r m e r groups h e s h o u l d n o t b e elected t o t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e . I think that the proposal is valid, not only for h i m , but also f o r t h e others. T h e r e f o r e , l o o k i n g a t K o o ' s p e r s o n a l proposal in a g e n e r a l c o n t e x t , I suggest to t h e m e e t i n g t h a t none o f t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e f o r m e r g r o u p s , n e i t h e r c h a i r m e n nor v i c e - c h a i r m e n , s h o u l d b e elected t o t h e P r o v i s i o n a l Central Committee. Immediately I remembered that during a conversation before t h e m e e t i n g , a t w h i c h some o f o u r c o m r a d e s a n d M i l a d i n P o p o v i w e r e present, w h e n w e w e r e t a l k i n g about h o w t h e c h i e f s o f t h e g r o u p s h a d h i n d e r e d o u r u n i t y i n t h e past a n d w e r e s t i l l a h i n d r a n c e t o it, K o o Tashko's face h a d f l u s h e d w i t h a n g e r a n d o n t h e s p u r o f the m o m e n t h e h a d s a i d : If I h a v e b e e n a h i n d r a n c e t h e n r e m o v e me. T h o u g h it is n o t I w h o h a v e h i n d e r e d u n i t y , b u t those of t h e Shkodra and 'Youth' groups... I was convinced that K o o did this simply for demago gy, in o r d e r to a p p e a r generous, p r i n c i p l e d , d e v o t e d t o the cause, etc. M o r e o v e r , K o o h a d r e p e a t e d t h i s state ment i n p a s s i n g i n o n e o f h i s i n t e r v e n t i o n s d u r i n g the meeting. W h e n M i l a d i n s a i d this, K o o T a s h k o seemed s t u n n e d and he s a i d :
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ENVER HOXHA Just h a n g on a m i n u t e . . . , don't misunderstand m e . . .
W h a t I meant w a s . . . Y o u w e r e q u i t e right, s a i d P i l o i n a s e r i o u s tone, b u t not without a t o u c h of i r o n y . I agree t h a t t h e c h i e f s s h o u l d n o t be elected. Anastas L u l a and Sadik Premte kept their tempers in check. T h e y d i d n o t k n o w w h o t o t a k e i t o u t o n , K o o o r t h e m s e l v e s . O n l y V a s i l S h a n t o took t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e meeting calmly and w i t h the generosity of a true and devoted communist. I don't remember who proposed the
c o m p r o m i s e , w h i c h w a s accepted, t h a t t h e l i s t o f c a n didates t o t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e s h o u l d b e p r e p a r e d a n d presented by a commission the groups and were of three in people made up of the meeting. So, t h e c o m r a d e s w h o h a d b e e n m o r e o r less a t t h e h e a d o f taking part Koo Tashko, V a s i l Shanto and Anastas L u l a were appointed to the commission. B u t this commission did not operate a p a r t f r o m c o n s u l t a t i o n s w i t h t h e c o m r a d e s present a t t h e m e e t i n g a n d n o t j u s t each w i t h t h e c o m r a d e s o f h i s o w n g r o u p , b u t also i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h others. T h e l i s t w a s d r a w n u p t a k i n g i n t o account t h e past o f the c a n d i d a t e s , w h i c h w a s t h e i r r o l e i n t h e m e e t i n g , also b e a r i n g i n m i n d their class origin and establishing a correct proportion b e t w e e n those w i t h w o r k e r o r i g i n o r status a n d i n t e l l e c tuals. I t w a s t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t that, w i t h i n t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s , a certain balance should be maintained in i n c l u d i n g the f r o m the former groups in the Committee. of the elected candidates the which were Central presented, Committee the of for soundest r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s Central
T h u s , a f t e r d i s c u s s i o n o f these q u e s t i o n s a n d t h e c h a r acteristics meeting Provisional
seven persons. In order to ensure u n i t y there was no election
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chairman or secretary of the C e n t r a l Committee. (8) Complete parity was made the foundation of the w h o l e w o r k as it had been for the preparation and the conduct of the proceedings o f t h e M e e t i n g f o r t h e F o u n d i n g o f t h e P a r t y , N o t h i n g s h o u l d b e d o n e w h i c h w o u l d create t h e i m p r e s s i o n that one g r o u p h a d m o r e r i g h t s a n d a d v a n t a g e s t h a n the other. T h u s , a f t e r s e v e n d a y s o f i n t e n s i v e w o r k the m e e t i n g came t o a n e n d w i t h a great v i c t o r y , t h e f o u n d i n g o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a , w i t h a correct l i n e a n d a clear p r o g r a m . W i t h j o y i n o u r h e a r t s a n d f u l l o f e n t h u s i a s m w e set t o w o r k w i t h zeal a n d o p t i m i s m .
T a k e n f r o m When the Party Was Born, 3rd A l b . ed., Tirana 1983
___________________________________________ 8 K n o w n h i s t o r i c a l facts and o f f i c i a l documents of the Party show that C o m r a d e E n v e r H o x h a led the (Provisional) Central Committee. He was elected G e n e r a l Secretary of the C P A at the 1st N a t i o n a l Conference, h e l d on 17-22 M a r c h 1943 in L a b i n o t (Elbasan). T h e Conference, also, elected the Definitive C e n t r a l Committee, comprised of 15 members and 5 alternate members, a n d the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u .
REFLECTIONS
July 15, 1981
W e A l b a n i a n s , a s a people, a P a r t y a n d state h a v e a l w a y s been a n d a r e a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s t w a r s , a g a i n s t a n y unjust w a r w h i c h is aimed at the enslavement, slaughter a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n o f the peoples. T h i s h a s its o w n c o n c r e t e h i s t o r i c a l reasons. T h r o u g h o u t t h e i r e x i s t e n c e t h e A l b a n i a n people h a v e s u f f e r e d g r e a t l y as a r e s u l t of s u c h wars w h i c h have been directly detrimental to their freedom, territorial integrity and national independence. A l l these w a r s w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n h a v e b r o u g h t o u r p e o p l e bloodshed, exploitation and the fragmentation of t h e i r territory. This is an undeniable reality. O u r p e o p l e h a v e f a c e d u p t o these and have fought w i t h unflinching wars heroically determination against
savage enemies i n defence o f t h e i r f r e e d o m , i n d e p e n d e n c e , integrity, culture and their v e r y existence, in defence of w h a t has fight been a n d have is theirs. At the same our people have experience gained time, in t h e how them to to course o f these w a r s better, learned enabling
u n d e r s t a n d t h e p r o b l e m s t h a t f a c e d t h e m , t h e aims, tactics, plans and plots of external a n d i n t e r n a l enemies and, on t h i s basis, t h e y h a v e b e e n a b l e t o build the tactics of
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their resistance in order to w i t h s t a n d the evil-doing of the e n e m i e s . T h i s , too, is a r e a l i t y . To be a b l e to d i s t i n g u i s h f r i e n d s f r o m foes, f a l s e f r i e n d s f r o m t r u e f r i e n d s , i s a q u e s t i o n o f e x p e r i e n c e . M i s t a k e s a r e o f t e n t h e best teachers, o u r p e o p l e say. T h e y also s a y : T h e w a t e r s m a y sleep b u t n o t t h e e n e m y . T h e s e t w o s a y i n g s , these two great teachings, have emerged f r o m the p r o f o u n d p h i l o s o p h i c a l t h i n k i n g o f t h e people, f r o m o u r people's great e x p e r i e n c e o f l i f e , a n d h a v e g u i d e d t h e m t h r o u g h o u t the ages of t h e i r h i s t o r y . The struggle of a people for national existence does not and cannot depend on the combinations and diplomatic intrigues of other states, be they big or small. It depends on the consciousness of the people themselves, when they attain understanding of what their rights and true interests are, have confidence in their own strength at any moment and in any situation, and know how to defend these rights and interests with iron will, sound logic, and revolutionary struggle. Only then the strength of the people becomes invincible, is multiplied a hundredfold and bursts out like an irresistible hurricane. We A l b a n i a n s have proceeded on such a course. H i s t o r y proves this, otherwise we w o u l d not exist today, the i n v a d e r s w o u l d h a v e a s s i m i l a t e d u s o r t h e e n e m i e s would have w i p e d us out; otherwise we w o u l d not have succeeded i n b u i l d i n g a m o r e a d v a n c e d society, socialist society, i n w h i c h t h e p e o p l e a r e i n p o w e r . U n d e r t h e leadership of the P a r t y and w i t h this r i c h experience of struggles a n d w a r s for freedom, our people fought, a c h i e v e d v i c t o r y a n d succeeded i n b u i l d i n g t h e n e w society. M o r e o v e r , t h e y a r e d e t e r m i n e d t o d e v e l o p t h i s society s t i l l f u r t h e r a n d w i l l n e v e r a l l o w t h e i r f r e e d o m , independence and the victories attained to slip f r o m t h e i r h a n d s o r b e s t o l e n f r o m t h e m b y a n y e n e m y , great or small, old or new.
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W e k n o w t h a t t h e r e are i n d i v i d u a l s a n d a l i e n forces w h o c a n n o t s t a n d A l b a n i a a n d its people a n d d o n o t w a n t t h e m t o exist, w h o d o n o t w a n t t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e t o b u i l d t h e i r l i f e i n the w a y t h e y t h e m s e l v e s h a v e d e c i d e d , w h o are displeased t h a t s m a l l A l b a n i a exists as a socialist state a m i d s t a n ocean o f c a p i t a l i s t states w i t h v a r i o u s labels. B u t t h e y c a n d o n o t h i n g t o socialist A l b a n i a . T h e t i m e s a n d t h e r a t i o o f forces h a v e c h a n g e d g r e a t l y i n f a v o u r o f o u r people a n d A l b a n i a . Y e s , t h e y m a y a t t a c k t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a f r o m outside, a n d w e n e v e r forget o r neglect t h i s p o s s i b i l i t y , b u t w e shall defend ourselves and we k n o w h o w to defend ourselves a n d w i n . T h r o u g h o u t t h e i r h i s t o r y t h e A l b a n i a n people h a v e k n o w n h o w t o d e f e n d t h e m s e l v e s . O u r P a r t y o f L a b o u r has f u r t h e r e n r i c h e d a n d t e m p e r e d t h e u n i t y o f o u r people i n t h e w a r f o r defence. M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m teaches u s t h a t t h e peoples w h o f i g h t t o d e f e n d t h e i r f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e w a g e a j u s t w a r , hence t h e y are i n v i n c i b l e . A n d t h e A l b a n i a n people a r e i n v i n c i b l e . T h e y m a y t r y t o d i v i d e us, t o t a k e t h e f o r t r e s s f r o m w i t h i n , but this w i l l not occur as long as the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a , a genuine M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t Party, remains at the h e a d o f the A l b a n i a n people. O u r f o r t r e s s i s n o t l i k e t h e fortresses o f t h e i r d r e a m s . W e h a v e b u i l t i t w i t h o u r o w n hands on our o w n soil, through the bloodshed and toil o f t h e sons o f t h i s l a n d . T h e r e are n o c r a c k s o r b r e a c h e s i n its w a l l s a n d i t has n o t been b u i l t w i t h r o t t e n m a t e r i a l s . It is able to w i t h s t a n d all the waves of w a r just as it has w i t h s t o o d those t h a t h a v e c r u s h e d u p o n i t i n t h e past. T h e i m p e r i a l i s t , s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t a n d o t h e r enemies m a y t r y t o m a k e o u r P a r t y d e v i a t e a s t h e y succeeded i n d o i n g w i t h o t h e r parties, but t h i s w i l l n e v e r o c c u r w i t h u s because n e v e r f o r one m o m e n t w i l l t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r of A l b a n i a deviate f r o m the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t theory and the Leninist norms of the life of the p a r t y at any time
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or on any question. It is precisely this resolute stand, t h i s steadfast l o y a l t y t o M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m t h a t keeps our P a r t y pure and makes it strong. The P a r t y is closely l i n k e d w i t h t h e people, i t exists, l i v e s a n d f i g h t s i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e people w h o g a v e b i r t h t o it, w h o a r e t h e d a i l y w i t n e s s e s o f t h e great l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e P a r t y in the progress of the c o u n t r y a n d the raising of their economic well-being, and social and cultural level. So, i t i s c l e a r w h y t h e A l b a n i a n people are against predatory imperialist wars. T h e y have suffered the terr i b l e g r a v e consequences o f s u c h w a r s o n t h e i r o w n b a c k s . T h a t i s w h y o u r people a n d t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a are f o r peace b e t w e e n n a t i o n s . T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e A l b a n i a n people o v e r t h e c e n t u r i e s a n d o u r M a r x i s t Leninist ideology w h i c h guides the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a i n e v e r y a c t i o n are e v i d e n t p r o o f o f t h e i r correct s t a n d o n t h i s great p r o b l e m , i r r e s p e c t i v e o f w h a t those w h o , i n fact, are o p p o n e n t s o f peace b e t w e e n n a t i o n s say. O u r people h a v e n e v e r a t t a c k e d o t h e r peoples, t h e y h a v e n e v e r c o v e t e d o r l a i d e v e n a f i n g e r o n w h a t belongs t o others, o n t h e c o n t r a r y , a l t h o u g h t h e A l b a n i a n s h a v e been the victims of the evil and predatory aims and a m b i t i o n s o f some states, t h e y h a v e gone t o t h e i r a i d . T h i s , too, i s a r e a l i t y w h i c h c a n n o t b e concealed b y a n y k i n d o f p r o p a g a n d a o r d e m a g o g y . S o m e m a y present h i s t o r i c a l e v e n t s i n b o o k s a n d i n t h e press t h e o t h e r w a y r o u n d , b u t t h e y c a n n o t d o s o w i t h r e a l h i s t o r y , because i t i s p e r p e t u a t e d i n t h e b o s o m o f t h e peoples t h e m s e l v e s , b y t h e peoples t h e m s e l v e s w h o h a n d i t d o w n f r o m one generation to another. H o w e v e r w e a r e v e r y c l e a r a b o u t t h e fact t h a t peace b e t w e e n peoples c a n n o t b e a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t t h e j u s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples t h e m s e l v e s against those w h o d o n o t w a n t t h i s peace, w h o d o n o t w a n t t h e f r e e d o m a n d s o v e r e i g n t y o f peoples, d o n o t w a n t
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t h e peoples t o f r e e t h e m s e l v e s f r o m t h e h e a v y c h a i n s o f e n s l a v e m e n t a n d savage e x p l o i t a t i o n w i t h w h i c h the capitalist powers have shackled t h e m for centuries. T h i s i s p r e c i s e l y w h e r e t h e peoples w h o w a n t c o m p l e t e f r e e d o m and their imperialist oppressors and plunderers reach the p a r t i n g o f t h e i r w a y s . T h i s i s a class s t r u g g l e b o t h i n ternal and on an international plane. In this struggle the enemies o f t h e peoples, t h e c a p i t a l i s t s o f a l l hues a n d calibres, s t r i v e t o p r e s e r v e t h e i r p l u n d e r a n d d o m i n a t i o n o f t h e peoples, w h i l e t h e l a t t e r f i g h t t o w i n t h e i r r i g h t s a n d p u t a n e n d t o t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f m a n b y m a n once and for all. I n t h e i r u n j u s t p r e d a t o r y w a r a g a i n s t t h e peoples, t h e c a p i t a l i s t s are g u i d e d b y t h e i r o w n i d e o l o g y , b u t t h e peoples, too, h a v e t h e i r i d e o l o g y , M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t h e i m m o r t a l ideas o f M a r x , E n g e l s , L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , w h i c h guide them towards liberation f r o m capital. This is the source of the contradictions and s t r u g gle b e t w e e n t w o s y s t e m s w h i c h r e p r e s e n t t w o d i f f e r e n t societies, c a p i t a l i s t a n d socialist, w h i c h h a v e c o m p l e t e l y opposite a i m s a n d interests, i n s t r u g g l e w i t h a n d d i a m e t r i c a l l y opposed t o e a c h o t h e r i n r e g a r d t o t h e w a y s of the development of m a n k i n d in the future. T h i s is also t h e s o u r c e o f t h e p o l i c y o f states w i t h d i f f e r e n t systems i n t h e w o r l d . T h e p o l i c y o f c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t b o u r g e o i s states serves t h e i n t e r e s t s of t h e b o u r g e o i s class w h i c h r u l e s i n those c o u n t r i e s . I t e x e r c i s e s t h i s r u l e t h r o u g h a s t r u c t u r e a n d s u p e r s t r u c t u r e w h i c h oppresses a n d e x p l o i t s t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e p e a s a n t r y a n d t h e o t h e r w o r k i n g masses o f t h e c o u n t r y . T h i s r u l e i s e x e r c i s e d also t h r o u g h a l l k i n d s o f a l l i a n c e s w h i c h t h e c a p i t a l i s t revisionist bourgeoisie forms w i t h that of the b i g capitalist, i m p e r i a l i s t a n d s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t states. T h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e o f v a r i o u s states w i t h c a p i t a l i s t systems a n d w i t h n u a n c e s i n t h e f o r m o f
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t h e state a n d w h a t i t i s c a l l e d v a r i e s d e p e n d i n g o n t h e i r different levels of socio-economic potential to w h i c h their u n e q u a l development gives rise. The efforts to eliminate these d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s a n d t h e i r consequences cause c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s class i n power, different strata and representatives of w h i c h , through demagogic political manoeuvres strive to ensure t h a t state p o w e r n e v e r s l i p s f r o m t h e h a n d s o f t h e i r class. T h e y d i s g u i s e these d e c e p t i v e m a n o e u v r e s , w h i c h a r e v e r y d a n g e r o u s f o r t h e peoples, w i t h t h e s o - c a l l e d democratic freedoms of the capitalist system, w i t h the s t r u g g l e e a c h o f t h e i r p a r t i e s w a g e s f r o m its o w n p o s i t i o n s f o r t h e r i g h t s o f electors, t h e w o r k i n g masses, w i t h t h e struggle w h i c h parties of various descriptions wage even i n p a r l i a m e n t , etc. B u t t h e r e i s n o t h i n g d e m o c r a t i c a b o u t these p a r t i e s a n d w h a t t h e y r e p r e s e n t . T h e struggle between t h e m is a struggle between financial-political clans, a s t r u g g l e of w o r d s , a s t r u g g l e c o n d u c t e d in c o r r i d o r s a n d d r a w i n g - r o o m s in the interests neither of the w o r k i n g masses n o r o f t h e electors. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , a s s o o n a s t h e y get i n t o p a r l i a m e n t , t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f these p a r t i e s , t h e d e p u t i e s elected t h r o u g h free, d e m o c r a t i c ballot approve laws w h i c h are completely in favour of t h e b o u r g e o i s i e , t o p r o t e c t its i m m e n s e c a p i t a l , i.e., t o prolong the existence of the rule of the bourgeoisie over t h e w o r k i n g masses. In capitalist society the opposition between political currents and the economic reforms proclaimed by the various bourgeois parties serve o n l y to ensure their p o w e r o r t o s h a r e i t a n d t h e colossal p r o f i t s a m o n g t h e m s e l v e s , a t t h e e x p e n s e o f t h e masses. O n l y t h e i l l u s i o n i s c r e a t e d that they are allegedly f i g h t i n g in the interests of the masses, w h e r e a s i n f a c t a n d i n essence t h e y a r e f i g h t i n g f o r t h e r e l e n t l e s s i m p o v e r i s h m e n t o f t h e masses, f o r t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e i r b l o o d a n d sweat.
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T h u s i n c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t b o u r g e o i s society, t h e p o l a r i z a t i o n i n t o oppressors a n d oppressed, i n t o e x p l o i t e r s a n d e x p l o i t e d , i s d e e p e n e d . S i m i l a r class r e l a t i o n s e x i s t also a m o n g c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t states. T h e biggest states, those w i t h t h e greatest e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y p o w e r , impose their l a w in various w a y s on the smaller capitalist a n d r e v i s i o n i s t states. T h e e c o n o m i c d e p e n d e n c e w h i c h i s i m p o s e d o n t h e s m a l l states b y t h e b i g ones u n d o u b t e d l y brings all-round political dependence a n d submission. The i n d e p e n d e n c e of these states is f i c t i t i o u s a n d serves o n l y t o e m b e l l i s h t h e i r c o n s t i t u t i o n s a n d d e c e i v e t h e peoples. It is an i r r e f u t a b l e fact t h a t t o d a y a n u m b e r of c a p i l a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t states are d e p e n d e n t o n a n d a l i g n e d w i t h the imperialist superpowers and their policies t h r o u g h a thousand interconnecting threads, and not only t h r o u g h such m i l i t a r y organisms as N A T O and the W a r s a w Treaty, or monopoly economic communities such as the E u r o pean C o m m o n M a r k e t and Comecon. E v e n the other capit a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t states, w h i c h are n o t m e m b e r s o f these blocs, are b y n o m e a n s i n d e p e n d e n t f r o m o r n o n - a l i g n e d w i t h the big powers and the imperialist and social-imperi a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r s . T h e s e s o - c a l l e d i n d e p e n d e n t states h a v e got i n t o p e r m a n e n t d e b t t o t h e b i g c a p i t a l i s t p o w e r s . C o n s e q u e n t l y , a n d t h e r e c a n b e n o d o u b t a b o u t this, t h e i r p o l i t i c a l i n d e p e n d e n c e has n o s o l i d basis, because e v e r y one k n o w s t h a t t h e r e c a n b e n o p o l i t i c a l i n d e p e n d e n c e w i t h o u t economic independence. Past and present international practice confirms this. If this u n w r i t t e n capitalist l a w d i d n o t o p e r a t e i n a n i n f l e x i b l e w a y i n t h e r e l a tions of subjection between the provider and the receiver o f m o n e y o r c o m m o d i t i e s o n c r e d i t s o r loans, t h e a l l r o u n d pressure of the bigger on the smaller, of the v e r y r i c h and the rich on the poor and the v e r y poor w o u l d h o t exist, t h e i n s t a b i l i t y i n t h e p o l i c y o f states w o u l d n o t exist, t h e s t r u g g l e f o r m a r k e t s , n e o - c o l o n i a l i s m , t h e
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i n t e r f e r e n c e o f one state i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f a n o t h e r state, w h i c h has b e c o m e a c o m m o n o c c u r r e n c e a l l over the w o r l d and even develops into bloody local armed c o n f l i c t s , w o u l d n o t e x i s t . T h e g e n e r a l c r i s i s itself d e t e r m ines t h e c h a i n o f e c o n o m i c - p o l i t i c a l d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t states on one a n o t h e r . To conceal this situation of economic-political subj e c t i o n f r o m t h e peoples, t o f a i l t o s h o w t h e m t h e reasons f o r a n d t h e sources o f t h i s g e n e r a l p o l i t i c a l i n s t a b i l i t y i n t h e w o r l d , t o f a i l t o m a k e c l e a r t o t h e m w h o oppresses a n d e x p l o i t s t h e m , t o use a l l sorts o f a n t i - s o c i a l a n d a n t i - r e v olutionary political formulas, to conceal the great a n d u n i n terrupted a r m i n g of the superpowers and the imperialist powers as w e l l as their frenzied preparations for war, is a great a n d unpardonable crime against m a n k i n d . T h e r e are p l e n t y o f w o r d m o n g e r s w h o create p a c i f i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w h o g a t h e r a n d shout a b o u t p r o b l e m s o f d i s a r m a m e n t a n d peace, w h o d i v i d e t h e n a t i o n s i n t o non-aligned, into m a n y worlds or undeveloped c o u n t r i e s , b u t n o n e o f these t h i n g s p r e v e n t s t h e i m p e rialists and social-imperialists, w h o defy every internat i o n a l f o r u m or conference, f r o m going ahead w i t h their hegemonic and expansionist policy. They continue to rule o v e r o t h e r peoples a n d c o u n t r i e s , t o d i v i d e t h e i r s p h e r e s of political, economic and military-strategic influence, t o m a k e colossal p r o f i t s f r o m t h e i m p o s e d sale o f s t o c k p i l e s of goods a n d w e a p o n s of a l l k i n d s a n d to t h r o w a f e w c r u m b s o f these p r o f i t s , a s c r e d i t s a n d i n v e s t m e n t s , t o c e r t a i n states a n d s u p p o r t those g o v e r n m e n t s w h i c h are m o r e i n c l i n e d t o obey t h e i r i m p e r i a l i s t p o l i c y , k e e p t h e peoples o f t h e i r o w n c o u n t r i e s i n b o n d a g e a n d g i v e t h e s u p e r p o w e r s a n d t h e d e v e l o p e d c a p i t a l i s t states t h e m a x i m u m concessions f o r t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e i r n a t i o n a l wealth. Thus they are totally dependent on the credits w h i c h the imperialist powers give them.
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I n t h e w o r l d t o d a y m a n y c o n t r a d i c t i o n s are d e v e l o p i n g , b e c o m i n g m o r e p r o f o u n d a n d i n c r e a s i n g i n scope a n d i n t e n s i t y . T h e r e a r e p r o f o u n d a n d acute c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e t w e e n the s u p e r p o w e r s , b e t w e e n t h e s u p e r p o w e r s a n d the industrialized capitalist countries, between t h e m and other countries of the w o r l d w i t h different systems a n d strange d e s c r i p t i o n s s u c h a s d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s , u n d e v e l o p e d countries, b a c k w a r d c o u n t r i e s , poor c o u n tries, etc. A l l these t h i n g s m a k e t h e g e n e r a l s i t u a t i o n more dangerous. At the same time, the entire capitalistrevisionist w o r l d is w a l l o w i n g in an unprecedented economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d m o r a l crisis. T h e capitalist and revisionist bourgeoisie are m a k i n g a l l - r o u n d e f f o r t s t o u n l o a d t h e c a t a s t r o p h i c consequences o f t h i s c r i s i s o n t o t h e b a c k s o f t h e w o r k i n g masses a n d peoples o f t h e i r o w n o r o t h e r c o u n t r i e s a n d t o k e e p t h e i r profits intact. Therefore the b u r d e n of crisis falls, first o f a l l , o n t h e w o r k i n g masses, w h o , a l t h o u g h i t i s t h e y w h o p r o d u c e t h e m a t e r i a l blessings, a r e o p p r e s s e d b y the e x p l o i t i n g class. T h i s t e n d e n c y o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e m a k e s its class c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses e v e n deeper, w i d e n s t h e g u l f b e t w e e n r i c h a n d poor, a g g r a v a t e s t h e i n t e r - i m p e r i a l i s t c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , those b e t w e e n the allies i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t g r o u p ings, a n d b e t w e e n t h e m e t r o p o l i s a n d t h e c o l o n i a l a n d neo-colonial countries. T o d a y t h e biggest a n d m o s t acute c o n t r a d i c t i o n i s t h a t b e t w e e n w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m a n d t h e w o r k i n g class a n d w o r k i n g masses o f a l l the c o u n t r i e s o f t h e w o r l d . T h i s contradiction cannot be resolved in the capitalist-revisionist r e g i m e s . I n t h i s f i e l d c o n c r e t e s t r u g g l e s a r e b e i n g waged for national liberation, for social liberation and f o r r e f o r m s , a n d t h e r e are s t r i k e s a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f a p o l i t i c a l - e c o n o m i c c h a r a c t e r . A l l these t h i n g s h a v e
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shaken the foundations of the w o r l d capitalist bourgeoisie a n d a r e s h a k i n g t h e m m o r e a n d m o r e e a c h day, b u i l d i n g up to revolutionary situations and the outburst of revolutions. In the international arena, different forms of struggle a r e b e i n g d e v e l o p e d b y t h e t w o sides. T h e use o f violence, the baton a n d the capitalist-revizionist d e m a g o g y has i n c r e a s e d i n f r e q u e n c y a n d b r u t a l i t y . F r o m its arsenal of weapons, the capitalist bourgeoisie, frightened b y t h e r i s i n g t i d e o f r e v o l u t i o n s , h a s m a d e e x t e n s i v e use o f t h e c o r r u p t i o n o f c l i q u e s , b o t h secret a n d i n p o w e r , while spreading intellectual and moral degeneration w i t h a l l t h e m e a n s o f p r o p a g a n d a . T h e b o u r g e o i s i e i s also u s i n g its f a v o u r i t e w e a p o n i n t i m e s o f crisis, t e r r o r i s m , b y means o f w h i c h i t t r i e s t o a r o u s e r e v u l s i o n a m o n g the people a g a i n s t t h e b u r n i n g d e s i r e f o r l i b e r a t i o n f r o m the shackles o f c a p i t a l , a n d b y i d e n t i f y i n g t e r r o r i s m w i t h the a c t i v i t y o f t h e g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , t o f r i g h t e n the masses, t o t u r n t h e m against t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t o p r e serve its o r d e r o f o p p r e s s i o n a n d t o e m e r g e w i t h o u t great p a i n f r o m t h e g r a v e l e t h a l crisis. The w o r l d of labour, the w o r l d w h i c h demands social a n d n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n , i s f i g h t i n g w i t h its o w n means a g a i n s t these savage m e a s u r e s of s t r u g g l e a n d violence of the capitalist bourgeoisie. A m i d s t t h i s chaos c r e a t e d b y t h e i r e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l a n d m o r a l crisis, t h e i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t e n e m i e s are m a k i n g a great ado a b o u t t h e isolated p o s i t i o n a n d situation o f o u r c o u n t r y . B u t i s A l b a n i a i s o l a t e d f r o m the f o r e i g n w o r l d , a s t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s o f a l l hues a n d t h e various imperialist enemies c l a i m and w a n t it to be? T h e a n s w e r t o t h i s q u e s t i o n d e p e n d s o n t h e class a n d p o l i t i c a l s t a n d p o i n t f r o m w h i c h one v i e w s t h i s q u e s t i o n . F r o m o u r state, i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l s t a n d p o i n t ,
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t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a has n e v e r b e e n , i s not, a n d w i l l n o t b e i s o l a t e d . W e h a v e d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e states ( 1 ) o f t h e w o r l d , a n d there is nothing to prevent us f r o m h a v i n g such relations w i t h t h e r e m a i n i n g ones. W i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d the S o v i e t U n i o n , h o w e v e r , w e d o n o t w a n t s u c h relations, whereas G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d the F e d e r a l R e p u b l i c o f G e r m a n y h a v e u n p a i d debts t o t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l ist R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a , the f o r m e r f o r t h e s t o l e n g o l d and the latter for w a r reparations. T h i s i s h o w t h i n g s s t a n d , also, i n r e g a r d t o o u r m u tual trade relations w i t h m a n y capitalist-revisionist countries. T h e t r a d e b e t w e e n u s a n d these c o u n t r i e s i s c o n d u c t e d w i t h c l e a r i n g o r cash* I n t h i s f i e l d , too, t h e r e i s n o isolation. W h e n it is politically advantageous and w h e n the other p a r t y agrees, w e also e s t a b l i s h a n d d e v e l o p c u l t u r a l r e l a tions w i t h m a n y capitalist countries, exchange experience in the fields of education, culture and technology. F o r o u r p a r t , t h e e x t e n s i o n o f a c t i v i t i e s i n these f i e l d s d e pends o n l y o n t h e m a t e r i a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s . H e n c e , i n t h i s f i e l d , too, t h e r e i s n o i s o l a t i o n . In regard to the development of tourism, we do not d o t h i s o n t h a t scale o r i n those f o r m s t h a t t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s do, o r w i t h t h e i r a i m s o f m a k ing profits and spreading degeneration. We permit touri s m f o r f r i e n d s a n d w e l l - w i s h e r s o f socialist A l b a n i a , f o r honest people f r o m c o u n t r i e s a n d states w h i c h m a i n t a i n f r i e n d l y a n d correct s t a n d s t o w a r d s o u r c o u n t r y . T o u r i s m in A l b a n i a is not an industry and a means of corr u p t i o n o r h o o l i g a n i s m . A n d because t o u r i s m o f t h a t k i n d i s n o t p e r m i t t e d i n o u r c o u n t r y , t h e e n e m i e s say t h a t t h e
_______________________________________ 1 In 1986 A l b a n i a h a d d i p l o m a t i c relations w i t h 105 states. * English in the original.
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P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a is a closed, i s o l ated c o u n t r y . B u t w h e n , i f ever, h a v e o u r i m p e r i a l i s t and revisionist enemies spoken w e l l of the A l b a n i a n people and of A l b a n i a ? W h e n have they not slandered o u r policy, o u r a n c i e n t a n d m o d e r n h i s t o r y a n d o u r v i c t o r i e s ? H o w e v e r this has done A l b a n i a and the A l b a n i a n people n o h a r m . O n t h e c o n t r a r y t h e i r prestige a n d a u t h o r i t y h a v e b e e n r a i s e d h i g h e r a n d h i g h e r . H e n c e , f r o m our s t a n d p o i n t a n d t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f t h e t r u t h w e are not and never w i l l be isolated. We have told the imperialists and r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d w e t e l l t h e m once a g a i n t h a t A l b a n i a i s n o t a n i n n w i t h i t s d o o r s w i d e o p e n f o r pigs a n d sows t o enter. I n t h e cities, t h e m o u n t a i n s , t h e p l a i n s a n d the shores o f o u r s o c i a l i s t H o m e l a n d t h e r e i s a n d w i l l be no r o o m for their ugly, degenerate w a y of life and thinking. W e k n o w t h a t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t states ( Y u g o s l a v i a , t h e Soviet U n i o n , etc.) a n d t h e c a p i t a l i s t states c a l l o u r c o u n t r y i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e w o r l d because i t has n o t e n t e r e d and w i l l n o t e n t e r t h e i r o r b i t , because i t i s n o t e c o n o m i c ally d e p e n d e n t o n t h e m , does n o t accept c r e d i t s f r o m o r get i n t o d e b t t o t h e m , because i t i s n o t p o l i t i c a l l y d e p e n d ent o n t h e m , does n o t a l l o w its i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d s o v e reignty t o b e v i o l a t e d a n d alters n e i t h e r its state o r d e r nor its M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t i d e o l o g y . T h i s i s h o w i t has b e e n and h o w i t w i l l b e i n t h e f u t u r e , too. I n t h e o p i n i o n o f some o f these states, t h e i n d e p e n d ent p o l i c y w h i c h t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l bania p u r s u e s i n a l l f i e l d s a n d i n a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s i s something of an anachronism. We can understand w h y they h a v e t h i s o p i n i o n . F o r t h e m i t i s a n a n a c h r o n i s m that o u r state of t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t is n o t i n a crisis, t h a t i t i s n o t i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e great w o r l d crisis, t h a t o u r state h a s p o l i t i c a l s t a b i l i t y , t h a t o u r e c o n omy i s d e v e l o p i n g y e a r b y y e a r , t h a t t h e r e a r e a b s o l u -
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t e l y n o p r i c e rises f o r a n y goods, t h a t t h e r e i s n o u n e m ployment, economic and political emigration, economic strikes or political demonstrations, as there are in the capitalist-revisionist countries all over the w o r l d . B u t we can say that A l b a n i a , w i t h the social order it is b u i l d i n g , is a case i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e v a r i o u s states w h i c h are i n a p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d m o r a l c r i s i s . O n t h i s c o u n t a n d because o f t h e v e r y good, s o u n d s i t u a t i o n i n o u r c o u n t r y , yes, t h e y are r i g h t t o s a y t h a t w e are isolated f r o m t h e m a n d the e v i l s o f t h e i r s o c i a l o r d e r a n d p o l i c y . T h e r e f o r e , w i t h its p r i n c i p l e d a n d i n d e p e n d e n t p o l i c y , w i t h its c o u r a g e a n d t h e t a n g i b l e r e s u l t s i t has a c h i e v e d , s m a l l a s i t is, A l b a n i a p l a y s a d u a l s o c i o - p o l i t i c a l r o l e i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a o n t h e one h a n d i t e x poses t h e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t o r d e r a n d its p o l i c y , o n the other h a n d it plays a constructive r e v o l u t i o n a r y role, e n c o u r a g i n g the peoples o f t h e w o r l d w h o are f i g h t i n g f o r t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n f r o m the y o k e o f c a p i t a l . I t i s f r o m t h e p r i s m o f t h i s great r o l e t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r o r n o t socialist A l b a n i a i s i s o l a t e d m u s t be judged. Socialist A l b a n i a and the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a w h i c h leads it, love, respect a n d d e f e n d a l l t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d , w h i l e t h e y , o n t h e i r p a r t , are i n u n i t y w i t h us. L i t t l e socialist. A l b a n i a has b e c o m e a g r e a t e x a m p l e i n w h i c h t h e w o r k i n g masses p l a c e t h e i r hopes. I n these conditions and circumstances, then, there can be no talk of isolation of A l b a n i a . It is the capitalists, the revisionists, t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s t h a t are isol a t e d , d i s c r e d i t e d a n d h a t e d b y t h e peoples. A n d i t i s precisely they w h o t r y to present the People's Socialist R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a a s i s o l a t e d , w h o s t r i v e , w i t h o u t success, t o d i s t o r t its c o r r e c t o p i n i o n s a n d its v i c t o r i e s , a n d i n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s , t h i s i s p a r t o f t h e i r e f f o r t s t o isolate t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y itself, t o c a l l i t o u t d a t e d and
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anachronistic. In this context they try to prove that socialism can be built guided by any k i n d of reformist, o p p o r t u n i s t o r e v e n fascist i d e o l o g y . I n t h e strict sense, t h e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t states are n o t w o r r i e d b y t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a s m a l l c o u n t r y a n d people l i k e ours, b u t i n a b r o a d e r sense t h e i d e o l o g y w h i c h g u i d e s o u r people, t h e g e n u i n e socialist s o c i e t y w h i c h is being built successfully in our country, where there are no political or economic troubles and a sound c u l t u r e i s b e i n g d e v e l o p e d , w o r r y t h e m a great d e a l . T h a t i s w h y t h e e n e m i e s o f t h e peoples t r y t o p r e s e n t t h e s o u n d m o r a l - p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n o f o u r people i n a d i s t o r t e d w a y and to belittle the great and u n i n t e r r u p t e d socio-economic progress of o u r country. T h e s t r u g g l e o f a l l e n e m i e s o f t h e peoples a g a i n s t o u r socialist c o u n t r y proceeds f r o m t h e s a m e class p o s i tions b u t w i t h v a r i a t i o n s i n i n t e n s i t y . T h i s comes a b o u t because, w h i l e i t i s t r u e t h a t t h e r e i s u n i t y b e t w e e n capitalists a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s as e n e m i e s of s o c i a l i s m , t h e r e are also d i f f e r e n c e s , s t r u g g l e s a n d f e u d s b e t w e e n t h e m . T h e r e a r e s t r u g g l e s a n d f e u d s also b e t w e e n b i g a n d s m a l l states, b e t w e e n h i g h l y d e v e l o p e d , less d e v e l o p e d , a n d totally undeveloped countries. In the present epoch of the great crisis of capitalism, t h e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t states a r e p o l i t i c a l l y a n d e c o n o m i c a l l y d e p e n d e n t o n one a n o t h e r . O f course the strongest a n d t h e biggest are less d e p e n d e n t o n t h e w e a k est a n d t h e s m a l l e s t , b u t a l l o f t h e m are s e n s i t i v e t o a n d affected b y t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e m w h i c h are b e c o m i n g m o r e a n d m o r e acute. T h e s e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s have t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c effect a n d are e x p r e s sed i n t h e s t a n d s o f e v e r y state, i n t e r n a l l y a n d i n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n v a r i o u s states. The present epoch can be called the epoch of the total d e s t a b i l i z a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m , o f i n s t a b i l i t y i n p o l -
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itics, o f g e n e r a l i n s e c u r i t y a n d g l o o m y a n d u n c l e a r p r o s pects f o r t h e f u t u r e . T h e i d e a o f w a r p r e d o m i n a t e s , because t h e w o r l d i s b e i n g i m p e l l e d i n t h a t d i r e c t i o n through the unjust imperialist wars, although still localized, w h i c h are i n s t i g a t e d b y t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d s o c i a l imperialists. T h e y t h i n k that the p r o f o u n d and acute c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w h i c h are e r o d i n g t h e m w i l l b e r e s o l v e d by means of w a r . T h e peoples c a n n o t a n d m u s t n o t p u t a n y t r u s t i n t h e p o l i c y o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t states a n d i n t h e d e m a g o g y o f t h i s p o l i c y . W h a t t h e peoples m u s t c l e a r l y d i s c e r n f r o m t h e c o n c r e t e facts, t h r o u g h t h e dense f o g w i t h w h i c h the superstructure of the capitalist-revisionist r e g i m e obscures t h e i r v i s i o n , d i s t o r t s t h e r e a l i t y , d e ceives t h e p e o p l e a n d t r i e s t o b l a c k e n t h e r o a d o f t h e revolution, is not the external forms of the structure of c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t states, b u t t h e content, t h e essence of this structure, whose hands w i e l d this w e a p o n and w h i c h class i t serves. T h i s i s a great, serious p r o b l e m w h i c h i s d i f f i c u l t t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d solve, b u t i t i s n o t i n s u r m o u n t a b l e . T h e forces w h i c h oppose t h e c a p i t a l i s t a t t a c k are l a r g e r a n d more powerful. B u t they must be fully awakened, their consciousness t e m p e r e d . T h e s e forces m u s t b e o r g a n i z e d o n a n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l scale. T h e d e v i c e o n w h i c h t h e s t r e n g t h o f c a p i t a l i s m i s b a s e d i s its d i v i d e a n d r u l e policy. By this means capitalism crushes the weakest and m a k e s h i m u n a b l e t o object, b i n d s h i m w i t h a t h o u s a n d threads so that he w i l l a l w a y s be a slave as an i n d i v i d u a l , a people or a state, e x p l o i t s h i m to t h e m a x i m u m a n d creates t h e i l l u s i o n t h a t h e i s l i v i n g i n a f r e e d e m o c r a t i c w o r l d i n w h i c h h e o u g h t t o b e content w i t h t h e m i s e r a b l e l i f e h e leads, f o r w h i c h h e s h o u l d b e g r a t e f u l t o his o v e r l o r d . T h e peoples m u s t oppose t h i s d e v i c e w i t h the g l o r i o u s slogan o f M a r x : W o r k e r s o f a l l c o u n t r i e s , u n -
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ite!, a s l o g a n w h i c h has t e r r i f i e d t h e c a p i t a l i s t b o u r g e o i s i e at all times. I n t h i s c h a o t i c a n d u n e q u a l d e v e l o p m e n t n o progress can be made w i t h o u t all k i n d s of efforts and w i t h o u t s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n oppressors a n d oppressed, b e t w e e n e x p l o i t e r s a n d e x p l o i t e d . T h e c a p i t a l i s t states v i e w i t h one a n o t h e r f o r s u p r e m a c y . I n m o s t cases, because o f t h e i r d i f f e r e n t interests, t h i s contest b e t w e e n t h e m d e v e l o p s i n t o d i s c o r d . W h o e v e r comes out o n top, h e w h o m a n a g e s t o t r i p h i s r i v a l a n d m a k e h i m f a l l , h e w h o succeeds i n m a k i n g the l a w and in i m p o s i n g his policy of domination, i s p r e s e n t e d a s t h e cleverest, t h e m o s t s u c c e s s f u l p o l i t i cian. H o w e v e r his r u l i n g position is not everlasting, because h e creates t w o k i n d s o f o p p o n e n t s : i n d i v i d u a l s f r o m his o w n class w h o a r e r i v a l s f o r r u l i n g p o s i t i o n s a n d c a p i t alist p r o f i t s , a n d t h e g r e a t o p p o n e n t , t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e b r o a d w o r k i n g masses w h o , t h r o u g h v a r i o u s f o r m s o f class s t r u g g l e , e r o d e t h e c a p i t a l i s t o r d e r f r o m w i t h i n , c a u s i n g s p l i t s a n d b r i n g i n g defeat a f t e r defeat u p o n it. I m p e l l e d b y t h e l u r e o f i l l e g a l gains, its t e n d e n c y t o e n s l a v e peoples a n d engage i n u n s c r u p u l o u s s p e c u l a t i o n a t t h e cost o f t h e i r b l o o d a n d sweat, t h e c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d w i l l never f i n d stability in any field of life. A l t h o u g h t h e g r e a t a d v a n c e s a c h i e v e d are t h e r e s u l t o f t h e t o i l a n d s w e a t o f t h e w o r k i n g masses, t h e y are e x c l u d e d f r o m a n y b e n e f i t s f r o m t h e m . T h e masses h a v e been p o l a r i z e d o n one side, a n d a s s u c h , a r e p e r m a n e n t o p ponents o f t h e i n h u m a n e x p l o i t a t i o n b y t h e c a p i t a l i s t bourgeoisie. I n t h i s e r o d i n g r e a l i t y o f defeat a n d p o l i t i c a l - e c o n omic i n s t a b i l i t y , t h e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t states a r e t r y i n g t o f i n d a t e m p o r a r y s o l u t i o n f o r t h e m o s t acute a n d dangerous problems. H o w e v e r the solutions they offer cannot b e s a t i s f a c t o r y , because t h e y a r e o n e - s i d e d i n their a i m and applied in a t e r r a i n w h i c h is q u a k i n g as a
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r e s u l t o f t h e p o p u l a r u p h e a v a l s . T h e great a n t a g o n i s m s w i t h i n t h e r a n k s o f c a p i t a l a n d those b e t w e e n t h e b o u r geoisie a n d t h e w o r k i n g class a n d masses o f w o r k i n g p e o p l e m a k e these a n t i - p o p u l a r s o l u t i o n s i n e f f e c t i v e . S e e n f r o m t h i s class angle, t h e p r e s e n t d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d leads t o a m o r e r e a l i s t i c u n d e r standing of the policy w h i c h capital follows to prolong i t s existence, o f t h e m e t h o d s a n d t a c t i c s o f its s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e peoples. T h e v a r i o u s states, o f t h e w o r l d , w h a t e v e r t h e i r s o c i a l order, h a v e t h e i r o w n f o r e i g n p o l i c i e s . T h i s i s b a s e d o n c e r t a i n p r i n c i p l e s w h i c h h a v e a class c h a r a c t e r , w h i c h r e p r e s e n t a n d serve t h e class i n p o w e r a n d are a d a p t e d to the political circumstances existing w i t h i n the country a n d i n t h e r e l a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r states, i.e., i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a . A m o n g these states t h e r e are some w h i c h , at certain moments and in certain circumstances, come o u t w i t h a p o l i c y i n d e p e n d e n t f r o m others, d i f f e r i n g t e m p o r a r i l y i n c e r t a i n aspects o r c i r c u m s t a n c e s , w i t h the a i m of getting certain political, economic and m i l i t a r y concessions. T h e s e d i f f e r e n c e s i n f o r m a n d s o m e t i m e s e v e n i n content r e f l e c t t h e s t r e n g t h o r t h e w e a k n e s s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s class i n p o w e r i n a g i v e n state a n d t h e i n f l u e n c e o f one state o v e r t h e other, a n i n f l u e n c e w h i c h i s d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e decrease o r i n c r e a s e o f t h e i r e c o n o m i c and military potential. The principle of gain and domin a t i o n , t h e s t a b i l i t y or i n s t a b i l i t y of t h e s i t u a t i o n of a c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r y , m a k e t h e p o l i c y o f these states u n s t a b l e a n d i n c l i n e d t o w a r d s t h e strongest, t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l . T h i s leads t o e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l d e p e n d e n c e o f one b o u r g e o i s state o n a n o t h e r b o u r g e o i s state, or to the g r o u p i n g of a n u m b e r of states against t h e g r o u p i n g o f o t h e r r i v a l states. I r r e s p e c t i v e o f the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s t h e y h a v e w i t h one a n o t h e r , these b o u r -
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geois states h a v e c o m m o n d e n o m i n a t o r s w h i c h c o m p e l t h e m t o s u p p o r t one a n o t h e r , a l t h o u g h t h e y also h a v e o t h e r o p p o s i n g f a c t o r s w h i c h erode t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e m f r o m w i t h i n , w h i c h cause d i s t u r b a n c e s , e c o n omic instability and political revolts, w h i c h consequently w e a k e n t h e i r g e n e r a l a n d b i l a t e r a l l i n k s . A t p r e s e n t these inter-state phenomena in the capitalist countries have assumed an irrestrainable development, and it is very difficult to co-ordinate, harmonize or stabilize them. Hence, the great crisis in the capitalist order is not only economic b u t also p o l i t i c a l . T h e relations of production and the policy w h i c h s u p p o r t s these r e l a t i o n s i n a l l c a p i t a l i s t states, t a k e n s e p a r a t e l y o r i n t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e m , are u n d e r going continual catastrophic transformations. Whatever h a p p e n s i n a n y o f these states i n e v i t a b l y i n f l u e n c e s t h e o t h e r states. T h e m e t a m o r p h o s e s , t h e changes, t h e e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l crises w h i c h o c c u r i n a p o w e r f u l c a p i t a l i s t state c a n n o t f a i l t o h a v e r e p e r c u s s i o n s i n a l l t h e o t h e r states w h i c h are d e p e n d e n t o n t h a t p o w e r , e v e n though they present themselves as allegedly independent o f it. T o j u s t i f y these p h e n o m e n a , t h i s c h a o t i c d e v e l o p ment, a specious l a n g u a g e has b e e n f o u n d , u s i n g a l l k i n d s of different theories w h i c h v a r y according to the c i r c u m stances, c o u n t r i e s a n d tendencies. A l l these t h e o r i e s a r e labelled democratic or revolutionary and, in practice, are a c c o m p a n i e d b y t h e c r e a t i o n o f a l l k i n d s o f o r g a n izations to g i v e t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t a s t r u g g l e is b e i n g w a g e d against t h e e v i l s o f t h e t i m e . H o w e v e r , t h e w o r l d today i s f a c e d w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t t h e e v i l are f i g h t i n g the e v i l a n d r i v a l l i n g w i t h one a n o t h e r . T h u s , a l l a r e a r m i n g a n d , a t the s a m e t i m e , a l l a r e f i g h t i n g a l l e g e d l y f o r d i s a r m a m e n t , a l l s a y t h e y are a g a i n s t w a r , b u t each of t h e m is struggling w i t h his o w n means and in his o w n w a y , a n d f r e q u e n t l y w i t h j o i n t means, t o u n d e r m i n e
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peace; a l l o f t h e m s p e a k o f n o n - i n t e r f e r e n c e i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f others, b u t i n one w a y o r t h e o t h e r t h e y all interfere b r u t a l l y in the internal affairs of others by means of weapons, politics, diplomacy and the i n f l u x o f d o l l a r s a n d a l l k i n d s o f credits. T h e b o u r g e o i s i e h a s also c r e a t e d its o w n m e t h o d o f p r e s e n t i n g a l l these c r i m i n a l a n d r e p r e h e n s i b l e acts, a p e c u l i a r e t h i c a b o u t t h e expression of opinions and open and hidden aims in p o l i tics and in practice. W h o e v e r deviates f r o m the f o r m a n d content of t h i s e t h i c is a heretic, is u n d e s i r a b l e , is an enemy of the civilized w o r l d ! E v e r y i n d i v i d u a l , p e r s o n , people, state o r class n o t in power must w i l l y - n i l l y proceed on the road determined by the all-powerful capitalist oligarchy, w h i c h alone i s c a p a b l e o f f i n d i n g a correct s o l u t i o n t o e v e r y p r o b l e m v i t a l t o states a n d peoples. I m p e r i a l i s m , s o c i a l - i m p e rialism and w o r l d monopoly capitalism are t r y i n g to preserve this absolute hegemony and to m a k e it permanent in theory and practice. We think that this hegemony should be combated and destroyed mercilessly. The w o r l d must break out of this vicious circle of modern spiritual, economic and p o l i tical enslavement. T h i s m o d e r n enslavement is a cruel deed o f t h e b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t class a n d t h e e c o n o m i c and political order w h i c h it has created. T h e w o r k i n g class o f e v e r y c o u n t r y , t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e w o r k i n g people w h o a r e o p p r e s s e d a n d e x p l o i t e d , a r e t h e d e s t r o y ers o f t h i s c a p i t a l i s t h e g e m o n y . M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m m u s t g u i d e a l l these masses i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n f o r t h e n e w , g e n u i n e socialist l i f e w i t h o u t e x p l o i t e r s a n d e x p l o i t e d . Socialist A l b a n i a is the offspring of the proletarian r e v o l u t i o n . G u i d e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y i t has b u i l t t h e n e w society, socialist society. T h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a has a l w a y s b a s e d i t s e l f o n t h e t h e o r y
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o f M a r x , E n g e l s , L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , has a p p l i e d t h i s t h e o r y without vacillations or deviations, fearlessly and in opposition to and u n c o m p r o m i s i n g struggle w i t h the capitalistrevisionist ideologies. T h e f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f o u r state o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , too, is a p o l i c y g u i d e d by t h e p r i n c i p l e s of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and proletarian internationalism. It i s p r i n c i p l e d a n d u n c h a n g i n g i n its s t r a t e g y . T h i s p o l i c y s u p p o r t s t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t o f t h e w o r k i n g class and w o r l d p r o l e t a r i a t f o r l i b e r a t i o n f r o m c a p i t a l , h e n c e it is a g a i n s t t h e l a t t e r , against its p o l i c y of o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n , a g a i n s t its s t r u c t u r e a n d i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , i t supports t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples f o r f r e e d o m , i n dependence, s o c i a l p r o g r e s s a n d s o c i a l i s m a n d r e l i e s o n their solidarity. It is against any f o r m of aggression and m i l i t a r y i n t e r v e n t i o n o f one state against a n o ther, a g a i n s t c o l o n i a l e x p l o i t a t i o n , a g a i n s t a n y f o r m o f tutelage, d i c t a t e and hegemony, national oppression and r a c i a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n . I t u p h o l d s t h e p r i n c i p l e o f t h e s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f peoples, t h e e x e r c i s e o f c o m p l e t e national sovereignty and the equality of all countries in international relations. Hence the crucial orientations of the foreign policy of the People's Socialist R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a are: support f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f peoples f r o m a n y b o n d a g e a n d exploitation by reactionary i n t e r n a l or external forces, struggle a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s t w a r s a n d a n y o t h e r u n j u s t w a r , struggle f o r g e n u i n e d i s a r m a m e n t a n d peace, s t r u g g l e f o r f r i e n d s h i p b e t w e e n peoples a n d t h e d e n u n c i a t i o n o f a l l enemies a n d e v e r y m e a n s t h e y use t o sabotage t h i s f r i e n d ship a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g a m o n g peoples. The reactionary capitalist and revisionist bourgeoisie and its states a r e a c t i n g against t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a , b u t A l b a n i a acts a g a i n s t t h e m , too. T h e b o u r g e o i s - c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t states c o n s i d e r t h e c o r -
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rect, r e v o l u t i o n a r y p o l i c y f r o m t h e f i r m p o s i t i o n s o f o u r theory as interference in their internal affairs, w h i l e their o w n p o l i c y o f p l o t s a n d sabotage a g a i n s t peoples t h e y consider not interference in our i n t e r n a l affairs, but a correct a n d n o r m a l policy already accepted by w o r l d opinion. B u t this is not true. W o r l d opinion, the broad masses of t h e peoples, do n o t accept t h e b o u r g e o i s r e v i s i o n ist w o r l d o u t l o o k w h i c h covers u p t h e d e c e p t i o n , o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n . T h e masses w h o h e a r a b o u t a n d understand our political stands on m a n y international p r o b l e m s , reflect, m a k e c o m p a r i s o n s a b o u t t h e state o f things presented, w e i g h up our arguments a n d those of o u r opponents, a n d a p p r o v e , s u p p o r t a n d a d o p t o u r stands. This is precisely the real m a j o r reason w h y the a n t i M a r x i s t s and the m o d e r n revisionists of all hues are so w o r r i e d . O t h e r w i s e t h e y w o u l d n o t concoct s l a n d e r s a g a i n s t t h e correct p o l i t i c a l s t a n d s o f t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a and the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a . T h e y d o s o because o u r p o l i c y , p r o c e e d i n g f r o m t h e p o s i t i o n s o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d b a s e d o n M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , exposes t h e i r p s e u d o - M a r x i s t p o l i c y w h i c h p r o c e e d s f r o m capitalist positions. A l s o t h a n k s to this exposure, t h e b r o a d w o r k i n g masses r e a l i z e t h a t , i r r e s p e c t i v e o f e x t e r n a l appearances, t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d s u p e r s t r u c t u r e o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t states a r e i d e n t i c a l w i t h those o f o t h e r c a p i t a l i s t states. I n p r a c t i c e , t h e i r content, essence a n d results are i n u n i t y . P r e c i s e l y because t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a a n d o u r state expose a n d f i g h t t h e e x p l o i t i n g o r d e r ( u n d e r b o t h names, capitalist and revisionist), b o t h politically a n d t h r o u g h the positive example of the successful construction of socialism in Albania, they have an honoured name in the w o r l d , not only among the ranks of the w o r k i n g class, b u t also a m o n g p r o g r e s s i v e e l e m e n t s o f t h e bourgeoisie, t h e y o u t h a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l s .
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T h e m o d e r n revisionists are greatly w o r r i e d by the p o w e r f u l v o i c e o f t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a , because b o t h i n p o l i c y a n d i n t h e o r y i t i s opposed t o t h e i r e f f o r t s t o pass r e v i s i o n i s m f o r r e n o v a t e d M a r x i s m a n d s u i t a b l e for o u r time, w h e n , according to them, capitalist society must be rescued f r o m destruction, private ownership of the means of production must be preserved, and the prol e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n , i.e., t h e s e i z u r e o f p o w e r b y t h e w o r k i n g class, m u s t b e a v o i d e d . T h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s d o not w a n t t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s t o expose t h e i r w o r k o f sabotage. T h e r e f o r e t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s c a l l t h e e x posure w h i c h our P a r t y of L a b o u r makes of their antiM a r x i s t theories, o f t h e s t a t e - e c o n o m i c o r d e r s o f t h e modern revisionists, and of their pro-capitalist interna! and external policy interference in their internal affairs. B u t w e are n o t c o n c e r n e d a b o u t w h a t t h e y s a y a b o u t us. N o t j u s t t o d a y , n o t o n l y n o w , b u t e v e r since t h e y w e r e f o u n d e d , o u r P a r t y a n d p r o l e t a r i a n state h a v e d e clared p u b l i c l y that they w i l l a p p l y an open, p r i n c i p l e d foreign policy, a policy of good neighbourliness and relat i o n s w i t h a l l states o n t h e basis o f e q u a l i t y , respect f o r sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs and m u tual benefit. A n d they have adhered to this policy without t h e slightest d e v i a t i o n . H o w e v e r t h e y h a v e also m a d e i t c l e a r t o a n y b o d y w h o cares t o l i s t e n t h a t s u c h a p o l i c y does n o t m e a n concessions t o o r g i v i n g u p t h e r e s o l u t e struggle for the defence of our g u i d i n g ideology, M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m , the struggle against greedy i m p e r i a l i s m and capitalism, or support f o r the just struggles of the w o r l d proletariat for social liberation and the national libera t i o n s t r u g g l e s o f t h e peoples a g a i n s t c o l o n i a l i s m a n d n e o colonialism. N o one a n d n o f o r c e c a n stop t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r of A l b a n i a and the G o v e r n m e n t of the People's Socialist
306
ENVER HOXHA
Republic of A l b a n i a f r o m voicing their own opinion, not only on the problems and political events in w h i c h o u r socialist H o m e l a n d , t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a , is directly interested or w h i c h have to do w i t h its s u p r e m e interests, b u t also o n o t h e r g e n e r a l w o r l d p r o b l e m s a n d events, because these, too, a r e t h e c o n c e r n of a l l a n d n o t j u s t of some. In persistently following this policy, our P a r t y and state d o n o t p r o c e e d f r o m i n t e r e s t s o f t h e m o m e n t , t o please o r t o serve t h i s o r t h a t f o r e i g n p o w e r , b i g o r s m a l l . T h e y are n o t u r g e d t o t h i s p o l i c y b y a n y o f these p o w e r s , but t h e y n e v e r lose sight o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e b a s i c s t r a t e g y o f defence o f t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n t e r e s t s o f t h e peoples, o f t h e cause o f t h e w o r l d p r o l e t a r i a t a n d its r e v olution. T h e y do not alter their strategy according to the changing circumstances. The stability of our policy and t h e correctness o f o u r stands r e s u l t f r o m t h i s . We do not impose our foreign policy on anybody. N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e r e a r e m a n y people a r o u n d t h e w o r l d , e v e n v a r i o u s d i p l o m a t i c c h a n c e l l e r i e s , t h a t seek i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t o u r p o l i c y a n d stands, because i n t h e m t h e y see s o m e t h i n g o r i g i n a l w h i c h does n o t e x i s t i n t h e p o l i c y a n d stands o f other states (either c a p i t a l i s t o r r e v i sionist): truthfulness, m a t u r i t y and the courage to voice one's o p i n i o n s o p e n l y . N o c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t state c a n follow such an open, correct a n d well-considered policy, because o f t h e c o m p l e x i t y o f t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c dependence, r e l i g i o u s i n f l u e n c e s a n d t h e class c o n t r a d i c t i o n s t o w h i c h t h e y are subject. S o c i a l i s t A l b a n i a does n o t suffer f r o m any such complex of restrictive and i n h i b i t i n g f a c t o r s a n d p r e c i s e l y t h i s i s t h e basis f o r t h e s t r e n g t h o f its i n f l u e n c e . T h e r e are o t h e r s w h o f i n d i t v e r y d i f ficult to understand our policy and position, w h o w o n d e r h o w such a s m a l l country as A l b a n i a can f o l l o w such a policy which, according to their judgement and in their
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o w n words, contains good points and truths w h i c h only t h e A l b a n i a n s , b u t n o n e o f t h e others, c a n p r o c l a i m . T h e P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a is a strong party n o t b e c a u s e o f t h e n u m b e r o f its m e m b e r s , b u t because of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideology w h i c h inspires and guides it. L i k e w i s e the People's Socialist Republic of A l b a n i a is a p o w e r f u l state n o t because of t h e size of its t e r r i t o r y o r p o p u l a t i o n , b u t because i t l i v e s i n , f i g h t s f o r a n d b u i l d s t h e n e w s o c i a l i s t society, because t h e P a r t y a n d t h e p e o p l e are i n c o m p l e t e u n i t y , conscious o f t h e i r actions, w h e r e t h e y a r e g o i n g a n d h o w t h e y w i l l get t h e r e . T h e m a i n , c a r d i n a l p r o b l e m s o f l i f e are c l e a r t o t h e m : t h e y m u s t b u i l d a secure present, w i t h o u t f o r g e t t i n g the past a n d f o r e s e e i n g a n d p r e p a r i n g t h e f u t u r e . S o m e o n e m i g h t t h i n k t h a t p u r s u i n g s u c h a course o f development is something temporary, abnormal, unorthod o x , l i n k e d w i t h the life a n d activity of certain leaders and t h a t there c a n b e n o d e p a r t u r e f r o m t h e l i n e o f d e v e l o p m e n t w h i c h b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t society a n d its sousfifres*, the m o d e r n revisionists, have established. On this issue, too, t h e y a r e g r a v e l y m i s t a k e n because t h e y c a n n o t see a n d do n o t w a n t to see t h e g r e a t s t r e n g t h of socialism and our triumphant doctrine, M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , w h i c h d e s t r o y s t h e o l d society a n d b u i l d s t h e n e w one, do not k n o w either the P a r t y of L a b o u r or the A l b a n i a n p e o p l e , d o n o t r e c o g n i z e a n d c a n n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e steel intellectual, spiritual and material unity between them. T h e g r e a t i n s t a b i l i t y o f c a p i t a l i s t society f o u n d e r i n g in a l l - r o u n d c r i s i s is a r e s u l t of t h e s t r u g g l e of t h e d i s c o n t e n t e d peoples a g a i n s t t h e e n s l a v i n g s y s t e m , a n d u n doubtedly, of the inspiration they gain f r o m the revolu t i o n a r y ideology, M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , to f i n d the genuine right road in the darkness of the m o d e r n epoch.
___________________________________ * U n d e r l i n g s (French in the original).
308
ENVER HOXHA
W e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s are conscious o f t h e d i f ficulties we encounter a n d w i l l encounter on our road, b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e w e are f u l l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t w e s h a l l o v e r c o m e t h e m , because w e are o n the r i g h t r o a d . W e t a k e each c a u t i o u s step w i t h c o n f i d e n c e , a f t e r w e i g h i n g u p t h e issues a n d m a k i n g c a r e f u l c a l c u l a t i o n s , w e a r e clear a b o u t t h e p e r i o d w e l i v e i n , w a t c h t h e changes a n d developments in the w o r l d w i t h a critical M a r x i s t - L e n i n ist eye, a n d t r y , n o t w i t h o u t success, to assess these developments correctly, d e f i n i n g their positive a n d nega t i v e aspects, a n d b e n e f i t i n g f r o m t h e f o r m e r w h i l e c o m b a t i n g t h e l a t t e r . W e b u i l d o u r tactics, w h i c h are n e i ther unprincipled nor momentary, in conformity w i t h and to strengthen our u n w a v e r i n g revolutionary strategy. W e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s , sons a n d d a u g h t e r s o f t h i s people, w h o s e j o y s a n d s o r r o w s w e k n o w v e r y w e l l , a r e t h e m a i n basis o f a l l t h e v i c t o r i e s w h i c h t h e p e o p l e a n d the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a have w o n together. T h i s is where the solid foundations of our political, economic and c u l t u r a l achievements lie. Socialist society in our country has been built by a people w h o have ancient traditions, but at the same time, have plenty of w i l l , w i s dom, courage and the v i g o u r of youth. H i s t o r y has taught them to fight for their freedom, for a good life, for justice. H i s t o r y has t a u g h t t h e m t o d i s t i n g u i s h t h e peoples f r o m their evil, oppressing and c u n n i n g leaders; it has t a u g h t t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e t o l o v e t h e o t h e r peoples, never to h a r m them but only help them, never to become t h e i n s t r u m e n t o f a n y o n e t o oppress others, b u t t o f i g h t f o r their o w n rights and the rights of others. T h e P a r t y w i t h its M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t i d e o l o g y i m p l a n t e d these l o f t y v i r t u e s m o r e d e e p l y i n t h e i r consciousness, s t r e n g t h e n e d them, made t h e m even clearer and more understandable s o t h a t t h e y f l o w i n the p u r e b l o o d s t r e a m o f e v e r y A l b a n i a n . O u r people a r e modest, industrious people who are
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not in the habit of boasting to a n y b o d y about anything. T h e y have understood that their independence and the victories achieved must be defended as they were won, a r m s i n h a n d , e v e n w i t h t h e i r b l o o d i f n e e d be, a n d m u s t be further consolidated w i t h their o w n strength and resources, t h r o u g h s t r u g g l e a n d e f f o r t s . S o m e t h i n k t h a t t h i s c a n n o t b e done, t h a t l o a n s a n d c r e d i t s f r o m t h e c a p i talists and revisionists are indispensible. This is not true. W h e n true freedom and independence are understood correctly by a people and developed correctly by their leadership, they b r i n g them well-being, develop t h e m and m a k e t h e m conscious o f t h e i r o w n d e s t i n y . F o r e i g n l o a n s a n d credits h a v e never been a n d are not in the interests of t h e peoples. T h e y b r i n g a l l k i n d s o f m i s f o r t u n e s u p o n t h e peoples. F o r t h e m t h e l o a n s a n d c r e d i t s are a noose a r o u n d their necks. D a i l y life in countries nearby and remote f r o m us proves this very clearly. T h e b r i l l i a n t road of the A l b a n i a n people is the road of a l l peoples w h o fight for national and social liberation, for socialism. A n d the peoples of the w o r l d , w h o fight w i t h all their possibilities and in all forms, are the pow e r f u l a l l i e s o f s m a l l b u t i n v i n c i b l e , socialist A l b a n i a . This strengthens the positions of our correct M a r x i s t Leninist policy and enhances the authority of our c o u n try in the international arena. In this context we must continuously strengthen our P a r t y of Labour and our People's S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c , m a k e o u r e c o n o m y m o r e p o w e r ful, raise the w e l l - b e i n g and c u l t u r a l level of the w o r k i n g masses a n d c o n t i n u e t h e s u c c e s s f u l c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e n e w society, socialist society.
The
Superpowers
ON THE ACTIVITY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY OF LABOUR OF ALBANIA

Extracts from the report submitted to the 8th Congress of the PLA
November 1, 1981
I
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY AND THE TASKS OF THE PARTY O u r socialist e c o n o m y enters t h e n e w f i v e - y e a r p e r i o d o f its d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h s t a b i l i t y , d y n a m i c a n d w i t h great possibilities to develop and extend social production further a n d raise its e f f i c i e n c y i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s . T h e m a i n objectives of the 6th F i v e - y e a r P l a n have b e e n s u c c e s s f u l l y a t t a i n e d i n g e n e r a l . T h i s has m a d e t h e m a t e r i a l - t e c h n i c a l base o f t h e c o u n t r y s t i l l s t r o n g e r , has f u r t h e r i n c r e a s e d t h e resources o f r a w m a t e r i a l s a n d energy, has e n s u r e d b e t t e r c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e h a r m o n i o u s , r a p i d a n d ceaseless d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e e c o n o m y . D u r i n g t h e past f i v e - y e a r p l a n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e p r o d u c t i v e forces c o n t i n u e d at h i g h rates, t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of the e c o n o m y d e v e l o p e d f u r t h e r a n d the t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n s a w i m p o r t a n t n e w advances. I n d u s t r y , a g r i c u l t u r e a n d t h e other b r a n c h e s o f t h e e c o n o m y m a d e f u r t h e r progress. In 1980, as against 1975, s o c i a l p r o d u c t i o n rose a b o u t 25 p e r cent a n d i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n m o r e t h a n 34 p e r cent, at a r a t e 2 to 3 t i m e s h i g h e r t h a n t h e g r o w t h of the population.
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T h r o u g h t h e consistent a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e e c o n o m i c policy of the Party, perceptible improvements were made in the structure of i n d u s t r i a l production, and the proportion of means of production in total production increased. I n d u s t r y m e t t h e needs o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n better a n d its r o l e in the all-round development of the economy and the defence o f t h e c o u n t r y w a s i n c r e a s e d . C o m p a r e d w i t h the 5th Five-year Plan, agricultural p r o d u c t i o n rose m o r e t h a n 2 1 p e r cent. A g r i c u l t u r e m e t the needs o f t h e c o u n t r y f o r b r e a d g r a i n , f o o d p r o d u c t s and the most essential r a w materials, a n d increased the volume of export of agricultural products. T o f u l f i l t h e t a r g e t s o f t h e 6 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n the P a r t y a n d o u r state r a i s e d t h e l e v e l o f u t i l i z a t i o n o f t h e internal resources a n d possibilities of the country. The uninterrupted financing of the development of the econo m y a n d c u l t u r e w a s e n s u r e d , a b o u t 300 i m p o r t a n t p r o jects w e r e b u i l t a n d c o m m i s s i o n e d a n d goods e x p o r t s rose over 51 p e r cent. The g r o w i n g economic power and the implementation of a n u m b e r of m e a s u r e s of an e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l c h a racter guaranteed the level of w e l l - b e i n g already achieved a n d l e d t o its f u r t h e r u p l i f t . T h e r e a l p e r c a p i t a i n c o m e o f the p o p u l a t i o n i n c r e a s e d b o t h i n t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e . T h e r e t a i l goods t u r n o v e r w e n t u p a b o u t 2 0 p e r cent. T h e housing conditions of the population were further i m p r o v e d and m e a s u r e s w e r e t a k e n t o e x p a n d s o c i a l services. A b o u t 2 0 t h o u s a n d p e o p l e g r a d u a t e d f r o m t h e h i g h e r schools a n d more t h a n 113 t h o u s a n d f r o m t h e s e c o n d a r y schools, or 57 per cent m o r e t h a n i n t h e 5 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n . T h e s e a c h i e v e m e n t s i n t h e g e n e r a l s o c i o - e c o n o m i c development of the country assume special significance if w e b e a r i n m i n d w h a t i s o c c u r r i n g i n the c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i sionist w o r l d , w h e r e t h e e c o n o m i c crisis, w i t h its g r a v e consequences f o r t h e w o r k i n g masses a n d t h e w h o l e l i f e
312
ENVER HOXHA
o f these c o u n t r i e s has c a u s e d s t a g n a t i o n a n d d e c l i n e i n p r o d u c t i o n . These a c h i e v e m e n t s m a r k a great v i c t o r y f o r o u r P a r t y a n d people. O n b e h a l f o f the P a r t y a n d t h e people, f r o m t h e t r i b u n e o f this C o n g r e s s I h a i l a n d c o n g r a t u l a t e t h e w o r k e r s , the specialists a n d the cadres o f c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d i n d u s t r y w h o , r e s p o n d i n g t o the c a l l o f the P a r t y , e v e n i n t h e d i f f i c u l t c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h the C h i n e s e r e v i s i o n i s t s c r e a t e d f o r us, p r o v e d u p t o the task a n d succeeded i n b u i l d i n g a n d c o m m i s s i o n i n g the great p r o j e c t s o f t h e 6 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n , w h i c h f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n e d o u r socialist H o m e l a n d . D e s p i t e t h e successes a c h i e v e d , w e are also a w a r e t h a t some targets o f the f i v e - y e a r p l a n w e r e n o t f u l f i l l e d . T h e P a r t y , the state organs a n d t h e w o r k i n g c o l l e c t i v e s h a v e c a r e f u l l y a n a l y s e d these f a i l u r e s a n d h a v e d r a w n lessons in order to eliminate weaknesses and shortcomings in the w o r k o f o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t o f the e c o n o m y . T h e great a c h i e v e m e n t s o f h i s t o r i c s i g n i f i c a n c e a l r e a d y made in a l l fields, as w e l l as the r i c h experience gained i n t h e w o r k a n d s t r u g g l e o f t h e P a r t y a n d people f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d defence of s o c i a l i s m , c o n s t i t u t e a p o w e r f u l p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l base f r o m w h i c h t o a d v a n c e confidently and boldly. O n t h e basis o f t h e g e n e r a l l i n e a n d t h e e c o n o m i c p o l i c y of the P a r t y for the construction of socialism, the C e n t r a l Committee, after all-sided w o r k and study and a broad p o p u l a r c o n s u l t a t i o n , p r e p a r e d t h e d r a f t - d i r e c t i v e s f o r the 7th Five-year P l a n of the development of the economy and c u l t u r e f o r t h e p e r i o d 1981-1985, w h i c h i t presents t o the Congress for examination and endorsement. T h e f u n d a m e n t a l t a s k of t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n i s : The general development of the economy, relying completely on our own forces, on the basis of deepening the socialist industrialization of the country, the strengthening and intensification of agriculture, raising the efficiency of the economy, the develop-
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ment of the technical-scientific revolution and perfecting the socialist relations of production, in order to guarantee and gradually raise the material well-being and the cultural level of the masses of the working people and to further strengthen the socialist order and the defence capacity of the Homeland. T h e m a i n directions and objectives of the development of the economy and culture d u r i n g the 7th F i v e - y e a r P l a n , w h i c h is distinguished by a n u m b e r of special characteristics, are s y n t h e t i z e d i n t h i s task. This is the first five-year plan which will be carried out relying entirely on our own forces and possibilities. Today A l b a n i a is the only country in the w o r l d w h i c h is d e v e l o p i n g a n d a d v a n c i n g o n t h e socialist r o a d w i t h o u t any k i n d of a i d or credit f r o m abroad. This is a great but g l o r i o u s test f o r o u r p e o p l e a n d P a r t y , a n d t h e v i c t o r y i s c e r t a i n , because, b y p r o c e e d i n g o n t h e basis o f M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m , w e p r e p a r e d o u r s e l v e s l o n g ago f o r t h i s d e c i s i v e step. The objectives and tasks of the new five-year plan are greater than in any other plan, but they are scientifically based and fully achievable. F o r t h e f i v e y e a r s 1981-1985, the v o l u m e o f s o c i a l p r o d u c t i o n a n d i n v e s t m e n t s w i l l b e larger t h a n the v o l u m e realized over the first four five-year plans t a k e n t o g e t h e r , w h i l e t h e v o l u m e o f e x p o r t s w i l l b e even larger. I m p o r t a n t t a s k s are e n v i s a g e d f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f education a n d culture, the health service, housing and other p u b l i c services. I n s e t t i n g these targets a n d rates, a c c o u n t h a s been t a k e n b o t h o f t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s t h e e c o n o m y has a n d w i l l p r o v i d e a n d o f t h e needs f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e e c o n o m y a n d t h e e m p l o y m e n t o f t h e n e w a c t i v e forces, f o r t h e strengthening of the defence of the country a n d the i n crease o f reserves, a n d f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e s o c i a l
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a n d c u l t u r a l sectors, a s w e l l a s f o r e v e r b e t t e r f u l f i l l i n g the growing demands of the population. M a n y of the targets o f t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n , e s p e c i a l l y those w h i c h h a v e t o d o w i t h t h e u t i l i z a t i o n o f reserves o f o i l a n d m i n e r a l s , t h e a l l o c a t i o n of i n v e s t m e n t s , etc., h a v e also b e e n seen t o i n close c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e e c o n omy in the f u t u r e five-year plans, w h e n we w i l l be faced w i t h e v e n g r e a t e r needs a n d d e m a n d s . During the 7th Five-year Plan some important structural improvements will be made in the field of production, the circulation of goods and consumption by the people. T h e s e i m p r o v e m e n t s w i l l i n v o l v e e n e r g y resources, b l a c k metallurgy, the engineering industry, agriculture, transport, f i n a n c e s a n d mass c o n s u m e r goods, etc. T h e i m p r o v e m e n t s envisaged w i l l lead to intensification of the economy, raise its e f f i c i e n c y a n d m a k e i t m o r e c a p a b l e o f m e e t i n g t h e needs o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d o f c o p i n g b e t t e r w i t h t h e e n c i r c l e ment and blockade and the pressure of the economic crisis of the capitalist and revisionist w o r l d . The development and strengthening of the materialtechnical base of the country, as always, will be closely linked with the improvement of various aspects of the economic relations in the city and, especially, in the countryside. I m p o r t a n t m e a s u r e s h a v e b e e n a n d a r e b e i n g t a k e n for the further development of the cooperativist system a n d the r e s t r i c t i o n o f t h e p e r s o n a l plot, f o r t h e e x t e n s i o n of specialization and cooperation, the strengthening of the organization and management of production, for a better l i n k i n g of the remuneration for w o r k w i t h q u a n t i t y and quality, savings and the f u l f i l m e n t of targets of the p l a n . These measures w i l l be carried still f u r t h e r w i t h the a i m of ceaselessly s t r e n g t h e n i n g o u r socialist o r d e r .

1. T H E F U R T H E R S T R E N G T H E N I N G OF I N D U S T R Y A DECISIVE FACTOR FOR THE G E N E R A L A D V A N C E OF THE COUNTRY
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T h e socialist i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y , w h i c h has d e v e l o p e d f r o m one f i v e - y e a r p l a n to t h e o t h e r as a great a n d ceaseless process, h a s o c c u p i e d a n d c o n t i n u e s t o occupy the m a i n place in the economic policy of the Party. It h a s b e e n a n d is a d e c i s i v e f a c t o r f o r t h e g e n e r a l a d v a n c e of the country on the road of socialism. The creation and strengthening of our multi-branched, heavy and light i n d u s t r y , b a s e d f i r m l y o n o u r o w n resources a n d assets a n d w i t h c l e a r p r o s p e c t s of d e v e l o p m e n t , is a m o n u m e n t a l deed o f o u r P a r t y a n d people, a c h i e v e d w i t h great t o i l , s a c r i f i c e a n d u n r i v a l l e d h e r o i s m , a deed o f h i s t o r i c i m p o r t a n c e f o r the p r e s e n t a n d f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s . In the 7th Five-year P l a n our industry w i l l advance still f u r t h e r and develop on a broad front. A b o u t 46 per cent o f a l l t h e i n v e s t m e n t s o f t h e f i v e - y e a r p l a n w i l l b e made in this branch. The a i m of the policy of the P a r t y for the development of i n d u s t r y is: to consolidate the multi-branched structure of industry, giving priority, as always, to heavy industry ; to maintain and further improve the p o s i t i v e b a l a n c e o f e n e r g y resources, a t t a c h i n g p a r t i cular importance to the oil industry; to further develop the m i n e r a l e x t r a c t i n g a n d p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r y , w h i l e also starting to utilize new minerals; to make tangible improvements in the structure of means of production and c o n s u m e r goods; t o p u t i n d u s t r y e v e n m o r e i n t h e s e r v i c e o f the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e ; t o e x p a n d t h e e x i s t i n g productive capacities t h r o u g h their reconstruction and modernization. The Party devotes special attention to the energy industry, to the extraction of oil, gas, coal and the production of electric power. We h a v e c r e a t e d a p o w e r f u l a n d i n d e pendent e n e r g y s y s t e m w h i c h meets t h e g r o w i n g needs o f
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the country f o r energy and earns i m p o r t a n t incomes in h a r d currency f r o m its exports. T h i s is a m a j o r victory f o r t h e correct p o l i c y o f t h e P a r t y a n d a r e l i a b l e basis f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e n a t i o n a l e c o n o m y as a w h o l e . This victory must be consolidated and carried further, i n t h e f i r s t place, b y m a k i n g i n v e s t m e n t s a n d i n c r e a s i n g p r o d u c t i o n , b u t also b y u s i n g a l l o u r e n e r g y resources w i t h the greatest e c o n o m y , strict c o n t r o l a n d t h r i f t . T h e s o l u t i o n o f these p r o b l e m s calls f o r w e l l - o r g a n i z e d , d i s c i p l i n e d a n d s y s t e m a t i c w o r k w i t h s o u n d s c i e n t i f i c bases a n d methods. The development of this crucial b r a n c h of m a j o r strategic importance is put f o r w a r d as an i m p e r a t i v e duty, especially in the conditions of the w o r l d energy crisis. T h e e x t r a c t i o n a n d p r o c e s s i n g o f o i l a n d gas w i l l occ u p y t h e m a i n p l a c e i n o u r e n e r g y resources. T h i s i s a great b u t f u l l y r e a l i z a b l e task, because i t i s b a s e d o n t h e e x i s t i n g resources a n d t h e k n o w n a n d t a p p e d reserves. T h e achievement of the targets for the extraction of o i l a n d gas a n d t h e i n c r e a s e o f t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e major expenditure made in this branch of industry require t h a t t h e o i l w o r k e r s , s p e c i a l i s t s a n d cadres g i v e s p e c i a l attention to i m p r o v i n g prospecting and extraction methods, basing themselves completely on the achievements of science, o n t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f r i g o r o u s t e c h n i c a l a n d w o r k i n g discipline. T h e e x p e n d i t u r e o n t h e e x t r a c t i o n o f o i l a n d gas m u s t b e m a d e o n t h e basis o f p r o f o u n d studies a n d w i t h r e s ponsibility. Thorough-going technical, organizational and material measures must be taken to increase oil extraction, n o t o n l y f r o m t h e n e w deposits, b u t also f r o m t h e o l d e r ones, u s i n g i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n a n d s e c o n d a r y m e t h o d s m u c h b e t t e r t h a n u p t i l l n o w . I n t h i s v i t a l sector w e m u s t p r o c e e d w i t h e c o n o m y , w i t h reserves g u a r a n t e e d a n d p r o v e d , a n d u t i l i z e o i l a n d gas f r u g a l l y , t h i n k i n g o f t o d a y a n d also o f the f u t u r e . T h e s c i e n t i f i c a n d t e c h n i c a l f o r c e s m u s t i n v o l v e
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themselves more deeply in speeding up the exploitation o f b i t u m i n o u s sands w i t h a h i g h l e v e l o f e f f i c i e n c y , because these are a great asset of t h e c o u n t r y , w h i c h m u s t be b r o u g h t i n t o e c o n o m i c c i r c u l a t i o n a s soon a s p o s s i b l e . C o a l , w h i c h is a f u e l u s e d on a mass scale a n d of g r e a t e c o n o m i c b e n e f i t , occupies a n i m p o r t a n t place i n t h e e n e r g y resources o f t h e c o u n t r y . A t t e n t i o n s h o u l d b e c e n t e r e d n o t o n l y o n the r a t i o n a l e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e e x i s t i n g c o a l m i n e s , b u t also o n t h e o p e n i n g o f p r o f i t a b l e n e w m i n e s . P r o s p e c t i n g f o r coals o f h i g h e r c a l o r i f i c v a l u e a n d c o k i n g coals m u s t b e e x t e n d e d . W o r k must be done everywhere to replace l i q u i d fuels w i t h coal a n d f o r its f r u g a l use. L i k e w i s e , i t i s also n e c e s s a r y to take measures for the enrichment and briquetting o f coals, t o i n c r e a s e t h e e c o n o m i c b e n e f i t s f r o m t h e i r use. I n o r d e r t o k e e p a h e a d o f t h e g r o w i n g needs f o r e l e c t r i c p o w e r , a s w e l l a s f o r t h e i n t e n s i v e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f the w a t e r resources i n w h i c h o u r c o u n t r y i s v e r y r i c h , d u r i n g this f i v e - y e a r p l a n t h e w o r k f o r the c o m p l e t i o n o f t h e K o m a n h y d r o - p o w e r station, w h i c h w i l l be the most powerf u l we have built up to now, w i l l be stepped up to m a j o r p r o p o r t i o n s a n d p r e p a r a t i o n s w i l l b e m a d e f o r t h e const r u c t i o n o f o t h e r h y d r o - p o w e r stations, b i g a n d s m a l l , n o t o n l y t o cope w i t h p r e s e n t a n d f u t u r e needs, b u t also t o increase t h e e x p o r t o f e l e c t r i c p o w e r . T h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d use o f e l e c t r i c p o w e r m u s t b e seen i n u n i t y . T h e P a r t y a n d t h e state a n d e c o n o m i c o r g a n s m u s t w o r k t o c h a n g e people's concepts, s o t h a t e l e c t r i c p o w e r is a p p r e c i a t e d as a m a j o r n a t i o n a l asset w h i c h must b e u s e d t h r i f t i l y a n d w i t h r i g o r o u s c o n t r o l i n a l l fields, e s p e c i a l l y i n t h a t o f m a t e r i a l p r o d u c t i o n , w h e r e scientifically studied norms must be established for every kilowatt consumed. The 7th Five-year Plan opens broad perspectives for
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the extracting and processing industry of useful minerals. Conditions have n o w been created for the extraction of o t h e r u s e f u l m i n e r a l s also, s u c h a s p h o s p h o r i t e , q u a r t z i t e , r o c k salt, d o l o m i t e , o l i v i n i t e , b a u x i t e , etc. C u r r e n t a n d f u t u r e needs pose t h e t a s k o f e x p a n d i n g the e x t r a c t i o n a n d e n r i c h m e n t o f l o w - g r a d e m i n e r a l s a n d i n c r e a s i n g the p r o p o r t i o n o f u s e f u l e l e m e n t s r e c o v e r e d f r o m t h e m i n o r d e r t o r a i s e t h e v a l u e o f o u r m i n e r a l resources, t o e x p l o i t e v e n those deposits, o l d o r n e w , w h i c h a r e o f p o o r q u a l i t y , b u t o f w h i c h t h e r e a r e l a r g e reserves. Special attention will be paid to metallurgy, in general, and iron and steel production, in particular, not only to deepen the full cycle processing of our main minerals, but also to strengthen the independence of our economy from imports. T h e r e f o r e , o u r m e t a l l u r g i c a l w o r k e r s m u s t m o b ilize a l l their strength and skills so that they learn a n d master thoroughly, w i t h strict discipline and on a scientific basis, t h e t e c h n o l o g y o f s m e l t i n g m i n e r a l s a n d t h e m a n y w a y s of processing metals, in order to utilize a l l the useful m a i n a n d associated e l e m e n t s o f t h e c o m p l e x ores, t o r e d u c e t h e costs o f m a t e r i a l s a n d e n e r g y , w h i c h a r e s t i l l h i g h . T h o r o u g h studies a n d i n t e n s i v e w o r k a r e r e q u i r e d for the big extensions w h i c h w i l l continue at the Steel of the P a r t y metallurgical combine, for the setting up of p l a n t s t o p r o d u c e tubes o f v a r i o u s k i n d s , steel p l a t e a n d carbonic products. N o w t h a t w e h a v e o u r o w n steel a n d h a v e b u i l t a powerful mechanical engineering industry t h e c o n d i t i o n s h a v e b e e n c r e a t e d t o set t h i s b r a n c h g r e a t e r t a s k s . T h e p r o d u c t i o n o f the e n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y i n 1985 w i l l b e 43-45 p e r cent g r e a t e r t h a n i n 1980. The engineering industry successfully f u l f i l l e d the task o f p r o d u c i n g s p a r e parts, set b y t h e 7 t h C o n g r e s s o f t h e P a r t y , m e e t i n g 9 5 p e r cent o f t h e needs o f t h e e c o n o m y for them. In this five-year p l a n this achievement must
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be consolidated by radically i m p r o v i n g quality and greatly increasing the reconditioning of the parts replaced. In the years of this five-year plan the engineering i n d u s t r y w i l l engage o n a l a r g e r scale i n t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f equipment and m a c h i n e r y for the construction of new production lines and factories, f o r various reconstructions a n d e x t e n s i o n s o f p r o d u c t i v e capacities. T o c a r r y o u t s u c h a task demands i m p r o v e d organization and management of this b r a n c h of industry, and the technology of processing, planning, the cooperation a n d the standardization of prod u c t i o n m u s t b e p u t o n the m o s t s c i e n t i f i c basis possible. U r g e n t and comprehensive measures must be taken especially f o r t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e t e c h n o l o g i c a l a n d s t r u c t u r a l designs o f e q u i p m e n t a n d m a c h i n e r y f o r t h e n e w projects t o b e b u i l t a n d t h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n s t o b e done during this five-year plan. M u c h of this equipment and machinery w i l l be produced for the first time. T h e designing and p r o d u c t i o n o f t h i s e q u i p m e n t a n d m a c h i n e r y o n t i m e and w i t h h i g h q u a l i t y i s one o f t h e m o s t d i f f i c u l t t a s k s w h i c h o u r e n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y has t o cope w i t h . The commencement of machine b u i l d i n g on a large scale b y t h e e n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y f o r c e f u l l y poses t h e n e e d to raise the l e v e l of q u a l i f i c a t i o n of t h e people i n v o l v e d and d e v e l o p t h e i r c r e a t i v e t h i n k i n g , t h e n e e d t o t r a i n h i g h e r a n d m i d d l e cadres e v e n f o r n a r r o w p r o f i l e s a n d p a r t i c u l a r s p e c i a l i t i e s , m a k i n g t h e a p p r o p r i a t e changes i n the p r o g r a m s o f v o c a t i o n a l schools a n d t h e U n i v e r s i t y f o r this p u r p o s e . The chemical industry will undergo great expansion and development during this five-year plan. C o m p a r e d w i t h 1980, in 1985 its p r o d u c t i o n w i l l go up 63-65 p e r cent. Particular importance w i l l be given to increasing production o f p h o s p h a t e f e r t i l i z e r s a n d c h e m i c a l s f o r p l a n t protection. N o w t h a t m a n y b a s i c p r o d u c t s a n d a n u m b e r of i n d u s t r i a l r e s i d u e s a n d associated c o m p o n e n t s of m i n e r a l s
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are a v a i l a b l e , t h e c h e m i s t s a n d other s p e c i a l i s t s m u s t study and produce a m u c h w i d e r range of chemical p r o ducts a n d reagents i n o r d e r t o r e d u c e i m p o r t s o f t h e m a s soon as possible. T h e b e g i n n i n g s of c h e m i c a l s y n t h e s i s , based m a i n l y o n l o c a l r a w m a t e r i a l s , m u s t also b e c a r r i e d f o w a r d w i t h the a i m t h a t its p r o d u c t s b e c o m e a good s o u r c e of exports in the not-too-distant future. T h e P a r t y has a l w a y s b o r n e i n m i n d that, i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of i n d u s t r y as a w h o l e , the production of mass consumer goods must be increased in keeping with the needs of the population, ensuring the stability and continuous raising of the material and cultural level of the working masses. A r e a l change f o r t h e b e t t e r i s n e c e s s a r y i n t h e p r o ducts o f t h e l i g h t a n d f o o d - p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r y , a n d a radical improvement m u s t be achieved in the structure, range, q u a l i t y , p a c k a g i n g a n d t h e l o w e r i n g o f t h e cost o f t h e goods. T h i s c h a n g e c a n b e m a d e o n l y t h r o u g h c o m plete a n d e f f e c t i v e m e a s u r e s i n t h e f i e l d s o f o r g a n i z a t i o n and management, and the planning and technology of p r o d u c t i o n . A b o v e a l l , a r t i s a n concepts m u s t b e r a d i c a l l y changed, ingenuity and creative t h i n k i n g must be developed, there must be swift and efficient action to m a k e p o s i t i v e changes, t o open a b r o a d w a y t o t h e n e w e v e r y where. H u g e investments have been made for the establishment and development of industry, and a whole a r m y of q u a l i f i e d a n d d e v o t e d w o r k e r s , w h o are a p o w e r f u l s u p p o r t f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h i s v i t a l sector o f t h e e c o n omy, has been trained. T h e attainment of the great targets l a i d d o w n by t h e P a r t y requires that the w o r k e r s of industry increase the efficiency of production and the productivity of labour, and raise their creative activity to a higher level. T h e y must utilize the m a n y productive capacities at their disposal
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e x t e n s i v e l y a n d m a s t e r t h e use o f t h e n e w p r o j e c t s a n d production lines that w i l l be completed and commissioned, a s w e l l a s those w h i c h w i l l b e r e c o n s t r u c t e d i n t h e y e a r s o f t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n , a s t h o r o u g h l y a s possible. W i t h courage a n d d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d r e l y i n g o n t h e r e s u l t s o f studies a n d science, t h e y m u s t c a r r y f o r w a r d a n d m o d e r n i z e the t e c h n o l o g y o f p r o d u c t i o n , i m p r o v e its q u a l i t a t i v e a n d financial indices. T h e people and the P a r t y are f u l l y confident that the w o r k e r s o f a l l b r a n c h e s o f i n d u s t r y , conscious o f t h e s i t u a t i o n w e are g o i n g t h r o u g h , w i l l m u l t i p l y t h e i r e f f o r t s a n d step u p t h e i r s t r u g g l e t o a c h i e v e t h e o b j e c t i v e s a n d f u l f i l the great tasks w h i c h this Congress is setting for the d e v e l o p m e n t a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f o u r socialist i n dustry.
2. A G R I C U L T U R A L PRODUCTION MUST BE FURTHER INTENSIFIED IN THE AND THE SOCIALIST RELATIONS PERFECTED COUNTRYSIDE
O u r P a r t y has w o r k e d out a n d i m p l e m e n t e d a M a r x i s t Leninist agrarian policy, t a k i n g account of the historical conditions and the concrete circumstances in w h i c h our people's r e v o l u t i o n t r i u m p h e d a n d t h e c o u n t r y e m b a r k e d on the road of socialism. In the conditions of a v e r y backw a r d a g r a r i a n country, the P a r t y h a d to solve t w o problems s i m u l t a n e o u s l y : b o t h t h e socialist t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e countryside and the all-round development of agriculture. A g r i c u l t u r e h a d to be in a position to feed the r u r a l pop u l a t i o n a n d t o m a k e its great c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e i n d u s trialization of the country and the development of the n a t i o n a l e c o n o m y . Achievement of these fundamental tasks required not any kind of development of agriculture, but precisely its socialist development on the basis of modern,
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large-scale production closely linked with all the other branches and sectors of the economy. The revolutionary transformations and the progress a c h i e v e d i n a g r i c u l t u r e r e p r e s e n t one o f t h e greatest v i c tories of the line and policy of the P a r t y for the construct i o n o f s o c i a l i s m . T h e fact t h a t d u r i n g n e a r l y f o u r decades o f t h e people's state p o w e r a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n i n general in our country has continued to increase about 2 times more rapidly than the population, that the r e a l p e r c a p i t a i n c o m e of t h e p e a s a n t r y has g o n e up 10 to 20 p e r cent f r o m one f i v e - y e a r p l a n t o a n o t h e r , t h a t n o w , a s c o m p a r e d w i t h 1960, a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n h a s i n c r e a s e d 1.7 t i m e s p e r u n i t of a r a b l e l a n d a n d 1.6 t i m e s p e r a g r i c u l t u r a l w o r k e r , i s c l e a r e v i d e n c e o f t h e correctness o f t h i s p o l i c y . I n t h e 6 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n , too, a l t h o u g h t h e t a r g e t s w e r e not f u l l y accomplished according to plan, the average a n n u a l p r o d u c t i o n w a s 21.4 p e r cent h i g h e r a s c o m p a r e d w i t h the 5th F i v e - y e a r P l a n . C o n s i s t e n t l y f o l l o w i n g its a g r a r i a n p o l i c y , t h e P a r t y h a s set n e w , m o r e i m p o r t a n t o b j e c t i v e s f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d t h e p r o g r e s s o f o u r socialist c o u n t r y s i d e d u r i n g the 7 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n . T h e t a s k s w h i c h t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y has set f o r t h e sector o f a g r i c u l t u r e i n the n e w f i v e - y e a r p l a n a i m t o increase production in order to ensure ever better supplies of a l l t h e f o o d f o r t h e people a n d i m p r o v e its s t r u c t u r e ; t o substantially increase the r a w materials f o r the light and food-processing industry; to gradually eliminate i m ports of that part of foodstuffs and agricultural r a w m a t e r i a l s w h i c h are s t i l l b r o u g h t f r o m a b r o a d ; t o i n c r e a s e t h e v o l u m e o f e x p o r t s o f processed a n d u n p r o c e s s e d a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s ; t o i n c r e a s e a n d s t r e n g t h e n t h e necess a r y r e s e r v e . O n t h e basis o f these o b j e c t i v e s , a s w e l l a s t h r o u g h other e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l measures, t h e w e l l being of the peasantry w i l l be raised and the distinctions
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between t o w n and countryside w i l l be further reduced. These m a j o r problems for the development of agriculture h a v e to do w i t h the present and the f u t u r e of the c o u n t r y . F o r a l l these reasons, i n t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n a g r i culture w i l l occupy a special and more i m p o r t a n t place than hitherto. As always, grain production remains the primary task o f agriculture. E a c h y e a r w e m u s t s u p p l y t h e b r e a d needed b y t h e e v e r g r o w i n g p o p u l a t i o n , f u l f i l i n c r e a s i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r c o n c e n t r a t e d a n d i n d u s t r i a l i z e d foods f o r l i v e s t o c k , a s w e l l a s o t h e r e s s e n t i a l needs f o r g r a i n . T h e s e problems cannot be solved by constantly increasing the area p l a n t e d t o g r a i n . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e stress m u s t b e laid more and more on increasing yields and i m p r o v i n g the s t r u c t u r e o f t h e t y p e s o f g r a i n g r o w n . T h i s becomes e v e n more essential in the conditions in w h i c h the population is g r o w i n g at h i g h rates a n d , as a consequence, t h e a r e a o f a r a b l e l a n d p e r c a p i t a t e n d s t o decrease. T h e r e f o r e , t h e increase o f a b o u t 2 0 p e r cent i n t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f g r a i n in the 7th F i v e - y e a r P l a n , as against the 6th F i v e - y e a r Plan, must be achieved entirely through increased yields. T h e t a s k s i n t h i s f i e l d are v e r y serious a n d r e q u i r e e x c e p t i o n a l a t t e n t i o n f r o m t h e o r g a n s o f t h e P a r t y , t h e state, the e c o n o m y a n d a l l t h e w o r k e r s o f a g r i c u l t u r e . A p a r t f r o m t h e increase i n g r a i n p r o d u c t i o n , m e a s u r e s must b e s t e p p e d u p i n a l l t h e l i n k s i n t h e p r o c u r e m e n t , h a n d l i n g , s t o r i n g a n d use o f g r a i n i n o r d e r t o a v o i d a n y loss o r d a m a g e . W e m u s t also a i m a t r e d u c i n g t h e c o n s u m p t i o n of bread per head of population, both in t o w n and countryside. W e m u s t p r o c e e d o n t h i s c o u r s e w i t h a s c i e n t i f i c a l l y studied p r o g r a m t o i m p r o v e t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e people's food b y i n c r e a s i n g t h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d use o f vegetables, potatoes, f r u i t s , l i v e s t o c k p r o d u c t s , etc. T h e p r o b l e m i s that w e m u s t p r o v i d e t h e p o p u l a t i o n w i t h m o r e m i l k , m e a t , vegetables, etc., a n d r e d u c e t h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f b r e a d ,
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t h u s not r e d u c i n g the s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g b u t r a i s i n g it. Hence, parallel w i t h the increase of the production of vegetables, potatoes a n d beans p e r h e a d o f p o p u l a t i o n a n d t h e r e d u c t i o n o f t h e i r cost, m o r e o r g a n i z e d w o r k m u s t b e done t o s t u d y people's d e m a n d s a n d tastes a n d t o t r a n s f o r m the e x i s t i n g a l m o s t a r t i s a n m e n t a l i t y r e g a r d i n g t h e p r o d u c t i o n , t r a n s p o r t , i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n a n d sale o f these p r o d u c t s . T h e s o l i d t a s k s e n v i s a g e d i n t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n c o n c e r n i n g vegetables, potatoes a n d beans r e q u i r e t h e implementation of all-round agro-technical measures, as w e l l as the concentration and specialization of the prod u c t i o n o f t h e m , e s p e c i a l l y a r o u n d t h e b i g cities, w i t h t h e a i m that the plans must be f u l f i l l e d in quantity, in v a r i e t y and on time throughout the year. T h e state a n d t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s h a v e m a d e m a j o r investments for the development of fruit-growing. Up till n o w , h o w e v e r , t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f these i n v e s t m e n t s , espec i a l l y i n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s , has b e e n l o w a n d t h e w e i g h t o f t h i s sector i n a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n i s s t i l l r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l . H e n c e , t o r e a l i z e the i n c r e a s i n g t a s k s f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of f r u i t - g r o w i n g it is necessary, f i r s t of a l l , t h a t t h i s branch should be appreciated more correctly, and that ideas u n d e r r a t i n g it and manifestations of lack of interest i n t h i s great w e a l t h w i t h p r o m i s e f o r t h e f u t u r e o f o u r country, must be combated. In the orchards and olive groves a l l the necessary services must be f u l l y carried out and the appropriate conditions p r o v i d e d for extensive irrigation. The new investments must be concentrated m a i n l y on the c o m p l e t i o n o f e x i s t i n g b l o c k s a n d t h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f the existing vineyards. Studies must be carried out in the field of f r u i t - g r o w i n g and a great deal of w o r k done to add to and i m p r o v e new varieties, the p l a n t i n g of orchards o f v a r i o u s k i n d s a r o u n d t h e cities m u s t b e p r o c e e d e d w i t h
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a n d , w i t h i n t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s , t h e p r a c t i c e o f j o i n t statecooperative investments should be applied. T h e needs of t h e p e o p l e a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of a multi-branched agriculture require improvement in the s t r u c t u r e o f p l a n t i n g s o f i n d u s t r i a l crops, c o n c e n t r a t i o n and specialization of production in the districts and econo m i e s w h i c h h a v e h a d t h e best results, e n s u r i n g s u p p l i e s o f seeds w h i c h p r o d u c e h e a v y c r o p s y i e l d i n g h i g h l e v e l s of industrial products, and the application of advanced technology in production. We must adhere to the orientation f o r i n d u s t r i a l c r o p s t o f u l f i l t h e needs o f t h e people a n d the economy ever better w i t h the local production. I n r e g a r d t o t h e f o r e s t e c o n o m y , a l o n g w i t h measures to proceed more rapidly towards balancing cutting w i t h the a n n u a l n a t u r a l g r o w t h o f forest trees, w e m u s t a i m t o t r a n s f o r m t h e forests i n t o c o m p l e x e c o n o m i e s i n w h i c h , apart f r o m extracting timber, secondary forest products, s u c h a s p l a n t s p r o d u c i n g e s s e n t i a l oils a n d m e d i c i n a l herbs, are c u l t i v a t e d a n d h a r v e s t e d , a n d m o r e i s done t o develop and utilize the zooculture. The objectives put forward in the new five-year plan concerning livestock-farming require much greater attention from the organs of the Party, the state and the economy and all the workers of agriculture for this important branch. D e s p i t e t h e p r o g r e s s m a d e , t h e l e v e l o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d m o d e r n i z a t i o n o f t h e l i v e s t o c k sector does n o t r e s p o n d t o t h e b i g i n v e s t m e n t s m a d e a n d t h e i n c r e a s i n g needs f o r a n i m a l products. To this end it is necessary to radically change t h e concepts o n a n d a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d s t h e needs and r e q u i r e m e n t s a r i s i n g f r o m the d e v e l o p m e n t o f l a r g e scale l i v e s t o c k - f a r m i n g w i t h m a n y k i n d s o f a n i m a l s , a n d b u i l t on a s c i e n t i f i c basis. T h e number-one problem in the field of livestockf a r m i n g is the a p p l i c a t i o n of a c o m p l e t e s y s t e m of a p p r o priate m e a s u r e s t o d o u b l e a n d t r e b l e t h e y i e l d s o f f o r a g e
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crops a n d t h e p r o d u c t i v e c a p a c i t y o f n a t u r a l p a s t u r e s , t o g a t h e r a n d u t i l i z e a l l t h e reserves a n d b y - p r o d u c t s o f a g r i c u l t u r e , as w e l l as to a p p l y a m o r e a d v a n c e d t e c h n o l o g y i n t h e p r o c e s s i n g o f c o n c e n t r a t e d foods a n d o t h e r agricultural and industrial products for the livestock. We have made and w i l l continue to make investments a n d t a k e m e a s u r e s t o set u p m o d e r n c o m p l e x e s f o r t h e strengthening of livestock-farming, for the production of m e a t a n d eggs, f o r t h e i n d u s t r i a l p r o c e s s i n g a n d e n s i l a g i n g of feed for animals. H o w e v e r , care must be t a k e n to ensure t h a t these i n v e s t m e n t s are m a d e i n t i m e a n d g i v e t h e p r o p e r effect. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i t m u s t b e k e p t c l e a r l y i n m i n d that the o v e r w h e l m i n g part of the livestock, this great n a t i o n a l asset, i s i n t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s a n d i n the herds formed f r o m the animals belonging to the m e m b e r s o f these c o o p e r a t i v e s . T h e r e f o r e , v e r y g r e a t a t t e n t i o n m u s t b e p a i d t o t h e p r o p e r m a n a g e m e n t o f these animals, the increase of production and reduction of the cost o f l i v e s t o c k p r o d u c t s i n a l l areas o f t h e c o u n t r y . The fulfilment of the targets envisaged in the 7th F i v e year Plan for agriculture will be achieved, more than ever before, through intensification. T h e l a n d a n d a l l t h e r e l a tively powerful and diversified material and technical base w h i c h has b e e n c r e a t e d m u s t b e u t i l i z e d w i t h t h e greatest possible e f f i c i e n c y , w i t h t h e a i m o f g e t t i n g t h e m a x i m u m agricultural and livestock products w i t h the least p o s s i b l e e x p e n d i t u r e t h i s is t h e t a s k set. W h i l e setting m a j o r tasks for stepping up the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e , i n t h e f u t u r e , too, p e r s i s t e n t efforts must continue to extend the area of arable land, because o u r c o u n t r y s t i l l h a s l a n d w h i c h c a n b e o p e n e d u p i n t h e h i l l y a n d m o u n t a i n o u s areas, a s w e l l a s t o g a i n n e w areas o f l a n d t h r o u g h d e s a l i n i z a t i o n , etc. A m a j o r p r o b l e m , w h i c h has t o d o w i t h t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of a g r i c u l t u r e , is a b e t t e r h a r m o n i z a t i o n , b a s e d
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on scientific criteria, of all the h u m a n , material, agro-technical and n a t u r a l factors w h i c h condition agricultural production. This is a general problem w h i c h concerns every e c o n o m y , d i s t r i c t o r a r e a . T h e specialists, cadres a n d v a n g u a r d w o r k e r s a t t h e base, t h e e c o n o m i c a n d p l a n n i n g organs, a s w e l l a s t h e s c i e n t i f i c r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t i o n s , h a v e here a b r o a d f i e l d f o r studies a n d c r e a t i v e a c t i v i t y a n d i n novation. I n t h e f u t u r e , too, i n v e s t m e n t s a n d c a r e f o r t h e l a n d must c o n s t i t u t e t h e m a i n d i r e c t i o n o f t h e w o r k f o r t h e intensification a n d increase of agricultural production. This calls f o r t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f c o m p r e h e n s i v e m e a s u r e s t o increase t h e f e r t i l i t y o f t h e l a n d a n d p r o t e c t i t a g a i n s t erosion, t o e n r i c h a n d i m p r o v e t h e s o i l t h r o u g h a c o m b i n e d and i n t e g r a l s y s t e m o f f e r t i l i z e r s . I t r e q u i r e s t h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d use o f seeds w i t h h i g h p r o d u c t i v e c a p a c i t y , r e sistant t o diseases, pests a n d u n f a v o u r a b l e n a t u r a l f a c t o r s . T h e m a n y problems related to the intensification of agriculture can be successfully solved only by placing all agricultural production on rigorously scientific foundations. The 8th P l e n u m of the CC of the P a r t y gave orientations and d i r e c t i v e s o f v e r y g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e t o a l l t h e s c i e n t i f i c o r g a n i s m s i n a g r i c u l t u r e , f r o m t h e base t o t h e centre. I t i s a p r i m e d u t y o f t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t h e state a n d economic o r g a n s t o e n s u r e t h a t t h i s p r o g r a m i s p e r s i s t e n t l y a p p l i e d . To t h i s e n d it is e s s e n t i a l t h a t a c o r r e c t concept should b e f o r m e d o f t h e g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e a n d r o l e o f scientific r e s e a r c h a n d e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n i n a g r i c u l t u r e a n d that a l l o r g a n i z a t i o n a l m e a s u r e s a r e t a k e n t o e n s u r e t h a t the results o f these studies f i n d a p p l i c a t i o n i n large-scale p r o d u c t i o n as q u i c k l y as possible. I n the c o n t e x t o f t h e w o r k t h a t w i l l b e c a r r i e d out i n agriculture d u r i n g this five-year plan, the Central C o m mittee of t h e P a r t y proposes to the C o n g r e s s t h a t a series of important measures for the intensification of agricul-
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tural production, giving priority to production in the more fertile plains of the country, should be applied within a ten-year period. T h e f i r s t stage of t h i s p r o g r a m , to be a p p l i e d i n the 7 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n , covers m o r e t h a n 100,000 hectares o f l a n d i n t h e a r e a o f t h e coastal p l a i n s . T h e a i m of this action is to increase agricultural and livestock prod u c t i o n i n t h e areas i n w h i c h t h e w o r k a n d i n v e s t m e n t s y i e l d g r e a t e r a n d m o r e r a p i d r e s u l t s . T h i s w i l l also create favourable conditions for a more rapid development of the cooperatives a n d for the g r a d u a l transition f r o m the p r o p e r t y o f t h e g r o u p t o t h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e w h o l e people. U n d e r t a k i n g this action w i l l not affect the investments and m a t e r i a l resources necessary f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e i n t h e o t h e r areas o f t h e c o u n t r y . O n the c o n t r a r y , w o r k w i l l continue for the further development and strengthening of all a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives. Success i n c a r r y i n g o u t t h i s g r e a t t a s k r e q u i r e s c a r e f u l w o r k , w e l l - p r o g r a m m e d a n d o r g a n i z e d , b y the M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e , the S t a t e P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n , t h e M i n i s t r y of Finance and other central institutions and party and state organs i n the d i s t r i c t s w h i c h a r e i n c l u d e d i n t h e zone where the higher level of intensification of agriculture w i l l be applied. The level already achieved in the development of the productive forces and the new steps, which will be taken in the 7th Five-year Plan and in the future, will be accompanied and supported by the further improvement of the socialist relations in the countryside. T h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e of t h e P a r t y h a s m a d e a m e t i c u l o u s s t u d y of a n d a p p r o v e d the r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n i t i a t i v e s o f t h e p e a s a n t r y f o r the f u r t h e r r e s t r i c t i o n o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t p l o t a n d t h e formation of joint herds f r o m the members' personal livestock, a n d h a s t a k e n o r i s t a k i n g a l l - r o u n d m e a s u r e s t o g i v e t h i s p r o g r e s s i v e process i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e p r o p e r s u p p o r t . T h e P a r t y i s h i g h l y a p p r e c i a t i v e o f the r e v o l u t i o n -
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ary spirit and ardent patriotism of the cooperativist p e a s a n t r y i n t a k i n g t h i s step o f s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e f o r t h e strengthening of the cooperativist system in our country. I t i s f u l l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e r e s t r i c t i o n o f the p e r s o n a l plot a n d t h e f o r m a t i o n o f j o i n t h e r d s w i l l c e r t a i n l y l e a d t o increased agricultural and livestock production, to g u a r a n t e e i n g a n d f u r t h e r r a i s i n g the w e l l - b e i n g o f the p e a s a n t r y a n d t h e f u r t h e r c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f t h e s p i r i t o f socialist c o l l e c t i v i s m . T h u s , o n t h e basis o f t h e rise i n p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e g e n e r a l w e l l - b e i n g of the p e a s a n t r y , t h e plot, as a t e m p o r a r y a u x i l i a r y e c o n o m y , i s g r a d u a l l y l o s i n g its i m portance and w i l l eventually wither away completely. The implementation of the program for speeding up the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n i n t h e c o u n t r y ' s l o w l a n d a r e a w i l l also b r i n g a b o u t i m p o r t a n t t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s i n t h e socialist r e l a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n i n t h i s zone. W i t h t h e b i g i n v e s t m e n t s , w h i c h t h e state w i l l m a k e i n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s o f t h i s zone, t h e p r o p o r t i o n o f the s t a t e - o w n e d m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n w i l l increase. T h i s w i l l lead g r a d u a l l y to restriction of the sphere of the r e l a t i o n s of c o o p e r a t i v i s t p r o p e r t y , u n t i l , at a l a t e r p e r i o d , the l a t t e r t u r n s i n t o p r o p e r t y o f t h e w h o l e people. U n t i l this phase i s r e a c h e d , t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s i n the zone i n w h i c h a g r i c u l t u r e w i l l b e i n t e n s i f i e d a t h i g h e r rates, w i l l continue to be paid in the current forms, w i t h norms and workdays. Meanwhile, we shall w o r k towards gradually r a i s i n g t h e i r r e m u n e r a t i o n t o t h e l e v e l o f t h e w a g e s o f the w o r k e r s o f state f a r m s . P a r a l l e l w i t h this, t h e w o r k w i l l c o n t i n u e t o c o n s o l i d a t e the h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s , some o f w h i c h w i l l b e t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o state f a r m s . T h i s w i l l s e r v e a s a n e x p e r i e n c e f o r the f u t u r e , too. O t h e r h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s w i l l b e set u p i n t h e l o w l a n d zones. S o m e c o o p e r a t i v e s o f t h e h i l l y and m o u n t a i n o u s zones also m a y become h i g h e r - t y p e
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cooperatives, depending on their development and the p o s s i b i l i t i e s of t h e state. W h i l e p r o g r a m m i n g these n e w steps, t h e P a r t y w i l l c o n t i n u e t o d e v o t e great a t t e n t i o n i n t h e f u t u r e t o t h e development and strengthening of the cooperatives in the h i l l y a n d m o u n t a i n o u s zones. A l a r g e p a r t o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y l i v e s i n these zones w h i c h i n c l u d e a c o n siderable area of the arable land. The speeding up of intens i f i c a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e i n t h e p l a i n s w i l l p r o v i d e t h e state w i t h greater material and f i n a n c i a l possibilities to m a k e i n v e s t m e n t s a n d g i v e g r e a t e r assistance t o t h e h i l l y a n d m o u n t a i n o u s zones. S p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n a n d care m u s t b e g i v e n t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f a l l t h e state f a r m s , combating the shortcomings and weaknesses w h i c h exist i n some o f t h e m t o d a y . T h e t a s k w h i c h t h e P a r t y set l o n g ago, t h a t the state f a r m s s h o u l d b e i n t h e v a n g u a r d , m u s t b e c a r r i e d out p e r s i s t e n t l y . T h e m a j e s t i c objectives o f t h e n e w f i v e - y e a r p l a n o p e n up prospects of a l l - r o u n d d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o g r e s s f o r o u r a g r i c u l t u r e a n d t h e socialist c o u n t r y s i d e . T o a t t a i n these objectives r e q u i r e s t h e m o b i l i z a t i o n a n d p e r s i s t e n t w o r k o f a l l the w o r k i n g people o f a g r i c u l t u r e , p e r f e c t i o n o f the p l a n n i n g , o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r a l production and of a l l the subsequent l i n k s in the c h a i n : the organs o f p r o c u r e m e n t , the l i g h t a n d f o o d - p r o c e s sing industries, internal and foreign trade. The M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e a n d its d e p e n d e n t o r g a n s a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s , i n p a r t i c u l a r , are f a c e d w i t h i m p o r t a n t d u t i e s i n o r d e r t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e y are e q u a l t o t h e m a j o r t a s k s f o r t h e development of agriculture w h i c h this Congress is setting. T h e successful achievement of the targets in the field of agriculture w i l l be a major victory for the agrarian policy o f t h e P a r t y , w h i c h i s t h e d i a m e t r i c a l opposite o f t h e p o l i c y p u r s u e d i n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s , w h e r e a g r i c u l t u r e has
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landed in an impasse. As everyone k n o w s , the Leninist road o f c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n h a s l o n g b e e n a b a n d o n e d i n those countries. In the Soviet U n i o n and elsewhere, the existing f o r m o f c o l l e c t i v e c a p i t a l i s m i s n o w associated, t o a l a r g e degree, w i t h d i r e c t f o r m s o f p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y . T h e i n d i v i d u a l private economies are regarded by the revisionists as a m a i n source for the production of meat, m i l k a n d o t h e r a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s , m o r e o v e r , t h e y are e v e n b e i n g g i v e n t h e a n i m a l s o f the k o l k h o z e s a n d s o v k h o z e s t o f e e d a n d raise, t h u s l i q u i d a t i n g a n y t r a c e o f t h e socialist s y s t e m in the countryside. T h i s is the course that has led the a g r i c u l t u r e o f m a n y o f these c o u n t r i e s , i n w h i c h t h e shortage o f f o o d a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l r a w m a t e r i a l s has b e c o m e one o f t h e m o s t serious p r o b l e m s f o r t h e l i f e o f t h e w o r k i n g masses t o d a y , i n t o a p r o f o u n d crisis.
5. THE L E V E L OF WELL-BEING OF T H E PEOPLE MUST BE GUARANTEED AND G R A D U A L L Y RAISED
T h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialist s o c i e t y i s a n a l l - s i d e d r e v o l u t i o n a r y process. T h e r e f o r e , t h e P a r t y has seen t h e development of production in u n i t y w i t h the strengthening o f t h e socialist s o c i a l order, t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f t h e m a t e r i a l a n d c u l t u r a l needs o f t h e w o r k i n g masses w i t h t h e i r c o m munist education, the w e l l - b e i n g of the w h o l e people w i t h the s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d defence p o t e n tial of the H o m e l a n d , the general and collective w i t h the personal, the present w i t h the future, the development of the t o w n w i t h t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e c o u n t r y s i d e . I n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d a l l o t h e r social activities the P a r t y h a s a l w a y s h a d t h e w o r k i n g m a n , t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f h i s m a t e r i a l a n d c u l t u r a l needs, i n t h e c e n t r e o f its a t t e n t i o n . D u r i n g t h e 6 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n , too, a l t h o u g h t h e set targets w e r e n o t f u l l y r e a c h e d , t h e
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p u r c h a s i n g p o w e r a n d the r e a l i n c o m e p e r h e a d o f p o p u l a t i o n rose b o t h i n t o w n a n d i n c o u n t r y s i d e , the s u p p l y o f mass c o n s u m e r goods s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s e d , a n d t h e h o u s i n g c o n d i t i o n s o f the w o r k i n g people w e r e f u r t h e r i m p r o v e d . T h e r e h a v e been n o p r i c e r i s e s i n f o o d - s t u f f s , o r i n d u s t r i a l goods, f u e l s a n d e l e c t r i c p o w e r , h o u s e r e n t s o r c h a r g e s f o r services f o r the people. T h e f u n d o f s o c i a l c o n s u m p t i o n i n c r e a s e d 2 0 p e r cent a n d each f a m i l y r e c e i v e d b e n e f i t s a v e r a g i n g n e a r l y 4 000 l e k s a y e a r f r o m t h i s f u n d . W i t h the development of industry, agriculture and the o t h e r b r a n c h e s o f t h e e c o n o m y d u r i n g the 7 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n , the m a t e r i a l w e l l - b e i n g a n d t h e c u l t u r a l l e v e l o f t h e people w i l l b e g u a r a n t e e d a n d r a i s e d . D e s p i t e t h e h u g e program of investments and expenditure for the developm e n t o f the e c o n o m y a n d t h e i n c r e a s e i n t h e n o r m o f accumulation, the real income per capita of the population w i l l g o u p 8-10 p e r cent. T h e r a t e o f i n c r e a s e i n r e a l i n c o m e i n the c o u n t r y s i d e w i l l b e m o r e t h a n d o u b l e t h a t i n t h e t o w n . T h e p r o d u c t i o n o f mass c o n s u m e r goods w i l l i n c r e a s e 33-35 p e r cent a n d services f o r t h e people 45-47 p e r cent. T h e r e w i l l b e i n c r e a s e d s u p p l i e s o f meat, f i s h , eggs, v e g e tables, potatoes a n d f r u i t . I m p r o v e m e n t s are e n v i s a g e d i n the s t r u c t u r e o f mass c o n s u m e r p r o d u c t s a n d t h e s u p p l y o f d u r a b l e h o u s e h o l d goods, i n o r d e r t o m a k e l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s easier a n d t o e n s u r e a m o r e c u l t u r e d f a m i l y l i f e . T o a t t a i n t h e o b j e c t i v e s i n the f i e l d o f w e l l - b e i n g , t h e w o r k a n d e f f o r t s m u s t b e c o n c e n t r a t e d , i n t h e f i r s t place, on f u l f i l l i n g the targets for increasing p r o d u c t i o n a n d r a i s i n g its e f f i c i e n c y i n i n d u s t r y , a g r i c u l t u r e a n d a l l the o t h e r b r a n c h e s a n d sectors. S p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n m u s t b e p a i d to ensure knowledge and implementation of the requirem e n t s o f the l a w s w h i c h g o v e r n p r o d u c t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n , t h e c i r c u l a t i o n o f goods a n d m o n e y i n s o c i a l i s m . T h e productivity of labour must increase more r a p i d l y t h a n the per capita income, the n a t i o n a l income must increase more
333
r a p i d l y t h a n the p u r c h a s i n g p o w e r o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n , t h e purchasing power of the population must be covered w i t h goods a n d services t a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t n o t o n l y t h e i r t o t a l q u a n t i t y , b u t also t h e s u i t a b i l i t y o f t h e i r s t r u c t u r e . V i o l a t i o n o f these p r o p o r t i o n s w o u l d b r i n g a b o u t d i s o r d e r i n the monetary circulation, w h i c h cannot be conceived or achieved apart f r o m production, the circulation of prod u c t s a n d v a r i o u s goods, a n d t h e c r e a t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n of i n c o m e s . T h e w o r k i n g people o f t h e t r a d e sector are f a c e d w i t h m a j o r t a s k s i n o r d e r t o s e r v e t h e people a n d m e e t t h e i r d a i l y needs a n d r e q u i r e m e n t s better. T h e y m u s t r a d i c a l l y i m p r o v e t h e i r w o r k , c o l l a b o r a t e m o r e c l o s e l y w i t h the o t h e r o r g a n s o f t h e e c o n o m y , m a k e p r o f o u n d studies, organize a cultured trade, enhance their active role in production and become a b a r r i e r to poor q u a l i t y products. S p e c i a l care m u s t b e g i v e n t o t h e sale o f f o o d - s t u f f s i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e , b o t h b y t h e state t r a d e n e t w o r k a n d b y t h e cooperatives, in order to give proper support to the i n i tiatives and the measures applied recently for the further r e d u c t i o n o f the c o o p e r a t i v i s t p e r s o n a l p l o t a n d the f o r m a t i o n o f j o i n t h e r d s f r o m t h e p e r s o n a l l i v e s t o c k o f the cooperativists. T h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f the h o u s i n g c o n d i t i o n s o f the p o p u l a t i o n has a l w a y s b e e n one of the i m p o r t a n t issues of the P a r t y ' s p o l i c y i n the f i e l d o f w e l l - b e i n g . T o d a y , a b o u t 8 0 p e r cent o f the p o p u l a t i o n l i v e s i n houses b u i l t d u r i n g t h e y e a r s o f the people's state p o w e r . D u r i n g the 6 t h F i v e y e a r P l a n , m o r e t h a n 5 6 t h o u s a n d flats a n d houses w e r e b u i l t by the state a n d t h e people themselves. It is e s s e n t i a l t o speed u p t h e rates o f h o u s i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n i n o r d e r t o solve t h e p r o b l e m s o f h o u s i n g better t h a n has been done u p till now. Therefore, d u r i n g the 7th Five-year P l a n it is e n v i s a g e d t h a t m o r e t h a n 8 0 t h o u s a n d n e w f l a t s a n d houses w i l l b e b u i l t t o a c c o m m o d a t e about 400 t h o u s a n d people.
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A l t h o u g h house rents are a m o n g the l o w e s t i n t h e w o r l d , t h e y h a v e not been a n d w i l l n o t b e r a i s e d . T h e organs o f c o m m u n a l e c o n o m y h a v e m a j o r tasks f o r the m a i n t e n a n c e o f t h i s asset w h i c h keeps i n c r e a s i n g f r o m y e a r t o year. H o w e v e r , t h e y are faced w i t h e v e n greater tasks f o r the e x t e n s i o n of services f o r t h e people, f o r the r a d i c a l i m p r o v e m e n t o f these services i n q u a l i t y a n d f o r t h e r e d u c t i o n o f t h e i r cost, a n d i n p a r t i c u l a r , f o r the e x t e n s i o n o f c o m m u n a l a n d r e p a i r services t o t h e c o u n t r y s i d e . I n r e g a r d t o these a n d o t h e r p r o b l e m s c o n nected w i t h the d a i l y l i f e o f the people, t h e r e m u s t b e g r e a t e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d interest f r o m t h e e x e c u t i v e c o m mittees o f the d i s t r i c t s , w h i c h f r e q u e n t l y c o n c e r n t h e m s e l v e s m o s t l y w i t h the f u l f i l m e n t o f p r o d u c t i o n p l a n s . T h e e d u c a t i o n a n d c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f the w o r k i n g people a n d the p r o t e c t i o n a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e i r h e a l t h h a v e a l w a y s been a t the c e n t r e o f a t t e n t i o n o f o u r P a r t y a n d socialist state. R a i s i n g the l e v e l o f e d u c a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e of the masses constitutes a c o n d i t i o n a n d s o u n d basis f o r the e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l p r o g r e s s o f t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y , f o r s t r e n g t h e n i n g the defence p o t e n t i a l o f t h e H o m e l a n d , a n d for the constant i m p r o v e m e n t of t h e l i f e of the people. T h e i n c r e a s e d l e v e l o f k n o w l e d g e a n d c u l t u r e o f t h e people represents a great p o t e n t i a l f o r the r e a l i z a t i o n of t h e c u r r e n t a n d f u t u r e plans, f o r t h e a d v a n c e o f t e c h n i c a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c progress t o n e w h e i g h t s . T h e r e f o r e , d u r i n g t h e n e w f i v e - y e a r p l a n e d u c a t i o n , c u l t u r e a n d science w i l l b e f u r t h e r developed. T h e n u m b e r o f p u p i l s e n r o l l e d i n s e c o n d a r y schools w i l l g r o w c o n s i d e r a b l y . B e s i d e s the c h i l d r e n f r o m t h e cities, m o r e a n d m o r e c h i l d r e n f r o m the c o u n t r y s i d e w i l l b e i n c l u d e d i n s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l i n g . V o c a t i o n a l s e c o n d a r y schools w i l l be extended and profilized, in order to respond better to the r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e e c o n o m y , t h e c r e a t i o n o f n e w b r a n c h e s a n d t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f n e w technologies i n
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p r o d u c t i o n . A b o u t 160 t h o u s a n d p u p i l s w i l l g r a d u a t e f r o m a l l categories o f s e c o n d a r y schools d u r i n g t h i s f i v e - y e a r p e r i o d , as a g a i n s t 113 t h o u s a n d d u r i n g t h e last f i v e - y e a r period. S p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n w i l l b e g i v e n t o the d e v e l o p m e n t o f h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , i n w h i c h 4 5 p e r cent m o r e s t u d e n t s t h a n i n the 6 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n w i l l b e e n r o l l e d . N e w profiles w i l l be opened and post-university qualification and s p e c i a l i z a t i o n w i l l b e e x t e n d e d . N e w steps f o r w a r d w i l l b e t a k e n i n t h e v a r i o u s sectors of c u l t u r e , j u s t as in s c h o o l i n g , so t h a t t h e i r w o r k e x t e n d s and deepens a m o n g the masses a n d serves t h e i r e d u c a t i o n better. P u b l i c a t i o n o f p o l i t i c a l , s c i e n t i f i c , t e c h n i c a l a n d artistic b o o k s w i l l increase. T h e t o t a l p r i n t e d w i l l b e 1 m i l l i o n m o r e t h a n i n t h e last f i v e - y e a r p l a n . C i n e m a t o g r a phy w i l l assume f u r t h e r development. The radiotelevision network w i l l be extended t h r o u g h the setting up of relay and r e p e a t e r stations w i t h t h e a i m o f c o v e r i n g a l l t h e zones o f the c o u n t r y . D u r i n g t h e 7 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n c o l o u r t e l e vision broadcasts w i l l begin. F o r the revolutionary a n d p a t r i o t i c e d u c a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g people n e w m u s e u m s will be built in the towns and villages and the existing ones w i l l b e f u r t h e r e n r i c h e d . I m p o r t a n t p r o j e c t s i n this field a r e t h e M u s e u m o f N a t i o n a l H i s t o r y i n T i r a n a , t h e S k a n d e r b e g M u s e u m i n K r u j a , the M u s e u m o f P e o p l e ' s M a t e r i a l C u l t u r e i n S h k o d r a , etc. I n t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n , m o r e f u n d s are a l l o c a t e d f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f p h y s i c a l c u l t u r e a n d sports. S p o r t s f a c i l i ties w i l l b e e x t e n d e d a n d n e w sports palaces a n d s t a d i u m s will be built. T h e y w i l l serve the physical t r a i n i n g and recreation o f t h e y o u t h , m a k i n g t h e m b e t t e r p r e p a r e d f o r w o r k a n d defence. T h o s e t a k i n g p a r t i n sports a n d p h y s i c a l culture m u s t r e s p o n d t o t h i s care o f the P a r t y b y a t t a i n i n g the highest p o s s i b l e l e v e l of results. A g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n has b e e n c a r r i e d out i n t h e p r o -
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t e c t i o n o f t h e h e a l t h o f t h e people d u r i n g t h e y e a r s o f t h e people's state p o w e r . T h e n e t w o r k o f d i f f e r e n t h e a l t h i n s t i tutions has b e e n g r e a t l y e x t e n d e d , t h e m e d i c a l s e r v i c e h a s been c o n t i n u a l l y i m p r o v e d a n d a l l t h e other m e a s u r e s f o r the p r o t e c t i o n a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e h e a l t h o f t h e people h a v e been e x t e n d e d . T h i s successful course w i l l b e c o n t i n u e d d u r i n g t h e 7 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n , too. T h e a l l - r o u n d prophylactic measures w i l l be extended f u r t h e r and undergo a qualitative improvement in both t o w n and countryside, b u t especially i n t h e latter. S p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n w i l l b e g i v e n t o i m p r o v i n g t h e h e a l t h service i n o r d e r t o r a i s e t h e quality of treatment and medical aid and to strengthen the measures f o r the p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e h e a l t h o f m o t h e r a n d c h i l d , w i t h the a i m o f f u r t h e r r e d u c i n g t h e r a t e o f i n f a n t i l e m o r t a l i t y . T h e decision o n the e x t e n s i o n o f m a t e r n i t y l e a v e t o n e a r l y 6 m o n t h s w i l l assist i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . O u r country is characterized by a dynamic growth in the p o p u l a t i o n , a s t r u c t u r e i n w h i c h y o u n g e r a g e - g r o u p s and a population w h i c h is always active and fresh p r e d o m inate. T h e P a r t y has a l w a y s w o r k e d t o e n s u r e t h a t the d e m o g r a p h i c processes are s t u d i e d a n d t r e a t e d on a m o r e s c i e n t i f i c basis, so t h a t the p o p u l a t i o n c o n t i n u e s to increase at s u i t a b l e rates. Not only are unemployment and economic emigration u n k n o w n in our country, but the d y n a m i c development of t h e p r o d u c t i v e forces a n d s o c i a l a n d c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s a l w a y s r e q u i r e n e w w o r k forces. A l l t h e n e w forces t h a t w i l l become a v a i l a b l e d u r i n g t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n , a m o u n t i n g t o about 210 t h o u s a n d people, w i l l b e e m p l o y e d m a i n l y i n p r o d u c t i o n . E m p l o y m e n t o f t h e n e w w o r k f o r c e calls f o r p r o f o u n d studies b y t h e S t a t e P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n , the S t a t e C o m m i t t e e o f L a b o u r a n d W a g e s , t h e other c e n t r a l d e p a r t m e n t s , t h e e x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e s o f the people's c o u n c i l s o f t h e d i s t r i c t s , t h e e n t e r p r i s e s a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives.
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N a t u r a l l y , the P a r t y a n d the state w i l l s t r i v e t o o p e n u p n e w j o b s w h e r e v e r t h e r e a r e people, h o w e v e r , t h i s depends, to a l a r g e extent, on the d i s t r i b u t i o n of n a t u r a l resources a n d riches. T h e r e f o r e , some o f the n e w w o r k force w i l l h a v e t o w o r k w h e r e v e r t h e c o u n t r y needs t h e m a n d w h e r e v e r m o r e j o b s are a v a i l a b l e . T h i s process m u s t b e s u p p o r t e d better t h r o u g h the d e v e l o p m e n t o f u r b a n centres, t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t r a n s p o r t , t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f w o r k i n g conditions and through adjustments to the pay system t o e n c o u r a g e p e o p l e t o t a k e j o b s i n the r e m o t e zones o r u n d e r d i f f i c u l t w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s , too.
II
WE MUST CEASELESSLY STRENGTHEN THE PARTY A N D F U R T H E R E N H A N C E T H E E F F E C T I V E N E S S O F ITS W O R K
O u r P a r t y o f L a b o u r , u n w a v e r i n g l y l o y a l t o the p r i n ciples of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a d e t e r m i n e d f i g h t e r a g a i n s t e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l e n e m i e s a n d w i t h its roots deep i n t h e people w h o g a v e b i r t h t o i t a n d r a i s e d it, has l e d t h e A l b a n i a n people w i t h w i s d o m and foresight f r o m v i c t o r y to v i c t o r y , a t each stage o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e socialist construction of the country. T h e P a r t y has also a c c o m p l i s h e d w i t h h o n o u r t h e great, d i f f i c u l t a n d c o m p l e x t a s k s set b y its 7 t h C o n g r e s s . T h e s t r u g g l e a n d w o r k f o r t h e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f these t a s k s has f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d steeled the P a r t y , e n h a n c e d its l e a d i n g r o l e a n d f i g h t i n g s p i r i t , r e v o l u t i o n i z e d t h e l i f e a n d a c t i v i t y o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t h e f o r u m s a n d t h e m e m b e r s o f the P a r t y a n d t e m p e r e d the steel u n i t y o f its r a n k s a n d its close l i n k s w i t h t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e people. The general mobilization of the communists and the e n t i r e people t o c a r r y out t h e t a s k s w h i c h t h e P a r t y h a s set, t h e great r e v o l u t i o n a r y actions a n d m o v e m e n t s a n d t h e w o n d e r f u l s o l i d a r i t y o f o u r p e o p l e are c l e a r e x p r e s sions o f t h i s m o n o l i t h i c u n i t y o f t h e P a r t y a n d o f t h e p e o p l e a r o u n d it. T h i s u n i t y has been a n d i s t h e d e c i s i v e f a c t o r , the k e y f a c t o r o f a l l o u r v i c t o r i e s i n t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n and defence of t h e H o m e l a n d . T h e c o n t i n u o u s s t r u g g l e t h e P a r t y has w a g e d f o r t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f its r a n k s t h r o u g h its w o r k f o r r a i s i n g
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the i d e o l o g i c a l , p o l i t i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l l e v e l o f its m e m b e r s , increasing their activity as political and social militants, a n d f o r s t r e n g t h e n i n g its p r o l e t a r i a n c o m p o s i t i o n has s e r v e d t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e P a r t y a n d e n h a n c e its l e a d i n g r o l e . M i l i t a t i n g in the r a n k s of the P a r t y is a whole a r m y of c o m m u n i s t s w h o h a v e d i s p l a y e d u n w a v e r i n g l o y a l t y t o the correct l i n e o f t h e P a r t y i n a l l t h e s i t u a t i o n s w e h a v e gone t h r o u g h . A s a l w a y s , t h e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s h a v e f o u g h t a n d w o r k e d w i t h r e v o l u t i o n a r y courage a n d o p t i m ism a n d have s h o w n themselves to be able organizers, educators a n d l e a d e r s o f t h e masses. T h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f t h e s t r u g g l e against m a n i f e s t a tions o f l i b e r a l i s m a n d b u r e a u c r a c y i n t h e a c t i v i t y o f the organs a n d basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y , t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f t h e consequences o f t h e w o r k o f enemies i n some sectors o f t h e e c o n o m y , i n art, c u l t u r e a n d the a r m y , i n t e n d e d t o d i s p l a c e t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f the Party, and the observation and implementation of the p r i n ciples a n d n o r m s o f t h e P a r t y e v e r y w h e r e , h a v e f u r t h e r e n h a n c e d its m i l i t a n t s p i r i t , h a v e m a d e t h e P a r t y m o r e mature, more able and determined to accomplish the new great t a s k s t h a t e m e r g e i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e socialist c o n struction of the country.
I.
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MUST FURTHER ENHANCE AND PERFECT THE LEADING ROLE OF THE PARTY
The experience of our P a r t y over 40 years proves that o n l y a p a r t y w h i c h i s based f i r m l y o n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t science c a n become t h e t r u e l e a d e r o f t h e w o r k i n g class, can a c h i e v e its h e g e m o n y a n d e n s u r e the t r i u m p h o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialist society. O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s stood i n the f o r e f r o n t o f the s t r u g g l e a n d w o r k o f t h e masses, i t i s t h e l e a d e r e v e r y w h e r e , i n p o l i c y
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a n d ideology, i n t h e state a n d the e c o n o m y , i n e d u c a t i o n , c u l t u r e a n d science, i n the a r m y a n d a l l t h e o t h e r sectors o f the l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y . N o p r o b l e m , s i m p l e o r c o m p l i c a t e d , c u r r e n t o r o f the f u t u r e , c a n b e s o l v e d w i t h o u t the l e a d e r s h i p of t h e P a r t y . T h i s has b e e n a n d r e m a i n s a l a w f o r us. T h e s i n g l e a n d i n d i v i s i b l e l e a d e r s h i p o f the P a r t y i s the source o f a l l the v i c t o r i e s i n t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d t h e surest g u a r a n t e e f o r t h e b r i l l i a n t f u t u r e we are building. T h e P a r t y does not a n d c a n n o t p l a c e itself o r r e m a i n i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p b y chance. I t secures its l e a d i n g r o l e t h r o u g h its correct l i n e a n d its persistent s t r u g g l e a n d w o r k t o p u t t h i s l i n e i n t o p r a c t i c e . E a s i n g itself o n the t h e o r y o f the m o s t a d v a n c e d class of society t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , on t h e M a r x i s t Leninist doctrine, on the laws of the materialist developm e n t of society, t h e P a r t y h a s a b r o a d r a n g e of v i s i o n , an e l a b o r a t e d a n d s c i e n t i f i c o p i n i o n . I t sees c l e a r l y i n a n y s i t u a t i o n , u n d e r s t a n d s t h e present, foresees t h e f u t u r e a n d k n o w s h o w t o a n t i c i p a t e events, b y d e f i n i n g a n d a l w a y s a p p l y i n g a r e v o l u t i o n a r y strategy a n d t a c t i c s w h i c h e x p r e s s t h e interests o f the w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses. T h e P a r t y r e a l i z e s its l e a d i n g r o l e e v e r y w h e r e a n d o n e v e r y q u e s t i o n t h r o u g h t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d t h e party members. T h e better the ideology and political line o f t h e P a r t y i n g e n e r a l , a n d e a c h o f its d e c i s i o n s a n d d i r e c t i v e s i n p a r t i c u l a r , are g r a s p e d a n d a p p l i e d b y e v e r y o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d m e m b e r , t h e s t r o n g e r t h e P a r t y a n d its l i n k s w i t h t h e masses become, a n d t h e m o r e its l e a d i n g r o l e i s e n h a n c e d i n a l l the l i n k s o f t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n . T h i s is a d e c i s i v e c o n d i t i o n f o r t h e f u l f i l m e n t of t h e great tasks w h i c h face us at t h e present stage of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f the c o u n t r y a n d i n t h e concrete c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r w h i c h w e are b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m . W i t h t h e P a r t y s t r o n g a s steel, v i g i l a n t a n d fearless i n t h e l e a d , t h e cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n and socialism is invincible.
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T h e f o r m a t i o n of a c l e a r e r a n d m o r e c o m p l e t e concept of the realization of the leading role of the P a r t y in all the l i n k s a n d i n e v e r y f i e l d i s o f s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e . I n practice, s o m e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s , b u r e a u s a n d b a s i c o r g anizations have a n a r r o w u n d e r s t a n d i n g of this question. S o m e t h i n k m i s t a k e n l y t h a t the a p p a r a t u s e s a n d l e a d i n g organs a l o n e a r e t h e P a r t y a n d not t h e large, o r g a n i z e d mass o f a l l the c o m m u n i s t s . O t h e r s d o n o t u n d e r s t a n d o r f u l l y r e a l i z e t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e P a r t y i n the s y s t e m o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , a n d u n d e r t h e slogan, the P a r t y leads e v e r y t h i n g , i n v o l v e t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a tions, c o m m i t t e e s a n d t h e i r l e a d e r s i n the p r a c t i c a l s o l u t i o n of m i n o r problems of production, administration, technology, etc. A p p a r e n t l y , i t i s n o t t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t o o d by everybody that a l l the party members, wherever they w o r k , r u n the a f f a i r s o f t h e P a r t y , t h a t t h e P a r t y exercises its l e a d e r s h i p e n bloc, i n a n o r g a n i z e d a n d c e n t r a l i z e d w a y , b y m e a n s o f a l l its l e v e r s t h e state a n d e c o n o m i c organs a n d t h e mass o r g a n i z a t i o n s . This is why, in their handling and solution of diff e r e n t p r o b l e m s , some p a r t y o r g a n s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s p a y m o r e a t t e n t i o n t o t h e t e c h n i c a l a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e aspects a n d neglect t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l aspects, t h e p r o b l e m s o f t h e e c o n o m i c , c u l t u r a l a n d m i l i t a r y policies o f the P a r t y , o r t h e w o r k w i t h t h e people, w h i c h i s t h e i r m a i n d u t y . S u c h j u d g e m e n t s a n d actions l e a d t o the m o n o p o l i z a t i o n o f a f f a i r s , s u p p r e s s t h e i n i t i a t i v e o f t h e cadres a n d the masses, d u p l i c a t e a n d d i s p l a c e t h e l e v e r s o f t h e P a r t y a n d w e a k e n a n d v i t i a t e t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e P a r t y itself. O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s h a d a correct concept o f its r o l e i n t h e s y s t e m o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d has played this role correctly. Therefore, it is very important to establish t h o r o u g h u n d e r s t a n d i n g and ever better application in practice of the fact that the w o r k of the P a r t y i s not t h e w o r k o f t h e p a r t y o r g a n s a n d basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s
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o n l y , a n d e v e n less, o f t h e i r a p p a r a t u s e s . T h e state a n d e c o n o m i c organs, t h e c o m m a n d s a n d s t a f f s o f t h e a r m y , the mass o r g a n i z a t i o n s , a l l t h e cadres a n d w o r k i n g people, w h e t h e r o r not p a r t y m e m b e r s , also c a r r y o u t t h e w o r k o f the P a r t y , because t h e y are a l l g u i d e d b y t h e i d e o l o g y a n d l i n e o f the P a r t y a n d c a r r y out t h e l a w s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s o f the state a n d its p l a n s i n w h i c h t h i s l i n e i s e m b o d i e d . T h i s i n n o w a y reduces o r d i m i n i s h e s t h e f u l l r e s p o n sibility of the party organizations and their leading role o n a l l questions. H o w e v e r , t h e y c a n n o t d o e v e r y t h i n g t h e m selves. T h e r e f o r e , t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s c h a r g e t h e i r l e v e r s w i t h d i f f e r e n t tasks, m o b i l i z e t h e m , open p e r s p e c t i v e s to them, guide them in their work, check up on t h e m and c a l l t h e m t o a c c o u n t f o r t h e precise f u l f i l m e n t o f t h e i r tasks. T h r o u g h t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s w h o f u n c t i o n i n t h e m , t h e p a r t y f o r u m s a n d basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s w o r k t o m a k e these l e v e r s conscious a n d set t h e m i n m o t i o n s o t h a t t h e y c a r r y out t h e f u n c t i o n s , t a s k s a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s w i t h w h i c h t h e y are c h a r g e d , i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y a n d w i t h initiative. T h e s e questions m u s t b e t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t o o d , not o n l y b y t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y , but also b y its l e v e r s a n d e v e r y cadre. T h e P a r t y has a s s i g n e d t o e v e r y b o d y h i s tasks, competences a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s . I t guides, c h e c k s up on and demands a rendering of account f r o m all. B u t e v e r y o n e m u s t m a s t e r h i s o w n j o b , s h o u l d act w i t h i n i t i a t i v e a n d persistence a n d , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e competences g i v e n h i m w i t h i n the l i n e o f t h e P a r t y , s h o u l d b e a r c o m p l e t e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f t h e t a s k s set i n t h e sector w h i c h h e r u n s . F r o m t h i s p o i n t o f v i e w , those tendencies seen i n practice, i n w h i c h some state a n d e c o n o m i c organs, a l l e g e d l y t o e n s u r e the l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e P a r t y , seek the o p i n i o n a n d p e r m i s s i o n o f the o r g a n i z a t i o n s and forums of the P a r t y about e v e r y t h i n g and try to legiti m i z e t h e i r actions b y e n t e r i n g i n t o p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h t h e
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l a t t e r i n t h i s w a y , a r e n o t correct. T h i s i s n o t e n s u r i n g the leading role of the P a r t y , but a tendency to divide the responsibility w i t h the organization of the Party. T h e state a n d e c o n o m i c organs, t h e mass o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d t h e i r cadres are n o t a p o l i t i c a l , d e a l i n g o n l y w i t h t e c h n i c a l , a g r o - t e c h n i c a l , m i l i t a r y o r o t h e r questions. B a s i n g t h e m s e l v e s o n t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y , t h e y , too, w o r k a n d f i g h t f o r its a p p l i c a t i o n . N a t u r a l l y , t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n has its o w n r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w h e n i t a l l o w s f a i l u r e o n t h e p a r t of certain directors or administrators to p e r f o r m the duties t h e y h a v e b e e n c h a r g e d w i t h . I t m u s t h e l p these people, g u i d e t h e m , e d u c a t e a n d c o r r e c t t h e m , m a k e t h e m face u p t o t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , a n d w h e n t h e n e e d arises, p u t i n t h e i r p l a c e a l l those w h o w a n t t o act a s t h e y please, e i t h e r u n d e r c o v e r o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o r i n t h e n a m e o f t h e party member. In this way, the danger of mistakes is d i m i n i s h e d , t h e c a d r e s m a t u r e a n d t h e i r sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e w o r k increases. The party organizations take up and w i l l continue to t a k e u p a l l issues: t h e p r o b l e m s o f t h e e c o n o m y , c u l t u r e , defence a n d t h e e n t i r e l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y . O t h e r w i s e t h e y cannot r e m a i n t h e v a n g u a r d a n d g i v e l e a d e r s h i p . T h e y must be a b l e to g r a s p t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t issues at t h e g i v e n m o m e n t , p r o v i d e correct, j u s t i f i e d , t h e o r e t i c a l l y s u p ported solutions to them, e x a m i n e h o w the line a n d d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y are u n d e r s t o o d a n d a p p l i e d b y t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s , t h e cadres, t h e e c o n o m i c a n d state organs a n d t h e mass o r g a n i z a t i o n s , a n d c a l l t h e m t o account w h e n t h e y do n o t f u l f i l t h e i r t a s k s t h i s is t h e basis of t h e i r ability. T h e party organization bears direct responsibility for this. It m u s t c o n c e n t r a t e its a t t e n t i o n on these questions and n o t b e c o m e i n v o l v e d i n t h e s o l u t i o n o f m i n o r concrete p r o b l e m s f o r w h i c h t h e P a r t y has c r e a t e d s p e c i a l o r g a n s and organisms. T h e w o r k o f the P a r t y is, f i r s t o f a l l , w o r k w i t h people,
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w o r k for their education, enlightenment, mobilization and organization. This must never be forgotten, otherwise the P a r t y i s d i v e r t e d f r o m its m a i n t a s k a n d f u n c t i o n a s a leader, i s t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a n o p e r a t i v e o r g a n i s m a n d assumes state f u n c t i o n s . T h i s constitutes a g r e a t d a n g e r for a p a r t y in power. T h i s is a danger we have pointed out l o n g ago to p r e v e n t it f r o m e v e r b e c o m i n g a s e r i o u s threat. The invincible strength of our revolution, of our socialist s o c i a l order, lies i n the masses o f the people, i n t h e i r h i g h l e v e l o f p o l i t i c a l consciousness, i n t h e i r r e a d i n e s s a n d d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o b u i l d a n d d e f e n d s o c i a l i s m . T h i s i s the g l o r i o u s deed o f t h e P a r t y , w h i c h i t m u s t c o n s o l i d a t e a n d c a r r y s t e a d i l y f o r w a r d t h r o u g h its i d e o l o g i c a l , p o l i t i c a l a n d organizational work. T o t h i s e n d , i t i s necessary t h a t t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y a n d a l l t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s m e r g e w i t h t h e m a s ses a n d w o r k t i r e l e s s l y a m o n g s t t h e m , a r e w e l l a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e i r m o r a l - p o l i t i c a l state, a l w a y s i n f o r m e d a b o u t the p r o b l e m s w o r r y i n g t h e masses, e x p l a i n t h e s i t u a t i o n t o them, c o n v i n c e t h e m of t h e i m p o r t a n c e of t h e t a s k s set, a n d m a k e clear t o t h e m the d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y a n d the l a w s o f t h e state. T h e p a r t y m e m b e r s a r e r e q u i r e d t o educate the masses w i t h t h e c o m m u n i s t o u t l o o k a n d morality, to combat any b a c k w a r d remnant or alien m a n i festation, t o c o n c e r n t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e l i f e o f the masses, t o encourage a n d s u p p o r t t h e c r e a t i v e w o r k a n d i n i t i a t i v e s o f t h e masses, t o m o b i l i z e t h e m a n d i n v o l v e t h e m i n a c t i o n s t o s t r e n g t h e n the e c o n o m y , raise t h e l e v e l o f c u l t u r e a n d e n h a n c e the defence p o t e n t i a l o f the H o m e l a n d .

2. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE WORK OF T H E P A R T Y A N D THE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARTY ORGANS AND ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE INCREASED
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T h e p r e s e n t stage o f r a p i d , a l l - r o u n d d e v e l o p m e n t a n d the g r e a t a n d d a r i n g t a s k s w h i c h w e h a v e t o solve r e q u i r e t h a t t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e w o r k o f the P a r t y m u s t b e r a i s e d t o a h i g h e r l e v e l i n a l l its l i n k s a n d i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s . T h e w o r k of the P a r t y is broad a n d all-sided, an h a r monious synthesis of political, ideological, organizational, a d m i n i s t r a t i v e , e c o n o m i c a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l aspects w h i c h m u s t b e c a r r i e d o u t a s s u c h . Its e f f e c t i v e n e s s i s m e a s u r e d b y t h e c o n c r e t e r e s u l t s i n t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f t a r g e t s i n each sector of s o c i a l a c t i v i t y . In practice there are instances w h e n the w o r k of the P a r t y i s c o n c e i v e d n a r r o w l y . S o m e p a r t y o r g a n s a n d basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r g e t t h e p e r s p e c t i v e , d o not p e n e t r a t e b e l o w the s u r f a c e o f p r o b l e m s a n d base t h e m s e l v e s o n l y o n w h a t they have learned f r o m practice, without confronting this w i t h a d v a n c e d e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h i n k i n g , w i t h t h e changes that have t a k e n place in the life of the country a n d the people. I n m o s t i n s t a n c e s o f f a i l u r e t o f u l f i l e c o n o m i c p l a n s o r s h o r t c o m i n g s i n t h e w o r k o f c e r t a i n enterprises, a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s o r some d i s t r i c t , s u c h m a n i f e s t a t i o n s are t h e cause. Culture, learning, competence a n d scientific knowledge are r e q u i r e d i n o u r w o r k n o w a d a y s . W e o f t e n r e p e a t t h a t we have been obliged to m a r c h on untrodden paths w h i c h we have b e e n o b l i g e d t o seek a n d create. H o w e v e r , t h i s c a n n o t b e a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t deep k n o w l e d g e o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t theory a n d w i t h o u t s c i e n t i f i c s t u d y a n d g e n e r a l i z a t i o n o f the r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r a c t i c e o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses. T o d a y , t h e p r o b l e m s o f p r o d u c t i o n , t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f w o r k , e d u c a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e , science a n d defence, cannot b e c o r r e c t l y a n d s u c c e s s f u l l y s o l v e d w i t h o u t
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serious studies. It is necessary to do s u c h studies, also, on t h e w o r k o f t h e P a r t y itself, i n m a n a g e m e n t , o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d e d u c a t i o n . S t u d i e s a n d g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s b r o a d e n the horizon and open clear perspectives to the organizations of t h e P a r t y , t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e w o r k i n g people, h e l p t o combat manifestations of routine, f o r m a l i s m and superficiali t y , t o create s o u n d c o n v i c t i o n s a n d t o d e f i n e t h e r i g h t m e a sures a n d w a y s t o c a r r y out t h e c u r r e n t a n d f u t u r e t a s k s . T h e p a r t y organs a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s m u s t m a k e b e t t e r use of t h e q u a l i f i e d o p i n i o n of t h e specialists, a c t i v i s t s a n d other c o m p e t e n t people, w h o m t h e P a r t y has t r a i n e d i n e v e r y sector. T h e y are r e q u i r e d t o s u p p o r t a n d e n c o u r a g e advanced scientific t h i n k i n g and ensure that it is applied in the solution of problems. T h e y must combat manifestations of sectarianism a n d underestimation of advanced experience and t h i n k i n g . In this direction the communists m u s t be t h e f i r s t to set t h e e x a m p l e . A g o o d c o m m u n i s t is one w h o m a k e s a p r o f o u n d s t u d y of science, w h o l e a r n s c o n t i n u a l l y b y h i s o w n e f f o r t s a n d f r o m others, w h o f o l l o w s t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f society, s u p p o r t s t h e p r o g r e s s i v e n e w a n d t h i n k s a b o u t the f u t u r e . The work of the Party is not only agitation and propaganda to enlighten and convince people, but also the work of organization and mobilization to implement the line and directives of the Party. T h e w o r k of t h e P a r t y leads, educates a n d m o b i l i z e s the c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e m a s ses f o r r e v o l u t i o n a r y actions, s o t h a t t h e y t h i n k , w o r k a n d f i g h t as r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . T h e P a r t y has f o u g h t m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f one-sidedness i n t h e w o r k o f some p a r t y o r g a n s a n d basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w h i c h give priority to repeated meetings and lengthy rep o r t s a n d discussions r a t h e r t h a n t o t h e c l e a r d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e tasks a n d concrete m e a s u r e s t o c a r r y t h e m out. T h i s e x p l a i n s w h y t h e r e a r e cases w h e n , a l t h o u g h m a n y m e e t i n g s a r e h e l d t o a n a l y s e t h e state o f a f f a i r s i n t h i s o r t h a t sector,
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s t i l l t h e p r o b l e m s r e m a i n u n s o l v e d a n d t h e s i t u a t i o n does not change. E x p e r i e n c e has s h o w n t h a t p r o b l e m s a r e s o l v e d a n d tasks f u l f i l l e d , n o t j u s t b y a p p e a l s t o t h e conscience o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e w o r k e r s , b u t also w h e n t h e w o r k t o c a r r y out t a s k s a n d c o n v i n c e people i s a c c o m p a n i e d b y a l l r o u n d m e a s u r e s , b y o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d concrete g u i d a n c e , c h e c k - u p a n d c a l l i n g t o account. T h e i d e o - p o l i t i c a l a n d technical-organizational measures constitute a dialectical u n i t y ; t h e y educate, m o b i l i z e a n d i m p e l people t o r e v o l u t i o n a r y actions. P e r f e c t i o n o f t h e v a n g u a r d r o l e o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s has been t h e m a i n t a s k o f t h e o r g a n s a n d basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s of the P a r t y and remains so for the future. In the present c o n d i t i o n s e s p e c i a l l y , i t i s the d u t y o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s t o increase t h e i r d e m a n d s o n t h e m s e l v e s t o u p h o l d t h i s l o f t y title, t o f i g h t a n y a l i e n m a n i f e s t a t i o n i n t h e m s e l v e s a n d i n others, t o b e a d v a n c e d people i n e v e r y d i r e c t i o n . T h e communists must be outstanding for their revolutionary determination and active participation in the daily struggle for t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e defence o f t h e Homeland, must be always on the most difficult a n d i m portant front of the w o r k a n d struggle, must be talented o r g a n i z e r s a n d l e a d e r s w h o act w i t h r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e implementation of the line of the P a r t y . T h e masses c a r r y out t h e decisions o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of the P a r t y and follow the communists w h e n they do not separate t h e i r w o r d s f r o m t h e i r deeds, w h e n t h e y t h i n k , w o r k a n d m a k e s a c r i f i c e s f o r the i n t e r e s t s o f t h e w o r k i n g people, s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e H o m e l a n d . T o b e a c o m m u n i s t and a r e v o l u t i o n a r y m e a n s y o u m u s t u n d e r t a k e a n d a c c o m p l i s h g r e a t tasks, m u s t n o t m a r k t i m e o r b e content w i t h t h e n o r m a l rates, b u t f i g h t f o r r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t o n a l l f r o n t s , a n d a l w a y s t a k e t h e side o f t h e n e w a n d defend it.
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The work of the Party is effective when the. party organizations and all the party members develop the ability to act on their own initiative, develop the creative and innovative spirit widely. In t h i s d i r e c t i o n t h e r e a r e many examples and positive experience everywhere. H o w ever, a m o n g some p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s , some cadres a n d p a r t y m e m b e r s i n enterprises, a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s , c e n t r a l d e p a r t m e n t s a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s , i t i s necessary t o c o m b a t m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f w a i t i n g f o r i n s t r u c t i o n s , procrastination and hesitation, lack of initiative to solve p r o b l e m s w h i c h a r e w i t h i n t h e i r competences. Methods of work, management and organization are not p r e s c r i b e d once a n d f o r a l l a n d u n a l t e r a b l e . L i f e p r o gresses, o u r socialist society is d e v e l o p i n g ceaselessly, t h e c o n d i t i o n s change. T h i s d e v e l o p m e n t r e q u i r e s u s t o b e creative and inventive, to f i n d new, more flexible a n d varied forms of work, and to continually renew and enrich t h e m so t h a t t h e y r e s p o n d b e t t e r to t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of the t i m e . More qualified and effective work is required in analysing the directives of the Party. T h i s is a f u n d a m e n t a l task o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d a l l m e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y . T h e d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y e x p r e s s its l i n e , d e f i n e t h e tasks f a c i n g t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e masses f o r t h e solution of different problems. G o o d experience has been g a i n e d i n the w o r k o f a n a l y s i n g t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y . H o w e v e r , the m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f f o r m a l i s m a n d s t e r e o t y p e d practices, w h i c h a r e s t i l l o b s e r v e d i n t h e w o r k o f s o m e p a r t y organs a n d b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s , m u s t b e c o m b a t e d m o r e f o r c e f u l l y . S o m e t i m e s the d i r e c t i v e s a n d decisions o f t h e P a r t y a r e not t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e grassroots, t o t h e people, w i t h the s a m e seriousness a n d f o r c e w i t h w h i c h t h e C e n tral Committee or the district party committees put t h e m f o r w a r d . T h e y are s i m p l y t r a n s m i t t e d m e c h a n i c a l l y t o l o w e r levels w i t h o u t r e g a r d f o r t h e concrete c o n d i t i o n s a n d s i -
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t u a t i o n s i n w h i c h t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n operates, o r t h e tasks i t h a s t o c a r r y out. To analyse the directive of the P a r t y means to explain the n e e d f o r i t a n d its i m p o r t a n c e f r o m t h e p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c v i e w p o i n t , t o b r i n g out t h e t a s k s w h i c h emerge for the p a r t y organizations, the mass organizations, the state, e c o n o m i c , c u l t u r a l a n d o t h e r organs, i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e c o n c r e t e c o n d i t i o n s o f e a c h d i s t r i c t , zone, sector and collective, a n d to define the w a y s and necessary m e a sures t o f u l f i l these t a s k s . L a u n c h i n g t h e masses i n t o r e v o l u t i o n a r y actions f o r the c o m p l e t e a n d c r e a t i v e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e d i r e c t i v e i s o f d e c i s i v e i m p o r t a n c e . I t i s here, i n t h e heat o f t h i s battle, t h a t t h e correctness o f t h e d i r e c t i v e o f t h e P a r t y i s tested a n d t h e necessary a d d i t i o n s a n d a m e n d m e n t s a r e m a d e t o it. I n actions a n d t h r o u g h a c t i o n s t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s a n d t h e masses s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r c o n v i c t i o n i n t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e Party, are educated and tempered, display their revolutiona r y i n i t i a t i v e s , a c h i e v e t h e u n i t y o f w o r d s w i t h deeds a n d e n s u r e a c c e l e r a t e d rates o f w o r k f o r t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f tasks o n t i m e a n d w i t h g o o d q u a l i t y . A c t i o n s also s e r v e t o combat bureaucratic a n d technocratic methods, procrastinat i o n , p e r s o n a l ease a n d s e l f - s a t i s f a c t i o n , a n d h e l p t o s t i r people e v e r y w h e r e i n t o a c t i v i t y i n l i f e a n d w o r k . The work of the Party becomes effective when the party organs and organizations are aware of and bear full responsibility for the implementation of the line of the Party and the fulfilment of the tasks of the state plan. There can be no struggle a n d efforts, no r e v o l u t i o n a r y actions f o r t h e s o l u t i o n of p r o b l e m s w i t h o u t a sense of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . T h e t a s k s a r e c a r r i e d out b y w o r k i n g a n d struggling w i t h devotion a n d sacrifice, by putting our s h o u l d e r t o t h e w h e e l a n d p e r f o r m i n g o u r d u t i e s t o the last d e t a i l , w i t h g o o d q u a l i t y a n d h i g h e f f i c i e n c y . It is a fact t h a t t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y of t h e p a r t y
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organs and organizations, the party members and cadres w o r k w i t h a h i g h sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . H o w e v e r , o r g a n i z ations, c o m m u n i s t s a n d cadres c a n b e f o u n d w h o d o n o t struggle p e r s i s t e n t l y t o o v e r c o m e d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d obstacles a n d t o f u l f i l the tasks. M a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f i n d i f f e r e n c e a n d m a k i n g excuses, o f c o v e r i n g u p s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d w e a k n e s ses w i t h g e n e r a l statements are n o t h i n g b u t a r e f l e c t i o n of t h e l a c k of a sense of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . T h e P a r t y m u s t s t r u g g l e t o i n c r e a s e t h e sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , n o t o n l y i n its o w n r a n k s b u t also i n t h e organs a n d o r g a n i s m s i t leads, i n a l l t h e w o r k i n g people a n d cadres. B u i l d i n g u p the c o l l e c t i v e sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f e v e r y p a r t y o r g a n a n d basic o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d o f t h e i r l e v e r s , a n d the i n d i v i d u a l sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f e v e r y p a r t y m e m b e r a n d cadre, creates a great g u a r a n t e e f o r t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f tasks a t a l l t i m e s a n d i n a l l f i e l d s . The sense of responsibility is strengthened when the demand that everybody must render account is made more rigorous, when there is strict check-up on the fulfilment of tasks. D e s p i t e t h e i m p r o v e m e n t s a c h i e v e d in t h i s d i r e c t i o n , t h e r e are s t i l l m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f l i b e r a l i s m a n d s e n t i m e n t a l i t y , a s p i r i t of j u s t i f i c a t i o n a n d signs t h a t c h e c k - u p is underrated, as w e l l as formalism and superficiality in e x e r c i s i n g it. S o m e t i m e s c h e c k - u p a n d c a l l i n g t o a c c o u n t are w e a k because t h e t a s k s a n d decisions h a v e b e e n set o u t o n l y in g e n e r a l t e r m s a n d , as a consequence, c a n n o t be controlled. E v e r y p a r t y m e m b e r o r m e m b e r o f some p a r t y f o r u m , r e g a r d l e s s o f h i s post a n d f u n c t i o n , m u s t r e n d e r f u l l a c c o u n t h i m s e l f , a n d d e m a n d t h a t o t h e r s d o t h e same, o n h i s w o r k t o c a r r y out t h e l i n e a n d d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y , t h e d e c i sions o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d state duties. T h i s i s a c h i e v e d w h e n t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s engage i n s e l f - c r i t i c i s m courageously a n d without hesitation, as w e l l as in criticism o f a n y b o d y w h o does not f u l f i l h i s task, w h e n t h e y w a g e a
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d e t e r m i n e d s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t fear, v e n g e a n c e a n d p e t t y - b o u r geois i n d i f f e r e n c e . A s e l f - c r i t i c a l a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s s h o r t comings, the courage of the party members to criticize a n d c a l l t o a c c o u n t a r e a n e x a m p l e a n d great s o u r c e o f i n s p i r a t i o n f o r a l l t h e w o r k i n g masses.
... a well-organized check, S t a l i n teaches us, is the searchlight which helps to reveal how the apparatus is functioning at any moment and to bring bureaucrats and redtapists into the light of day.*
We must always bear this teaching in m i n d and put it into practice consistently. It is the d u t y of the organs a n d organizations of the P a r t y to invigorate and strengthen the p a r t y c o n t r o l a n d t h e state c o n t r o l , t h e w o r k e r a n d mass c o n t r o l , a n d see t h a t t h e y are e x e r c i s e d c o n s i s t e n t l y i n a c o m b i n e d w a y . C o n t r o l f r o m above, p a r a l l e l c o n t r o l o r c o n t r o l f r o m b e l o w m u s t n e c e s s a r i l y b e m o r e active, m u s t b e a c c o m p a n i e d w i t h concrete h e l p , m u s t o p e n p e r s p e c t i v e s and teach people h o w to organize their w o r k , h o w to m o b i l i z e t h e m s e l v e s a n d cope w i t h d i f f i c u l t i e s f o r t h e f u l filment of tasks.
3. T H E E S T A B L I S H E D CRITERIA FOR INCREASING THE RANKS OF THE PARTY MUST BE APPLIED CORRECTLY
Our increase tionary healthier The
P a r t y has a l w a y s a p p l i e d correct c r i t e r i a f o r t h e o f its r a n k s , w i t h d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d i n a r e v o l u w a y . T h i s has m a d e t h e P a r t y s t r o n g e r a n d a n d i n c r e a s e d t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f its w o r k . P a r t y comes t o t h i s C o n g r e s s w i t h its r a n k s i n -
______________________________________ * J. V. Stalin, Selected Works, T i r a n a 1979, pp. 418-419. Alb. ed.
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creased w i t h c o m m u n i s t s w h o are r e s o l u t e f i g h t e r s f o r t h e cause o f t h e people, t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d c o m m u n i s m , p r o l e t a r i a n s i n t h o u g h t a n d a c t i o n . N o w 122,600 c o m m u n ists, of w h o m n e a r l y 38 p e r cent are w o r k e r s , 29.4 p e r cent c o o p e r a t i v i s t s a n d 32.6 p e r cent o f f i c e w o r k e r s , a r e m i l i tating in the r a n k s of the Party. W o m e n m a k e up 30 per cent of t h e t o t a l , or 2.5 p e r cent m o r e t h a n at t h e p r e v i o u s Congress. M e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y m a k e u p 4.5 p e r cent of t h e p o p u l a t i o n ; 24,363 c a n d i d a t e s f o r m e m b e r s h i p , 42.40 p e r cent of t h e m w o r k e r s , 40.43 p e r cent c o o p e r a t i v i s t s a n d 17.17 p e r cent o f f i c e w o r k e r s , h a v e b e e n a d m i t t e d t o t h e P a r t y i n t h e y e a r s f o l l o w i n g t h e 7 t h C o n g r e s s . O f these, 40.70 p e r cent a r e w o m e n c o m r a d e s . T h e o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f those a d m i t t e d t o t h e P a r t y , either as f u l l members or candidates, come f r o m t h e s p h e r e o f p r o d u c t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y f r o m its m a i n f r o n t s . T h e y a r e a m o n g t h e best w o r k e r s , t h e m o s t d e v e l o p e d p o l i t i c a l l y a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l y , those w i t h l o f t y m o r a l q u a l i t i e s and virtues and a high educational level, vanguard fighters and active participants in the construction of socialism. O n t h e basis o f e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h e e x i s t i n g s i t u a t i o n , the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e considers t h a t i t i s i n o r d e r t o a p p l y i n the f u t u r e a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h e s a m e rates a n d c r i t e r i a f o r the increase o f t h e r a n k s o f t h e P a r t y a s i n t h e past f i v e years: P r i o r i t y should be given to admission of activists f r o m the r a n k s o f t h e w o r k i n g class, e s p e c i a l l y those w o r k i n g i n the m a i n b r a n c h e s o f p r o d u c t i o n , i n h e a v y e x t r a c t i n g and processing i n d u s t r y and on the b i g projects under construction. B e t t e r w o r k s h o u l d b e done t o h a s t e n a c h i e v e m e n t o f the o b j e c t i v e set b y the 7 t h Congress, t h a t i n t h e f u t u r e t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t p a r t y m e m b e r s s h o u l d o c c u p y second place, after the w o r k e r s , i n t h e m e m b e r s h i p o f t h e P a r t y . A m o n g the o f f i c e w o r k e r s a n d t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , those
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w h o have a high ideo-political, cultural, technical and s c i e n t i f i c l e v e l a n d w h o w o r k i n t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t sectors o f socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d defence s h o u l d b e a d m i t t e d . C o n c e r n a b o u t a n d w o r k f o r i n c r e a s i n g the n u m b e r o f w o m e n in the r a n k s of the P a r t y should be intensified. T h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f these o r i e n t a t i o n s r e q u i r e s t h a t t h e o r g a n s a n d basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y c a r r y out m o r e q u a l i f i e d a n d b e t t e r c o n s i d e r e d w o r k t o increase the ranks of the Party. Manifestations of f o r m a l i s m and bureaucracy, a n y t e n d e n c y t o b e i n o r d e r w i t h f i g u r e s a n d p e r centages, s h o u l d b e r e s o l u t e l y c o m b a t e d . T h e quality of admissions has been and remains decis i v e i n t h e p o l i c y o f t h e P a r t y f o r t h e i n c r e a s e o f its r a n k s . The candidates must have a good political and ideological level, must have capacity and ability, be progressive in t h e i r t h o u g h t s a n d actions, w i t h b r o a d c u l t u r a l , e d u c a t i o n a l and technical-professional horizons, must enjoy the trust a n d respect o f t h e masses, h a v e i n i t i a t i v e a n d b e consistent r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . N o b o d y s h o u l d b e a d m i t t e d t o the P a r t y s i m p l y because he is t h e s o n of a w o r k e r , peasant or p a r t y m e m b e r , o n account o f t h e m e r i t s o f h i s f a t h e r o r m o t h e r , but o n a c c o u n t o f h i s o w n p e r s o n a l m e r i t s , q u a l i t i e s a n d abilities. T h e s e q u a l i t i e s a n d t r a i t s m u s t b e f u r t h e r t e m p e r e d b y the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y a n d b y each communist individually, in the daily struggle and activity. T h e p r o b a t i o n p e r i o d o f the c a n d i d a t e p l a y s a m a j o r role i n t h e c o m m u n i s t f o r m a t i o n o f those n e w l y a d m i t t e d t o the P a r t y . T h e e x p e r i e n c e a c c u m u l a t e d m u s t b e used t o e n h a n c e t h e r o l e a n d increase t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f the p a r t y basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h e c o n t i n u o u s i d e o - p o l i t i c a l e d u c a t i o n a n d the r e v o l u t i o n a r y t e m p e r i n g o f the c a n d i d a t e members. S u c h manifestations as underestimation of the probation period of the candidate, or failure to rigorously apply t h e r u l e s f o r p e r f o r m i n g t h e p r o b a t i o n p e r i o d , w h i c h are s o m e t i m e s seen, s h o u l d be c o m b a t e d .
III
THE TASKS OF THE P A R T Y FOR THE COMMUNIST EDUCATION OF THE WORKING PEOPLE
T h e a l l - r o u n d e d u c a t i o n o f the n e w m a n has b e e n a n d remains a f u n d a m e n t a l question in the activity of the P a r t y i n o r d e r t o c a r r y the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialist society c o n s i s t e n t l y f o r w a r d . T h i s e d u c a t i o n has b e e n c a r r i e d out o n a b r o a d f r o n t , closely l i n k e d w i t h t h e t a s k s of e a c h stage o f d e v e l o p m e n t , w i t h t h e p r o b l e m s w h i c h l i f e has r a i s e d , a n d w i t h t h e concrete s i t u a t i o n s . T h i s has a l w a y s e n s u r e d t h e active c h a r a c t e r , t h e great m o b i l i z i n g a n d t r a n s f o r m i n g force o f t h e e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k o f t h e P a r t y a n d its l e v e r s . The conditions in w h i c h we are w o r k i n g and fighting f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d defence o f s o c i a l i s m , a s w e l l a s t h e tasks w h i c h w e are p u t t i n g f o r w a r d i n t h i s C o n g r e s s f o r the socio-economic d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e c o u n t r y , r e q u i r e t h a t the educational work of the Party be raised to a higher level and concentrated better on certain current and future main problems , in o r d e r to create deep M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o n v i c t i o n s a m o n g t h e people, t o raise t h e i r p r o f e s s i o n a l skills, to equip them w i t h broad culture and pure m o r a l virtues.
1. T H E COMMUNIST E D U C A T I O N OF T H E W O R K I N G P E O P L E THE BASIS OF OUR SUCCESSES
A l b a n i a i s the c o u n t r y i n w h i c h s o c i a l i s m i s b e i n g b u i l t w i t h success a n d w h i c h r e m a i n s f i r m l y o n t h e r a i l s o f
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M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , in w h i c h the development of the economy and culture, the organization and leadership of the P a r t y a n d t h e state, the f o r m a t i o n a n d t e m p e r i n g o f t h e n e w m a n , a r e c a r r i e d o u t o n t h e basis o f the p r i n c i p l e s o f s c i e n t i f i c s o c i a l i s m . T h e r o a d w h i c h o u r c o u n t r y has t r a v e r s e d has n o t b e e n easy. O u r P a r t y a n d p e o p l e h a v e h a d t o cope w i t h m a n y d i f f i c u l t i e s , t o press o n w a r d s o v e r roads k n o w n a n d u n k n o w n , o v e r n e w , u n t r o d d e n paths. T h e b o u n d l e s s l o y a l t y o f o u r P a r t y t o the i m m o r t a l d o c t r i n e o f M a r x , E n g e l s , L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , its a b i l i t y t o a p p l y t h i s d o c t r i n e i n a creative m a n n e r , i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the conditions of the country and the complicated i n t e r n a t i o n a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s , its d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o d e f e n d the p u r i t y o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f t h i s d o c t r i n e f r o m the a t t a c k s a n d d i s t o r t i o n s o f m a n y enemies, i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l , h a v e b e e n a n d r e m a i n t h e f u n d a m e n t a l basis o f a l l t h e successes a n d v i c t o r i e s o f o u r people. T h e w h o l e p r e o c c u p a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y has been t o ensure t h a t e v e r y step o n t h e r o a d o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m s h o u l d b e w e l l c o n s i d e r e d , t h a t the f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h e n e w socialist society s h o u l d b e s u c h as to g u a r a n t e e its ceaseless d e v e l o p m e n t t o w a r d s progress, a n d t h a t t h e w a v e s a n d s t o r m s o f the hostile i m p e r i a l i s t revisionist encirclement should be faced and overcome. This i s w h y t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n i n o u r c o u n t r y h a v e k n o w n n o zigzags a n d reverses, b u t h a v e gone consistently a h e a d a n d h a v e a l w a y s scored v i c t o r i e s . T h e e x a m p l e o f A l b a n i a i s a n e w e x p e r i e n c e i n the history o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d constitutes a v a l u a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n to t h e t h e o r y a n d p r a c t i c e of s o c i a l ism a n d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . T h e c o m m u n i s t s , t h e cadres, t h e w o r k i n g people, a n d the y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n , i n p a r t i c u l a r , m u s t b e t h o r o u g h l y acquainted w i t h t h e r o a d o f the d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r c o u n t r y towards s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m , s h o u l d be as c l e a r as
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ENVER HOXHA
p o s s i b l e about w h e r e w e s t a r t e d f r o m a n d w h a t r o a d w e have travelled, w h a t difficulties have been surmounted, w h a t l i n e t h e P a r t y has p u r s u e d a n d i m p l e m e n t e d a n d w h a t a r e t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h i s society w h i c h has b e e n b u i l t w i t h the blood, s w e a t a n d t o i l o f o u r h e r o i c people. K n o w i n g this glorious road and r i c h experience, our people w i l l h a v e a b r o a d e r v i e w of socialist society, of its present stage a n d its f u t u r e , a n d w i l l w o r k w i t h g r e a t e r consciousness a n d u n s h a k e a b l e c o n v i c t i o n t o c o n s o l i d a t e t h e victories of socialism more and more a n d carry t h e m steadily f o r w a r d . T h e P a r t y m u s t see t h i s a s a c a p i t a l q u e s t i o n , b e cause t h e s t r o n g e r t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h e present, t h e m o r e secure the socialist a n d c o m m u n i s t f u t u r e o f o u r c o u n t r y w i l l be. The strengthening of convictions about socialism, about its v i t a l i t y a n d s u p e r i o r i t i e s , assumes s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e i n t h e p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s w h e n s o c i a l i s m has b e e n u n d e r m i n e d in m a n y countries and w h e n the imperialists, the bourgeoisie a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e l a u n c h e d a f r e n z i e d c a m p a i g n against s o c i a l i s m i n o r d e r t o d i s p a r a g e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y ideals, t o s o w t h e seed o f d o u b t a n d u n c e r t a i n t y a b o u t the socialist f u t u r e o f m a n k i n d . I t i s n o a c c i d e n t t h a t the m a i n t h r u s t o f this s t r u g g l e has b e e n a i m e d against o u r triumphant doctrine, M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , w i t h o u t w h i c h there is and can be no genuine socialism. L i k e w i s e , we must always take into account that the conditions in w h i c h socialism is being built in A l b a n i a are v e r y c o m p l e x . O u r P a r t y , state a n d people are f i g h t i n g s i n g l e - h a n d e d , face to face a g a i n s t a c o l o s s a l e n e m y f o r c e , against t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t w o r l d w h i c h e n c i r c l e s us. O u r people m u s t n e v e r u n d e r r a t e o r f o r g e t t h e d a n g e r s w i t h w h i c h o u r socialist society i s t h r e a t e n e d f r o m t h e great, a l l - r o u n d p o l i t i c a l , economic, i d e o l o g i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y p r e s sure o f t h i s w o r l d . O u r historic duty, national and international, is to be
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a l l o n t h e alert, v i g i l a n t a n d r e a d y t o cope w i t h a n y s i t u a t i o n , t o d e f e n d t h e v i c t o r i e s a c h i e v e d a n d t o press o n w i t h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d o u r socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n . W e m u s t c o u n t e r t h e d a n g e r o u s d i v e r s i o n i s t a c t i v i t y of t h e e n e m i e s of s o c i a l i s m w i t h o u r d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d courage, w i t h t h e steel u n i t y o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e people, w i t h u n t i r i n g w o r k t o d e v e l o p a n d s t r e n g t h e n t h e e c o n o m y a n d t h e defence o f the c o u n t r y . A b o v e a l l , i n o r d e r t o d e f e n d s o c i a l i s m a n d e n s u r e t h a t i t a l w a y s forges c o n f i d e n t l y ahead, i t i s essential to continuously strengthen the healthy and profound conv i c t i o n s a b o u t s o c i a l i s m , a s the h i g h e s t s o c i a l o r d e r t o w h i c h the f u t u r e i n e v i t a b l y belongs. O u r people, l i v i n g a n d w o r k i n g i n a socialist society, are e d u c a t e d w i t h its n o r m s a n d p r i n c i p l e s , w h i c h a r e embodied in the economic a n d social relations, in the org a n i z a t i o n a n d r u n n i n g o f t h e state a n d t h e e n t i r e l i f e o f the c o u n t r y , i n t h e l e g i s l a t i o n a n d t h e w a y o f l i f e , i n t h e system o f e d u c a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e , etc. O u r socialist r e a l i t y itself, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e d i r e c t p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f people i n t h e w o r k of t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y , educates t h e m a n d helps t h e m t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d a s s i m i l a t e t h e b a s i c principles of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and socialism. H o w e v e r , socialist c o n v i c t i o n s a n d consciousness, w h i c h are c r e a t e d i n p r a c t i c a l l i f e , a r e i n a d e q u a t e t o e n a b l e people to find their bearings correctly in any situation, to understand the p o l i c y o f the P a r t y p r o f o u n d l y a n d t o act a l w a y s with clear objectives. S u c h convictions m a y be shaken in the face of t h e v a r i o u s d i f f i c u l t i e s of t h e socialist c o n s t r u c tion o r t h e great p r e s s u r e f r o m t h e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t world, if they are not based on solid theoretical f o u n d a tions. O n l y M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , w h i c h i s t h e t h e o r e t i c a l base of scientific socialism and the communist education of the w o r k i n g people, creates p r o f o u n d , l a s t i n g c o n v i c t i o n s . T h e P a r t y i m b u e s t h e masses w i t h s u c h c o n v i c t i o n s t h r o u g h its e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k .
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O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s done a g r e a t d e a l o f w o r k f o r the Marxist-Leninist education of the communists a n d the masses. T h e P a r t y S c h o o l , t h e v a r i o u s courses a n d f o r m s o f e d u c a t i o n w i t h i n t h e P a r t y a n d t h e mass o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t h e p u b l i c a t i o n s , t h e press a n d a l l t h e o t h e r m e a n s o f p r o p a g a n d a , serve t h i s a i m . M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m i s s t u d i e d s y s t e m a t i c a l l y i n t h e v a r i o u s categories o f schools o f o u r state education system. T h e w o r k s of M a r x , Engels, L e n i n a n d Stalin, as w e l l as m a n y documents and materials of our P a r t y , h a v e b e e n m a d e a v a i l a b l e t o t h e c o m m u n i s t s , cadres a n d w o r k i n g people. T h e task n o w i s t h a t a l l t h i s w o r k s h o u l d b e d o n e a t a higher, more qualified level, w i t h the a i m that the p r i n ciples of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and the teachings of our P a r t y should be mastered as w e l l a n d as thoroughly as possible. T h e m a i n t h i n g i s t h a t o u r people s h o u l d b e p r o p e r l y a r m e d ideologically w i t h the M a r x i s t w o r l d outlook and methodology, s h o u l d b e p r o p e r l y f o r m e d f r o m t h e t h e o r e t i c a l v i e w p o i n t , s o t h a t t h e y s t a n d a n d act c o n s c i o u s l y , a t a l l t i m e s a n d i n a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e s , a s consistent r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , a s d e t e r m i n e d f i g h t e r s f o r t h e cause o f s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m , a n d n o t b e t a u g h t o n l y some M a r x i s t theses a n d conclusions. O u r P a r t y a n d people h a v e t o a d v a n c e c o n t i n u o u s l y , t o solve n e w p r o b l e m s . T h e t h e o r e t i c a l w o r k i n g o u t a n d t h e p r a c t i c a l s o l u t i o n o f these p r o b l e m s r e q u i r e t h a t c r e a t i v e t h i n k i n g s h o u l d b e d e v e l o p e d c o n t i n u o u s l y , r e l y i n g o n the basic M a r x i s t p r i n c i p l e s a n d m e t h o d o l o g y , a s w e l l a s o n the s u m m i n g up of the experience gained. F o r this reason i t i s necessary t h a t i n schools a n d t h e s y s t e m o f the Marxist-Leninist education of the communists and the masses, a n d i n a l l the p r o p a g a n d a o f t h e P a r t y , M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m s h o u l d be s t u d i e d , p r o p a g a t e d a n d m a s t e r e d as a l i v i n g a n d c r e a t i v e d o c t r i n e , a s a science w h i c h i s b e i n g continuously developed and enriched. The spirit of revolu-
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tionary criticism should be developed everywhere, f r u i t f u l debate a n d d i s c u s s i o n s h o u l d b e a r o u s e d , a n y m a n i f e s t a t i o n of rigidity a n d dogmatism should be combated, the w a y should be opened w i d e to advanced t h i n k i n g in the party spirit, e v e r y t h i n g s h o u l d b e s u b j e c t e d t o p e n e t r a t i n g a n a l y s i s a n d s o u n d M a r x i s t logic. Theoretical uplift is an indispensable condition to combat m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f e m p i r i c i s m a n d p r a c t i c i s m . T h e fact i s t h a t t h e r e a r e c o m m u n i s t s a n d cadres w h o m a k e l i t t l e effort t o m a s t e r t h e o r y , w h o h a v e a n a r r o w u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the problems and tasks w h i c h are presented and the d i r e c t i v e s a n d o r i e n t a t i o n s w h i c h are g i v e n , w h o see t h e m i n a s i m p l i s t i c m a n n e r a n d d o not g o d e e p l y i n t o t h e i r i d e o p o l i t i c a l content, i n t o t h e i r t h e o r e t i c a l aspect. O n t h i s q u e s tion, w h a t S t a l i n said,
... the higher the political level and the MarxistLeninist knowledge of the workers in any branch of state or Party work, the better and more fruitful will be the work itself, and the more effective the results of the work; and, vice versa, the lower the political level of the workers and the less they are imbued with the knowledge of Marxism-Leninism, the greater will be the likelihood of disruption and failure in the work, of the workers themselves becoming shallow and deteriorating into paltry plodders, of their degenerating altogether,*
always remains v a l i d . The shortcomings in the general theoretical formation also l e a d i n e v i t a b l y t o s u b j e c t i v e a n d v o l i t i v e concepts a n d actions w h i c h are c o n t r a r y t o the r e q u i r e m e n t s o f o b j e c _________________________________________ * J. V. Stalin, Selected W o r k s , T i r a n a 1979, pp. 509-510, A l b . ed.
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tive laws, violate the scientific management of affairs, i m p e d e a n d d i s t o r t t h e processes o f s o c i o - e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t a n d h a r m t h e e d u c a t i o n o f people. W e c o m e across s u c h m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o n m a n y occasions, b u t t h e y are m o r e o b v i o u s a n d h a r m f u l e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e p l a n n i n g , organization and the management of the economy. It is t r u e t h a t socialist society is a s o c i e t y w h i c h is b u i l t i n a conscious m a n n e r , b u t t h i s i s n o t d o n e a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s u b j e c t i v e w i l l a n d desires o f people. I n s o c i a l i s m , too, development takes place according to laws w h i c h have an o b j e c t i v e c h a r a c t e r . T h e p e c u l i a r i t y o f s o c i a l i s m lies i n t h e r e c o g n i t i o n a n d conscious i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f these l a w s i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e a i m s o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e socialist state. H e r e i n lies one of t h e great s u p e r i o r i t i e s of t h e socialist order, w h i c h ensures h a r m o n i o u s a n d r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e e c o n o m y a n d c u l t u r e i n f a v o u r o f t h e w o r k i n g masses. H e n c e , t h e t a s k emerges t h a t t h e a t t e n t i o n o f the e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k o f t h e P a r t y , t h e state, t h e mass o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d a l l the m e a n s o f p r o p a g a n d a s h o u l d b e c e n t r e d o n ensuring knowledge of the objective economic l a w s of socialism, on w h i c h the economic policy of the P a r t y is based. T h r o u g h p r o f o u n d k n o w l e d g e o f t h e o b j e c t i v e l a w s and acting in conformity w i t h their requirements, m a n i festations o f s u b j e c t i v i s m c a n b e a v o i d e d , t h e great s u p e r i o r i t i e s o f t h e socialist o r d e r c a n b e u t i l i z e d , a n d t h e p l a n n i n g and management of the economy and the education of people c a n be p u t on a s c i e n t i f i c basis. I t i s a r e c o g n i z e d fact t h a t t h e m a n , w i t h h i s c o n science, a b i l i t i e s a n d e x p e r i e n c e i s t h e d e c i s i v e f a c t o r i n a n y w o r k , i n t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f a n y t a s k . T h a t i s w h y the P a r t y gives first-rate importance to the w o r k w i t h people for their continuous education, tempering and the development of their abilities. However, the activity of people is successful a n d c a n a t t a i n t h e o b j e c t i v e s set, w h e n , a p a r t f r o m the educational work, it is properly supported w i t h
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economic, o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e m e a s u r e s . T h o s e instances w h e n p r o b l e m s are t r e a t e d i n a o n e - s i d e d w a y , w h e n t h e causes o f s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d w e a k n e s s e s are s o u g h t only in the ideo-political w o r k or in the method and style o f l e a d e r s h i p , w h e n i t i s t h o u g h t t h a t t h e state o f a f f a i r s can b e c h a n g e d a n d i m p r o v e d w i t h w o r d s a n d m e e t i n g s , w i t h o u t c o n c r e t e actions a n d m e a s u r e s , a r e m a n i f e s t a t i o n s of s u b j e c t i v i s m . T h e s o c i a l sciences h a v e a g r e a t r o l e i n r a i s i n g t h e l e v e l o f the p a r t y p r o p a g a n d a a n d a l l t h e w o r k f o r t h e e d u c a t i o n o f t h e masses i n t h e s p i r i t o f s o c i a l i s m . O n l y o n the basis o f s c i e n t i f i c studies a n d g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s o f t h e e x p e rience o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e masses a n d t h e p r o b l e m s r a i s e d b y l i f e , c a n t h e w o r k w i t h people b e s u p p o r t e d w i t h s o u n d arguments a n d result in p r o f o u n d conviction. O u r s o c i a l sciences h a v e m a d e p r o g r e s s a n d h a v e d e v e l o p e d o n t h e r i g h t r o a d . W i t h t h e i r studies a n d p u b l i c a tions t h e y h a v e m a d e v a l u a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n s i n the f i e l d of s t u d y of the h i s t o r y of o u r p e o p l e a n d t h e i r c u l t u r e , the e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r a n d t h e socialist t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s , a n d t h e p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l life o f t h e c o u n t r y . V e r y v a l u a b l e w o r k h a s b e e n d o n e b y t h e I n s t i t u t e o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t S t u d i e s a t the C e n t r a l Committee in compiling the H i s t o r y of the Party, in p u b l i s h i n g m a n y m a t e r i a l s a n d d o c u m e n t s o f the P a r t y , and i n s t u d y i n g v a r i o u s p r o b l e m s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n . It is t h e d u t y of t h e s c i e n t i f i c i n s t i t u t i o n s , t h e d e p a r t ments o f t h e h i g h e r schools a n d a l l t h e cadres e n g a g e d i n social sciences to r a i s e t h e i r w o r k to a n e w l e v e l , to go m o r e deeply i n t o t h e f u n d a m e n t a l p r o b l e m s o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e a n d perspective of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r c o u n t r y , to e l a b o r a t e them a t a h i g h t h e o r e t i c a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c l e v e l a n d t o m i l i t a t e more a c t i v e l y i n t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e P a r t y f o r t h e e d u c a t i o n of the n e w m a n .
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A correct understanding of the decisive role of the masses in the construction of socialist society is fundamental to the communist world outlook and revolutionary theory and practice. O u r P a r t y h a s p e r m i t t e d n o d e v i a t i o n f r o m t h i s p r i n c i p l e a n d t h i s i s one o f t h e u n d e r l y i n g reasons w h y s o c i a l i s m has b e e n b u i l t i n t h e r i g h t w a y a n d i s d e v e l o p i n g successfully i n A l b a n i a . A s t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r c o u n t r y has c o n f i r m e d , t h e a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e masses i n r u n n i n g t h e c o u n t r y and in the w h o l e of social life constitutes an indispensable and decisive condition for the preservation a n d strengt h e n i n g o f t h e p e o p l e ' s state p o w e r , f o r ceaselessly c a r r y i n g f o r w a r d t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n a n d f o r e n s u r i n g a s t r o n g a n d i m p r e g n a b l e defence o f t h e H o m e l a n d . T h e d e c i s i v e , e v e r i n c r e a s i n g r o l e o f t h e p o p u l a r masses i n o u r socialist society i s t h e m o s t p r o f o u n d e x p r e s s i o n a n d the f u n d a m e n t a l d i r e c t i o n o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r s o cialist d e m o c r a c y . F r o m t h i s s t a n d p o i n t , o u r socialist d e m o c r a c y i s n o t o n l y a n h i s t o r i c v i c t o r y o f t h e masses o f t h e people, w o n i n w a r a n d r e v o l u t i o n , b u t also a need, a n indispensable condition, an intrinsic l a w of the development of o u r socialist society, a great m o t i v e f o r c e w h i c h c a r r i e s it forward. S o c i a l i s m has f r e e d o u r p e o p l e f r o m a n y f o r m o f t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f m a n b y m a n . A great h i s t o r i c v i c t o r y i s t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e conscience o f t h e w o r k i n g people f r o m the s p i r i t u a l s h a c k l e s o f e x p l o i t i n g societies, t h e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f t h e w o m a n , w h o has b e c o m e a n e q u a l p a r t i c i p a n t w i t h m a n i n o u r s o c i a l l i f e . O u r p e o p l e e n j o y great d e m o cratic rights and freedoms, such as the right to work, to e d u c a t i o n , t o elect a n d b e elected t o state a n d s o c i a l f u n c tions, t h e f r e e d o m o f speech, o f t h e press, etc., w h i c h i n o u r c o u n t r y are a r e a l i t y , n o t o n l y p r o c l a i m e d b y l a w b u t a l s o applied in daily practice. T h e entire life of our country, the o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e state, t h e e c o n o m y ,
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e d u c a t i o n , c u l t u r e a n d defence, has b e e n c o n s t r u c t e d i n s u c h a w a y as to ensure and require the active participation of t h e w o r k i n g masses. T h e dangers w h i c h threaten socialism f r o m the separat i o n o f t h e state o r g a n s a n d cadres f r o m t h e masses, f r o m t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f b u r e a u c r a c y i n t h e apparatuses, etc., h a v e l o n g b e e n m a d e c l e a r b y t h e P a r t y . I t has stressed that the struggle against such manifestations a n d distortions must be waged continuously, w i t h o u t a l l o w i n g t h e m to b u i l d up a n d become f i r m l y established. In practice, h o w e v e r , m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f one-sidedness a n d f o r m a l i s m are e n c o u n t e r e d i n t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e d e m o c r a c y o f t h e masses a n d t h e r e l a t i o n s o f cadres w i t h t h e masses. T h e r e are i n s t a n c e s w h e n t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e o r g a n s place t h e m s e l v e s a b o v e t h e elected organs, w h e n c e r t a i n cadres d o n o t m a i n t a i n close contacts w i t h t h e people o r c o n s u l t t h e m o n l y f o r m a l l y . S o m e t i m e s t h e assemblies of the agricultural cooperatives a n d other org a n i z a t i o n s o f the masses a r e n o t t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t a t a l l o r i n s u f f i c i e n t l y t a k e n i n t o account, s o m e t i m e s t h e n o r m s e s t a b l i s h e d a b o u t r e n d e r i n g a c c o u n t t o t h e masses, n o t o n l y b y t h e elected cadres b u t also b y t h e a p p o i n t e d cadres, are n o t r e s p e c t e d , a n d s o o n . It is the duty of the P a r t y propaganda to explain and p r o v e w i t h p r o f o u n d a r g u m e n t s t h a t t h e r o l e o f t h e masses i s n o t a n a b s t r a c t q u e s t i o n , t h a t i t i s r e a l i z e d t h r o u g h the d a i l y a c t i v i t y o f t h e collectives, t h e T r a d e U n i o n s , t h e y o u t h organization, the Front, the organizations of w o m e n , the people's c o u n c i l s a n d a l l t h e elected organs. I n p a r t i c u l a r , the P a r t y p r o p a g a n d a m u s t e n s u r e t h a t t h e cadres, especially, have a political a n d ideological understanding of the need f o r d i r e c t l i n k s w i t h t h e masses, w i t h t h e w o r k e r s , w i t h the cooperativists, w i t h the youth, w i t h the w o m e n , w i t h a l l sections o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n . T h e y m u s t c o n s u l t w i d e circles o f t h e people, seek t h e i r o p i n i o n s , p u t b e f o r e t h e
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masses t h e p r o b l e m s w h i c h p r e o c c u p y the P a r t y a n d t h e state a n d , together w i t h t h e masses, f i n d t h e m o s t r a t i o n a l solutions. W h e n the P a r t y raises f o r c e f u l l y t h a t t h e v o i c e o f t h e specialists s h o u l d b e l i s t e n e d t o m o r e a t t e n t i v e l y , t h a t t h e i r qualified opinion should be backed up and supported better i n o r d e r t o place p r o d u c t i o n o n s c i e n t i f i c f o u n d a t i o n s , t h i s m u s t i n n o w a y l e a d t o u n d e r r a t i n g t h e a d v a n c e d ideas o f the masses a n d t h e i r r i c h r e v o l u t i o n a r y e x p e r i e n c e . T h e technical-scientific revolution in our country can be dev e l o p e d w i t h success o n l y w h e n t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c p o t e n t i a l o f t h e cadres a n d specialists i s c l o s e l y l i n k e d and merged w i t h the struggle and all-sided experience of t h e masses. I n t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f t h e masses a n y simplification and formal treatment of it must be avoided. I t i s i m p e r m i s s i b l e t o o v e r w h e l m people w i t h f r u i t l e s s meetings over t r i f l i n g matters allegedly in the name of t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f t h e masses. M e e t i n g s a t w h i c h the problems causing concern are not solved, w h i c h d o n o t a r r i v e a t c o n c l u s i o n s a b o u t concrete m e a s u r e s t o change the situation, have no value at all. L i k e w i s e , it is i m p e r m i s s i b l e t h a t t h e l i n e o f t h e masses s h o u l d b e u s e d as a s m o k e s c r e e n to c o v e r up l a c k of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , s h o r t comings in the organization and direction of work, and f a i l u r e t o e x e r c i s e competences a n d a p p l y t h e l a w s a n d rules established. E n l i v e n m e n t and activation of the control by the masses f r o m b e l o w , i n c l u d i n g t h e g r o u p s o f d i r e c t w o r k e r a n d peasant c o n t r o l , w h i c h s h o u l d b e c e n t r e d m o r e o n t h e c o n t r o l o v e r t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f socialist p r o p e r t y , t h e a c t i v i t y o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e organs, a s w e l l a s i n t h e f i e l d o f s e r v i c e s f o r t h e people a n d t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f t h e i r needs, m u s t b e t h e object o f c o n t i n u o u s a t t e n t i o n f r o m t h e P a r t y a n d t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s of t h e masses.
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It is p a r t i c u l a r l y important to understand properly that t h e c o n t r o l b y t h e masses f r o m b e l o w m u s t n o t b e l i m i t e d a n d m u s t n o t b e r e d u c e d t o j u s t one f o r m o f it, t h a t o f the g r o u p s o f t h e w o r k e r a n d peasant c o n t r o l ; i t m u s t b e exercised m u c h more extensively a n d in the most v a r i e d f o r m s b y r o u s i n g t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e w o r k i n g people and inculcating in t h e m the idea that they are the masters of the country, w h o must have their say about e v e r y t h i n g a n d e v e r y o n e . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e P a r t y has stressed t h a t the g r o u p s o f t h e w o r k e r a n d peasant c o n t r o l c a n n o t a n d must not replace the control by the p a r t y organizations, the state o r g a n s or t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s of t h e masses. There is a need for understanding and implementing socialist d e m o c r a c y a n d t h e r o l e o f t h e masses p r o p e r l y , for m o r e p r o f o u n d study of them, so that they are constantly p e r f e c t e d . T h e a i m i s t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e process o f t h e construction of socialism is never t r a n s f o r m e d into a b u r e a u c r a t i c - a d m i n i s t r a t i v e process, b u t is a l w a y s a l i v i n g , c r e a t i v e w o r k o f the b r o a d w o r k i n g masses, u n d e r t h e leadership of the Party. The education of the new man is one of the greatest victories of socialism and one of the fundamental guarantees for its uninterrupted development. T h e h i s t o r i c tasks w i t h w h i c h o u r P a r t y a n d people a r e f a c e d f o r t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d c o p i n g successfully w i t h the encirclement and pressure of the capitalistrevisionist w o r l d , require people formed and tempered as consistent r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , e q u i p p e d t o a h i g h e r l e v e l w i t h the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w o r l d o u t l o o k a n d ethics, w h o m u s t b e a b l e t o w i t h s t a n d t h e p r e s s u r e f r o m t h e ideologies o f e x p l o i t i n g classes. T h i s r e q u i r e s m o r e t h o r o u g h - g o i n g i d e o logical struggle against a n y alien r e m n a n t or manifestation i n t h e consciousness o f o u r people. T h e s t r u g g l e against t h e p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s m e n t a l i t y a n d outlook, w h i c h has deep roots i n o u r c o u n t r y , h a s b e e n
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and remains a major ideological problem. It is true that t h e great social a n d e c o n o m i c changes w h i c h h a v e b e e n c a r r i e d out, a s w e l l a s t h e a l l - r o u n d w o r k o f t h e P a r t y f o r t h e c o m m u n i s t e d u c a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g people, h a v e dealt h e a v y b l o w s t o t h e p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s p s y c h o l o g y a n d s h a k e n i t t o its f o u n d a t i o n s . N e v e r t h e l e s s , a l t h o u g h i t s sphere o f o p e r a t i o n has b e e n d r a s t i c a l l y r e d u c e d , w e s t i l l e n c o u n t e r p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s o u t l o o k s , a t t i t u d e s a n d actions among various strata of the population. The petty-bourgeois concepts a n d t e n d e n c i e s a r e a g r e a t e v i l , because t h e y not o n l y h a m p e r t h e c o m m u n i s t e d u c a t i o n o f t h e people, not o n l y i n h i b i t t h e i r a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e soci a l i s t c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y , b u t also b e c o m e t h e cause of a l l sorts of v a c i l l a t i o n s , s e r v e as t h e basis f o r t h e s p r e a d o f the b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y a n d f o r u n d e r m i n i n g t h e socialist o r d e r itself. The petty-bourgeois psychology manifests itself in v a rious forms and in m a n y fields. The remnants of it are most m a r k e d in the attitude towards w o r k and property, w h i c h occupies t h e m a i n a n d d e c i s i v e p l a c e i n people's a c t i v i t y . A h i g h l e v e l o f consciousness i n t h e i r a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s w o r k a n d socialist p r o p e r t y c h a r a c t e r i z e s o u r w o r k i n g people i n t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e . T h i s i s a d i s t i n g u i s h i n g feature of our n e w m a n a n d is a reality w h i c h stands out everywhere. H o w e v e r , socialism, as the i n i t i a l phase of c o m m u n i s t society, w h i c h e m e r g e s f r o m t h e e x p l o i t i n g c a p i t a l i s t order, has its o w n c o n d i t i o n s a n d p e c u l i a r i t i e s o f d e v e l o p m e n t , w h i c h l e a v e t h e i r m a r k also o n t h e a t t i t u d e towards w o r k and property. Socialism, said L e n i n , ... cannot as yet be fully mature from the economic viewpoint, and entirely free from the traditions and vestiges of capitalism.*
__________________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 25, p. 559, A l b . ed.
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O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i t i s i m p o r t a n t t o b e a r i n m i n d also t h e l a r g e masses o f y o u n g p e o p l e w h o a r e t o e n t e r social p r o d u c t i o n a n d o t h e r sectors a n d w h o , despite t h e i r readiness a n d e n t h u s i a s m t o w o r k a n d create o n b e h a l f o f s o c i a l i s m , still have not f o r m e d the habits of w o r k a n d have not been hardened to w i t h s t a n d the difficulties of life. T h e s e factors, a s w e l l a s t h e w e a k n e s s e s i n t h e w o r k of leadership, organization and education by the organizat i o n s o f t h e P a r t y a n d those o f t h e masses, t h e organs o f t h e state a n d t h e e c o n o m y , a c c o u n t f o r t h e a l i e n a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d s w o r k a n d socialist p r o p e r t y , w h i c h are seen. T h e s e a r e t h e reasons w h y t h e P a r t y i n s i s t s o n t h e need to raise the level a n d the effectiveness of propaganda a n d i d e o l o g i c a l w o r k , s o t h a t t h e socialist consciousness o f t h e w o r k e r s , t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s , t h e cadres i n t h e i r a t t i t u d e towards w o r k and property is strengthened and raised to a h i g h e r l e v e l . T h i s has b e e n a n d m u s t c o n t i n u e t o b e one of the most important fronts in the w o r k of the Party, t h e state o r g a n s a n d mass o r g a n i z a t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e w o r k of the trade-unions. T h e m e a s u r e s w h i c h t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state h a v e t a k e n f o r p e r f e c t i n g t h e socialist r e l a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , f o r t h e f u r t h e r r e d u c t i o n o f c o o p e r a t i v i s t s ' p e r s o n a l plot, t h e i m provement of the p a y system, legislation, the p l a n n i n g a n d m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e e c o n o m y , etc., h a v e c r e a t e d n e w p o s s i b i l i t i e s a n d c o n d i t i o n s t o engage i n m o r e e x t e n s i v e and thorough-going educational w o r k among the w o r k i n g masses i n o r d e r t o i m b u e t h e m w i t h c o r r e c t concepts a n d attitudes t o w a r d s w o r k a n d p r o p e r t y , t o create a n a t mosphere of revolutionary optimism and mobilization in work everywhere. T h e c o m m u n i s t s , t h e cadres a n d t h e w o r k i n g people must b e m a d e conscious t h a t w e a r e l i v i n g i n n e w s i t u a t i o n s at home a n d abroad, w h i c h give rise to n e w tasks a n d demands. A m i g h t y d u t y facing us is the need to mobilize
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a l l t h e w o r k i n g people t o f u l f i l t h e t a s k s o f t h e p l a n t o t h e letter. T h e s i t u a t i o n s w e are g o i n g t h r o u g h a n d t h e g r e a t objectives o f t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n d e m a n d a n e w r h y t h m a n d c o m m i t m e n t i n w o r k , a h i g h e r sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d greater persistence, d e m a n d t h a t we a d v a n c e at a m o r e r a p i d pace, as the t i m e d e m a n d s . The educational w o r k of the P a r t y must implant deepr o o t e d c o n v i c t i o n s t h a t w o r k a n d t h e socialist p r o p e r t y are t w o great p i l l a r s o n w h i c h t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e economy, t h e e n t i r e l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y , its present a n d f u t u r e , are based. I n t h i s f i e l d a n o r g a n i z e d s t r u g g l e m u s t be waged on all fronts against negative manifestations, against a n y p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s o r l i b e r a l concept a n d s t a n d , in order to strengthen the spirit of organization, order and discipline everywhere. T h e t a s k s f o r t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e socialist c o n s ciousness a n d p s y c h o l o g y d e m a n d t h a t g r e a t e r a t t e n t i o n should be p a i d to k n o w i n g the various interests w h i c h exist a n d operate i n o u r s o c i e t y a n d t o m a i n t a i n i n g c o r r e c t r e l a t i o n s a m o n g t h e m . E n g e l s p o i n t e d out t h a t t h e e c o n o m i c r e l a t i o n s i n a n y society p r e s e n t t h e m s e l v e s , f i r s t o f a l l , a s interests. T h e r e f o r e , n e i t h e r t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e requirements of the economic laws, nor the strengthening o f the socialist a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s w o r k a n d p r o p e r t y c a n be understood and achieved apart f r o m different interests, a n d a b o v e a l l , a p a r t f r o m e c o n o m i c interests. The placing of the general interest above the interests o f the g r o u p a n d t h e i n d i v i d u a l , t h e interests o f t h e f u t u r e a b o v e those o f t h e m o m e n t , t h e f u n d a m e n t a l i n t e r e s t s o f t h e state a b o v e d e p a r t m e n t a l a n d l o c a l interests, h a s r u n r i g h t t h r o u g h a l l t h e a c t i v i t y o f o u r P a r t y a n d state f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d t h e defence o f s o c i a l i s m . T h i s r e m a i n s the g u a r a n t e e t h a t w e s h a l l a l w a y s c o n t i n u e t o a d v a n c e o n t h e r i g h t M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t course, p e r m i t t i n g n o d e v i a -
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tions f r o m the theory a n d practice of the construction of socialism. I n m a n y cases, h o w e v e r , p e r s o n a l i n t e r e s t i s s t i l l a v e r y c o m p e l l i n g force, a n d t h i s i s e x p r e s s e d i n t h e t e n dencies t o t a k e f r o m society m o r e t h a n one c o n t r i b u t e s , t o p u r s u e q u a n t i t y t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f q u a l i t y , etc. T h e r e is no doubt that the existence of various distinctions, s u c h a s those b e t w e e n t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e , t h e d i f f e r e n c e s i n i n c o m e s b e t w e e n m e m b e r s o f o u r society, as w e l l as the discrepancies w h i c h emerge between the g r o w i n g d e m a n d s o f t h e w o r k i n g masses a n d t h e r e a l possibilities for their fulfilment, have their influence in k e e p i n g s u c h p h e n o m e n a a l i v e . B u t these f a c t o r s c a n n o t justify the various manifestations of placing personal interest a b o v e t h e g e n e r a l interest. I n o u r socialist society a l l the p o s s i b i l i t i e s e x i s t t o r e d u c e t h e a l i e n p h e n o m e n a m o r e and more through strengthening the educational w o r k a m o n g t h e masses, d e v e l o p i n g p r o d u c t i o n a n d p e r f e c t i n g the economic relations and the rigorous implementation of t h e l a w s of t h e state. T h i s i s l i n k e d , f i r s t o f a l l , w i t h t h e fact t h a t i n s o c i a l i s m the g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t i s n o t c o n t r a r y t o t h e p e r s o n a l interests o f t h e w o r k i n g people. W h e n w e speak a b o u t t h e p r i o r i t y o f t h e g e n e r a l interest, t h i s b y n o m e a n s i m p l i e s t h a t personal interests are ignored. In socialism the general interest i s r e a l i z e d n o t a s a n a i m i n itself, b u t i n o r d e r t o s e r v e t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f the l e g i t i m a t e needs o f t h e w o r k i n g people, t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e people a n d t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f the defence c a p a c i t y o f t h e H o m e l a n d . The line of the P a r t y is applied correctly a n d consistently when the preoccupation w i t h economic problems and the care f o r t h e g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t a r e n e v e r d i v o r c e d f r o m c o n c e r n a b o u t t h e i n d i v i d u a l , f r o m care t o f u l f i l h i s m a terial and spiritual demands. A m a j o r p r o b l e m , not o n l y e c o n o m i c , b u t also i d e o -
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l o g i c a l a n d social, i s t h e h a r m o n i z a t i o n o f t h e i n t e r e s t s of the cooperativist property f a i r l y w i t h the general interests o f society. T h e P a r t y m u s t c o m b a t b o t h t h e tendencies, w h i c h are s o m e t i m e s seen, t o i s o l a t i o n w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f t h e interests o f t h e g r o u p , r e g a r d i n g t h e m a s s o m e t h i n g d i v o r c e d f r o m t h e i n t e r e s t s of s o c i e t y as a w h o l e , a n d those, w h i c h a l l e g e d l y o n b e h a l f o f t h e g e n e r a l interest, h a r m the i n t e r e s t s o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e . T h i s p r o b l e m has t o d o w i t h t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e state a n d t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s , a s w e l l a s w i t h t h e process o f t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e g r o u p i n t o p r o p e r t y o f t h e e n t i r e people. T h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t p r o p e r t y i s o f t h e s a m e t y p e a s t h e state p r o p e r t y . B o t h are socialist p r o p e r t y , b u t t h e p r o p e r t y of t h e g r o u p is a l o w e r stage o f the s o c i a l i z a t i o n o f p r o p e r t y . T h r o u g h w i d e ranging and well-considered educational w o r k the P a r t y must m a k e clear to the cooperativist peasantry the t r a n sitional character of the property of the group, as w e l l as t h e w a y s f o r its t r a n s f o r m a t i o n i n t o p r o p e r t y o f t h e e n t i r e people. I n o u r c o u n t r y , t h e process o f t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of the property of the group into property of the w h o l e society has b e g u n a n d w i l l b e a c c e l e r a t e d i n t h e f u t u r e . H o w e v e r , w e m u s t p r o c e e d o n t h i s course step b y step, a s the objective a n d subjective conditions are created, t a k i n g i n t o account a n d r e s p e c t i n g t h e interests s t e m m i n g f r o m t h e property of the group. The propaganda of the P a r t y must deal more extensively a n d profoundly w i t h the u n i f i e d character of our economy and the factors w h i c h strengthen this character. In t h i s c o n t e x t it is necessary to w a g e a d e t e r m i n e d s t r u g g l e against the pursuit of n a r r o w departmental, local or enterp r i s e interests. T h e obstacles r a i s e d t o t h e s p e c i a l i z a t i o n , concentration and cooperation of production, as w e l l as t h e cases o f k e e p i n g s o m e t h i n g i n r e s e r v e i n t h e p l a n n i n g o f p r o d u c t i o n , p r o d u c t i v i t y a n d r e d u c t i o n o f costs, o r t h e
REPORT TO THE 8th CONGRESS OF THE P L A
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e x a g g e r a t e d d e m a n d s f o r i n v e s t m e n t s , l a b o u r forces, etc., a r e m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f n a r r o w interests, w h i c h i m p e d e t h e development of the economy and h a r m the general interests o f t h e state a n d society. I n t h e c o n d i t i o n s w h e n t h e n e w has b e c o m e d o m i n a n t in our country, the phenomena of petty-bourgeois psychology, t h e r e m n a n t s f r o m t h e p a s t , b e c o m e m o r e a n d m o r e d i s c o r d a n t a n d c o n s t i t u t e a s e r i o u s obstacle to o u r socialist course. T h e p e c u l i a r i t y o f these r e m n a n t s i s t h a t t h e y a r e extremely resistant a n d continue to exist even though the c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h g a v e b i r t h t o t h e m h a v e been c o m p l e t e l y changed; they assume new forms, camouflage themselves u n d e r socialist n o r m s a n d r e v i v e w h e r e v e r t h e y f i n d s u i table terrain. C e r t a i n outdated customs a n d practices, in p a r t i c u l a r , s h o u l d a t t r a c t o u r a t t e n t i o n , because a l t h o u g h t h e y h a v e b e e n h a r d hit, t h e y s t i l l c r o p u p i n t h e w a y of life, in f a m i l y relations, in the stand towards women, etc. T h e P a r t y a n d its l e v e r s m u s t w o r k t o s t r e n g t h e n a n d c o n s o l i d a t e t h e socialist p r i n c i p l e s a n d concepts, t h e p r o letarian ideology and morality, and to ensure that the s p i r i t o f great i d e o l o g i c a l actions a n d m o v e m e n t s o f t h e masses, b a s e d o n t h e s t r u g g l e t o e r a d i c a t e a l l t h e o l d h a n g o v e r s a n d a f f i r m t h e n e w socialist n o r m s a n d customs, i s a l w a y s k e p t ablaze. T h i s s t r u g g l e m u s t b e w a g e d w i t h w i s d o m a n d intelligence, so that the new norms and concepts b e c o m e a c c e p t a b l e to t h e conscience of a l l . T o t h i s e n d , i t i s necessary t o h a v e a p r o f o u n d k n o w ledge o f t h e p s y c h o l o g y o f t h e masses, t o c a r r y out q u a l i f i e d educational work, differentiated according to the various strata a n d regions, t y p e s a n d places o f w o r k , c o l l e c t i v e s a n d sectors, a g e - g r o u p s a n d sexes, r i g h t d o w n t o s e p a r a t e i n d i v i d u a l s . A t h o r o u g h k n o w l e d g e of t h e s p i r i t u a l state of the masses c a n n o t b e g a i n e d i n a n e m p i r i c a l m a n n e r , b u t o n t h e basis o f p r o f o u n d s y s t e m a t i c studies, a n a l y s i n g t h e
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p r o b l e m i n a l l its m a n y aspects, i n its p r e s e n t state a n d i n t h e d y n a m i c s o f its d e v e l o p m e n t , t a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t the whole complex of different factors w h i c h influence t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e consciousness a n d p s y c h o l o g y o f t h e masses, s u c h a s t h e m a t e r i a l c o n d i t i o n s , t h e o l d t r a d i t i o n s a n d customs, t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f e d u c a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e , t h e e x t e r n a l c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t w o r l d , etc. I n o u r s t r u g g l e o n the i d e o l o g i c a l f r o n t w e s h o u l d n e v e r f o r a m o m e n t forget t h a t t h e r e m n a n t s of t h e past a r e intertwined w i t h the degenerating influences of the imperialist-revisionist encirclement, w h i c h , although a d v e r t i s e d a s m o d e r n o r progressive, i n essence, a r e j u s t a s o l d , i f n o t older, a n d e x t r e m e l y d a n g e r o u s . W i d e - r a n g i n g i d e o l o g i c a l aggression, i n t e n d e d t o d e n i g r a t e t h e r e a l i t y o f socialist A l b a n i a a n d c o r r u p t p e o ple's m i n d s , i s b e i n g d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t o u r c o u n t r y . T h e P a r t y a n d its l e v e r s m u s t become p o w e r f u l , i n s u p e r a b l e b a r r i e r s t o t h i s a g g r e s s i o n a n d its i n f l u e n c e o n o u r people. T h e y m u s t t e m p e r t h e i d e o l o g i c a l u n i t y o f t h e people a n d increase t h e i r v i g i l a n c e a n d s t r u g g l e against l i b e r a l i s m a n d a l l a l i e n m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , s o t h a t n o breaches, n o s i t u a tions of relaxation or euphoria are permitted, so that the c o m m u n i s t s , t h e cadres a n d a l l t h e w o r k i n g people a l w a y s u p h o l d t h e socialist p r i n c i p l e s a n d n o r m s , t h e p r o l e t a r i a n ideology and morality. T h e struggle for the communist education of the w o r k i n g people against t h e r e m n a n t s a n d m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f a l i e n ideologies, o l d a n d n e w , constitutes t h e b r o a d e s t a n d m o s t c o m p l e x f r o n t o f t h e class s t r u g g l e w h i c h i s g o i n g o n i n o u r c o u n t r y . T h i s s t r u g g l e becomes e s p e c i a l l y i m p o r t a n t a n d acute i n t h e p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s w h e n o u r c o u n t r y i s forging ahead in the construction of socialism, r e l y i n g e n t i r e l y o n its o w n forces, w h e n t h e s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n s o c i a l ism and capitalism, M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and revisionism in t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a has b e c o m e e x t r e m e l y severe a n d
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w h e n t h e i m p e r i a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t e n c i r c l e m e n t a n d its pressu r e on our country have become more ferocious. T h e P a r t y must w o r k u n t i r i n g l y to ensure that the c o m m u n i s t s , t h e p e o p l e a n d t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n s are educated continuously in the spirit of the dictatorship of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e class s t r u g g l e , are a l w a y s v i g i l a n t a n d r e a d y to defend socialism f r o m any enemy or danger, a n d s t r u g g l e i n t h e i r o w n conscience, i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e P a r t y a n d a m o n g t h e people, a g a i n s t e v e r y t h i n g w h i c h runs counter to the spirit and principles of socialism. T o w a g e t h e class s t r u g g l e c o r r e c t l y m e a n s t o a p p l y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t l i n e o f t h e P a r t y c o r r e c t l y , t o accept the principles of socialism consciously and w i t h profound c o n v i c t i o n , a n d t o w o r k a n d f i g h t a t a l l t i m e s f o r t h e good of the people and the H o m e l a n d , to safeguard and defend s o c i a l i s m . T h i s means, also, t h a t t h i s s t r u g g l e m u s t b e waged without allowing opportunist or sectarian deviations t o t h e r i g h t o r t h e left, w h i c h are e q u a l l y d a n g e r o u s a n d f r a u g h t w i t h g r a v e consequences f o r t h e P a r t y , t h e u n i t y o f t h e people a n d socialist society. O n l y b y w a g i n g t h e class s t r u g g l e c o r r e c t l y a n d w i t h out d e v i a t i o n s , w i t h t h e l a r g e - s c a l e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g masses l e d b y t h e P a r t y , w i l l t h e present b e b u i l t a l w a y s c o r r e c t l y a n d rest o n s o u n d f o u n d a t i o n s , a n d t h e f u t u r e o f t h e H o m e l a n d a n d s o c i a l i s m b e secure. T h e P a r t y h a s set u p a n e n t i r e s y s t e m o f m e a n s o f mass c o m m u n i c a t i o n , s u c h as t h e press, p u b l i c a t i o n s , t h e r a d i o a n d t e l e v i s i o n , f i l m s , etc., i n t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e e d u c a t i o n o f t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s , cadres a n d masses. T h e i r r o l e i s great, t h e r e f o r e t h e y m u s t c o n t i n u o u s l y r a i s e t h e l e v e l of their work, both in content and f o r m , in order to respond e v e r b e t t e r t o t h e g r o w i n g d e m a n d s o f t h e w o r k i n g masses.
IV
THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION AND THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE PSR OF ALBANIA
T h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a has a l w a y s f o l l o w e d the development of international situations and the events w h i c h occur in the w o r l d w i t h attention. It has analysed t h e m i n a n o b j e c t i v e a n d r e a l i s t i c m a n n e r , based, a s a l w a y s , on the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t principles, and has d r a w n the respective conclusions. In a l l this w o r k the P a r t y has p r o c e e d e d f r o m t h e fact t h a t t h e processes g o i n g o n i n t h e w o r l d today exert their influence, to this or that extent, on o u r c o u n t r y , too. W e f o l l o w a n d a n a l y s e t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l situations w i t h particular interest, so that we are never t a k e n b y s u r p r i s e , t o e n s u r e t h a t w e are a l w a y s p r e p a r e d t o face u p s u c c e s s f u l l y t o a n y d a n g e r w h i c h m i g h t c o m e f r o m a b r o a d , a n d t o b u i l d s o c i a l i s m w i t h success. O n t h e other h a n d , t h i s also c o n s t i t u t e s a c o n d i t i o n f o r us to properly and effectively perform our internationalist duty i n s u p p o r t o f t h e peoples' s t r u g g l e f o r f r e e d o m a n d n a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e , d e m o c r a c y a n d s o c i a l progress, a n d t o c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace a n d security. V i e w e d as a w h o l e , t h e p r e s e n t i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n i s d i s t u r b e d , c o m p l i c a t e d a n d v e r y tense. M a j o r p o l i t i c a l a n d social forces c o n f r o n t one a n o t h e r : o n t h e one side, imperialism, capitalism a n d reaction, the bearers of oppression, e x p l o i t a t i o n a n d w a r , a n d o n t h e o t h e r side, t h e
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peoples, t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d t h e d e m o c r a t s , w h o a r e struggling for national and social liberation a n d the e m a n c i p a t i n o n o f m a n k i n d . T h i s large-scale, p r o f o u n d a n d a l l r o u n d c o n f r o n t a t i o n , w h i c h i s a r e f l e c t i o n o f s t e r n class clashes a n d has i n c l u d e d a l l t h e c o n t i n e n t s w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n , has f u r t h e r e x a c e r b a t e d a l l t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d t h e g r a v e c r i s i s w h i c h has s w e p t t h e c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d t o d a y . Everything indicates that the present situation in the world could give rise to general and local wars, just as it may give rise to liberation wars and revolution. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f events w i l l s h o w w h e t h e r i m p e r i a l i s m w i l l be able to lead the w o r l d to a n e w catastrophe or whether the peoples w i l l p r e v e n t t h e w a r a n d save m a n k i n d . I n t h i s s i t u a t i o n , t h e peoples' w a r a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n are o n t h e a g e n d a , n o t o n l y a s a s p i r a t i o n s a n d i m m e d i a t e tasks f o r l i b e r a t i o n f r o m c a p i t a l i s t o p p r e s s i o n a n d t h e i m p e r i a l i s t y o k e , b u t also as h i s t o r i c a l necessities to defeat the w a r m o n g e r i n g p l a n s o f i m p e r i a l i s m a n d a v e r t a n e w general war. I m p e r i a l i s m has b e e n a n d s t i l l i s t h e source o f a l l a g gressions a n d p r e d a t o r y w a r s , the s o u r c e o f a l l t h e disasters and suffering w h i c h have existed a n d exist in the w o r l d . T h e peoples h a v e p a i d t h e p r i c e f o r t h e i n s a t i a b l e g r e e d o f the i m p e r i a l i s t s f o r conquests a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n a n d f o r w o r l d domination w i t h their blood a n d their lives. T h e struggle g o i n g o n t o d a y a m o n g t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r s a n d t h e b i g c a p i t a l i s t p o w e r s f o r m a r k e t s a n d spheres o f influence is further testimony of this unalterable character of the nature and aims of imperialism. A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m and Soviet social-imperialism are contesting w i t h one a n o t h e r , are c o m p e t i n g a n d m a n o e u v r i n g t o c a r r y out aggressions a n d o c c u p y o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . I n many regions of the w o r l d the struggle between the t w o i m p e r i a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r s , t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d the S o v i e t U n i o n , n o t e x c l u d i n g i m p e r i a l i s t C h i n a a n d
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o t h e r c a p i t a l i s t p o w e r s , has a s s u m e d n e w , m a j o r p r o p o r tions. E a c h o f these p o w e r s i s s t r i v i n g t o a c h i e v e e c o n o m i c , political and m i l i t a r y superiority over the other a n d to c a p t u r e n e w strategic positions. A l t h o u g h t h e f l a m e s o f w o r l d w a r are n o t b l a z i n g yet, t h e l o c a l f i r e s w h i c h h a v e b r o k e n out a n d t h e d a n g e r o u s h o t b e d s w h i c h h a v e a l r e a d y been c r e a t e d m a y t u r n i n t o a g r e a t c o n f l a g r a t i o n o f i m p e r i a l i s t w o r l d w a r . T h e M i d d l e E a s t , a n d I n d o c h i n a once a g a i n , a r e v e r y c l e a r e v i d e n c e o f this. T h i s r i v a l r y , t h i s superpower policy, further complicates the situations and leads t o t e n s i o n w i t h d a n g e r o u s consequences i n a l l w o r l d relations. O f course, w h i l e w e o b s e r v e t h a t t h e r i v a l r y b e t w e e n t h e s u p e r p o w e r s a n d the s h a r p e n i n g o f c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e tween t h e m constitute the m a i n source of present-day i n ternational conflicts and the danger of war, we cannot f a i l t o n o t i c e also t h e i r e f f o r t s t o r e a c h c o m p r o m i s e s a n d a g r e e m e n t s a n d e v e n t e m p o r a r y alliances. T h e e f f o r t t o c o m e t o t e r m s t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f t h e peoples has a l w a y s b e e n t h e response o f i m p e r i a l i s t s t o t h e t e n d e n c y t o w a r d s i n t e r i m p e r i a l i s t clashes a n d c o n f l i c t s . However, an atmosphere of m u t u a l trust can never e x i s t b e t w e e n i m p e r i a l i s t states. D u e t o t h e i r aggressive n a t u r e , t h e y are b o u n d t o act against one a n o t h e r o p e n l y a n d secretly. T h i s i s t h e d i a l e c t i c o f r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n i m perialists. Up t i l l n o w the superpowers have tried to preserve a c e r t a i n e q u i l i b r i u m b e t w e e n t h e m s e l v e s , to e n s u r e respect f o r t h e i r m u t u a l spheres o f i n f l u e n c e , a n d t o k e e p pace w i t h each other i n t h e a r m s race. T h e y h a v e m a d e e f f o r t s to a v o i d a d i r e c t w a r b e t w e e n t h e m , b u t n o w , as a r e s u l t o f the c r i s i s a n d u n e q u a l d e v e l o p m e n t , t h i s e q u i l i b r i u m i s tending to fall apart. T h e y c a n n o l o n g e r f i n d u n o c c u p i e d spaces i n w h i c h t o e x t e n d t h e i r e x p a n s i o n . A n y f u r t h e r step b r i n g s t h e m
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i n t o c o l l i s i o n w i t h t h e other's i n t e r e s t s a n d c a r r i e s t h e d a n g e r o f a n u n p r e d i c t a b l e r e a c t i o n . T h i s gives r i s e t o imbalance, to the dangers of armed confrontations w h i c h might lead m a n k i n d into a general imperialist war. I n t h e past, i t b e c a m e p o s s i b l e t o c o n c l u d e t h e t r e a t y on the non-proliferation of atomic weapons, w h i c h ensured the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a and the Soviet U n i o n the m o n o p o l y o f these w e a p o n s , a n d e v e n t o s i g n t h e S A L T agreement, w h i c h e s t a b l i s h e d the e q u i l i b r i u m o f t h e s u p e r p o w e r s i n these w e a p o n s . N o w t h e t w o sides h a v e b e e n caught up in the fevers of unrestrained armament, in w h i c h t h e y h a v e lost a l l sense a n d logic. T h e m e g a l o m a n i a a n d arrogance of the superpowers, w h i c h think they can m a k e t h e l a w i n t h e w o r l d a n d get a w a y w i t h it, i s m i n g l e d w i t h fear of each other a n d w i t h the terror that the revolution strikes in them. T h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e s u p e r p o w e r s a n d those o f t h e peoples a r e n o t i n a c c o r d a n d d o not c o i n c i d e a t a n y t i m e o r i n a n y i n s t a n c e . F o r i m p e r i a l i s m t o e x i s t the peoples m u s t b e e n s l a v e d , f o r t h e peoples t o b e l i b e r a t e d i m p e r i a l ism must be destroyed. T h a t p o l i c y o f r e a c t i o n a r y classes w h i c h , t o protect t h e i r o w n p o w e r a n d t o d e c e i v e t h e masses, r e l y o n one or t h e o t h e r i m p e r i a l i s t state, p r e s e n t i n g t h e one as g o o d a n d t h e o t h e r as b a d , t h e one as a s u p p o r t e r of the peoples a n d t h e o t h e r as t h e i r e n e m y , the one as t h e c h a m p i o n of peace a n d t h e o t h e r as a w a r m o n g e r , is v e r y d a n g e r o u s a n d must b e f o u g h t t o t h e e n d . T h e s u p e r p o w e r s , i n d i v i d u a l l y a n d j o i n t l y , are t h e m o s t f e r o c i o u s e n e m i e s o f the f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e peoples, t h e p r o t e c t o r s a n d g u a rantors of reactionary regimes, supporters of national b o n d age t o f o r e i g n e r s a n d i n s t i g a t o r s o f f e u d s a n d c o n f l i c t s between nations. T h e i r policy contains the direct danger that m a n k i n d i s h u r l e d i n t o a t h i r d w o r l d w a r . T h e r e f o r e , n o w a s i n t h e past, t h e s t r u g g l e o f a l l r e v o l u -
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t i o n a r y , p r o g r e s s i v e a n d d e m o c r a t i c forces t o expose a n d foil the predatory and enslaving plans of imperialist superp o w e r s is an h i s t o r i c necessity, a c o n d i t i o n a n d a d u t y f o r t h e defence o f t h e f r e e d o m a n d s o v e r e i g n t y o f t h e peoples, for the t r i u m p h of the revolution, for averting the w a r and e n s u r i n g peace. In one way or the other, in this or that form, all the peoples encounter the interference of and are threatened by the aggressive policy of American imperialism, which represents the greatest capitalist power of our time and the main defender of the bourgeois-imperialist system. F r o m the e n d o f t h e S e c o n d W o r l d W a r , w h e n i t e m e r g e d a t t h e h e a d o f the i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s a n d b e c a m e t h e m a i n p r e t e n d e r t o w o r l d d o m i n a t i o n , t o t h i s day, A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m has caused t h e s h e d d i n g o f t o r r e n t s o f b l o o d b y t h e peoples i t has a t t a c k e d , e i t h e r d i r e c t l y o r b y m e a n s o f its obedient tools. I n e v e r y c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y process w h i c h has o c c u r r e d i n t h e w o r l d , i n e v e r y fascist p u t s c h and overthrow of democracy, in every attack on the revolution and socialism, the h a n d of A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m has a l w a y s been present. T h i s i s t h e i m p e r i a l i s m w h i c h h a s m a d e its i n t e r f e r e n c e i n the i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f other c o u n tries, its d e s p o t i s m a n d dictate, a n o r m a l p r a c t i c e i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l l i f e , a n d w h i c h has t r a n s f o r m e d a g g r e s s i o n a n d t h e t h r e a t of a g g r e s s i o n i n t o its basic p o l i c y a n d a p e r m a n e n t f o r m o f its a c t i v i t y . A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l i s t h e greatest a n d m o s t i n s a t i a b l e p l u n d e r e r o f t h e assets a n d t o i l o f t h e peoples t h a t h i s t o r y has e v e r k n o w n . T h e A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l i s t c o m p a n i e s , w h i c h h a v e e x t e n d e d t h e i r tentacles a l l o v e r t h e globe, v i o l a t e the sovereignty of the nations in the most barbarous w a y and m a k e the l a w in m a n y countries. Together w i t h the e x p o r t o f c a p i t a l , A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m has also e x p o r t e d its w a y o f life, c o r r u p t i o n a n d d e g e n e r a t i o n , t h e s p i r i t o f d e c adent c o s m o p o l i t a n i s m a n d s e r v i l e s u b m i s s i o n t o f o r e i g n e r s .
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A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m has c o v e r e d t h e globe w i t h m i l i t a r y bases, w h i c h a r e t h e m a i n outposts f o r its w a r a n d aggression. I t p u r s u e s t h e p o l i c y o f s t r e n g t h e n i n g the e x i s t i n g blocs a n d s e t t i n g u p n e w m i l i t a r y blocs, b y m e a n s o f w h i c h i t e n s u r e s its o w n d o m i n a t i o n o v e r its p a r t n e r s , t h r e a t e n s t o p u t d o w n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e people's s t r u g g l e s w i t h f i r e a n d steel, a n d defends the s y s t e m o f c a p i t a l i s t o p p r e s s i o n a n d v i o l e n c e b y force. A t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m has b e g u n to a p p l y a harsher, more aggressive a n d more adventurous line in foreign policy. It is relying more and more on m i l i t a r y force. Reagan's n e w policy is clear evidence of this. N o w A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m is demanding that the whole o f w o r l d r e a c t i o n a n d c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces u n i t e i n a s i n g l e c r u s a d e u n d e r t h e A m e r i c a n aegis against t h e revolution, socialism, the freedom, independence, sove r e i g n t y o f t h e peoples a n d against the d e m o c r a t i c h u m a n r i g h t s . C o n s i d e r i n g n e a r l y a l l t h e zones f r o m w h i c h o i l a n d a l l the m a i n r a w m a t e r i a l s a r e e x t r a c t e d , a l l t h e sea routes a n d a l l t h e s t r a t e g i c p o i n t s o f t h e globe a s zones o f A m e r i c a n interests, a n d b y o f f i c i a l l y d e c l a r i n g t h a t i t w i l l i n t e r v e n e w i t h a r m s t o d e f e n d these interests, A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m has c o m e out o p e n l y w i t h a concrete p r o g r a m f o r t h e e x t e n s i o n o f its p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y p o w e r all o v e r t h e w o r l d . T h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e r a p i d d e p l o y m e n t force, t h a t great a g g r e s s i v e a r m y r e a d y t o i n t e r v e n e a n y w h e r e t h a t P e n t a g o n sends i t t o e s t a b l i s h t h e d o m i n a t i o n o f the U n i t e d States w i t h f i r e a n d steel, i s a n i n c o n t e s t a b l e proof of t h i s course. T h i s l i n e i s also e x p r e s s e d i n t h e n e w d o c t r i n e o f Washington, begun by Carter and further developed by Reagan, t h a t a l l e g e d l y peace i n t h e w o r l d a n d t h e s e c u r i t y of peoples c a n be a c h i e v e d by m e a n s of t h e increase of the A m e r i c a n p o w e r a n d s u p e r i o r i t y . I n r e a l i t y , t h i s doctrine i n c i t e s g e n e r a l i m p e r i a l i s t w a r a n d b r i n g s i t closer.
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The unprecedented build-up of various weapons, f r o m the conventional weapons to atomic bombs equivalent to h u n d r e d s o f megatons, t h e i n c i t e m e n t o f t h e m i l i t a r i s t s p i r i t a n d the total mobilization to achieve m i l i t a r y superiority o v e r t h e S o v i e t r i v a l a t a n y cost, a r e c r e a t i n g t h e concept in A m e r i c a n leading circles that w a r is not only inevitable, b u t also a n i m p e r a t i v e necessity. A l l these t h i n g s s h o w t h a t t h e w o r l d w i l l b e f a c e d w i t h a n i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f the a g g r e s s i v e p o l i c y o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , a n increase i n its i n t e r f e r e n c e i n i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f other c o u n t r i e s a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e u s e o f its m i l i t a r y force. I n these c o n d i t i o n s a n y concession o r g i v i n g w a y t o A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , a n y i l l u s i o n t h a t its p o l i c y m i g h t c h a n g e f o r the better, c a r r i e s great d a n g e r s f o r t h e f r e e d o m , i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d s o v e r e i g n t y o f t h e peoples. Today the hegemonic and expansionist policy for the establishment of world domination, the adventurous course for the preparation and incitement of war also characterize Soviet social-imperialism, the global strategy of which and especially the ways in which it is applied have likewise become more aggressive. Beginning w i t h the occupation of Czechoslovakia, the p o l i c y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n has g r a d u a l l y a s s u m e d a p r o n o u n c e d m i l i t a r i s t c h a r a c t e r w h i c h i s e x p r e s s e d i n the use o f m i l i t a r y f o r c e t o r e a l i z e its e x p a n s i o n i s t a i m s . Its m i l i t a r y i n t e r v e n t i o n s f o l l o w e d one a n o t h e r . A f t e r C z e c h o s l o v a k i a came A n g o l a , Y e m e n , Ethiopia, Eritrea, into w h i c h the Soviets intervened by t h i r d parties. F i n a l l y came A f g h a n i s t a n . A f g h a n i s t a n m a r k e d t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t o f t h e great m a r c h of Soviet social-imperialism towards the South, w h e r e the w o r l d ' s greatest resources o f e n e r g y a r e f o u n d , together w i t h t h e most i m p o r t a n t s t r a t e g i c j u n c t i o n s a n d the f i e l d s w h e r e t h e most acute i m p e r i a l i s t r i v a l r i e s c o l l i d e w i t h one a n o t h e r .
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T h e p o l i c y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n has a s s u m e d the s a m e aggressive, e x p a n s i o n i s t , w a r - m o n g e r i n g f e a t u r e s a s those o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a . T h i s i s c l e a r l y a p p a r e n t f r o m t h e s a m e o b j e c t i v e s w h i c h t h e y h a v e chosen a n d t h e p a r a l l e l courses o n w h i c h t h e y a r e p r o c e e d i n g . T h e S o v i e t U n i o n i s s e e k i n g m i l i t a r y bases i n f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s a n d c r e a t i n g p o l i t i c a l - m i l i t a r y a l l i a n c e s w i t h other c o u n t r i e s t o h a v e t h e m a s outposts f o r t h e e x t e n s i o n o f its d o m i n a t i o n o v e r t h e peoples a n d i n its contest w i t h A m e r i c a n i m p e r ialism. L i k e w i s e , it is not lagging b e h i n d in the armaments race. T h e S o v i e t s h a v e n o w a h u g e m i l i t a r y a r s e n a l w h i c h they are continuously b u i l d i n g up and perfecting in the preparations w h i c h they are m a k i n g for the outbreak of the w a r . T h e m i l i t a r i z e d S o v i e t e c o n o m y has b e e n p l a c e d in the service of realizing the plans of this n e w imperialist s u p e r p o w e r f o r conquests. A s a r e s u l t o f a l l these t h i n g s , t h e S o v i e t U n i o n h a s been u n m a s k e d b e f o r e t h e peoples as a f e r o c i o u s i m p e r i a l i s t power w h i c h is openly threatening and endangering their freedom and independence. N e v e r t h e l e s s , a m o n g c e r t a i n people a n d p o l i t i c a l forces in various countries, illusions about the Soviet U n i o n still exist a n d t h e r e i s a m i s t a k e n concept a b o u t t h e o r d e r w h i c h exists t h e r e a n d a n a i v e t r u s t i n its p o l i c y . T h i s comes about n o t o n l y f r o m the fact t h a t t h e S o v i e t U n i o n g a m b l e s h e a v i l y o n its socialist past a n d t h a t i t p e d d l e s its p o l i c y o f r i v a l r y w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a s a n a n t i - i m p e r ialist p o l i c y , b u t also f o r m a n y o t h e r reasons. T h e m a i n one a m o n g t h e m i s t h a t t h e S o v i e t e x p a n s i o n i s g e n e r a l l y carried out t h r o u g h its p e n e t r a t i o n i n t o t h e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t , l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t s , t r a n s f o r m i n g t h e m i n t o its i n s t r u ments a n d e x p l o i t i n g t h e m t o its o w n a d v a n t a g e . T h e facts have s h o w n t h a t n o t o n l y those w h o h a v e t r u s t e d t h e internationalist a i d o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , but also those w h o h a v e b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e y c a n r e l y o n S o v i e t aid a n d
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a l l i a n c e w i t h i t i n o r d e r t o oppose o r g a i n l i b e r a t i o n f r o m A m e r i c a n imperialism and other imperialisms, have become v i c t i m s o f its e x p a n s i o n . It is particularly important to u n m a s k the pacifist dem a g o g y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e slogans o f p e a c e f u l coexistence a n d t h e m i s l e a d i n g r e v i s i o n i s t p r o p a g a n d a w h i c h t r i e s t o c o n v i n c e t h e peoples t h a t a v e r t i n g w a r a n d e n s u r i n g peace, i n d e e d e v e n n a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d social t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s , d e p e n d o n t h e s o - c a l l e d dtente b e t w e e n t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s . T h e peoples d o n o t w a n t m o u n t i n g t e n s i o n , the d e v e l o p m e n t o f acute conflicts, o r t h e use of force in t h e s e t t l e m e n t of i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o b l e m s . B u t t h e so-called dtente, w h i c h t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s advocate, has n o t h i n g a t a l l t o d o w i t h g u a r a n t e e i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace a n d s e c u r i t y w h i c h are t h r e a t e n e d p r e c i s e l y by the t w o imperialist superpowers. T h e dtente t r u m p e t e d b y t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e others i s n o t h i n g b u t t h e o l d i m p e r i a l i s t t h e o r y o f balance and h a r m o n y a m o n g the great powers. T h e theories of dtente, balance, or b i p o l a r i s m , w h i c h , despite some n u a n c e i n f o r m , are i d e n t i c a l i n content, are i n t e n d e d t o g u a r a n t e e t h e m u t u a l spheres o f i n f l u e n c e , t o r a i s e t h e dictate o f s u p e r p o w e r s i n w o r l d a f f a i r s , t h e c o m p l e t e a n d unconditional submission of other countries to the t w o supergreat and abandonment of their n a t i o n a l interests a n d sovereignty, to international law. The imperialist-revisionist policy of war, oppression and exploitation has run into the great resistance of the proletariat and the peoples of the world. T h e peoples u n d e r s t a n d the i n t r i g u e s , m a n o e u v r e s , s t r a t e g y a n d t a c t i c s o f t h e savage s u p e r p o w e r s the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t S o v i e t U n i o n , a n d are n o t s i t t i n g i d l e . T h e w o r l d t o d a y i s w i t n e s s t o t h e fact t h a t t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e peoples, o p p r e s s e d a n d e x p l o i t e d b y w o r l d c a p i t a l a n d i m p e r i a l i s m , has a s s u m e d
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w i d e p r o p o r t i o n s a n d a v a r i e t y o f f o r m s n e v e r seen b e f o r e . T h e w o r k i n g class a n d a l l t h e e x p l o i t e d , i n one w a y o r a n o t h e r , w i t h g r e a t e r o r lesser i n t e n s i t y , a r e f i g h t i n g a g a i n s t a l l the c a p i t a l i s t r u l i n g forces, w h e t h e r l o c a l o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l , w h i c h e x p l o i t t h e m , i m p o v e r i s h t h e m a n d oppress t h e m economically and morally. I n a l l the c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , t h e r e s i s t a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g class t o t h e a t t a c k s o f the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d its s t r u g gle t o d e f e n d its s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g a n d d e m o c r a t i c r i g h t s have extended. Not only have the strikes, demonstrations a n d manifestations become more frequent, but the p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f w o r k e r s i n t h e m has also r e a c h e d u n p r e c e dented figures. M i l l i o n s of w o r k e r s are on strike in the U S A , i n B r i t a i n , i n the F R G , i n I t a l y , i n F r a n c e , S p a i n a n d elsewhere. These strikes and demonstrations are assuming a more and more militant character. Proof of this is the fact t h a t i n m a n y c o u n t r i e s o f E u r o p e a n d A m e r i c a t h e a p p a r a t u s e s o f b o u r g e o i s v i o l e n c e h a v e b e e n o b l i g e d t o use their weapons and fight the workers, as w e l l as to take o t h e r r e s t r i c t i v e a n d r e p r e s s i v e measures. Cases i n w h i c h t h e w o r k e r s d o n o t obey t o b o u r g e o i s t r a d e - u n i o n s a n d c o m e o u t i n t h e streets against t h e desire a n d o r d e r s o f t h e t r a d e - u n i o n bosses h a v e i n c r e a s e d . I n t h e p r e s e n t p e r i o d t h e w o r k e r s ' s t r u g g l e has been d i r e c t e d e s p e c i a l l y against t h e consequences o f t h e e c o n o m i c crisis, t h e b u r d e n o f w h i c h t h e b o u r g e o i s i e w a n t s t o t h r o w o n t o t h e w o r k i n g class. T h e w o r k i n g masses h a v e r i s e n a g a i n s t t h i s n e w i n j u s t i c e a n d r o b b e r y a n d are d e m a n d i n g that this b u r d e n should not f a l l on them, but on t h e i r employers. T h e y are f i g h t i n g to retain their jobs a n d real wage levels, f i g h t i n g against i n f l a t i o n a n d the increasing cost o f l i v i n g , f i g h t i n g f o r i n c r e a s e d f u n d s f o r h e a l t h , e d u c a t i o n , s o c i a l assistance, etc. The social and political demagogy of capitalism a n d the o p p o r t u n i s m a n d sabotage a c t i v i t y o f s o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y ,
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revisionism and the trade-unions under their control are also b e i n g e x p o s e d a n d u n m a s k e d i n t h i s d a i l y c o n f r o n t a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the bourgeoisie. T h i s a n g e r and revolt, w h i c h is hitting the capitalist and revisionist bourgeoisie i n d i f f e r e n t f o r m s a n d w i t h d i f f e r e n t i n t e n s i t i e s , i s also a d i r e c t a n d p o w e r f u l b l o w a g a i n s t t h e s i n i s t e r forces of w a r w h i c h want the destruction of m a n k i n d . In the capitalist and revisionist countries today, the w o r k i n g class i s b o u n d b y m a n y c h a i n s w i t h w h i c h t h e b o u r g e o i s state a n d the v a r i o u s p a r t i e s h a v e s h a c k l e d it. B u t t h i s state o f a f f a i r s w i l l n o t last f o r ever. T h e i n c r e a s i n g l y acute c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e t w e e n l a b o u r a n d c a p i t a l and the capitalist and imperialist oppression in general are a c c e l e r a t i n g t h e r i s e i n t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d class consciousness o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d m a k i n g i t conscious t h a t i t c a n escape o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n o n l y t h r o u g h class s t r u g gle, o n l y t h r o u g h r e v o l u t i o n . Besides the upsurge a n d extension of the struggle of t h e w o r k i n g class, a g e n e r a l a w a k e n i n g of t h e o p p r e s s e d peoples, a s t r e n g t h e n i n g of n a t i o n a l feelings, a n d a g r e a t e r d e s i r e t o b e free, i n d e p e n d e n t a n d s o v e r e i g n c a n b e seen t o d a y . T h e peoples' l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t s h a v e g r o w n i n extent and enhanced their quality, their anti-imperialist, a n t i - s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t a n d a n t i - n e o - c o l o n i a l i s t c h a r a c t e r has been strengthened. T h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e I r a n i a n people, w h o rose i n r e v o l u tion and swept a w a y the S h a h and his mediaeval regime a n d t h r e w out h i s A m e r i c a n p a t r o n s , w a s a h e a v y b l o w t o i m p e r i a l i s m . I n I r a n , t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a s u f f e r e d a m a j o r p o l i t i c a l defeat w h i c h i t i s u n a b l e t o r e v e r s e t h r o u g h diplomatic methods and economic b l a c k m a i l , or even through military intervention, as it attempted and failed t o d o a t T a b a z . I n I r a n , A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m lost one o f its m o s t i m p o r t a n t sources o f o i l , lost colossal p r o f i t s a n d lost its c r e d i b i l i t y a s a n i n v i n c i b l e p r o t e c t o r o f its A r a b
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allies o f t h e P e r s i a n G u l f . T h e E g y p t i a n - I s r a e l i c o m promise at C a m p D a v i d was shaken, a n d open and s u r r e p t i t i o u s d i s a g r e e m e n t s w i t h its N A T O p a r t n e r s e m erged. T h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e A r a b peoples against t h e I s r a e l i occupiers a n d t h e i r A m e r i c a n p a t r o n s has a s s u m e d g r e a t e r proportions and intensity. In the centre of this struggle s t a n d t h e h e r o i c P a l e s t i n i a n people w h o , i n e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y difficult conditions, have been w a g i n g a titanic battle for tens o f y e a r s t o r e g a i n t h e h o m e l a n d d e n i e d t h e m , t o secure their rights and live free and independent on their mother soil. The people of A f g h a n i s t a n are f i g h t i n g v a l i a n t l y and b o l d l y against t h e S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d the l o c a l lackeys to regain their national independence. T h e peoples o f L a t i n A m e r i c a a r e s h e d d i n g t h e i r b l o o d i n t h e f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e fascist d i c t a t o r s h i p s , w h i c h a r e kept i n p o w e r w i t h , t h e d i r e c t a i d o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m . The liberation and revolutionary movement there is g r o w i n g and d e e p e n i n g a n d i n m a n y cases has succeeded i n c o n q u e r i n g t h e e n e m i e s a n d e m e r g i n g t r i u m p h a n t . T h e most recent e v i d e n c e o f t h i s i s t h e t r i u m p h o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n i n N i c a r a g u a , w h i c h o v e r t h r e w one o f t h e m o s t r e a c t i o n a r y regimes t h a t of S o m o s a , t h e o u t b r e a k of t h e r e v o l u t i o n i n S a l v a d o r , etc. I n t h e b a c k y a r d o f t h e U n i t e d States great t e m p e s t s are b l o w i n g u p , t e m p e s t s w h i c h c a n n o t b e stopped, e i t h e r w i t h w e a p o n s o r w i t h d o l l a r s . T h e A f r i c a n c o n t i n e n t i s not passive, e i t h e r . T h a n k s to a l o n g a n d p e r s i s t e n t s t r u g g l e , t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f the A f r i c a n c o u n t r i e s w o n t h e i r state i n d e p e n d e n c e one after the other. T h r o u g h a r m e d s t r u g g l e the b l a c k p o p u l a t i o n o f Z i m b a b w e s u c c e e d e d i n w i n n i n g its r i g h t s , w h i c h a r e a c t i o n a r y m i n o r i t y o f o l d c o l o n i a l i s t s d e n i e d it. H o w e v e r , Namibia and the people of S o u t h A f r i c a , w h o continue to live i n s e g r e g a t i o n a n d w i t h o u t a n y r i g h t s , are n o t y e t liberated. T h e peoples o f A f r i c a h a v e n o t r e c o n c i l e d a n d
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c a n n o t r e c o n c i l e t h e m s e l v e s t o r a c i s m . Its e x i s t e n c e i n s u l t s a n d angers a l l t h e A f r i c a n peoples. T h e peoples' n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n w a r s , t h e b l o o d s h e d b y t h e peoples w h o are f i g h t i n g f o r f r e e d o m a n d i n d e pendence, r e f l e c t t h e h a t r e d f o r a n d a n g e r a g a i n s t c a p i t a l i s t exploitation and the imperialist yoke. T h e y c o n f i r m L e n i n ' s theses a b o u t i m p e r i a l i s m a s c a p i t a l i s m i n decay, a s t h e eve o f p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n s . T h e y c o n f i r m t h a t i m p e r i a l i s m i s h e a d i n g f o r t h e abyss, t h a t i t i s n o l o n g e r c a p a b l e o f s t o p p i n g t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y d r i v e o f t h e peoples w h o d a r e t o r i s e against i t a n d are n o t i n t i m i d a t e d b y t h e i m p e r i a l i s t pressures, t h r e a t s a n d e v e n a r m e d i n t e r v e n t i o n s . The international situation and the danger of war are becoming even more acute because of the grave economic, political and ideological crisis which has swept the capitalist and revisionist world today. T h e p r e s e n t e c o n o m i c c r i s i s i s the clearest a n d t h e m o s t c o n c r e t e e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e d e e p e n i n g o f the g e n e r a l c r i s i s o f c a p i t a l i s m . U n l i k e t h e c r i sis o f t h e 30's, w h i c h i n c l u d e d t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d the b i g d e v e l o p e d c o u n t r i e s e s p e c i a l l y , t h e p r e s e n t c r i s i s has e n g u l f e d a l l t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , d e v e l o p e d o r u n developed, without exception. T h i s greater extent a n d depth of the crisis results f r o m certain n e w factors in the development of the capitalist system after the Second W o r l d W a r , s u c h a s t h e f u r t h e r increase i n t h e c o n c e n t r a tion and internationalization of capital, the establishment of the almost complete domination of the dollar in the w o r l d financial system, the extension of the activity of multi-national companies and their ever increasing weight in w o r l d production and the g r o w t h beyond all bounds of non-productive expenditure, especially on armaments. T h e class a n d l i b e r a t i o n struggles, t h e g e n e r a l w e a k e n i n g o f the p o s i t i o n s o f i m p e r i a l i s m , w h i c h c a m e a b o u t a s a r e s u l t of t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e c o l o n i a l s y s t e m a n d t h e emergence of scores of n e w states, w h i c h , to t h i s or t h a t
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extent, are fighting to achieve complete political and economic independence, have exerted an influence, indeed a great a n d d e c i s i v e i n f l u e n c e , o n t h e b i r t h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e p r e s e n t crisis. L i k e a l l t h e o t h e r crises, the p r e s e n t c r i s i s i s one o f overproduction. It is the offspring and an inevitable pheno m e n o n o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m . U n l i k e t h e others, t h i s crisis is continuing for a long time a n d there is no sign of e m e r g i n g f r o m it. T h e c a p i t a l i s t e c o n o m y r e m a i n s i n s t a g n a t i o n . I n some countries production is declining further or showing only some u n i m p o r t a n t increase. B e c a u s e o f t h e r e s t r i c t i o n o f m a r k e t s , e x p o r t s a r e d e c l i n i n g o n a w o r l d scale. T h e p r o d u c t i v e capacities o f t h e b i g i n d u s t r i a l i z e d c o u n t r i e s a r e b e i n g u t i l i z e d less a n d less. U n e m p l o y m e n t i n those c o u n tries h a s r e a c h e d 2 5 m i l l i o n people. I n f l a t i o n i s r i s i n g c o n tinuously. L i k e a n y o t h e r crisis, b u t m o r e s o i n t h i s case, the present c r i s i s has p r o v e d that, i r r e s p e c t i v e o f t h e e x t e r n a l f o r m s i t m a y a s s u m e d u r i n g its d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e b o u r g e o i s system c a n n o t e n s u r e a h a r m o n i o u s g r o w t h of t h e e c o n o m y , cannot e n s u r e w o r k a n d f o o d f o r a l l t h e w o r k i n g people, cannot a v o i d e c o n o m i c c a t a s t r o p h e s , a n d t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f p r o d u c t i v e forces a n d t h e n a t i o n a l w e a l t h c r e a t e d w i t h the s w e a t a n d b l o o d o f t h e w o r k i n g people. T h e p r e s e n t c r i s i s i s t h e c r i s i s a n d f a i l u r e o f state m o n o p o l y c a p i t a l i s m . T h e m e c h a n i s m o f t h e state m o n o p o l y r e g u l a t i o n o f t h e e c o n o m y has n o t o n l y p r o v e d t o b e powerless against t h e crises, b u t has b e e n t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o another f a c t o r i n c r e a s i n g t h e e c o n o m i c d i f f i c u l t i e s . T h u s , i t has b e e n p r o v e d t h a t t h e i n t e r v e n t i o n o f t h e m o n o p o l y state, t h e c a p i t a l i s t p r o g r a m m i n g , are u n a b l e t o e l i m i n a t e competition, t o e n s u r e f u l l e m p l o y m e n t o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n and t o e l i m i n a t e t h e obstacles t o e x t e n d e d s o c i a l r e p r o d u c tion.
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W i t h t h e p r e s e n t crisis, t h e m o d e l o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o n s u m e r society h a s r e c e i v e d a c r u s h i n g b l o w . T h e e c o n o m i c theories o f p r e s e n t - d a y c a p i t a l i s m , s p r e a d a n d a p p l i e d in a l l the big capitalist countries, a n d w h i c h inspired a number of revisionist countries in their economic reforms, h a v e gone b a n k r u p t a l o n g w i t h it. M o r e o v e r , t h e present c r i s i s has c l e a r l y s h o w n t h e d e c a y o f t h e c a p i a l i s t s y s t e m , n o t o n l y i n its c l a s s i c a l f o r m , b u t also i n t h e f o r m o f c a p i t a l i s m w h i c h p r e v a i l s i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n state m o n o p o l y c a p i t a l i s m , a n d its s u p e r s t r u c t u r e s . This capitalist f o r m of the domination and exploitation of the w o r k i n g people c o u l d n o t a v o i d t h e d i s t u r b a n c e s i n t h e economy, t h e d i s o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e p r o d u c t i v e forces, t h e d e c l i n e i n p r o d u c t i o n , the f a l l i n t h e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g o f t h e w o r k i n g masses, a n d t h e s p r e a d o f t h e i l l s w h i c h b o u r geois society creates. If we w e r e to m a k e a general characterization of present-day capitalist and revisionist w o r l d economy we w o u l d s a y t h a t i t i s i n a state o f s t a g n a t i o n , w h i c h i s more and more degrading the internal social relations a n d t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n states. W h a t s t a n d s out m o s t o b v i o u s l y is t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of a g e n e r a l a t t a c k on t h e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g a n d the r i g h t s o f t h e w o r k i n g people. I n a l m o s t a l l countries, expenditure on health, education, a i d for c h i l d r e n , pensions, etc., is b e i n g cut d r a s t i c a l l y . A l o n g w i t h the worsening economic situation of the w o r k i n g people, i n m o s t o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s t h e r e are m o u n t i n g d e m a n d s f o r strong g o v e r n m e n t s , w i t h t h e purpose of imposing anti-worker measures on the population a n d k e e p i n g i n check t h e m o u n t i n g class s t r u g g l e . I n some c o u n t r i e s m i l i t a r y p u t s c h e s are c a r r i e d out, t h e r e i s t e r r o r i s m and anarchy, organized by the bourgeois capitalist governments in power, there is illegal t r a f f i c k i n g on a colossal scale, r o b b e r y o r g a n i z e d o n a n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l scale, a n d a hideous, u n l i m i t e d d e v e l o p m e n t of
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physical, moral and political corruption. Fascism is knocking a t t h e gates o f m a n y c o u n t r i e s . I n a l l d i r e c t i o n s a n d i n a l l aspects t h e p r e s e n t c r i s i s proves that M a r x ' s analysis of capital and Lenin's conclusions a b o u t i m p e r i a l i s m r e m a i n n o t o n l y correct b u t also t h e f u n d a m e n t a l s c i e n t i f i c basis f o r u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e p r e s e n t s o c i a l processes g o i n g o n i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d and the tendencies of their development. The economic crisis and the aggressive course of the superpowers have made all the contradictions between the imperialist powers more acute and struck heavy blows at their blocs and alliances. T h e e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y r e l a t i o n s w i t h i n the v a r i o u s i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i sionist g r o u p i n g s h a v e b e e n s h a k e n . T h e m e m b e r s o f W e s t e r n a n d E a s t e r n g r o u p i n g s are t r y i n g t o e x p l o i t v a r i o u s splits a n d t o f i n d excuses f o r n o t a b i d i n g b y t h e c o m m i t ments, t r e a t i e s a n d a g r e e m e n t s w h i c h e x i s t a m o n g t h e m . N e w c o n f l i c t s a n d r i v a l r i e s h a v e been a d d e d t o t h e o l d ones. T h i s i s m o r e o b v i o u s e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e W e s t e r n bloc. T h e A m e r i c a n p o l i c y o f t h e b i g s t i c k against t h e p e o p l e s is a c c o m p a n i e d w i t h a t i g h t e n i n g of t h e s c r e w s on i t s p a r t n e r s a n d clients. F r o m E u r o p e , J a p a n a n d C h i n a , A m e r ican i m p e r i a l i s m d e m a n d s n o t o n l y c o l l a b o r a t i o n i n a l l fields, b u t also c o m p l e t e s u b m i s s i o n . I t i s t r y i n g t o d i c t a t e t o its N A T O a l l i e s t h a t t h e y i n c r e a s e t h e i r m i l i t a r y b u d g e t s and accept t h e s t a t i o n i n g o f t h e n e w A m e r i c a n P e r s h i n g and C r u i s e m i s s i l e s o n t h e i r t e r r i t o r i e s , t h a t t h e y d o n o t emerge w i t h a p o l i c y o f t h e i r o w n a n d d o n o t f l i r t w i t h t h e Soviet U n i o n o r t h e A r a b s . H o w e v e r , t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e w o r l d t o d a y a n d t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a i t s e l f a r e n o l o n g e r w h a t t h e y w e r e i n the t i m e o f T r u m a n and the M a r s h a l l P l a n . Today, the political and economic power of the U n i t e d States i s d e c l i n i n g i n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h t h a t o f W e s t e r n Europe. T h e c o m p e t i t i o n f r o m t h e C o m m o n M a r k e t a n d
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J a p a n has become v e r y p o w e r f u l a n d t h r e a t e n i n g . W h e r e a s i n 1950 the i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d States o f America was two-thirds of world industrial production, t o d a y i t i s o n e - t h i r d o f it. W h e r e a s t h e U S A a t t h a t t i m e possessed 50 p e r cent of t h e w o r l d m o n e t a r y reserves, t o d a y i t has o n l y 7 p e r cent o f t h e m . T h e l e a d e r s h i p o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m has b e e n g r e a t l y w e a k e n e d a n d i s a c c e p t e d reluctantly. The European members of N A T O have now organized a n d strengthened their economic potential w i t h i n their countries and abroad, have strengthened their o w n m i l i t a r y arsenal, and have created their reactionary organism the E u r o p e a n C o m m o n M a r k e t . Its t e n d e n c y i s t o oppose t h e A m e r i c a n dictate a s m u c h a s i t can, t o r e s t r i c t t h e A m e r i c a n e x p a n s i o n i n t o t h e m a r k e t s o f its m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s , t o c o m p e t e o n t h e A m e r i c a n m a r k e t a n d t o e x t e n d its o w n m a r k e t s . E a c h o f t h e b i g states o f W e s t e r n E u r o p e has b e g u n t o r e - c r e a t e a n d s t r e n g t h e n its o w n spheres o f i n f l u e n c e o n a n e x t e n s i v e scale. T h e strategy of the E u r o p e a n monopolies is a i m e d at the transformation of Europe, first into an economic superpower, then into a political superpower, and later still into a m i l i t a r y s u p e r p o w e r . H o w e v e r , these a r e f i e l d s i n w h i c h i t w i l l come i n t o c o l l i s i o n w i t h t h e s u p e r p o w e r s a n d o t h e r imperialist powers. O n the c h e s s - b o a r d o f t h e p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n , a v e r y f a v o u r a b l e piece f o r t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a i s C h i n a , a n d J a p a n a l o n g w i t h it. T r u e , C h i n a i s a w e a k e r p a r t n e r t h a n U n i t e d E u r o p e , b u t i t has g r e a t e r n e e d for A m e r i c a and is very hostile to the Soviet U n i o n . F o r t h i s r e a s o n A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m has d e c i d e d t o provide C h i n a w i t h m a n y armaments, including offensive w e a p o n s . A t the s a m e t i m e , i t i s p u t t i n g p r e s s u r e o n J a p a n t o increase its m i l i t a r y budget, its a r m y a n d a r m a m e n t s . A l r e a d y a new imperialist alliance between the U n i t e d
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States, J a p a n a n d C h i n a has t a k e n f o r m i n t h e F a r East, a n d t h i s constitutes a n o t h e r d a n g e r t h a t l o c a l w a r s , o r a g e n e r a l w a r , w i l l b r e a k out. A p a r t f r o m A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , w h i c h has c o n s i d e r e d the vast expanses o f the P a c i f i c O c e a n a s its i n d i s p u t a b l e spheres o f i n f l u e n c e , n o w J a p a n , too, a n e c o n o m i c s u p e r p o w e r w i t h n e w i m p e r i a l a m b i t i o n s , has e m e r g e d w i t h h e g e m o n i c p r e t e n s i o n s . C h i n a , w h i c h d r e a m s o f b e c o m i n g t h e sole r u l e r o f A s i a a n d O c e a n i a , also, has s i m i l a r a m b i t i o n s i n t h i s zone. T h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , f o r its p a r t , i s t r y i n g t o d i r e c t the expansionist tendencies of C h i n a and J a p a n towards the Soviet Union. I n o r d e r t o cope w i t h a n d c o u n t e r t h e A m e r i c a n - S i n o J a p a n e s e f r o n t i n A s i a , t h e S o v i e t U n i o n i s t r y i n g t o get f o o t h o l d s i n A f r i c a , the M i d d l e East, P a k i s t a n , I n d o c h i n a , a n d i f possible, also i n I n d i a , w h i l e i n E u r o p e i t seeks t o m a i n t a i n a dtente w i t h t h e C o m m o n M a r k e t a n d p u r s u e s a p o l i c y to s p l i t t h e f r o n t s . In other w o r d s , it is m a k i n g e v e r y e f f o r t t o w e a k e n t h e e n c i r c l e m e n t a r o u n d it, t o s p l i t the m i l i t a r y bloc w h i c h is being prepared and developed o n its t w o f l a n k s i n E u r o p e a n d A s i a , a n d t o secure d o m i n a n t strategic p o s i t i o n s f o r a n e v e n t u a l w a r . H o w ever, E u r o p e , f o r w h i c h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n constitutes a great threat, does not w a n t to be e n d a n g e r e d , e i t h e r . It is r e a d y to set t h e others, e s p e c i a l l y t h e S i n o - J a p a n e s e front, fighting the Soviet U n i o n so that this front draws the c h e s t n u t s out of the f i r e f o r it. M o r e o v e r , i t also has its i n t e r n a l p r o b l e m s w h i c h f r e q u e n t l y b i n d i t h a n d a n d foot. U n i t e d E u r o p e i s not i n t e r n a l l y u n i t e d . T h e P a r l i a m e n t o f S t r a s s b u r g cannot settle its m a n y p r o b l e m s a n d t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w h i c h are e r o d i n g t h e C o m m o n M a r k e t . T h e feuds, r i v a l r i e s a n d o p p o s i n g interests of e a c h state a r e i n c r e a s i n g to s u c h an extent that they are p u t t i n g the v e r y existence of this Market in jeopardy.
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T h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d d i s a g r e e m e n t s h a v e become v e r y acute, also, w i t h i n the so-called socialist c o m m u n i t y . T h e S o v i e t U n i o n itself i s i n s u c h d i f f i c u l t i e s t h a t i t i s n o l o n g e r able to f u l f i l the d e m a n d s of t h e a l l i e d c o u n t r i e s f o r a n o r m a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e i r economies. H a v i n g l o n g ago t u r n e d into appendages o f the S o v i e t e c o n o m y , these c o u n tries are o b l i g e d t o s u b m i t t o its u p s a n d d o w n s a n d caprices. T h e r e are f r i c t i o n s a n d q u a r r e l s also because o f the t e n d e n c y of the satellite c o u n t r i e s to m o v e closer to a n d c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h the West. T h e S o v i e t U n i o n t r i e s t o h i n d e r this rapprochement and to keep the countries of Eastern Europe bound to it w i t h chains. To this end, it is t r y i n g in every w a y to strengthen the W a r s a w Treaty, Comecon and the other o r g a n i s m s o f e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l i n t e g r a t i o n , t o r e i n f o r c e its m i l i t a r y g a r r i s o n s i n these c o u n t r i e s , etc. W h e n this cannot b e a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h a g r e e m e n t , i t acts w i t h t a n k s , a s i t d i d i n C h e c h o s l o v a k i a i n 1968. T h e best e v i d e n c e o f the g r a v e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e socialist c o m m u n i t y a n d o f the deep c o n t r a d i c t i o n s e r o d i n g i t a r e the recent events i n P o l a n d , w h i c h h a v e l e d t h a t c o u n t r y t o the b r i n k o f e c o n o m i c c a t a s t r o p h e a n d t o m a j o r s o c i a l a n d p o l i t i c a l u p h e a v a l s . T h e s e are consequences o f t h e l i n e p u r s u e d b y the P o l i s h r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t y f o r the r e - e s t a b l i s h m e n t of c a p i t a l i s m , of the a l l - r o u n d s u b j u g a t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y t o the S o v i e t U n i o n , o f o p e n i n g t h e doors t o W e s t e r n c a p i t a l a n d the consequence o f t h e l a r g e debts o f P o l a n d , w h i c h a m o u n t t o the colossal s u m o f 2 7 b i l l i o n d o l lars. H e r e i n lies the source o f the r e v o l t s o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d w o r k i n g people o f P o l a n d . T h e r e v o l t o f the w o r k e r s o f P o l a n d has c o n f i r m e d two capital questions of principled importance. It has s h o w n t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class h a s t h e s t r e n g t h t o d e s t r o y a r e a c t i o n a r y state p o w e r , e i t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t or c a p i t a l i s t . O n t h e other h a n d , i t has d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e s u b j e c -
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tive factor, the p o l i t i c a l f o r c e w h i c h leads the w o r k i n g class, plays a d e c i s i v e r o l e . In the case of S o l i d a r i t y , the w o r k i n g class i s m a n i p u l a t e d a n d d i r e c t e d b y t h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h and P o l i s h a n d w o r l d r e a c t i o n , w h i c h are f i g h t i n g t o e s t a b l i s h another r e v i s i o n i s t - c a p i t a l i s t r e g i m e on a course f u l l of u n e x p e c t e d d a n g e r s a n d t r a g i c consequences. O t h e r w i s e , had a t r u l y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t p a r t y the s u b j e c tive factor, been i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p , t h e P o l i s h w o r k i n g class w o u l d h a v e c a r r i e d out t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n a n d established the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . T h e w a y f o r t h e w o r k i n g class a n d people o f P o l a n d and o f a l l the o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s t o escape c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n a n d f o r e i g n o p p r e s s i o n i s not t h r o u g h r e c o n cilation w i t h the revisionist regime in power a n d w i t h the S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s l a v e r y , o r t h r o u g h u n i t i n g with Western capital and reaction. The only w a y to ensure the d e v e l o p m e n t of the economy, the freedom and independence o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d t h e r e - e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f socialism is t h r o u g h the o p e n a n d r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e of the masses of t h e people u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p of the w o r k i n g class, w i t h a g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y at its h e a d . The sharpening of the contradictions among the imperialist powers, as w e l l as w i t h their partners w i t h i n their m i l i t a r y a n d e c o n o m i c blocs, i s i n c r e a s i n g l y l e a d i n g to n e w t e n s i o n s a n d c o n f l i c t s , to w a r s of a l o c a l a n d general c h a r a c t e r f o r t h e r e d i v i s i o n o f m a r k e t s , sources o f raw m a t e r i a l s a n d s p h e r e s of i n f l u e n c e . T h i s is a l a w of the d e v e l o p m e n t of c a p i t a l i s m . However, the inter-imperialist contradictions and conflicts also cause t h e w e a k e n i n g o f the i m p e r i a l i s t s y s t e m as a w h o l e a n d of its i n d i v i d u a l l i n k s . It is up to t h e conscious r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces t o k n o w h o w t o u t i l i z e t h e situations c r e a t e d b y these c o n t r a d i c t i o n s i n o r d e r t o m o b i l i z e t h e masses, t o m a k e t h e m conscious a n d engage them i n s t r u g g l e a n d r e v o l u t i o n .
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T h e n e o - c o l o n i a l i s t s y s t e m created b y i m p e r i a l i s m after the S e c o n d W o r l d W a r is also in a g r a v e c r i s i s at present. I n o r d e r t o r e t a i n t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c d o m i n a t i o n , t o e n s u r e the m a x i m u m e x p l o i t a t i o n o f the w e a l t h o f f o r m e r c o l o n i a l c o u n t r i e s , t o r e s t r a i n the g r o w t h o f the l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t s o f t h e f r e e d o m l o v i n g peoples, the i m p e r i a l i s t s h a v e t r i e d t o f i n d a n d employ n e w ever more deceptive and sophisticated forms of o p p r e s s i o n a n d e n s l a v e m e n t . B y m e a n s o f t h e s y s t e m o f credits, loans, a i d , a n d v a r i o u s f u n d s , t h e y h a v e t u r n e d these c o u n t r i e s i n t o permanent debtors at the mercy of creditors who, in r e t u r n f o r the m o n e y p r o v i d e d , d e m a n d n o t o n l y t h e i r title-deeds, b u t also t h e i r souls. A c c o m p a n y i n g the credits a n d a i d . the m u l t i - n a t i o n a l c o m p a n i e s h a v e established themselves, b e c o m i n g not o n l y m o n o p o l y h o l d e r s o f concessions f o r t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e mines, o i l , e l e c t r i c p o w e r , w h o l e s a l e trade, c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , etc., b u t also p o l i t i c a l centres w i t h w h i c h t h e d i f f e r e n t g r o u p s i n p o w e r i n each c o u n t r y are l i n k e d . T h e b i g b a n k s w i t h a l l u r i n g names l i k e the W o r l d B a n k , t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l M o n e t a r y F u n d , the E u r o p e a n D e v e l o p m e n t F u n d , etc., h a v e been t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o the h e a d q u a r t e r s o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l n e o - c o l o n i a l i s m f o r the d o m i n a t i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e n e w c o u n t r i e s . T h e y are the f i n a n c i a l a n d p o l i t i c a l centres w h i c h , together w i t h t h e m u l t i - n a t i o n a l s , o r g a n i z e and i n s p i r e coups d'tat, t o p p l e g o v e r n m e n t s a n d establish others, a n d e v e n cause l o c a l w a r s w h e n t h e interests o f big c a p i t a l r e q u i r e this. T h e s e c o n f l i c t s h a v e b e e n t u r n e d into b i g business f o r t h e sale o f a r m s a n d h a v e b e e n used f o r c o n d u c t i n g tests o n l i v e t e s t i n g g r o u n d s . B u t besides t h i s s a v a g e a n d a l l - r o u n d e x p l o i t a t i o n , c e r t a i n changes o f t h e e c o n o m i c a n d social structures have occurred in the f o r m e r colonial countries, which are t h e r e s u l t of i n v e s t m e n t s , t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of new
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technique and technology, the e x t e n s i o n of c o m m u nications, etc., w h i c h t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s h a v e been o b l i g e d to c a r r y out so as to a c h i e v e g r e a t e r a n d m o r e r a p i d plunder of the w e a l t h above and below the ground. This has also b r o u g h t a b o u t t h e c r e a t i o n of n e w l o c a l social strata s u c h a s t h e n a t i o n a l b o u r g e o i s i e , w o r k e r s o f v a r i o u s categories, a n d a n e w i n t e l l i g e n t s i a necessary to w o r k i n the e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e sectors. T h i s d e v e l o p m e n t has o p e n e d the eyes of m a n y people of these s t r a t a , e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g t h e n e w i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , who n o l o n g e r r e c o n c i l e t h e m s e l v e s t o t h e f o r m s a n d methods w h i c h are used f o r the o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a tion of t h e i r peoples. N a t i o n a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y consciousness i s m o u n t i n g e v e r y where. T h i s i s c l e a r l y a p p a r e n t i n t h e e x t e n s i o n o f the m o v e m e n t o f v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s a n d forces w h i c h are struggling for the establishment of national sovereignty over t h e i r o w n n a t i o n a l assets, r e - e v a l u a t i o n o f r a w materials a n d sources of energy, f o r e q u a l e x c h a n g e s with m u t u a l benefit in international trade, for alteration o f the i n t e r n a t i o n a l m o n e t a r y s y s t e m e s t a b l i s h e d b y i m perialism, for the restriction and elimination of the m o n opoly e c o n o m i c p o w e r o f t h e m u l t i - n a t i o n a l c o m p a n i e s , etc. T h i s m o v e m e n t has d e e p e n e d the e x i s t i n g e c o n o m i c crisis, a n d e s p e c i a l l y the e n e r g y a n d r a w m a t e r i a l s crisis w h i c h has g r i p p e d the c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t w o r l d . The big capitalist powers have built their industrial empires w i t h t h e oil t h e y h a v e r o b b e d f r o m other peoples and t h e r a w m a t e r i a l s t h e y h a v e b o u g h t c h e a p l y . T h e parasitic a n d u n c o n t r o l l e d c o n s u m p t i o n o f w o r l d resources of e n e r g y a n d r a w m a t e r i a l s has c r e a t e d t h e present c r i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n i n t h i s b a s i c sector o f the d e v e l o p ment of the e c o n o m y of e v e r y c o u n t r y . E n e r g y a n d r a w m a t e r i a l s exist, b u t t h e y are n o longer f o u n d a t c h e a p prices. T h e b i g i m p e r i a l i s t a n d
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capitalist powers are now unable to completely dominate t h e sources o f r a w m a t e r i a l s a n d d i c t a t e t h e i r p r i c e s . The producing countries, w h i c h have w o k e n up and are d e f e n d i n g t h e i r interests, w h i c h are s e e k i n g d e v e l o p m e n t , want to make investments in industry, agriculture and o t h e r sectors o f t h e i r n a t i o n a l e c o n o m y , are r e s i s t i n g the pressure for l o w prices for oil and r a w materials. T h e r e s i s t a n c e a n d s t r u g g l e o f peoples d o m i n a t e d b y n e o - c o l o n i a l i s m i n defence o f t h e i r r i g h t s , assets a n d n a t i o n a l s o v e r e i g n t y i s a n i r r e s i s t i b l e process w h i c h w i l l increase a n d d e v e l o p f u r t h e r i n t h e f u t u r e . I m p e r i a l i s m a n d its s y s t e m o f n e o - c o l o n i a l i s t o p p r e s sion and exploitation is p r o f o u n d l y a w a r e of this threat. Therefore, it is m a k i n g every effort, using demagogy a n d d e c e p t i o n h e r e a n d f o r c e there, t o s u p p r e s s t h i s m o v e m e n t , t o c o n f u s e its r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d p r o g r e s s i v e vanguard, to m a k e it deviate and lead it into a b l i n d a l l e y . O n the o t h e r h a n d , i n o r d e r t o deceive t h e peoples o f the oppressed a n d d e p e n d e n t c o u n t r i e s , a n d t o k e e p t h e r o t t e n n e o - c o l o n i a l i s t s y s t e m i n e x i s t e n c e a t a l l costs, its d e f e n d e r s t r y t o create t h e i m p r e s s i o n a m o n g w o r l d o p i n i o n g e n e r a l l y t h a t these c o u n t r i e s a r e c o m p l e t e l y free and sovereign, that they have the right to their i n d e p e n d e n t say i n t h e v a r i o u s i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a tions a n d e v e n t o disagree w i t h a n d oppose t h e s u p e r powers. Imperialism stimulated and encouraged the emergence of various movements and theories w h i c h created this impression. One of t h e m is the non-aligned movement. T h e basis o f i t w a s a d v o c a c y o f n o n - p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y blocs a n d defence o f t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e e c o n o m i c a l l y u n d e v e l o p e d c o u n t r i e s against t h e superpower policy. N o w , however, w h e n the r i v a l r y bet w e e n t h e s u p e r p o w e r s has i n c r e a s e d , w h e n t h e c r i s i s has n a r r o w e d t h e f i e l d s f o r m a n o e u v r e , i t it. q u i t e a p p a r e n t
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t h a t a l a r g e n u m b e r of non-aligned c o u n t r i e s are u n i t i n g w i t h one o r the o t h e r s u p e r p o w e r . A l o n g w i t h the s p l i t t i n g o f t h e m o v e m e n t a n d the m a n y c o n f l i c t s b e t w e e n d i f f e r e n t so-called n o n - a l i g n e d c o u n t r i e s , t h e d e m a g o g i c theories s o p a i n s t a k i n g l y concocted b y the d i f f e r e n t leaders, e s p e c i a l l y the Y u g o s l a v s , w h o h a v e w a n t e d t o b e c o m e the l e a d e r s a n d ideologists of t h i s g r o u p , collapsed, too. N o w i t has e n d e d u p a s a n i l l - d e f i n e d , f l u i d a n d f i c k l e m o v e m e n t w h i c h f l a r e s u p a n d dies d o w n a c c o r d i n g t o the s i t u a t i o n s w h i c h are c r e a t e d a n d t h e interests o f the superpowers. A t one t i m e , the C h i n e s e t h e o r y o f three w o r l d s also e m e r g e d as a t h e o r y in defence of n e o - c o l o n i a l i s m a n d e s p e c i a l l y o f the A m e r i c a n d o m i n a t i o n o f the w o r l d . B u t i t m e l t e d a w a y l i k e salt c r y s t a l s i n w a t e r . I t w a s played as a t r u m p card, but was v e r y q u i c k l y overt r u m p e d . O u r P a r t y e x p o s e d a n d a t t a c k e d this r e a c t i o n a r y , counter-revolutionary theory. In recent y e a r s t h e r e has b e e n a great d e a l of p r o p a g a n d a a b o u t w h a t i s c a l l e d t h e n e w i n t e r n a t i o n a l econ o m i c o r d e r w h i c h i s s u p p o s e d t o s o l v e t h e great t a n g l e o f p r o b l e m s t h a t are w o r r y i n g the e c o n o m i c a l l y u n d e v e l o p e d c o u n t r i e s t o d a y , s u c h as those of i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n , food, the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of t h e s t r u c t u r e s of p r o d u c t i o n , etc. A r o u n d t h i s n e w o r d e r v a r i o u s t h e o r i e s h a v e been created, c o m p l e t e schemes a n d p r o j e c t s h a v e been presented a n d concrete actions h a v e been u n d e r t a k e n , such a s t h e so-called N o r t h - S o u t h dialogue, t h e C o n f e r ence of the 77, t h e s p e c i a l m e e t i n g s of the G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s , etc. H o w e v e r , y e a r s h a v e gone b y a n d n o t h i n g has been a c h i e v e d , because the i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d the n e o - c o l o n i a l i s t s d o not r e n o u n c e t h e i r p r i v i l e g e s a n d d o m i n a n t positions. T h e f r u i t l e s s r e s o l u t i o n s o f v a r i o u s i n t e r n a t i o n a l meetings
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a n d t h e decisions t o h o l d n e w m e e t i n g s are a l l t h a t remains from them. O f course, i t i s essential t h a t the i n t e r n a t i o n a l e c o n o m i c r e l a t i o n s are c h a n g e d . T h i s i s the d e s i r e a n d d e m a n d o f t h e peoples w h o are f i g h t i n g t o b r e a k f r e e f r o m the c h a i n s o f n e o - c o l o n i a l i s m . B u t i n w h a t w a y c a n these be achieved? T h e revisionists and other opportunists pretend that this can be achieved by means of propaganda, by means of the education of capitalists, and by means of t a l k s . T h e o p i n i o n t h a t a n e w i n t e r n a t i o n a l e c o n o m i c order can be achieved through m o r a l i z i n g sermons is not o n l y b e y o n d a n y b o u n d s o f r e a l i t y a n d p o s s i b i l i t y , b u t also a n i l l - i n t e n t i o n e d f r a u d . T h e correct course i s the s t r u g g l e o f the peoples t o d e f e n d t h e i r r i g h t s t o the end, resolute o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e n e o - c o l o n i a l i s t p l u n d e r , the t a k i n g o v e r a n d t h e s o v e r e i g n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e n a t i o n a l assets. O n l y t h u s c a n the u n d e v e l o p e d c o u n t r i e s i m p o s e t h e i r j u s t demands for equal exchanges in the economic field, c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h m u t u a l b e n e f i t , etc., o n the b i g i m p e r i a l ist a n d c a p i t a l i s t p o w e r s . T h e b i g i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s , t o g e t h e r w i t h those n o t quite so big, think and theorize that it is they w h o have t h e f a t e o f n a t i o n s a n d m a n k i n d i n t h e i r h a n d s a n d act a c c o r d i n g l y , a n d o n this basis t h e y seek t o s u b j u g a t e t h e peoples. These aggressive powers underestimate the s t r e n g t h o f the peoples. T h e i r v i s i o n i s o b s c u r e d a n d t h e y do n o t w a n t to see t h a t e v e r y a d v a n c e of t h e peoples towards opposing the t w o f o l d oppression and enslavement, external and internal, makes a breach w h i c h w i l l be widened in the w a l l of the capitalist and imperialist prison. A m e r i c a n imperialism and Soviet social-imperialism m a k e great e f f o r t s t o a p p e a r a s t w o i n v i n c i b l e s u p e r p o w e r s . T r u e , t h e y h a v e great m i l i t a r y a n d e c o n o m i c p o t e n t i a l , influence and interfere in the internal affairs of other peoples a n d states, b u t t o h a v e w e a p o n s , t o h a v e d o l l a r s
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o r r u b l e s does n o t m e a n t h a t y o u h a v e i n v i n c i b l e p o w e r . The imperialist superpowers must be appraised as they r e a l l y are, n e i t h e r u n d e r e s t i m a t i n g n o r o v e r e s t i m a t i n g t h e m . T h e y are p o w e r f u l a n d ferocious, but t h e y are also i n decay, t h e y a r e w o r m - e a t e n a n d degenerate, a n d t h e i r f o u n d a t i o n s are s h a k y . W o r l d c a p i t a l i s m a k i n g great e f f o r t s t o escape the crisis, t o protect itself f r o m t h e peoples' l i b e r a t i o n struggles and f r o m t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t h i s t e r r i b l e i r o n g r i p w h i c h has i t b y the t h r o a t a n d i s s t r a n g l i n g it. B u t escape i s i m p o s sible, because it is t h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m itself w h i c h creates p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d i d e o l o g i c a l crises a n d w h i c h fuels t h e m a n d i n t e n s i f i e s t h e m t o the highest degree. I n o r d e r t o e m e r g e f r o m t h e chaos w h i c h c a p i t a l i s m creates, t o escape once a n d f o r a l l c a p i t a l i s t o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t ation, the n e o - c o l o n i a l i s t y o k e o f f o r e i g n e r s a n d t h e d o m i n a t i o n o f r e a c t i o n , t h e r e i s n o o t h e r course a p a r t f r o m t h e r e v o l u t i o n , the o v e r t h r o w o f i m p e r i a l i s m a n d capitalism. T h e s t r u g g l e of t h e peoples, t h e s t r u g g l e of t h e p r o l e t ariat a g a i n s t t h e i r e n e m i e s w i l l s u r g e a h e a d . I t i s a n objective h i s t o r i c a l process w h i c h n o f o r c e c a n stop. The complex and difficult situations which have been and are being created in the world face our Party and our socialist state with the duty of maintaining the revolutionary vigilance always at a high level, and taking measures for the all-round strengthening of the economy and defence, and the unity and political consciousness of the people. These situations, likewise, demand that our foreign policy should be active, should ever better serve the defence of the interests of the Homeland and the victories of socialism, the advance of the cause of the revolution, the liberation of the peoples and peace in the world, and the support of all those processes which assist
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the emancipation and progress of present-day human society. O u r f o r e i g n p o l i c y , as t h e p o l i c y of a socialist state, of a t r u l y f r e e society w i t h o u t e x p l o i t i n g classes, is a revolutionary and internationalist policy. It is free f r o m the slightest s i g n o f n a r r o w b o u r g e o i s n a t i o n a l i s m , c h a u v inism, national exclusiveness, or of u n d e r r a t i o n of other peoples. T h e A l b a n i a n people h a v e respect f o r e v e r y people a n d w i s h a l l peoples w e l l . T h e People's Socialist R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a f i r m l y u p h o l d s the p r i n c i p l e t h a t each p e o p l e has t h e r i g h t to choose its o w n course of d e v e l o p m e n t a n d d e c i d e its o w n fate in a sovereign way. A s a c o m p l e t e l y f r e e c o u n t r y , socialist A l b a n i a says w h a t it thinks openly, w i t h o u t any hesitation and w i t h c o m p l e t e s i n c e r i t y . It a p p l i e s a s o v e r e i g n f o r e i g n p o l i c y w h i c h i s not r e s t r i c t e d b y p o l i t i c a l pacts, m i l i t a r y t r e a t i e s o r closed e c o n o m i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s . It does n o t base its e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t , its d e f e n c e a n d its f u t u r e o n the credits, l o a n s o r a i d f r o m o t h e r states, b u t o n its o w n forces. As a r e s u l t of this, t h e v o i c e of A l b a n i a has a l w a y s been a free, r e a l i s t i c a n d o b j e c t i v e v o i c e in a w o r l d w h e r e t h e d e p e n d e n c e o n a n d s u b j u g a t i o n o f m a n y states to big imperialist powers restrict and distort any independent t h o u g h t o r a c t i o n . D u r i n g the p e r i o d since t h e 7 t h C o n g r e s s o f the P a r t y , o u r state, b a s i n g itself o n t h e w e l l - k n o w n p r i n c i p l e s o f e q u a l i t y , respect f o r s o v e r e i g n t y , n o n - i n t e r f e r e n c e i n i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s a n d r e c i p r o c a l b e n e f i t , has e x t e n d e d its d i p l o matic, commercial and cultural relations w i t h an ever g r e a t e r n u m b e r of states a n d has s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s e d its e x c h a n g e s w i t h t h e m i n v a r i o u s fields. T o d a y t h e P e o p l e ' s Socialist Republic of A l b a n i a maintains diplomatic relations w i t h 95 stales, as against 74 states w i t h w h i c h it
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m a i n t a i n e d r e l a t i o n s at the t i m e of the 7 t h C o n g r e s s of the Party. T h e p o l i c y o f o u r P a r t y a n d o u r socialist state has been a n d a l w a y s w i l l b e f o r t h e c o n t i n u o u s s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f sincere r e l a t i o n s o f f r i e n d s h i p a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h a l l the f r e e d o m - l o v i n g a n d p e a c e - l o v i n g peoples, w i t h a l l those w h o f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e aggressive a n d h e g e m o n i c p o l i c y of i m p e r i a l i s t s . It is f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of s i n c e r e c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h a l l those c o u n t r i e s w h i c h w i s h i t w e l l a n d m a i n t a i n a correct a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s it. O u r P a r t y a n d c o u n t r y a r e opposed t o a l l those i m p e rialist and neo-colonialist practices of inequality, discrimination and great-state dictate in international relations. W e b e l i e v e t h a t the r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n states, w h e t h e r b i g o r s m a l l , s h o u l d b e f r e e f r o m a n y k i n d o f economic, p o l i t i c a l o r m i l i t a r y p r e s s u r e a n d dictate, a n d s h o u l d serve t h e i r e c o n o m i c , c u l t u r a l a n d social development, the s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f f r i e n d s h i p b e t w e e n s o v e r e i g n peoples a n d states, a n d t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e m a i n t e n a n c e a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f peace i n t h e w o r l d . O u r socialist state has been a n d i s f o r the n o r m a l a n d f r e e d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e o n the basis of equality and reciprocal benefit. O u r country is for b a l a n c e d t r a d e e x c h a n g e s w i t h o u t d i s c r i m i n a t i o n o r rest r i c t i v e measures, t h e r e f o r e it has e x p r e s s e d its o p p o s i t i o n t o u n e q u a l r e l a t i o n s i n t r a d e exchanges, t o the m a n i p u l a t i o n o f prices a n d i n g e n e r a l , t o m a c h i n a t i o n s a n d a t t e m p t s b y a n y state a t a l l , w h i c h a i m s t o e x p l o i t t r a d e r e l a t i o n s as a m e a n s of p r e s s u r e in o r d e r to d i c t a t e its o w n p o l i t i c a l w i l l a n d v i e w s t o the other state. We do not confuse trade exchanges w i t h receiving of a i d a n d credits. T h e s e are t w o separate, u n c o n n e c t e d things. T h e w a y w e u n d e r s t a n d a n d c a r r y o n f o r e i g n trade, leaves the A l b a n i a n state a free h a n d to act a n d decide
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f o r itself, to h a v e its say j u s t as it t h i n k s a n d to b u i l d t h e c o u n t r y w i t h its o w n forces a s i t desires. O u r c o u n t r y has c o n c l u d e d a series of c u l t u r a l agreements w i t h m a n y c o u n t r i e s a n d c a r r i e s o n r e g u l a r e x c h a n g e s in the f i e l d s of art, c u l t u r e , science, sports, etc. T h e s e exchanges h a v e s e r v e d t o a c q u a i n t o u r peoples r e c i p r o c a l l y w i t h one a n o t h e r ' s a c h i e v e m e n t s a n d progress. O u r people v a l u e a n d u t i l i z e e v e r y t h i n g good a n d p r o g r e s s i v e w h i c h other peoples h a v e . P r o g r e s s i v e e x p e r i e n c e a n d c u l t u r e are the t r e a s u r e o f a l l m a n k i n d . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , w e m a k e e f f o r t s t o a c q u a i n t t h e o t h e r peoples w i t h the v a l u e s of o u r c u l t u r e , too, w h i c h is as a n c i e n t as it is p r o g r e s s i v e . It is the principled and independent internal and f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f o u r P a r t y a n d socialist state, t h e i r just stands o n i n t e r n a t i o n a l issues, t h e i r s t r u g g l e o n the side o f t h e peoples a n d against i m p e r i a l i s m , w h i c h have strengthened the international position of A l b a n i a and r a i s e d its prestige. T h e w o r d a n d deed o f A l b a n i a a r e l i s t e n e d t o a n d w e l c o m e d w i t h respect b y t h e peoples a n d w o r k e r s o f d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s , because t h e y are i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e i r o w n interests a n d a s p i r a t i o n s . T h a t i s w h y the peoples and progressive opinion throughout the w o r l d prize and a p p r o v e this p o l i c y , w h y the c o u n t r i e s a n d states w i t h d i f f e r e n t social s y s t e m s f o l l o w i t w i t h i n t e r e s t a n d a d m i r e it, w h i l e r e a c t i o n a n d the S o v i e t , Y u g o s l a v a n d other m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s a t t a c k it. As is natural and understandable, our P a r t y and G o v e r n m e n t h a v e d e v o t e d s p e c i a l care t o r e l a t i o n s w i t h neighbouring countries and, in a w i d e r framework, w i t h the E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s . O u r stands t o w a r d s t h e m are k n o w n a n d t h e y d o not alter. A t a l l t i m e s a n d i n e v e r y s i t u a t i o n , the a i m o f t h e f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f A l b a n i a has been to c o n t r i b u t e as m u c h as possible to t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f peace a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y o n o u r c o n t i n e n t
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a n d to the s t r e n g t h e n i n g of c o l l a b o r a t i o n a m o n g s t its peoples. W e h a v e s a i d a n d s t i l l say t h a t t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f the m a j o r i t y o f t h e c o u n t r i e s o f E u r o p e i n t h e m i l i t a r y a n d t h e p o l i t i c a l blocs of t h e s u p e r p o w e r s is the cause o f its m i s f o r t u n e . T h i s i s w h e r e the d i v i s i o n s a n d splits i n Europe, the frequent tensions and confrontations between d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s o f t h i s c o n t i n e n t , h a v e t h e i r source. T h a t p o l i c y w h i c h seeks t o p e r s u a d e the E u r o p e a n peoples t h a t b y s h e l t e r i n g u n d e r t h e a t o m i c u m b r e l l a s o f the s u p e r p o w e r s , t h e i r f r e e d o m , n a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d t h e g e n e r a l peace are a l l e g e d l y g u a r a n t e e d , i s a n e x t r e m e l y d a n g e r o u s p o l i c y a n d a f r a u d . T h i s p o l i c y does not ensure these things, b u t s a c r i f i c e s t h e m . T h e fact is that in the name of future security, present-day security has b e e n s a c r i f i c e d , s o v e r e i g n t y has b e e n c r i p p l e d a n d the f r e e d o m o f a c t i o n a n d i n d e p e n d e n t s t a n d s o f m a n y E a s t e r n a n d W e s t e r n states i n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a h a v e been r e s t r i c t e d . T h e H e l s i n k i D e c l a r a t i o n has b e e n p r e s e n t e d t o t h e E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s as a g u a r a n t e e of t h e i r i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d s o v e r e i g n t y a n d a m e a n s to e n s u r e peace. We h a v e clearly expressed our attitude towards the H e l s i n k i Conference a n d the s o - c a l l e d E u r o p e a n s e c u r i t y . S o c i a l i s t A l b a n i a d i d not take part in it and denounced it as a farce h a t c h e d u p b y t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s w i t h the o b j e c t i v e o f g u a r a n t e e i n g a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e spheres of influence in Europe, of legalizing and perpetuating t h e i r d o m i n a t i o n o n t h i s c o n t i n e n t . T h e events t h a t h a v e o c c u r r e d i n E u r o p e a n d a r o u n d i t since t h e H e l s i n k i C o n f e rence h a v e c o m p l e t e l y c o r r o b o r a t e d a n d j u s t i f i e d the s t a n d o f A l b a n i a . T i m e has s h o w n t h a t the so-called H e l s i n k i spirit, p e a c e f u l c o l l a b o r a t i o n , the f r e e c i r c u l a t i o n of people a n d ideas, etc., w e r e n o t h i n g b u t h o l l o w - s o u n d i n g slogans to d e c e i v e t h e E u r o p e a n peoples, to arouse the illusion in them that the danger of w a r is allegedly
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b e i n g r e m o v e d a n d t h a t the m a i n t e n a n c e o f the i m p e r i a l ist status quo i n E u r o p e i s t h e i r s a l v a t i o n . O u r v i e w i s t h a t o n l y resolute o p p o s i t i o n t o A m e r i c a n imperialism and Soviet social-imperialism, the liquidation o f m i l i t a r y blocs a n d t h e r e m o v a l o f a t o m i c w e a p o n s a n d f o r e i g n troops can e n s u r e t h e peace i n E u r o p e . T h e p r o b l e m s of t h e B a l k a n s are t h e s a m e as those w h i c h are w o r r y i n g E u r o p e as a w h o l e , b u t here, because o f the strategic p o s i t i o n w h i c h this p e n i n s u l a occupies a n d the o l d feuds, the c o n f l i c t s are m o r e acute a n d t h e d a n g e r s greater. The situation is made even more complicated by the fact t h a t t h e s u p e r p o w e r s , p r o c e e d i n g f r o m t h e i r h e g e m o n i c interests a n d t h e i r desire t o t r a n s f o r m t h e B a l k a n s p e r m a m e n t l y i n t o a p o w d e r keg, are t r y i n g t o a r o u s e c h a u v i n its passions a n d s e n t i m e n t s , t o p i t the B a l k a n peoples a n d c o u n t r i e s against one another, t o p r e v e n t t h e r e l a t i o n s between them f r o m developing normally and in a positive direction, and to undermine the strengthening of friendship b e t w e e n n e i g h b o u r i n g peoples. The dangers in the B a l k a n s are increased especially d u e t o the p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f some c o u n t r i e s o f t h i s r e g i o n i n the m i l i t a r y a n d e c o n o m i c blocs o f t h e s u p e r p o w e r s , the existence o f f o r e i g n m i l i t a r y bases, a n d p e r m i t t i n g t h e A m e r i c a n a n d S o v i e t fleets t o e n t e r t h e i r t e r r i t o r i a l w a t e r s a n d stay i n t h e i r ports, etc. S u c h d e v e l o p m e n t s create t e n s i o n s a n d are f r a u g h t w i t h d a n g e r s f o r t h e B a l k a n peoples. I n e v e r y d i r e c t i o n a n d aspect t h e y are i n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e sincere e f f o r t s a n d desires of the peoples of the B a l k a n s f o r the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f trust, u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d g e n u i n e c o l l a b o r a t i o n between the countries of our peninsula. The People's Socialist R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a upholds t h e v i e w t h a t a t present the g e n u i n e a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e peoples o f t h e B a l k a n s , peace a n d s t a b i l i t y i n t h i s zone,
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can be s e r v e d best by n o t a l l o w i n g the i m p e r i a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r s t o i n t e r f e r e i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f the c o u n t r i e s o f o u r r e g i o n a n d b y t a k i n g concrete a n d c o n s t r u c t i v e steps f o r the p o s i t i v e d e v e l o p m e n t of r e l a t i o n s on the basis of the g o o d n e i g h b o u r p o l i c y . T h e s i t u a t i o n i n the B a l k a n s w o u l d be greatly i m p r o v e d if the B a l k a n countries undert a k e o f f i c i a l l y not t o a l l o w t h e s u p e r p o w e r s t o t h r e a t e n or endanger other neighbouring countries f r o m their t e r r i t o r i e s . I n the f u t u r e , j u s t a s i n t h e past, socialist A l bania w i l l consistently adhere to this policy and w i l l make e v e r y e f f o r t t o e n s u r e t h a t m u t u a l respect a n d g e n u i n e u n d e r s t a n d i n g p r e v a i l i n its r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g states. A l b a n i a has been g u i d e d b y these p r i n c i p l e s a n d these a i m s i n its r e l a t i o n s w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a , too. I t has been p r e d i s p o s e d t o a n d has m a d e a l l e f f o r t s f o r t h e n o r m a l a n d c o r r e c t d e v e l o p m e n t o f good n e i g h b o u r l y r e l a t i o n s , s u c h a s those i n t h e f i e l d o f t r a d e , t r a n s p o r t , c u l t u r a l e x c h a n g e s a n d i n o t h e r f i e l d s o f m u t u a l interest. In our relations w i t h Yugoslavia we have always proceeded f r o m t h e f a c t t h a t o u r peoples h a v e b e e n l i v i n g beside one a n o t h e r f o r c e n t u r i e s , t h a t f r e q u e n t l y i n h i s t o r y they h a v e h a d a c o m m o n fate, t h a t w h e n f o r e i g n i n v a d e r s h a v e a t t a c k e d one t h e y h a v e not s p a r e d the other. A s a result of these t h i n g s , i r r e s p e c t i v e of the i d e o l o g i c a l a n d political contradictions w h i c h have existed and still exist b e t w e e n o u r t w o c o u n t r i e s a n d w h i c h are a l r e a d y k n o w n w o r l d wide, irrespective of the ideological polemic w h i c h has been a n d i s b e i n g d e v e l o p e d b y t h e t w o sides, w e a l w a y s seek t o l i v e i n peace w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a , a s g o o d n e i g h b o u r s , w i t h o u t i n t e r f e r e n c e i n each other's i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s a n d r e s p e c t i n g the r i g h t s o f each. T h e p o l i c y o f socialist A l b a n i a t o w a r d s Y u g o s l a v i a has a l w a y s b e e n constant, u n a l t e r e d i n its f o u n d a t i o n s a n d principles. If there have been ups and downs, i m p r o v e -
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ments and deteriorations in A l b a n i a n - Y u g o s l a v relations, t h i s has come a b o u t not t h r o u g h a n y f a u l t o f ours, b u t t h r o u g h t h e f a u l t o f the Y u g o s l a v l e a d i n g circles. T h e present d e t e r i o r a t i o n i n the r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n the P S R o f A l b a n i a a n d S F R of Y u g o s l a v i a also is a consequence of c h a u v i n i s t actions o f t h e B e l g r a d e a u t h o r i t i e s t o w a r d s t h e p o p u l a t i o n of K o s o v a a n d t h e i r i n c i t e m e n t of a n e w c a m p a i g n o f h o s t i l i t y against o u r c o u n t r y . A s f a r a s the People's S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a is concerned, the attitudes and b e h a v i o u r of Yugoslavs t o w a r d s i t w i l l not m a k e i t w a v e r f r o m its p r i n c i p l e s o r m a k e it change course. Its desire is t h a t t h e state r e l a t i o n s in different fields between the t w o countries should develop n o r m a l l y . H o w e v e r , t h i s w i l l d e p e n d o n the s t a n d o f Y u g o s l a v i a t o w a r d s socialist A l b a n i a a n d o n its t r e a t m e n t o f t h e A l b a n i a n s of K o s o v a and other parts of Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e p r o b l e m o f the A l b a n i a n s w h o l i v e o n t h e i r o w n t e r r i t o r i e s in Y u g o s l a v i a is n o t a p r o b l e m of a m i n o r i t y w h i c h has i m m i g r a t e d t o o r settled s o m e w h e r e i n a n e m p t y zone as an e c o n o m i c i m m i g r a t i o n , is not a r e s u l t of t h e onslaught of the O t t o m a n E m p i r e , nor of the n a t u r a l d e m o g r a p h i c increase o f A l b a n i a n s , w h i c h i s w o r r y i n g t h e Great-Serb neo-Malthusians. The Albanians in Yugoslavia c o n s t i t u t e an ethnos, a people f o r m e d c e n t u r i e s ago, w h o have their o w n history, language and culture, an autocht h o n o u s people w h o , a s i s k n o w n , w e r e cut u p a n d w e r e s e p a r a t e d f r o m t h e i r M o t h e r l a n d b y the i m p e r i a l i s t great powers and annexed to Yugoslavia. This nobody can conceal. A n y other i n t e r p r e t a t i o n i s a r b i t r a r y , a f l a g r a n t and h a r m f u l falsification of history. T h e A l b a n i a n people d i d not a l l o w t h e fasicst o c c u p i e r s o r a n y o n e else t o d e t e r m i n e t h e M o t h e r l a n d o f t h e A l b a n i a n ethnos. T h e A l b a n i a n s h a v e f o u g h t u n c e a s i n g l y f o r c e n t u r i e s against m a n y savage enemies, m u c h g r e a t e r i n numbers, in order to defend their national identity and
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t h e i r v e r y existence. I n a l l these w a r s , b o t h i n defeat a n d in victory, in the long years of enslavement, throughout t h e i r h i s t o r y , t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e h a v e n e v e r lost t h e i r n a t i o n a l i d e n t i t y a n d n a t i o n a l consciousness, t h e i r c o m pactness a n d u n i t y . I n a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h e y h a v e m a n i fested these t h i n g s w i t h a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y a n d e x e m p l a r y vitality. T h e empires a n d the great powers were quite unable t o w i p e out t h e c o m p a c t ethnos o f A l b a n i a n s , n o r w e r e they able to assimilate t h e m or to alter their culture, l a n g u a g e , h a b i t s a n d customs. T h e v e r y e x i s t e n c e o f the A l b a n i a n people p r o v e s this. H i s t o r y s h o w s t h a t w i t h o u t a n y s u p p o r t f r o m f o r e i g n p o w e r s , w h i c h h a v e a l w a y s been opposed t o t h e m , the A l b a n i a n people h a v e f o u g h t successf u l l y for the freedom a n d compactness of their nation, to d e f e n d t h e i r i n d e p e n d e n c e as a s o v e r e i g n state, t h e i r culture and their o w n n a t u r a l and legitimate rights. At a l l t i m e s t h e y h a v e a c h i e v e d v i c t o r y o n l y b y f i g h t i n g and s h e d d i n g t h e i r b l o o d f o r it. D u r i n g the S e c o n d W o r l d W a r , t h e A l b a n i a n people a n d t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a f o u g h t together a n d a s close c o m r a d e s - i n - a r m s against the I t a l i a n a n d t h e G e r m a n fascist i n v a d e r s . T h e A l b a n i a n s w h o l i v e i n Y u g o s l a v i a also f o u g h t h e r o i c a l l y t o g e t h e r w i t h u s a n d a l l the peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a against t h e s a m e enemies. N o t o n l y d i d t h e y f i g h t together, b u t o u r N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n A r m y w e n t t o t h e a i d o f the Y u g o s l a v p a r t i s a n s a n d the K o s o v a b r o t h e r s , a n d t h e b l o o d o f t h e sons a n d d a u g h t e r s o f the A l b a n i a n people w a s s h e d o n t h e i r l a n d . W e acted a s the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a t a u g h t us, w i t h a h i g h l e v e l o f consciousness a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t s p i r i t . W e t h o u g h t t h a t t h e peoples o f o u r t w o c o u n t r i e s w o u l d w i n f r e e d o m in this way, that enslavement w o u l d be eliminated and the t r a g i c m i s t a k e s o f past h i s t o r y w o u l d b e c o r r e c t e d . W e believed that after the victory e v e r y t h i n g w o u l d be
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settled i n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y . O u r c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s , w h i c h led the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r in the two countries, w e r e a guarantee for this. H o w e v e r , our belief i n the c o m m u n i s m a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m o f t h e Y u g o s l a v leaders, o u r t r u s t i n t h e i r w o r d s , p r o v e d t o b e u n j u s t i f i e d . I n fact, the l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o slavia never took a proper M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t v i e w of the q u e s t i o n o f the f u t u r e o f t h e A l b a n i a n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a , t h e r e f o r e t h i s q u e s t i o n w a s b o u n d t o b e settled, a s i t w a s settled, i n a w r o n g a n d d i s t o r t e d f a s h i o n , i n a n u t t e r l y a n t i Marxist, nationalist and chauvinist way. T h e w r o n g s o l u t i o n o f t h i s g r e a t issue o f p r i n c i p l e began a t t h e 2 n d M e e t i n g o f t h e A n t i - f a s c i s t N a t i o n a l Liberation Council of Yugoslavia, held at Jajce, in N o v e m b e r 1943, w h e r e t h e A l b a n i a n r e g i o n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a w e r e u s e d as a m e a n s to adjust t h e p r o p o r t i o n s of t h e t e r r i t o r i e s a n d populations of the republics of the Federation, and more precisely of Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro. T h e future of the A l b a n i a n s in Y u g o s l a v i a was decided apriori f r o m above, w i t h o u t t h e a p p r o v a l a n d s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n people o f K o s o v a a n d t h e o t h e r A l b a n i a n r e g i o n s o f Y u g o s l a v i a , a n d w i t h o u t t h e slightest c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e a l l y o f t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a d i r e c t l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h i s q u e s t i o n people's A l b a n i a . C o n t r a r y t o t h e p o l i c y of n a t i o n a l e q u a l i t y p r o c l a i m e d at t h e 2nd M e e t i n g of t h e A V N O J , the leadership of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of Y u g o slavia unjustly violated the w i l l of the A l b a n i a n s in Y u g o s l a v i a , e x p r e s s e d at t h e m e e t i n g of t h e 1st F o u n d i n g C o n f e r e n c e o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n C o u n c i l f o r K o s o v a a n d M e t o h i a , h e l d a t B u j a n f r o m D e c e m b e r 31, 1943 t o J a n u a r y 2 , 1944, w h i c h w a s c o m p l e t e l y i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the r i g h t o f s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n u p t o secession o f t h e peoples w h o c o n s t i t u t e d Y u g o s l a v i a , a n d w h i c h h a d been d e f i n e d i n the f u n d a m e n t a l d o c u m e n t s o f t h e C o m -
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munist P a r t y and the National Liberation Movement of Yugoslavia. I n r e g a r d t o c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h people's A l b a n i a o n the s e t t l e m e n t o f t h i s h i s t o r i c a l p r o b l e m , the Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p a p r i o r i c o n s i d e r e d i t u n n e c e s s a r y . I t w a s against s u c h c o n s u l t a t i o n , because it k n e w t h a t a p r i n c i p l e d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t f r i e n d l y d i s c u s s i o n b e t w e e n the l e a d e r s h i p s o f o u r t w o c o u n t r i e s , t a k i n g also i n t o a c c o u n t the f r e e w i l l o f the A l b a n i a n s l i v i n g o n t h e i r o w n l a n d i n Y u g o s l a v i a , w o u l d l e a d t o a j u s t s o l u t i o n a n d not t o a n a r b i t r a r y c h a u v i n i s t a n d n a t i o n a l i s t s o l u t i o n , s u c h a s t h a t w h i c h the Yugoslav leadership adopted. A f t e r t h e w a r , i n 1946, a d e l e g a t i o n f r o m o u r c o u n t r y , w h i c h I h e a d e d , p a i d the f i r s t o f f i c i a l v i s i t t o Y u g o s l a v i a . I n the t a l k s w h i c h w e r e h e l d w i t h T i t o o n t h i s occasion, he wanted to k n o w w h a t I thought about the solution o f the q u e s t i o n o f K o s o v a a n d t h e other A l b a n i a n regions in Y u g o s l a v i a . I e x p r e s s e d t h e o p i n i o n of the A l b a n i a n side that K o s o v a a n d t h e o t h e r r e g i o n s i n h a b i t e d b y t h e A l banians b e l o n g e d t o A l b a n i a a n d s h o u l d b e r e t u r n e d t o it. The A l b a n i a n s fought to have a free and sovereign A l bania, w i t h w h i c h the A l b a n i a n r e g i o n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a should n o w b e u n i t e d . P r e s i d e n t T i t o r e p l i e d : I agree w i t h your v i e w , b u t w e c a n n o t d o t h i s f o r the t i m e b e i n g , because the S e r b s w o u l d not u n d e r s t a n d us. T h i s o f f i c i a l promise of T i t o ' s on t h i s great issue of p r i n c i p l e w a s not a c c o m p a n i e d w i t h a n y f u r t h e r a c t i o n o n the p a r t o f the Yugoslavs. T h e w h o l e t h i n g was a f r a u d on their part. The f u n d a m e n t a l error of a nationalist and chauvinist character o f t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p , w h i c h w a s f o l l o w e d b y other e q u a l l y g r a v e e r r o r s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e legitimate and n a t u r a l rights of A l b a n i a n s w h o are n o w accused by the G r e a t - S e r b s of b e i n g c h a u v i n i s t , nationalist a n d i r r e d e n t i s t , lies i n the w r o n g s o l u t i o n a t J a j c e , i n the d i v i d i n g u p o f A l b a n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s a n d i n t h e
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d e n i a l o f the e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e f r e e w i l l o f t h e A l b a n i a n s . T h e recent events i n K o s o v a a n d the o t h e r A l b a n i a n regions i n Y u g o s l a v i a h a v e t h e i r s o u r c e i n t h i s v e r y w r o n g a n d a n t i - L e n i n i s t s o l u t i o n o f the n a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n i n Yugoslavia, and especially in regard to the A l b a n i a n entity of about 2 m i l l i o n i n h a b i t a n t s , n e a r l y as m a n y as t h e t o t a l population of the People's Socialist R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a . R i g h t f r o m t h e start, S e r b i a n , M o n t e n e g r i n e a n d M a c e d o n i a n c h a u v i n i s m f o l l o w e d a savage n a t i o n a l i s t p o l i c y o f o p p r e s s i o n a n d d i s c r i m i n a t i o n against A l b a n i a n s i n a l l directions, i n e d u c a t i o n , c u l t u r e , t h e e c o n o m y , etc. E v e n in the period w h e n there were good relations between our country and Yugoslavia and between the t w o parties, the p r o b l e m o f t h e A l b a n i a n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a w a s a b a l l a n d c h a i n o n t h e legs o f the Y u g o s l a v s . T h e y d i d n o t e x a m i n e the A l b a n i a n s ' d e m a n d s a n d causes o f c o m p l a i n t , d i d not settle t h e m p o l i t i c a l l y t h r o u g h u n d e r s t a n d i n g , b u t settled t h e m w i t h v i o l e n c e , w i t h s a v a g e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e measures. T h e A l b a n i a n s w e r e accused o f n a t i o n a l i s m a n d t h i s w a s done t o c o v e r u p the S e r b i a n c h a u v i n i s m a n d n a t i o n a l i s m . N o t h i n g c a n c o v e r u p o r j u s t i f y the b l o o d y r e p r i s a l s against t h e A l b a n i a n s of Y u g o s l a v i a in 1945, 1968 a n d a g a i n i n 1981, the d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i m p o s e d u p o n t h e m , leaving them in poverty, the national oppression, the denial o f t h e i r r i g h t s a n d great d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i n t h e f i e l d o f e d u c a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e . T h e f a l l i n g i n t o d i s g r a c e o f the G r e a t - S e r b g r o u p o f R a n k o v i i n 1966, a n d l a t e r t h a t o f the other G r e a t - S e r b g r o u p o f N i k e z i m a r k s t h e p e r i o d o f t h e T i t o i t e s ' p o l i t i c a l d e m a g o g y t o w a r d s K o s o v a a n d the K o s o v a r s . T h e need t o b a l a n c e t h e v a r i o u s forces w i t h i n the F e d e r a t i o n l e d to a c e r t a i n f o r m a l r e v i s i o n of t h e status o f K o s o v a w h i c h , f r o m a s i m p l e r e g i o n o f S e r b i a , was called an autonomous region of Serbia. W h e t h e r t h e S e r b s l i k e d i t o r not, t h i s n e w s i t u a t i o n g a v e t h e A l b a n i a n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a , a n d e s p e c i a l l y the
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K o s o v a r s , p o s s i b i l i t i e s to e x t e n d t h e i r s c h o o l i n g , to set op the U n i v e r s i t y o f P r i s h t i n a , t o d e v e l o p t h e i r c u l t u r e , t o l e a r n the h i s t o r y o f t h e i r people, t o e s t a b l i s h contacts a n d educational-cultural and economic relations w i t h A l b a n i a , o n the basis o f the l a w s o f the F e d e r a t i o n a n d o f f i c i a l agreements b e t w e e n t h e P S R A a n d t h e S F R Y . H o w e v e r , the e c o n o m i c base of t h e A u t o n o m o u s S o c i a l i s t R e g i o n of K o s o v a s t i l l r e m a i n e d too w e a k a n d w a s n e g l e c t e d . Its assets w e r e s t i l l u n s c r u p u l o u s l y e x p l o i t e d b y t h e o t h e r r e p u b l i c s o f the F e d e r a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y b y S e r b i a . A l l the solutions, w h i c h w e r e p r e s e n t e d w i t h great c l a m o u r during this period, were unavailing, temporary and useful o n l y t o B e l g r a d e a n d S k o p l j e . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e occasion, without saying so openly, they w e r e considered either as o p p o r t u n i s t concessions of T i t o ' s , as o c c u r r e d a m o n g the Serbs, or as v i c t o r i e s a c h i e v e d t h a n k s to T i t o , as t h e y w e r e l o u d l y p r o c l a i m e d b y some A l b a n i a n l e a d e r s o f t h e A u t o n o m o u s S o c i a l i s t R e g i o n o f K o s o v a . M e a n w h i l e the masses o f A l b a n i a n s d i d n o t n u r s e m a n y i l l u s i o n s , because what was given t h e m was v e r y little compared w i t h the m a j o r r i g h t s w h i c h t h e y h a d been d e n i e d a n d r o b b e d of. T h e events w h i c h h a v e o c c u r r e d since t h e d e a t h o f Tito have shown how w r o n g l y and on what an anti-Marxist course the n a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a , a n d e s p e c i a l l y the q u e s t i o n of t h e A l b a n i a n s , h a d been settled. A h e a v y and b l o o d y b l o w w a s dealt t o t h e i r l a w f u l d e m a n d s , r e cognized i n t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n , b y the S e r b i a n c h a u v i n i s t l e a d e r s h i p a n d the w h o l e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p a f t e r the demonstrations w h i c h were held in Kosova in M a r c h and A p r i l this year. N o w , apart f r o m the deplorable economic situation, savage n a t i o n a l o p p r e s s i o n i s b e i n g i m p o s e d o n the K o s o v a r s a n d a l l t h e o t h e r A l b a n i a n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a more t h a n at a n y o t h e r t i m e . A r e i g n of t e r r o r has been established o v e r t h e m , t h e S e r b i a n p o l i c e a n d a r m y h a v e been p o u r e d i n a n d the j a i l s are p a c k e d w i t h y o u n g m e n a n d
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w o m e n . T h e m e a s u r e s w h i c h are c o n t i n u a l l y b e i n g t a k e n are d i r e c t e d not o n l y t o w a r d s the e l i m i n a t i o n o f a n y l e g i t i m a t e r i g h t s a n d those f e w g a i n s w h i c h a p p e a r e d i n the d e v e l o p m e n t o f e d u c a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e , but also t o w a r d s the d e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f the A l b a n i a n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a . A n d t h i s i s b e i n g done b y those w h o c l a i m t h a t t h e y respect the d o c u m e n t s o f the H e l s i n k i C o n f e r e n c e a b o u t f r e e d o m s a n d h u m a n r i g h t s . W o r l d o p i n i o n m u s t not r e m a i n i n different, but ought to be alarmed about this tragic situation o f the A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a . A f t e r a l l , w h a t d i d the A l b a n i a n s d e m a n d i n t h e mass demonstrations w h i c h were held in various towns and villages of K o s o v a ? The Albanians in Yugoslavia have demanded more t h a n once, t h r o u g h p e a c e f u l d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a n d w i t h o u t demonstrations, that their constitutional, economic and s o c i o - c u l t u r a l s i t u a t i o n s h o u l d b e c o r r e c t e d a n d p u t o n the r i g h t r o a d w i t h i n the l a w s o f the F e d e r a t i o n . T h e y d e m a n d e d the status o f a R e p u b l i c w i t h i n t h e S F R Y . T h e y d i d not d e m a n d e i t h e r secession f r o m the F e d e r a t i o n o r u n i f i c a t i o n w i t h A l b a n i a . H o w e v e r , the j u s t a n d l a w f u l d e m a n d s o f the students, w o r k e r s , peasants a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l s of K o s o v a w e n t u n h e e d e d . M o r e o v e r , as at o t h e r t i m e s w h e n they had presented such l a w f u l and just demands, they were described as nationalist, were persecuted and b l o o d i l y suppressed. C a n these p r o b l e m s b e s o l v e d i n t h i s w a y i n o u r t i m e s ? N e v e r . It is i m p o s s i b l e to k e e p a people, w h o s e t e r r i t o r y c o n t a i n s great w e a l t h a n d i s p l u n d e r e d b y others, i n p o v e r t y a n d w a n t . It is i m p o s s i b l e to k e e p a v a l i a n t people, l i k e t h e Albanians, under the threat of tanks and bayonets. It is impossible to distort or eliminate their ancient history and c u l t u r e . I t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o w i p e out t h e i r p a t r i o t i c s e n t i ments and love for their H o m e l a n d . I f the present Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p proceeds on the
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course i t has chosen a n d i s p u r s u i n g , the o p p o s i t i o n o f the A l b a n i a n s w i l l c o n t i n u e , w i l l g r o w a n d become e v e n m o r e acute. O n l y a s o l u t i o n o f t h e n a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n w h i c h i s w e l l c o n s i d e r e d b y the t w o sides w i t h o u t passion, a s o l u t i o n w h i c h i s accepted a n d a p p r o v e d b y t h e people of Kosova, can eliminate this v e r y complicated situation w h i c h has b e e n c r e a t e d n o t b y the people o f K o s o v a , b u t b y G r e a t - S e r b c h a u v i n i s m . T h e people o f K o s o v a p r o p o s e d the f a i r e s t a n d m o s t s u i t a b l e s o l u t i o n i n t h i s s i t u a t i o n , w h i c h is difficult for Y u g o s l a v i a and for themselves. T h e d e m a n d to r a i s e K o s o v a to t h e status of a R e p u b l i c w i t h i n t h e F e d e r a t i o n is a j u s t d e m a n d . It does not t h r e a t e n the e x i s t e n c e o f t h e F e d e r a t i o n . I n s t e a d o f b e i n g r e a s o n able, t h e S e r b i a n a n d Y u g o s l a v chiefs sent i n t h e t a n k s , shed t h e people's b l o o d a n d n o w t h e y are g o i n g a h e a d o n a w i d e scale w i t h t h e i r f a m o u s d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n , t h a t is, police i n v e s t i g a t i o n s : w h o w a s f o r a n d w h o w a s against d e m o n s t r a t i o n s . T o act i n t h i s w a y , f i r s t w i t h t e r r o r a n d then allegedly w i t h differentiation, means to try to i n t i m i d a t e t h e masses w h o c a n n o t b e i n t i m i d a t e d , t o eliminate their patriotism w h i c h cannot be eliminated, t o h a v e t h e i l l u s i o n t h a t y o u h a v e c a l m e d the s i t u a t i o n w h e n y o u h a v e a r o u s e d i n d i g n a t i o n a n d anger, t o t h i n k t h a t y o u h a v e b r o u g h t t r u s t w o r t h y people i n t o t h e state p o w e r w h i c h y o u h a v e p u r g e d o f n a t i o n a l i s t s , etc., w h e n y o u h a v e o n l y i m p e l l e d t h e w h o l e people t o silent resistance, w h o t o m o r r o w w i l l raise t h e i r voices w i t h greater f o r c e against t h e a t r o c i t i e s w h i c h are b e i n g c o m mitted. T h e Y u g o s l a v leaders do not w a n t to understand this s i t u a t i o n . B e c a u s e w e state these t r u t h s o p e n l y a n d d e m a n d t h a t the p r o b l e m o f K o s o v a a n d a l l t h e A l b a n i a n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a , w h i c h has b e e n settled w r o n g l y , s h o u l d b e r e - s t u d i e d w i t h cool heads, a v o i d i n g t h e use of v i o l e n c e a n d t e r r o r , because w e d e m a n d a n e n d t o t h e p e r s e c u t i o n s a n d t h e release
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f r o m j a i l o f the b o y s a n d g i r l s o f K o s o v a , t h e y accuse the P S R of A l b a n i a of interfering in the internal affairs of Y u g o s l a v i a a n d e v e n o f i n c i t i n g the d i s t u r b a n c e s i n K o s o v a a n d e l s e w h e r e ! A n d h o w i s i t a l l e g e d l y i n c i t i n g these disturbances? By means of official educational and cultural relations. They even go so f a r as to c l a i m that the P S R o f A l b a n i a i s m a k i n g c o m m o n cause w i t h A l b a n i a n p o l i t i c a l reaction in exile, w h i c h we have always fought w i t h all our strength. T h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a has n e v e r interfered in the internal affairs of Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e opposite has o c c u r r e d . T h e Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t s p l o t t e d t o b r i n g a b o u t t h e l i q u i d a t i o n o f the l e a d e r s h i p o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a a n d the i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f A l b a n i a into t h e Y u g o s l a v F e d e r a t i o n a s its 7th r e p u b l i c , a i m i n g i n this w a y , t h r o u g h a n a n n e x a t i o n i s t a n d i m p e r i a l i s t course, t o r e s o l v e the p r o b l e m o f t h e w h o l e A l b a n i a n n a t i o n once a n d f o r a l l . H o w e v e r , these plots d i d n o t succeed a n d t h e y w i l l n e v e r succeed. A l b a n i a i s not a n d n e v e r w i l l become a m e a n s of r e g u l a t i o n to c a l m t h e c o n f l i c t s a n d c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e Y u g o s l a v clans. I t b e l o n g s t o its people, a people f u l l of v i t a l i t y , v a l i a n t a n d p a t r i o t i c , w h o f e a r n o one. A l b a n i a has n e v e r m a d e t e r r i t o r i a l c l a i m s against Yugoslavia, and no demand for border re-adjustments can b e f o u n d i n its d o c u m e n t s . W h i l e m a i n t a i n i n g this s t a n d , however, we have not denied and never w i l l deny the fact that a good p a r t of the A l b a n i a n n a t i o n a n d people lives in Y u g o s l a v i a . We have defended the legitimate r i g h t s o f o u r A l b a n i a n b r o t h e r s across t h e b o r d e r a n d w e shall continue to defend them in the future w i t h all our might and in a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y , and this is not i n terference in the i n t e r n a l affairs of Y u g o s l a v i a . This is our undeniable right. The question of K o s o v a is a tragedy. T h e Y u g o s l a v
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a u t h o r i t i e s m u s t cease t h e i r t e r r o r a n d p e r s e c u t i o n o f the A l b a n i a n s , e l i m i n a t e t h e n a t i o n a l o p p r e s s i o n , a n d recognize a l l the r i g h t s d u e t o t h e m . T o s o l v e t h e p r o b l e m s j u s t l y , they m u s t t a l k c a l m l y , w i t h o u t heat a n d o n t e r m s o f equality w i t h the A l b a n i a n population i n Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a has d e v o t e d special care t o s t r e n g t h e n i n g f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s w i t h G r e e c e . I n recent y e a r s these r e l a t i o n s h a v e a s s u m e d f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t i n a l l f i e l d s . C o m m e r c i a l e x c h a n g e s h a v e been extended a n d are d e v e l o p i n g s u c c e s s f u l l y t o the a d v a n t a g e o f b o t h sides. T h e c o l l a b o r a t i o n i n the f i e l d o f c u l t u r e , the c o m i n g a n d g o i n g o f a r t i s t i c groups, t h e r e c i p r o c a l visits of people of art, e d u c a t i o n a n d science, h a v e assisted our peoples t o become better a c q u a i n t e d w i t h one another's a c h i e v e m e n t s a n d progress. T h e y h a v e s e r v e d t o s t r e n g t h e n the a n c i e n t a n d t r a d i t i o n a l f r i e n d s h i p w h i c h l i n k s o u r t w o countries. C o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e r e l a t i o n s o f f r i e n d s h i p a n d understanding between A l b a n i a and Greece f u l l y respond to the c o m m o n i n t e r e s t s a n d a s p i r a t i o n s of o u r peoples, the P S R o f A l b a n i a w i l l m a k e e v e r y e f f o r t t o e x t e n d a n d develop these r e l a t i o n s i n t h e f u t u r e . We note w i t h satisfaction that the G r e e k government and t h e G r e e k people also are p r e d i s p o s e d to a n d desire that the r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n o u r t w o c o u n t r i e s s h o u l d p r o ceed on t h e basis of f r i e n d s h i p a n d g o o d n e i g h b o u r l i n e s s . The s e n t i m e n t s o f t h e A l b a n i a n people a n d t h e G r e e k people are i n a c c o r d i n m a n y d i r e c t i o n s . T h e y w i s h each other w e l l a n d r e j o i c e a t each other's progress, p r o c e e d i n g f r o m the p r i n c i p l e t h a t each i s m a s t e r i n h i s o w n h o u s e and his o w n a f f a i r s . T h e f r i e n d s h i p b e t w e e n t h e A l b a n i a n people a n d the G r e e k people is a l a s t i n g f r i e n d s h i p , w h i c h w i l l u n c e a s i n g l y b e s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d f l o u r i s h i n the interests o f o u r peoples a n d peace a n d s e c u r i t y i n t h e Balkans. Efforts by anyone to break this friendship w i l l
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f a i l . W e are c o n v i n c e d t h a t n o w a l l t h e c o n d i t i o n s a n d p o s s i b i l i t i e s h a v e been c r e a t e d , s o t h a t t h r o u g h c o m m o n e f f o r t s a n y obstacle c a n b e r e m o v e d a n d b r o a d a v e n u e s of development of f r u i t f u l relations w i t h m u t u a l benefit c a n b e opened b e t w e e n o u r t w o f r i e n d l y c o u n t r i e s . W e are r e a d y t o w o r k w i t h I t a l y f o r t h e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f n o r m a l r e l a t i o n s i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the a s p i r a t i o n s a n d interests o f o u r t w o n e i g h b o u r i n g peoples. M a n y links have existed between A l b a n i a and Italy in v a r i o u s fields, s u c h a s those o f t r a d e , t r a n s p o r t a n d c u l t u r a l exchanges, etc. O u r peoples h a v e a l w a y s w i s h e d t o l i v e i n peace a n d f r i e n d s h i p w i t h one a n o t h e r . A l t h o u g h s e v e r a l t i m e s i n t h e course o f h i s t o r y t h e y h a v e b e e n d i v i d e d a n d set a t l o g g e r h e a d s , t h e y h a v e t r i e d t o c o m e together, t o c o l l a b o r a t e a n d s t r e n g t h e n t h e a t m o s p h e r e o f m u t u a l trust and understanding. T h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s e x i s t f o r f u r t h e r progress i n A l b a n i a n Italian relations. It is our desire that they proceed w e l l , b u t t h i s depends also o n the p r e d i s p o s i t i o n a n d i n t e r e s t o f the I t a l i a n side t o c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h A l b a n i a i n a n e w spirit, in friendship and complete equality. T h e relations of our country w i t h the R e p u b l i c of T u r k e y h a v e d e v e l o p e d a n d are d e v e l o p i n g m o r e a n d m o r e in the spirit of friendship and collaboration. T h e g r o w i n g g o o d w i l l a n d respect b e t w e e n o u r t w o peoples a n d c o u n tries create a good basis f o r t h e f u r t h e r e x t e n s i o n a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f these r e l a t i o n s i n t h e f u t u r e . D u r i n g t h e i r h i s t o r y , t h e A l b a n i a n people a n d the T u r k i s h people h a v e h a d f r i e n d l y l i n k s a n d a f f i n i t i e s w i t h e a c h other. T h e T u r k i s h people, w h o h a v e a n a n c i e n t h i s t o r y a n d c u l t u r e , h a v e h a d great respect f o r t h e v a l i a n t m e n o f A l b a n i a , f o r t h e scholars, p h i l o s o p h e r s , s t a t e s m e n , architects, w r i t e r s a n d poets o f A l b a n i a n b i r t h o r o r i g i n , w h o h a v e m a d e t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e e f f o r t s o f the T u r k i s h people f o r progress.
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T h e A l b a n i a n people h a v e s p e c i a l a d m i r a t i o n a n d respect f o r M u s t a f a K e m a l A t a t r k , t h a t o u t s t a n d i n g p e r sonality and statesman, who, w i t h great courage and i n s p i r e d b y d e m o c r a t i c p r o g r e s s i v e ideas, l i b e r a t e d T u r k e y a n d its v a l i a n t people f r o m the c o m p l e x o f e n s l a v i n g other p e o ples, w h i c h c h a r a c t e r i z e d the S u l t a n s ' e m p i r e , c o n s o l i d a t e d the u n i t y a n d g e n u i n e i n d e p e n d e n c e o f the T u r k i s h n a t i o n and set T u r k e y o n t h e c o u r s e o f d e m o c r a c y a n d progress. T h e A l b a n i a n people h a v e b e e n a w a r e o f t h e feelings of goodwill towards A l b a n i a held by K e m a l Atatrk who opposed K i n g Z o g , the t y r a n t o f the A l b a n i a n people. T h e s i n c e r e f r i e n d s h i p o f t h e T u r k i s h people t o w a r d s the A l b a n i a n people a n d t h e l o f t y s p i r i t o f A t a t r k c a n b e seen c l e a r l y i n t h e i r f r a t e r n a l s h e l t e r i n g o f h u n d r e d s o f thousands o f o u r b r o t h e r s f r o m K o s o v a , w h o w e r e d r i v e n from their lands in Y u g o s l a v i a . We thank the fraternal T u r k i s h people f o r t h i s a n d f o r t h e i r f r i e n d s h i p t o w a r d s the A l b a n i a n people, a f r i e n d s h i p w h i c h is r e c i p r o c a l . P o s i t i v e n e w steps h a v e been m a d e i n o u r f r i e n d l y relations w i t h t h e F r e n c h R e p u b l i c . W e a p p r e c i a t e t h e efforts o f the ever more numerous well-wishers of A l b a n i a in France to strengthen the friendship between our t w o peoples. T h e A l b a n i a n people, f o r t h e i r p a r t , n u r t u r e f r i e n d l y f e e l i n g s a n d h a v e respect f o r t h e t a l e n t e d F r e n c h people, f o r t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a d i t i o n s a n d t h e i r progress. A s i n t h e past, w e s i n c e r e l y d e s i r e t h a t the r e l a t i o n s o f o u r state w i t h A u s t r i a , S w e d e n , F i n l a n d , N o r w a y , Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, H o l l a n d and Portugal should b e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p e d a n d e x t e n d e d i n t h e p o s i t i v e and f r i e n d l y d i r e c t i o n t h e y h a v e t a k e n i n recent y e a r s . The post-Second W o r l d W a r British governments have a d o p t e d hostile, a n t i - d e m o c r a t i c stands t o w a r d s n e w A l b a n i a . A p a r t f r o m this, t h e y seized the A l b a n i a n g o l d plundered b y the H i t l e r i t e s a n d t o t h i s d a y are s t i l l e x p l o i t -
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i n g i t i n t h e i r o w n interests, b y not r e t u r n i n g i t t o t h e r i g h t f u l o w n e r , socialist A l b a n i a . In these c i r c u m s t a n c e s , c a n t h e r e be a n y t a l k of d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n the P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a and Britain? The B r i t i s h Government must immediately r e t u r n the gold to A l b a n i a together w i t h the interests a c c r u e d f r o m the a r b i t r a r y e x p l o i t a t i o n o f it. L e t n o one d o u b t t h a t socialist A l b a n i a w i l l d e f e n d its interests a n d w i l l f i g h t against i n j u s t i c e s w h i c h h a v e been or are b e i n g d o n e to it. T h e r e are n o i n s u r m o u n t a b l e d i f f i c u l t i e s t o t h e estab l i s h m e n t o f d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n the P e o p l e ' s Socialist Republic of A l b a n i a and the Federal Republic o f G e r m a n y . W e b e l i e v e t h a t w i t h u n d e r s t a n d i n g o n the p a r t o f b o t h sides o v e r c e r t a i n q u e s t i o n s t h a t r e m a i n s u s p e n d e d since t h e S e c o n d W o r l d W a r , t h i s s i t u a t i o n c a n be put in order. The profound principled ideological and political disagreements o f o u r P a r t y a n d state w i t h the c o u n t r i e s o f Eastern E u r o p e are w e l l - k n o w n . W h i l e not r e l i n q u i s h i n g t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , w e are f o r the n o r m a l development of relations, for trade exchanges o n t h e basis o f e q u a l i t y a n d r e c i p r o c a l b e n e f i t w i t h R u mania, Czechoslovakia, P o l a n d , the G e r m a n Democratic Republic, Bulgaria and Hungary. A sincere and ancient friendship l i n k s the A l b a n i a n people w i t h t h e f r a t e r n a l A r a b peoples. W e h a v e s u p p o r t e d a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o s u p p o r t t o t h e e n d and e n e r g e t i c a l l y t h e j u s t s t r u g g l e o f t h e A r a b peoples f o r the l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e A r a b t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d b y the I s r a e l i z i o n i s t aggressors a n d the r e - e s t a b l i s h m e n t of all t h e l e g i t i m a t e r i g h t s o f t h e m a r t y r e d P a l e s t i n i a n people. I n t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a a n d i n the A l b a n i a n people, t h e h e r o i c P a l e s t i n i a n people a n d t h e i r l a w f u l representative, the Palestine L i b e r a t i o n Organiza-
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tion, h a v e h a d a n d w i l l a l w a y s h a v e sincere f r i e n d s a n d resolute d e f e n d e r s of t h e i r just n a t i o n a l cause. We note w i t h p a r t i c u l a r satisfaction the f r i e n d l y development of the relations of our country w i t h A l g e r i a , Syria, Iraq, L i b y a , Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt and other A r a b countries. W e desire t h a t these r e l a t i o n s s h o u l d f i n d f u r t h e r concretization and development. Likewise, the People's Socialist R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a i s f o r f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s w i t h the Islamic R e p u b l i c of Iran and w i l l spare no efforts for their development and strengthening. T h e A l b a n i a n people a n d t h e i r g o v e r n m e n t h a v e w e l comed a n d s u p p o r t e d t h e j u s t s t r u g g l e o f t h e A f r i c a n peoples t o e r a d i c a t e c o l o n i a l i s m a n d r a c i s m f r o m t h e continent o f A f r i c a a n d h a v e s u p p o r t e d t h e e f f o r t s o f t h e f r e e d o m - l o v i n g peoples o f A f r i c a n c o u n t r i e s t o cope w i t h the aggressive, n e o - c o l o n i a l i s t a n d p r e d a t o r y p o l i c y a n d activity of imperialism. W i t h Tanzania. Guinea. Mali, Z a m b i a , Z i m b a b w e , a n d other f r i e n d l y c o u n t r i e s o f A f r i c a , the P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t Republic of Albania maintains friendly relations and is for further development of them. O u r c o u n t r y has g o o d r e l a t i o n s also w i t h a n u m b e r of countries of A s i a . W i t h the Socialist R e p u b l i c of V i e t nam, w i t h Laos and the Democratic People's Republic of K o r e a , our relations are developing in a friendly w a y and w e e x p r e s s o u r d e s i r e t h a t t h e y s h o u l d b e f u r t h e r strengthened i n t h e f u t u r e . I n r e g a r d t o C a m b o d i a , o u r P a r t y a n d state h a v e condemned the bloodthirsty activities of the P o l P o t clique, a tool of t h e C h i n e s e s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s . We h o p e t h a t the C a m b o d i a n p e o p l e w i l l s u r m o u n t the d i f f i c u l t i e s t h e y are e n c o u n t e r i n g as soon as p o s s i b l e a n d decide t h e i r o w n fate a n d f u t u r e i n c o m p l e t e f r e e d o m w i t h o u t a n y guardian. N o w i t i s k n o w n w o r l d - w i d e that, a p a r t f r o m f o r m a l d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s , t h e r e a r e n o o t h e r concrete r e l a t i o n s
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b e t w e e n o u r c o u n t r y a n d C h i n a . T h i s s i t u a t i o n has been c r e a t e d t h r o u g h no f a u l t of ours. It is a consequence of t h e hostile, a n t i - A l b a n i a n p o l i c y a n d a c t i v i t y o f the C h i n e s e leadership. The establishment of diplomatic relations w i t h Japan also creates the c o n d i t i o n s f o r a n d opens the w a y t o the development of trade between our two countries. T h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a has n o r m a l r e l a t i o n s w i t h M e x i c o , P e r u , A r g e n t i n a , P a n a m a , a n d other countries of L a t i n A m e r i c a . It is ready to establish such r e l a t i o n s also w i t h o t h e r states o f t h i s c o n t i n e n t w h i c h are f o r a f r i e n d l y a p p r o a c h a n d f o r t r a d e a n d c u l t u r a l exchanges w i t h our country. W i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d the S o v i e t U n i o n , w h i c h are t h e m o s t f e r o c i o u s e n e m i e s o f t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e of t h e peoples a n d of peace a n d s e c u r i t y i n t h e w o r l d , o u r c o u n t r y does n o t m a i n t a i n a n d w i l l not m a i n t a i n a n y r e l a t i o n s . A s i n t h e past, w e shall always continue our resolute struggle for the exposure o f t h e i r aggressive a n d h e g e m o n i c p o l i c y a n d a c t i v i t y . In t h e f u t u r e , too, t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a w i l l continue to w o r k for the development of the i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s i n t h e p o s i t i v e d i r e c t i o n . I n t h i s s p i r i t , i t w i l l spare n o e f f o r t s i n t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s Organization and other international organizations to make its c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e defence o f t h e i n t e r e s t s a n d a s p i r a tions of the peoples. The principled foreign policy followed by our P a r t y a n d c o u n t r y expresses t h e a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e A l b a n i a n people a n d e n j o y s t h e i r c o m p l e t e a n d b o u n d l e s s s u p p o r t a n d b a c k i n g . I n the f u t u r e , too, o u r P a r t y w i l l s t r u g g l e f o r the consistent a n d r e s o l u t e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h i s p o l i c y , w h i c h ensures t h e f r e e d o m , i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d n a t i o n a l s o v e r e i g n t y o f o u r people.
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T H E S T R U G G L E AGAINST REVISIONISM. THE REVOLUTIONARY AND LIBERATION MOVEMENT AT THE PRESENT STAGE
I n t h e p e r i o d since t h e 7 t h C o n g r e s s , o u r P a r t y , standing loyal as ever to M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and p r o l etarian i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m , has c o n t i n u e d t h e s t r u g g l e against modern revisionism uninterruptedly. T h e ideological and political c r i t i c i s m against K h r u s h c h e v i t e , C h i n e s e , Y u g o slav a n d West-European revisionism has b e e n made more p r o f o u n d . T h e h i s t o r i c a l a n d s o c i o - e c o n o m i c c o n d i tions o f t h e b i r t h a n d s p r e a d o f these t r e n d s h a v e been brought out m o r e c l e a r l y , a n d t h e process of d e g e n e r a tion of those c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s w h i c h took t h e course of r e v i s i o n i s m , t h e i r m i s t a k e s a n d concessions i n s t r a t e g y and tactics, h a v e b e e n a n a l y s e d m o r e e x t e n s i v e l y . T h e connection o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m w i t h t h e s t r a t e g y w h i c h i m p e r i a l i s m a d o p t e d after t h e S e c o n d W o r l d W a r f o r the destruction o f s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e s u p p r e s s i o n o f the r e v o l u tion a n d t h e peoples' l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t , has b e e n p r o v e d i n the l i g h t o f facts f r o m t h e past a n d the present. These analyses and conclusions have helped the P a r t y t o recognize m o r e c l e a r l y t h e d a n g e r s w h i c h t h r e a t e n socialism a n d t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t i n o u r c o u n t r y f r o m r e v i s i o n i s m a n d t o t a k e most e f f e c t i v e a n d a p propriate m e a s u r e s t o a v e r t these dangers. T h e y h a v e also h e l p e d in the e d u c a t i o n of t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d the masses, the e n h a n c e m e n t of t h e i r t h e o r e t i c a l l e v e l a n d
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t h e t e m p e r i n g o f t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y consciousness. T h e m o r e p r o f o u n d k n o w l e d g e o f t h e s t r a t e g y a n d tactics o f imperialism and revisionism have made our struggle in defence of t h e cause of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e peoples even more effective. T h e correctness o f t h e course w h i c h o u r P a r t y chose r i g h t f r o m the s t a r t t o oppose r e v i s i o n i s m a n d f i g h t i t t o t h e e n d has been a n d i s b e i n g p r o v e d m o r e a n d m o r e each day by the political degeneration and the p r o f o u n d ideologi c a l crisis o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , b y the g r a v e e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n a n d the i m p a s s e i n w h i c h t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s a n d t h e c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e y are i n p o w e r h a v e l a n d e d . W h e n our P a r t y began the struggle against K h r u s h chevite revisionism, the communist parties w h i c h made c o m m o n cause w i t h K h r u s h c h e v l o o k e d , m o r e o r less, l i k e a united bloc w i t h a single line, w h i c h was that of t h e 20th C o n g r e s s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f the S o v i e t U n i o n . T o d a y , h o w e v e r , 2 0 y e a r s later, t h e y are s p l i t a n d d i v i d e d i n t o m a n y t r e n d s a n d f a c t i o n s , are f i g h t i n g a n d c l a s h i n g w i t h one a n o t h e r a n d h a v e been o v e r w h e l m e d by bourgeois nationalism and social-democratic opportunism. These former communist parties have been transformed either into genuine parties of the n e w bourgeoisie r u l i n g i n the c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s are i n p o w e r , o r i n t o c o m p o n e n t p a r t s o f t h e s t r u c t u r e s o f the b o u r g e o i s state, a s i n t h e o l d c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . T h e crisis of m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m is a d i r e c t e x p r e s s i o n of the c r i s i s o f c a p i t a l i s m a n d t h e b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y i n general. The revisionist betrayal and the restoration of capitali s m in a series of f o r m e r socialist c o u n t r i e s h a v e created great c o n f u s i o n about t h e p r o b l e m o f s o c i a l i s m , w h i c h i s the n u b o f t h e i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e g o i n g o n i n t h e w o r l d t o d a y . T h e p r o b l e m i s t h a t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s p r e s e n t the c a p i t a l i s t society r e - e s t a b l i s h e d in t h e i r c o u n t r i e s as a p u r e socialist society, as r e a l s o c i a l i s m , a n d as developed,
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or moreover very h i g h l y developed socialism. T h e fact that m a n y p a r t i e s a n d d i f f e r e n t p o l i t i c a l forces, w h i c h are f a r r e m o v e d f r o m s c i e n t i f i c s o c i a l i s m , t a l k a b o u t socialism, as w e l l as the efforts w h i c h the bourgeoisie a n d its p r o p a g a n d a m a k e t o d i s t o r t t h e t r u e socialist i d e a l s a n d t o a l i e n a t e t h e masses f r o m t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e t r i u m p h o f these ideals a d d e v e n m o r e t o t h i s c o n f u s i o n . C l a r i t y on this question, the establishment of a clearcut d i v i d i n g l i n e b e t w e e n g e n u i n e s o c i a l i s m a n d p s e u d o socialism, is of capital importance to waging the struggle o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses s u c c e s s f u l l y . If it does n o t h a v e a c l e a r concept of socialist society, i f i t does n o t a b i d e b y its p r i n c i p l e s a n d u n i v e r s a l l a w s , the r e v o l u t i o n stops h a l f - w a y . T h e r e v o l u t i o n m a y i n d e e d b e c a r r i e d out, b u t w h e n i t l a c k s t h e g e n u i n e socialist p e r s pective it can deviate, a n d the struggle a n d sacrifices made f o r its t r i u m p h w i l l b e i n v a i n . The first trend of revisionism in power, which set itself the task of undermining socialism, was Yugoslav revisionism , w h i c h e m e r g e d at a k e y m o m e n t of t h e s t r u g g l e b e tween socialism and imperialism. T h e roots o f Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s m g o b a c k a l o n g w a y . I t d i d n o t a p p e a r f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n 1948, n o r d i d it c o m e a b o u t as a r e a c t i o n a g a i n s t S t a l i n i s m or as a consequence of actions of the I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u . It is a consequence of bourgeois outlooks w h i c h existed m u c h earlier in the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of Y u g o s l a v i a and were not e l i m i n a t e d d u r i n g t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r . T h e n e w Y u g o s l a v i a could not be built w i t h o u t a clear o r i e n t a t i o n a n d w i t h o u t p o l i t i c a l m a t u r i t y based o n t h e scientific theory of socialism. O n l y a strong communist party w i t h sound Marxist-Leninist principles could carry out t h i s great w o r k . T r u e , a c o m m u n i s t p a r t y e x i s t e d i n Y u g o s l a v i a , b u t i t d i d n o t h a v e a l l these c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and did not develop t h e m d u r i n g the war. On the contrary,
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i t lost e v e n those i t h a d a f t e r t h e w a r , w h e n , b e c a u s e of the circumstances, it was called u p o n to b u i l d the n e w Y u g o s l a v i a o n t h e socialist r o a d . If y o u listen to the self-praise of the Titoites and the Yugoslav bourgeoisie y o u might believe that such a party has e x i s t e d a n d s t i l l exists. L i k e t h e others, w e A l b a n i a n communists also fell for this euphoric judgement, especially d u r i n g the t i m e of the w a r and in the first p o s t - L i b e r a t i o n y e a r s . T h i s j u d g e m e n t h a d its o w n l o g i c , l i n k e d w i t h the h e r o i c f i g h t o f t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a , w h i c h w a s led by the C o m m u n i s t Party. A f t e r the liberation of Yugoslavia major deviations f r o m t h e basic p r i n c i p l e s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a p p e a r e d , i n t h e o r y , i n p o l i t i c a l stands, a n d i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m . L i k e w i s e , i n its r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e s o c i a l i s t countries, e s p e c i a l l y w i t h A l b a n i a , g r a v e d e v i a t i o n s a n d a n a r r o g a n c e a n d conceit a l i e n t o a c o m m u n i s t p a r t y w e r e o b s e r v e d i n the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a . It was clear that this course w o u l d eventually lead to a split, as it d i d , n o t f o r a n y f a u l t of t h e I n f o r m a t i o n Bureau, or Stalin and Stalinism, as the Yugoslav revisionists a n d t h e i r f r i e n d s l i k e t o d e s c r i b e M a r x i s m - L e n i n ism. T h e conflict w i t h the Information B u r e a u was a result of contradictions between the liberal-opportunist views o f the Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p a n d t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t v i e w s o n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e socialist state a n d socialist societ y . T i t o a n d h i s associates g a v e t o t h e i r o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e Marxist-Leninist theory the colour of opposition, first, towards Stalin, and later, towards the Soviet socialist system. T h e T i t o i t e s ' change, o f course, h a d t o b e a n d w a s m a d e . T h e y t o o k t h e course t o w a r d s c a p i t a l i s m b y a d o p t i n g and c o m m e n c i n g the b u i l d i n g of a new socio-econom i c s t r u c t u r e a n d a n e w f o r m o f state g o v e r n m e n t a p p r o p r i a t e t o a n a n t i - s o c i a l i s t course, a n d t h i s w a s the
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system o f w o r k e r s ' s e l f a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . I n f a c t t h i s w a s not a n e w s y s t e m . It w a s n e i t h e r socialist n o r a Y u g o s l a v creation. I t o r i g i n a t e d f r o m P r o u d h o n i s m , f r o m B a k u n i n and K r o p o t k i n ' s a n a r c h i s m , t h a t M a r x i n h i s t i m e , a n d later L e n i n , a n d s t i l l l a t e r S t a l i n , h a d t h o r o u g h l y e x p o s e d . Sensational claims were made and unprecedented hosannas s h o u t e d a b o u t t h e Y u g o s l a v t u r n t o w a r d s c a pitalism, w h i l e glory w a s heaped u p o n Barabbas. T h e Y u g o s l a v d e v i a t i o n w a s t r u m p e t e d as a n e w p e r i o d , as a new t r a i l b l a z e d by T i t o f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of a humane, specific s o c i a l i s m . T h i s t u r n w a s s u p p o r t e d and f i n a n c e d b y i m p e r i a l i s m a n d w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m . P a n Yugoslav megalomania was fanned up and Y u g o s l a v i a was presented as a c h a m p i o n of a n d e x a m p l e f o r t h e peoples o f the w o r l d i n t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n struggle. I n t h e f o r m s a n d t h e t e r m i n o l o g y u s e d i n its s t r u c t u r e and s u p e r s t r u c t u r e , t h e w h o l e s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s y s t e m had to be p r e s e n t e d as M a r x i s t . In fact, h o w e v e r , it w a s totally o p p o s e d t o M a r x a n d t h e t h e o r y a n d p r a c t i c e o f Leninism. T h e f i r s t b l o w w a s s t r u c k a t t h e state p o w e r o f people's d e m o c r a c y , w h i c h w a s a f o r m o f t h e d i c t a t o r ship o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , b u t w h i c h w a s n e v e r d e s c r i b e d as such in Y u g o s l a v i a . The Y u g o s l a v revisionists justified this b y c l a i m i n g t h a t t h e state p o w e r o f t h e people's councils, w h i c h h a d b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d d u r i n g t h e w a r a n d existed u n t i l 1948, c o u l d n o t b e r e t a i n e d a s s u c h w i t h a l l its p r e r o g a t i v e s . I t h a d t o b e r e p l a c e d w i t h t h e w o r k e r s ' councils, because, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m , t h e f o r m e r w a s allegedly t a t i s t - b u r e a u c r a t i c , w h i c h g i v e s b i r t h t o b u reaucracy a n d t h e s t r a t u m o f t h e n e w bourgeoisie, w h i l e the w o r k e r s ' c o u n c i l s w e r e a state p o w e r closer to M a r x ' s t h e o r y . B y m e a n s o f these c o u n c i l s , a l l e g e d l y it i s the w o r k e r s t h e m s e l v e s w h o l e a d a n d g o v e r n d i r e c t l y , w i t h o u t t h e i n t e r v e n t i o n o f t h e state, w h i c h , a s i t m u s t
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result f r o m the logic of the Y u g o s l a v leadership, is not t h e i r s . T h u s , t h e e x i s t i n g Y u g o s l a v state r e m a i n s m e r e l y a g u a r a n t o r t h a t t h i s n e w s y s t e m is n o t d a m a g e d , does n o t d i s i n t e g r a t e a n d , t o t h i s end, t h e F e d e r a t i o n c o n t r o l s only the army, the U D B , foreign policy and n o t h i n g else. Hence, the self-administration system decentralized, l i b e r a l i z e d a n d u n d e r m i n e d t h e state o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of the p r o l e t a r i a t . T h e state w a s a state of p r o l e t a r i a n s a n d b e c a m e a state of w o r k e r s , it w a s a state w h i c h e m e r g e d f r o m t h e w a r , f r o m t h e base, w h i l e t h e n e w system, w h i c h t h e d i a l e c t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t a l l e g e d l y r e quired, was established f r o m above by T i t o a n d K a r d e l j . T h e leading role of the p a r t y in this system h a d to be liquidated and in fact it was vitiated. A l l that was left to the p a r t y w a s a w i s h y - w a s h y educational role, w i t h o u t any weight in the w h o l e rigmarole. In appearance the p a r t y w a s n o t e l i m i n a t e d , b u t i n r e a l i t y i s ceased t o e x i s t . It w a s c a l l e d t h e L e a g u e of C o m m u n i s t s , so as to g i v e i t t h e closest p o s s i b l e r e s e m b l a n c e i n n a m e t o t h a t u s e d by M a r x , to remove it as f a r as possible in fact f r o m the role w h i c h M a r x and L e n i n define for the c o m m u n ist p a r t y . T h e T i t o i t e s p r e s e n t t h e m a t t e r a s t h o u g h , w i t h its s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , Y u g o s l a v i a h a s e n t e r e d t h e stage o f d e v e l o p m e n t a p p r o a c h i n g c o m m u n i s t society. P r o c e e d i n g f r o m this, t h e y c l a i m t h a t t h e state i s b e g i n n i n g t o w i t h e r a w a y a n d t h e p a r t y c a n n o l o n g e r h a v e t h a t r o l e a n d those functions it had in the period of the transition f r o m capitalism to socialism. Moreover, according to them, self-administration has also d o n e a w a y w i t h t h e class s t r u g g l e w i t h i n t h e party, w i t h i n Y u g o s l a v i a and outside it. In reality Tito, K a r d e l j a n d t h e i r successors c h a n g e d t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e class s t r u g g l e . T h e y w a g e d a n d are w a g i n g i t t o d e f e n d
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their self-administration system against supporters of the I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u , S t a l i n i s t s , dogmatists, etc. In fact, t h i s is t h e s t r u g g l e of c a p i t a l i s t e l e m e n t s a g a i n s t r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , of t h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m a g a i n s t t h e socialist system, a n d t h e b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y a g a i n s t M a r x i s m - L e n i n ism. T h e Y u g o s l a v t h e o r e t i c i a n s i n d u l g e i n gross m i s r e p r e sentation i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e o w n e r s h i p o f the m e a n s of production. A c c o r d i n g to them, the socialized ownership of means of production, w h i c h exists in the self-admini s t r a t i o n s y s t e m , c o n s t i t u t e s t h e h i g h e s t f o r m o f socialist o w n e r s h i p , w h i l e state o w n e r s h i p c o n s t i t u t e s its l o w e s t form. T h e latter, they claim, can be defined as a k i n d of state c a p i t a l i s m w h i c h g i v e s b i r t h t o a n e w b u r e a u c r a t i c caste, w h i c h i n fact c o l l e c t i v e l y possesses t h e r i g h t t o o w n e r s h i p . H e n c e , t h e y c o n c l u d e , e v e n i n s o c i a l i s m state o w n e r s h i p does n o t e l i m i n a t e t h e a l i e n a t i o n o f t h e w o r k e r , w h i c h is caused by capital. T h e capitalist relationship, profit - w o r k e r s ' wages, is replaced w i t h the relationship, state a c c u m u l a t i o n - w o r k e r s ' wages. In o t h e r w o r d s , t h e y claim that the w o r k e r always remains a wage-slave in both social systems. T h i s i s a w e l l - k n o w n T r o t s k y i t e thesis w h i c h w a s exposed a n d r e f u t e d l o n g ago. I n g e n u i n e socialist society, i n w h i c h t h e c o m m o n p r o p e r t y i s m a n a g e d b y t h e state of the dictatorship of the proletariat, w i t h the broad, o r g a n i z e d a n d e f f e c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g class and t h e o t h e r w o r k i n g masses, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r i n c i p l e of democratic centralism, a n d in w h i c h great differences i n t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e social p r o d u c t , w h i c h l e a d t o the c r e a t i o n o f p r i v i l e g e d s t r a t a , a r e n o t p e r m i t t e d , t h e w o r k e r is n o t a w a g e - s l a v e a n d is n o t e x p l o i t e d . P r o o f o f t h i s i s the r e a l i t y o f socialist A l b a n i a , w h e r e t h e w o r k i n g class i s t h e class i n p o w e r w h i c h , u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f its M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , r u n s t h e e c o n o m y a n d t h e
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w h o l e l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y i n its o w n i n t e r e s t s a n d i n t h e i n t e r e s t s of t h e w h o l e people. Yugoslav self-administration, w h i c h allegedly makes t h e w o r k e r t h e c e n t r e o f e v e r y t h i n g , i s w o r k e r s ' selfadministration only in theory, in practice it is anti-worker, anti-socialist. R e g a r d l e s s o f t h e c l a m o u r o f t h e T i t o i t e s , t h i s s y s t e m does n o t p e r m i t t h e w o r k i n g class a n y r i g h t t o manage or administrate. I n Y u g o s l a v i a e a c h self-administrative e n t e r p r i s e i s a n i n d e p e n d e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n i n its e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t y , w h i l e t h e p o l i c y o f a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s i n t h e h a n d s o f its l e a d i n g group, which, just as in any other capitalist country, m a n i p u l a t e s the f u n d s o f a c c u m u l a t i o n a n d m a k e s t h e decisions o n i n v e s t m e n t s , pay, p r i c e s a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e product. It is claimed that a l l this economic-political a c t i v i t y i s a p p r o v e d b y the w o r k e r s t h r o u g h t h e i r delegates. B u t t h i s is a d e c e p t i o n , a great f r a u d . T h e s e s o - c a l l e d w o r k e r s ' delegates m a k e c o m m o n cause w i t h t h e r u l i n g caste o f b u r e a u c r a t s a n d t e c h n o c r a t s t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e o t h e r w o r k i n g masses. T h o s e w h o m a k e the l a w a n d d e t e r m i n e t h e p o l i c y , i n t h e selfadministrative organization, f r o m the lowest to the highest l e v e l i n the r e p u b l i c , a r e t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . The administrative, socio-economic a n d political leading r o l e of the w o r k e r s , of t h e i r class, has b e e n r e d u c e d to t h e m i n i m u m , i f not t o t a l l y e l i m i n a t e d . B y i n c i t i n g p a r t i c u l a r i s m a n d l o c a l i s m , o n t h e scale o f r e p u b l i c , r e g i o n a n d c o m m u n e , t h e self-administration s y s t e m has l i q u i d a t e d t h e u n i t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class, h a s set w o r k e r against w o r k e r a s i n d i v i d u a l s b y f o s t e r i n g selfishness, a n d a s collectives b y f o s t e r i n g c o m p e t i t i o n a m o n g enterprises. O n t h i s basis, t h e a l l i a n c e b e t w e e n t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e p e a s a n t r y has b e e n u n d e r m i n e d , too, a n d t h e peasantry likewise d i v i d e d into s m a l l private economies a n d e x p l o i t e d b y the n e w b o u r g e o i s i e i n p o w e r . A l l t h i s
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has c r e a t e d a u t a r k y i n t h e e c o n o m y , a n a r c h y i n p r o d u c t i o n , in the distribution of profits and investments ; in the market, i n prices, i t h a s l e d t o g r e a t i n f l a t i o n a n d u n e m p l o y m e n t . T h e i d e a t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class i s i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the s y s t e m o f w o r k e r s ' s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a is a false i l l u s i o n , a U t o p i a n i d e a . In t h a t s y s t e m t h e w o r k i n g class i s n o t i n c o m m a n d , i s not t h e l e a d i n g f o r c e . T h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t has b e e n l i q u i d a t e d , t h e l e a d e r ship o f t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y o r the L e a g u e of C o m m u n i s t s , as it is c a l l e d in t h a t c o u n t r y , does not r u n e i t h e r t h e state, t h e e c o n o m y , c u l t u r a l o r s o c i a l l i f e . I n t h a t s y s t e m o f g e n e r a l c o n f u s i o n some o t h e r f o r c e has seized t h e d o m i n a n t p o s i t i o n s o f p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s h i p . T h i s force i s t h e n e w caste o f p o l i t i c a l b u r e a u c r a t s a n d t e c h nocrats f r o m t h e s t r a t u m o f t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , w h i c h has become b o u r g e o i s , a n d the w o r k e r a r i s t o c r a c y . I t i s f a r removed f r o m any proletarian morality, and no political control is exerted over it. T h i s n e w bureaucratic s t r a t u m advertises itself as the e n e m y o f tatist b u r e a u c r a c y , a l t h o u g h i t i s a n e v e n m o r e dangerous b u r e a u c r a c y , w h i c h i s f l o u r i s h i n g a n d g r o w i n g stronger i n a d e c e n t r a l i z e d e c o n o m i c s y s t e m w h i c h protects and d e v e l o p s p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y . T h e w o r k e r s ' s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , w h i c h i s based o n the i d e o l o g y o f a n a r c h o - s y n d i c a l i s m , has g i v e n b i r t h t o r e p u b l i c a n n a t i o n a l i s m w h i c h has g o n e s o f a r a s t o d r a f t its s p e c i a l l a w s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s t o d e f e n d its o w n n a r r o w interests. T h e e c o n o m i c m o n o p o l y o f t h e r e p u b l i c s w h i c h i s c o m p r i s e d o f t h e m o n o p o l y o f t h e i r e n t e r p r i s e s a n d trusts, has t u r n e d , in fact, i n t o a p o l i t i c a l f o r c e a n d i n t o a r e p u b l i c a n n a t i o n a l i s m , w h i c h i s m a n i f e s t e d n o t o n l y i n each republic but in each region, each commune and each enterprise. E v e r y b o d y , i n d i v i d u a l l y a n d a s g r o u p a n d a r e p u b l i c , strives t o e n r i c h h i m s e l f f u r t h e r a n d m o r e q u i c k l y a t the expense of t h e o t h e r s at a l l costs.
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B o u r g e o i s n a t i o n a l i s m has b e c o m e f i r m l y e s t a b l i s h e d i n Yugoslavia and the slogan unity-fraternity, w h i c h w a s correct d u r i n g t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , w h e n t h e y w e r e f i g h t i n g against t h e o c c u p i e r s a n d l o c a l r e a c t i o n f o r a n e w society b a s e d o n M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , has r e m a i n e d a n e m p t y slogan w i t h o u t a n y effect i n t h e p r e s e n t - d a y Y u g o s l a v s y s t e m w h i c h splits a n d d i v i d e s e v e r y t h i n g . T h e u n i t y - f r a t e r n i t y o f peoples, n a t i o n s a n d n a t i o n a l i t i e s , o f r e p u b l i c s a n d regions, c a n b e r e a l i z e d o n l y i n a g e n u i n e socialist s y s t e m w h i c h i s g u i d e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideology. T h e Y u g o s l a v f e d e r a l u n i o n w a s not c r e a t e d o n M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t f o u n d a t i o n s , hence, u n d o u b t e d l y n a t i o n a l a n t a g o n i s m s w e r e b o u n d t o arise, a s t h e y d i d i n fact. T h e s y s t e m itself i s t h e b e a r e r o f these c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d nurtures the separatism of nations and nationalities, republics a n d regions. T h e m a n y c r e d i t s f r o m w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m h a v e also o p e r a t e d i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . T h e use o f t h e m t o s a t i s f y t h e b o u r g e o i s m e g a l o m a n i a c a l tastes a n d w h i m s o f t h e caste in power, their unequal distribution, without sound criteria, a m o n g s t t h e d i f f e r e n t r e p u b l i c s c r e a t e d e c o n o m i c a n d soc i a l i n e q u a l i t i e s i n t h e r e p u b l i c s a n d regions, w h i c h h a v e f u r t h e r deepened n a t i o n a l a n t a g o n i s m s . T h e s y s t e m o f s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n w o u l d not h a v e l a s t e d l o n g h a d i t not b e e n assisted b y t w o f a c t o r s : t h e anti-Sovietism of the Yugoslav leadership, w h i c h was n o t h i n g b u t its a n t i - M a r x i s m a n d a n t i - L e n i n i s m t h r o u g h w h i c h it ensured the political support of the w h o l e of w o r l d reaction, and the all-round economic support by means of l a r g e c r e d i t s f r o m c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . N e v e r t h e l e s s , these t w o f a c t o r s c o u l d not rescue t h i s a n t i - s o c i a l i s t s y s t e m . O n the c o n t r a r y , t h e y f u r t h e r w e a k e n e d i t a n d h a v e d r i v e n i t towards economic and political bankruptcy. K a r d e l j and Tito l a i d the blame for the failure of this
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system a n d a l l t h e e v i l s t o w h i c h i t g a v e b i r t h o n t h e failure t o perfect t h i s s y s t e m p r o p e r l y , o n t h e c o n s c i o u s ness o f w o r k i n g people w h i c h w a s s t i l l n o t u p t o t h e proper level, t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e b u r e a u c r a c y , etc. T h e y saw the b a n k r u p t c y o f t h e i r a n t i - s o c i a l i s t s y s t e m , b u t w e r e quite u n a b l e t o t u r n b a c k . H e n c e , a l l t h e m e a s u r e s w h i c h T i t o took w h e n h e w a s a l i v e , p r o v i d i n g f o r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the F e d e r a t i o n a n d t h e r e p u b l i c s a f t e r h i s d e a t h , a r e palliatives. T h e e u p h o r i a a b o u t t h e s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n system d i s a p p e a r e d t o g e t h e r w i t h T i t o a n d K a r d e l j . T i t o ' s successors f i n d t h e m s e l v e s i n great c o n f u s i o n a n d p e r p l e x i t y and d o n o t k n o w w h i c h w a y t o t u r n t o e m e r g e f r o m t h e difficulties afflicting their country. N o w Titoite Y u g o s l a v i a is in the g r i p of a g r a v e g e n e r a l c r i s i s of its s t r u c t u r e s a n d superstructures, a n e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l - m o r a l crisis. Soviet revisionism has been and still is the most dangerous c u r r e n t o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m . M o r e t h a n a n y other v a r i a n t o f r e v i s i o n i s m , i t r e t a i n s its socialist d i s g u i s e and L e n i n i s t p h r a s e o l o g y i n o r d e r t o c o v e r u p t h e p r e s e n t day c a p i t a l i s t r e a l i t y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d its a g g r e s s i v e imperialist foreign policy. It is a revisionism w h i c h has seized p o w e r in a state w h i c h is a g r e a t p o w e r a n d h a s ample m e a n s a n d p o s s i b i l i t i e s t o e x e r t its i n f l u e n c e i n t h e w o r l d , t o o p e r a t e i n m a n y d i r e c t i o n s a n d o n a l a r g e scale. L i k e the other revisionist currents, K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v isionism also has its o w n process o f b i r t h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t u n t i l i t r e a c h e d its p r e s e n t f o r m o f t o t a l r e v i s i o n i s m w h i c h distorts a l l t h e issues o f t h e M a r x i s t t h e o r y a n d socialist practice. A s a s o c i a l p h e n o m e n o n , K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s m also has its o w n i d e o l o g i c a l , s o c i a l a n d h i s t o r i c a l roots a n d causes. T h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a has m a d e a p r o f o u n d M a r x i s t a n a l y s i s o f these causes. I t has d r a w n c o n c l u s i o n s f r o m t h i s a n a l y s i s a n d t a k e n a series of m e a s u r e s to b a r the w a y t o t h e b i r t h o f s u c h a r e g r e s s i v e p h e n o m e n o n i n
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o u r c o u n t r y . H o w e v e r , w e m u s t d e l v e e v e r deeper i n t o t h i s problem in order to ensure that revisionism w i l l never gain a foothold in A l b a n i a . R i g h t f r o m t h e start, t h e K h r u s h c h e v g r o u p set itself a s its m a i n t a s k t o l i q u i d a t e t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , t o u n d e r m i n e t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f socialist society, t o set t h e S o v i e t U n i o n o n t h e c a p i t a l i s t r o a d a n d t u r n i t i n t o a n i m p e r i a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r . N o w w e c a n a l l see t h i s great c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n w h i c h has occurred in the Soviet U n i o n . O n l y the bourgeoisie and i m p e r ialism advertise it as a communist country. By presenting t h e p r e s e n t - d a y c a p i t a l i s t S o v i e t U n i o n as a socialist c o u n t r y , they w a n t to discredit M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and genuine socialism. K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionism is the ideology and policy o f state c a p i t a l i s m w h i c h d o m i n a t e s t h e w h o l e l i f e o f t h e country. The Soviet Union's return to capitalism could not f a i l t o h a v e its o w n s p e c i a l features, a n d t h e c a p i t a l i s t o r d e r there could not f a i l to assume special forms. These special features and forms are determined by the fact that capitali s m in that country was re-established as a result of the o v e r t h r o w of s o c i a l i s m , as a r e s u l t of a r e t r o g r e s s i v e process, unlike the capitalism of the classical type w h i c h follows t h e o v e r t h r o w of t h e f e u d a l o r d e r , as a p r o g r e s s i v e p r o cess. The fundamental peculiarity of this type of capitalism i s t h a t h e r e m a n y socialist f o r m s o f p r o p e r t y , o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t are r e t a i n e d , b u t t h e i r content has c h a n g e d radically. T o d a y in the Soviet U n i o n the means of product i o n are, i n fact, state c a p i t a l i s t , o r c o l l e c t i v e c a p i t a l i s t p r o p e r t y , because t h e y a r e u s e d i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h e n e w b o u r g e o i s class w h i c h i s i n p o w e r , a n d because i t i s p r e c i s e l y t h i s class w h i c h a p p r o p r i a t e s t h e l a b o u r o f w o r k e r s a n d peasants. T h e former laws, traditions a n d practices have been
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r e p l a c e d w i t h n e w ones, w h i c h a l l o w the state a n d p a r t y bureaucracy a free h a n d to express and apply their o w n w i l l w i t h o u t h i n d r a n c e . T h e n e w competences, w h i c h t h e y w e r e g i v e n o n t h e basis o f t h e e c o n o m i c r e f o r m s , w e r e used t o secure a n d e x t e n d t h e i n c o m e s a n d p r i v i l e g e s o f v a r i o u s l e a d i n g castes, t o p r e s e r v e t h e i r p o w e r a n d d e f e n d t h e m f r o m t h e d i s c o n t e n t a n d r e v o l t s o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses. T r u e , t h e state o w n e r s h i p r e m a i n e d a n d t h e f a c t o r i e s were not distributed to private owners, the kolkhozes remained c o m m o n collective economies a n d the banks were not h a n d e d o v e r t o s h a r e h o l d e r s , b u t w h a t w a s c h a n g e d was t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n , the d e s t i n a t i o n o f the social p r o d u c t . A l t h o u g h i t i s c l a i m e d t h a t the p r i n c i p l e o f r e m u n e r a t i o n according to w o r k is applied, in reality the different groups of the n e w bourgeoisie appropriate the surplus value created b y t h e w o r k e r s a n d peasants. A l l t h i s r o b b e r y i s presented as a k i n d of m a t e r i a l s t i m u l u s , a l l e g e d l y to encourage p r o d u c t i v e a c t i v i t y , s c i e n t i f i c w o r k , a r t i s t i c c r e a t iveness, etc. In r e a l i t y , t h i s is a t y p i c a l c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a tion. In order to open the w a y to the restoration of capitalism, t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s a t t a c k e d t h e f u n d a m ental theses o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y a b o u t c o m modity production and the operation of the l a w of value i n s o c i a l i s m . I n t h e o r y a n d p r a c t i c e t h e y i d e n t i f i e d socialist c o m m o d i t y p r o d u c t i o n w i t h c a p i t a l i s t p r o d u c t i o n . O n this basis, t h e y r e f o r m e d t h e w h o l e e c o n o m i c m e c h a n i s m . G r a d ually, t h e e c o n o m i c e n t e r p r i s e s a n d m a n y i n s t i t u t i o n s a s well w e n t o v e r to a g r e a t e r i n d e p e n d e n c e f r o m t h e state plans. G r e a t p o w e r s a n d r i g h t s w e r e g i v e n t o t h e d i r e c t o r s of various institutions and enterprises to direct and m a n i pulate p r o d u c t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n , t o e m p l o y a n d d i s m i s s people, to d i v i d e t h e p r o f i t s , etc. T h e c e n t r a l i z e d state financing of the existing enterprises was restricted and
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t h e use o f s e l f - f i n a n c i n g a n d c r e d i t w a s g r a d u a l l y e x t e n d e d . The Soviet revisionists claim that their economy is m a n a g e d a n d d e v e l o p e d o n t h e basis o f p l a n s , a l l e g e d l y drafted according to the principle of democratic centralism. H o w e v e r , t h e state p l a n , a s t h e y c o n c e i v e i t i n t h e o r y and apply it in practice, is not a n d cannot be in a n y w a y a p l a n of a g e n u i n e socialist e c o n o m y . In t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , b u r e a u c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m o f t h e m o n o p o l i s t t y p e coexists w i t h e x t e n s i v e e c o n o m i c l i b e r a l i s m a t t h e base. T h e i m a g e is g i v e n of a p l a n n e d m a n a g e m e n t of t h e e c o n o m y , w h e r e a s i n p r a c t i c e t h e e c o n o m i c l a w s a n d categories o f t h e c a p i t a l ist m o d e o f p r o d u c t i o n h a v e f r e e f i e l d s o f a c t i o n . P a r a s i t i c c o n s u m p t i o n has a s s u m e d u n p r e c e d e n t e d p r o p o r t i o n s . O n the basis o f t h e n o m i n a l pay, the d i f f e r e n c e i n r e m u n e r a t i o n b e t w e e n w o r k e r s a n d the b u r e a u c r a t i c a n d t e c h n o c r a t i c a d m i n i s t r a t o r s of p r o d u c t i o n reaches a r a t i o o f m o r e t h a n one t o t e n , w h i l e together w i t h t h e i n c o m e s f r o m t h e d i v i s i o n o f p r o f i t s , f r o m a l l k i n d s o f bonuses, a n d f r o m countless o t h e r p r i v i l e g e s , t h e d i f f e r e n c e i n p a y reaches e v e n g r e a t e r f i g u r e s . T h e s e d i f f e r e n c e s i n p a y a n d w a y o f l i f e c a n h a r d l y b e d i s t i n g u i s h e d f r o m those w h i c h exist between the bourgeois administrators a n d the w o r k e r s i n the c o u n t r i e s o f t h e W e s t . I n t h e c o n d i t i o n s w h e n 35-40 p e r cent o f t h e p a y f o r t h e value of labour power is formed in a decentralized w a y f r o m t h e d i v i s i o n o f p r o f i t s , w h e n t h e w o r k n o r m s are n o t u n i f i e d a n d are l i k e w i s e a p p l i e d i n a d e c e n t r a l i z e d w a y , w h e n t h e m a t e r i a l s t i m u l u s i n f a v o u r o f the n e w b o u r g e o i s i e has absolute p r i o r i t y , a n d w h e n i n f l a t i o n , c a u s e d e s p e c i a l l y b y the m i l i t a r i z a t i o n o f the e c o n o m y , w h i c h gobbles u p one t h i r d o f t h e n a t i o n a l i n c o m e , i s c o n s t a n t l y r i s i n g , i n essence, the society has lost r e a l c o n t r o l o v e r t h e a m o u n t o f l a b o u r and consumption, w h i c h are t w o m a i n keys for a socialist economy. T h e s e a n d a series of other m e a s u r e s of a c a p i t a l i s t
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character, w h i c h w e r e t r u m p e t e d as a creative development of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t economic theory a n d practice, h a d as their a i m and led to the demolition of the foundations of t h e socialist e c o n o m y . T h e consequences o f t h i s course a r e a p p a r e n t i n t h e d a i l y l i f e o f t h e S o v i e t people. O n t h e m a r k e t t h e r e a r e shortages o f p r i m e necessities; i n f l a t i o n , u n e m p l o y m e n t a n d the f l u c t u a t i o n o f l a b o u r p o w e r h a v e i n c r e a s e d , d e c l a r e d a n d u n d e c l a r e d increases i n p r i c e s o f v a r i o u s goods c a n b e seen. T h e p r i v a t e sector o f t h e e c o n o m y has e x t e n d e d , t h e doors h a v e b e e n f l u n g o p e n t o f o r e i g n m o n o p o l y c a p i t a l , and the black market, speculation, embezzlements, bribery and f r a u d are rife. T h e p r e s e n t - d a y S o v i e t r e a l i t y s h o w s t h a t t h e process i s not m o v i n g t o w a r d s t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f class d i s t i n c t i o n s and the creation of a n e w social unity, as the K h r u s h chevite-Brezhnevite revisionists propagate, but towards profound social differentation between the n e w bourgeois class, c o m p r i s e d o f t h e s t r a t u m o f b u r e a u c r a t s a n d t e c h nocrats, a n d t h e b r o a d w o r k i n g masses, w h o are i n t h e p o s i t i o n of a s i m p l e p r o d u c i n g force. T h e g r e a t e r t h e degree o f e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e a n d t h e m o r e the p r o f i t s of t h e b o u r g e o i s i e increase, t h e deeper the g u l f b e t w e e n t h e m i s g r o w i n g . T h e s i t u a t i o n has g i v e n r i s e t o a w h o l e i d e o l o g y a n d p o l i c y w h i c h j u s t i f i e s a n d defends this n e w s y s t e m o f c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n . T h e S o v i e t p o w e r i s n o l o n g e r o f Soviets, o f the w o r k e r s and peasants. I t i s i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e m a n d has b e c o m e l i k e a force i n itself a n d a l i e n t o t h e m . T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i sionists h a v e f o r m a l l y p r o c l a i m e d t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t l i q u i d a t e d . T h e y h a v e n a m e d t h e state the state o f the e n t i r e people, i n o r d e r t o h i d e t h e r e a l i t y t h a t i t i s n o longer of t h e people, b u t a d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e n e w S o v i e t bourgeoisie. Its c a p i t a l i s t c h a r a c t e r i s c l e a r l y a p p a r e n t f r o m the w h o l e i n t e r n a l a n d f o r e i g n p o l i c y w h i c h i t p u r s u e s , a
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p o l i c y w h i c h serves t h e interests o f t h e b o u r g e o i s class i n p o w e r . T h e S o v i e t state, w h i c h has t h e m a i n m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n i n its h a n d s a n d r u n s t h e w h o l e e c o n o m y , h a s been t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a n d d e f e n d e r o f t h e interests o f t h e r u l i n g class. I n o r d e r t o p r e s e r v e t h e i r socialist disguise a n d to p r o v e t h a t t h e S o v i e t U n i o n is a socialist c o u n t r y , t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s s a y t h a t t h e r e i s o n l y one p a r t y t h e r e , t h a t t h i s p a r t y i s a c o m m u n i s t p a r t y , a n d its l e a d i n g r o l e has b e e n s a n c t i o n e d i n the C o n s t i t u t i o n . T h e fact t h a t t h e r e i s o n l y one l e a d i n g p a r t y a n d t h a t its u n d i v i d e d p o w e r i s r e c o g n i z e d b y l a w does not m a k e i t a c o m m u n i s t p a r t y . T h e r e are m a n y b o u r g e o i s c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e r e i s o n l y a single r u l i n g p a r t y . T h e p o s i t i o n o f a p o l i t i c a l p a r t y i n the state does n o t d e t e r m i n e its c h a r a c t e r . T h e c h a r a c t e r of a p a r t y is d e t e r m i n e d , f i r s t of a l l , by to w h i c h class it belongs a n d w h o m i t serves, b y w h a t i d e o l o g y i t i s g u i d e d , a n d w h a t p o l i c y i t pursues. T h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f the S o v i e t U n i o n t o d a y i s the d i r e c t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e b o u r g e o i s class i n p o w e r , exercises p o w e r o n its b e h a l f , a n d serves t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d strengthening of the restored capitalist order. It is communist only in name. The maintenance of the name c o m m u n i s t a n d its use o f c e r t a i n M a r x i s t p h r a s e s a n d s o cialist slogans h a v e a h y p o c r i t i c a l a n d s i m p l y d e m a g o g i c character. T h i s is part of that deceptive propaganda w h i c h w a n t s t o k e e p the masses i n t h e d a r k a n d m a k e t h e m b e l i e v e t h a t t h e y are l i v i n g i n s o c i a l i s m a n d n o t i n a c a p i t a l i s t society o f o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n . F r o m t r a d i t i o n , f o r purposes o f disguise, o r s i m p l y out o f i n e r t i a , m a n y p a r t i e s r e t a i n s u c h n a m e s a s d e m o c r a t i c , p o p u l a r , socialist, etc., a t a t i m e w h e n t h e y a r e t y p i c a l l y b o u r g e o i s a n d r e a c t i o n a r y parties. The revisionist-capitalist policy, w h i c h is applied in the S o v i e t U n i o n , has r e v i v e d t h e o l d d e m o n s o f t h e c z a r i s t
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empire, such as n a t i o n a l oppression, anti-semitism, S l a v racism, O r t h o d o x religious mysticism, the cult of m i l i t a r y castes, t h e a r i s t o c r a t i s m o f t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , b u r e a u c r a c y i n the o l d R u s s i a n s t y l e , etc. T h e t h e o r i e s o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a b o u t t h e a l l e g e d c r e a t i o n of a h i s t o r i c n e w c o m m u n i t y , o f t h e u n i f i e d S o v i e t people, h a v e b e e n invented precisely to conceal the reality that the Soviet U n i o n i s r e n t w i t h p r o f o u n d social, class a n d n a t i o n a l c o n tradictions. It is the strength of the Soviet a r m y w h i c h dominates i n the S o v i e t U n i o n t o d a y . T h e s t e p p e d - u p r a t e o f m i l i t a r i z ation o f t h e l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d t h e h e a v y b u r d e n o f m i l i t a r y e x p e n d i t u r e , w h i c h has r e a c h e d a s t r o n o m i c a l p r o p ortions a n d i s s h a k i n g t h e S o v i e t e c o n o m y m o r e a n d m o r e p r o f o u n d l y , d i s t o r t its d e v e l o p m e n t a n d i m p o v e r i s h t h e people. T h e re-establishment of capitalism w i t h i n the country could not f a i l to l e a d , also, to a d r a s t i c t u r n - a b o u t in t h e sphere o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s a n d t h e f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d t h e S o v i e t state. K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v isionism w a s g r a d u a l l y t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o t h e i d e o l o g y a n d policy o f t h e n e w i m p e r i a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r , w h i c h j u s t i f i e s and d e f e n d s its e x p a n s i o n , a g g r e s s i o n a n d w a r s f o r t h e establishment o f w o r l d d o m i n a t i o n . O f f s p r i n g o f t h i s i d e o l ogy a n d p o l i c y are t h e n o t o r i o u s t h e o r i e s o f l i m i t e d s o v ereignty, t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l d i v i s i o n o f l a b o u r a n d t h e economic-political a n d m i l i t a r y i n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e c o u n tries o f t h e s o - c a l l e d socialist c o m m u n i t y , w h i c h h a v e bound these c o u n t r i e s h a n d a n d foot a n d t r a n s f o r m e d t h e m into v a s s a l states. A t t h e 26th C o n g r e s s o f t h e C P S U B r e z h nev c a l l e d these r e l a t i o n s r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n peoples i n order t o w i p e out a n y n a t i o n a l a n d state i d e n t i t y i n t h i s way. I n o r d e r t o a t t a i n its e x p a n s i o n i s t , n e o - c o l o n i a l i s t o b j e c tives, S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m has c r e a t e d a t h e o r y a c -
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cording to w h i c h no country can liberate and defend itself f r o m imperialism and develop in an independent w a y w i t h o u t S o v i e t a i d a n d tutelage. I t m i s u s e s t h e slogan o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t a i d i n o r d e r t o u n d e r t a k e aggressions a n d t o p l u n d e r t h e w e a l t h o f other c o u n t r i e s . T h e w h o l e aggressive, h e g e m o n i c a n d e x p a n s i o n i s t foreign policy of the social-imperialist Soviet U n i o n is f u r t h e r p r o o f a n d e v i d e n c e t h a t the S o v i e t o r d e r i s a c a p i t a l i s t order, because o n l y a c a p i t a l i s t o r d e r c a n p u r s u e s u c h a policy in the international arena. As L e n i n said, foreign p o l i c y i s a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f the i n t e r n a l p o l i c y , a n d t h e t w o together are a c o n c e n t r a t e d e x p r e s s i o n of t h e e c o n o m i c r e l a t i o n s w h i c h e x i s t i n a c o u n t r y . T h e socialist a n d c o m m u n i s t disguise, w h i c h t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s s t i l l t r y t o retain, is being t o r n f r o m t h e m day by day in the face of their capitalist reality and the social-imperialist policy w h i c h they pursue. A s t o h o w l o n g t h i s great d e c e p t i o n o f t h e S o v i e t people, t h a t t h e y a r e a l l e g e d l y l i v i n g i n s o c i a l i s m , c a n b e k e p t u p , h o w l o n g t h e S o v i e t w o r k i n g class w i l l c o n t i n u e t o l i v e w i t h i l l u s i o n s t h i s d e p e n d s o n m a n y factors, i n t e r n a l and external. As to what awaits the countries in w h i c h K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionism is r u l i n g , the events in P o l a n d are v e r y s i g n i f i c a n t . T h e fact i s t h a t t h e r e t h e class c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n the w o r k i n g p e o p l e a n d t h e b o u r g e o i s class i n p o w e r , r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t y , h a s b u r s t out. I r r e s p e c t i v e o f h o w i t has b e e n m a n i p u l a t e d b y t h e forces o f t h e R i g h t , i n essence, t h e r e v o l t o f t h e P o l i s h w o r k i n g class s h o w s t h a t it has b e c o m e conscious of its p o s i t i o n s a s a n oppressed a n d e x p l o i t e d class, t h a t t h e e x i s t i n g state p o w e r in P o l a n d belongs to a class a n t a g o n i s t i c to it a n d t h a t s o c i a l i s m has b e e n b e t r a y e d . W h i c h w i l l b e t h e n e x t a f t e r P o l a n d ? T h e processes o f class d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n are seething, a n d , class c o n f l i c t s are b u i l d i n g u p r a p i d l y i n a l l the revisionist countries. T h e Soviet U n i o n makes no ex-
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ception i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , a l t h o u g h o u t w a r d l y i t l o o k s a s t h e most stable a m o n g t h e m . T h e w o u n d s w h i c h t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m has o p e n e d c a n b e h e a l e d o n l y w i t h t h e o v e r t h r o w o f r e v i s i o n i s m a n d t h e r e - e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f socialism. Our Party has waged a great, open, principled struggle against Chinese revisionism, the ideology, policy, stands and actions of the Communist Party of China. C h i n e s e r e v i s i o n ism is an opportunist current in the w o r l d communist movement, a n d its f o u n d a t i o n M a o Z e d o n g t h o u g h t , i s a n ideology w i t h a r c h a i c features, a n a m a l g a m o f a n c i e n t Chinese t h e o r i e s o f C o n f u c i u s a n d M e n c i u s a n d n e w p a r a phrased t h e o r i e s w i t h o u t a n y o r g a n i c s t r u c t u r a l c o n n e c t i o n , painted up w i t h a M a r x i s t phraseology. M a o Zedong thought r e p r e s e n t s a h e g e m o n i c i d e o l o g y of w o r l d d o m i n a tion, b a s e d on a h e t e r o g e n e o u s c o l l e c t i o n of c o n t r a d i c t o r y and p r a g m a t i c t h e o r e m s a n d ideas. W h e n C h i n a b e g a n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e n e w C h i n e s e state, w h i c h e m e r g e d from the liberation war, the Chinese ship wallowed confusedly, s o m e t i m e s t o t h e r i g h t , s o m e t i m e s t o t h e left, i n the w a t e r s of t h i s i d e o l o g y . T h i s w a s t h e source of those vacillations of C h i n a and that lack of definition of the character o f its p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c s y s t e m . T h e t h e o r y w h i c h g u i d e d t h e n e w C h i n a w a s not M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . T h e M a r x i s t slogans i n C h i n e s e c h a r a c t e r s painted o n t h e f a c a d e g a v e t h e false i m p r e s s i o n t h a t some features o f s c i e n t i f i c s o c i a l i s m e x i s t e d . T h e y p r e v e n t e d t h e continual deviations f r o m being clearly discerned. W h i l e t h e r o l e o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t w a s being stressed i n C h i n a , t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f r i v a l g r o u p s and p e r s o n a l i t i e s w a s c o n c e a l e d a n d d e v e l o p e d u n d e r it. W h i l e t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e p a r t y w a s stressed, t h i s c o n cealed a c h a o t i c o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d t h e n o n - e x i s t e n t l e a d e r ship o f t h e p a r t y . W h i l e t h e r e w a s t a l k a b o u t t h e h e g e m o n y o f the w o r k i n g class, t h e l e a d i n g r o l e , i n fact, w a s left t o
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t h e p e a s a n t r y , because i t w a s its p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y w h i c h predominated in C h i n a . W h i l e there was talk about the a l t e r a t i o n o f class s t r u c t u r e s , i n essence, n o t h i n g changed f r o m w h a t it was. The Chinese economy went on limping badly, lacking a n y clear d i r e c t i v e o r p e r s p e c t i v e , i r r e s p e c t i v e o f t h e e x i s tence o f t h e s o - c a l l e d p l a n w h i c h d i d n o t h a v e t h e r e m o t e s t r e s e m b l a n c e to a s c i e n t i f i c p l a n , let a l o n e a p l a n b a s e d on a c e n t r a l i z e d s y s t e m . Indeed, i t d i d n o t h a v e e v e n t h e f e a t u r e s of a decentralized plan. T h e Chinese economy carried on b y its o w n m o m e n t u m . In this flabby organization and in this ideology w i t h n o b a c k b o n e , the p r e d o m i n a n t i d e a w a s t h a t o f t h e h e g e m o n y o f the g r e a t C h i n e s e state w h i c h h a d b e e n c a l l e d u p o n b y h i s t o r y t o r e p r e s e n t t h e n e w m o d e l o f socialist society, t o r e p r e s e n t t h e M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m o f t h e n e w era, w h i c h w a s M a o Z e d o n g t h o u g h t . In this development of C h i n a we had to discern that u n d e r the c l o a k o f r e v o l u t i o n l u r k e d c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n , that under the cloak of M a o Zedong thought l u r k e d a n t i M a r x i s m , a trend of modern revisionism w h i c h was seeking p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l , o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d state f o r m s a n d structures appropriate for the Chinese continent a n d for its c a p i t a l i s t - i m p e r i a l i s t a s p i r a t i o n s . The anti-imperialism, anti-Sovietism, and antiA m e r i c a n i s m , w h i c h w e r e a l t e r n a t e l y stressed i n M a o Zedong's C h i n a , were temporary manoeuvres. T h e y were n o t i d e o l o g i c a l c o n v i c t i o n s , w e r e n o t p r i n c i p l e d stands, b u t w e r e m a n o e u v r e s t o b a l a n c e t h e p o w e r f u l states o f t h e w o r l d , a g a m e o n t h e w o r l d c h e s s - b o a r d w i t h the imperialist political-military powers for the strengthening of China. I t w a s w i t h these w o r l d o u t l o o k s , w i t h these eclectic, o p p o r t u n i s t stands, b o t h o n t h e i n t e r n a l p l a n e o f C h i n a a n d on the external plane, that the Proletarian C u l t u r a l R e v o l u -
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tion o f t h e R e d G u a r d s w a s c a r r i e d out a n d t h a t t h e r e vanchist r e v o l u t i o n o f r e a c t i o n a r y o l d m e n a n d a l l the remnants of the old C h i n a is t a k i n g place today. These were the f o u n d a t i o n s o n w h i c h t h e i l l - f a t e d t h e o r y o f three w o r l d s a n d o f a l l i a n c e s o f these t h r e e w o r l d s w a s w o r k e d out a n d t h e b i g s w i t c h e s w e r e m a d e i n C h i n e s e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o l i c y w i t h v e r y d a n g e r o u s consequences f o r w o r l d peace. It took our P a r t y a f a i r l y long time to discern this anti-Marxist course of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of C h i n a a n d t h e C h i n e s e state, w i t h w h i c h w e h a d g o o d f r i e n d l y relations. F o r o u r P a r t y t h e t h e o r e t i c a l - p o l i t i c a l essence o f this f r i e n d s h i p w a s v e r y i m p o r t a n t , t h e q u e s t i o n o f the struggle t o p r e s e r v e t h e p u r i t y o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d the q u e s t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n w e r e i m p o r t a n t . At first we waged a principled struggle through debates, a s b e t w e e n c o m r a d e s , b u t g r a d u a l l y i t b e c a m e e m b i t tered because o f t h e a n t i - M a r x i s t a t t i t u d e o f C h i n a . O n the p a r t o f t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a , t h i s w a s a struggle w i t h n o concessions, b u t also a n u n e q u a l a n d difficult struggle. H a d not this struggle been w a g e d the construction of socialism in A l b a n i a w o u l d have been e n dangered. T h e importance of the struggle of the P a r t y of L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a lies i n t h e fact t h a t i t d e s t r o y e d t w o m y t h s : t h a t of C h i n a as a country in w h i c h socialism was being built, and t h a t o f M a o Z e d o n g t h o u g h t a s t h e M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m of our time. In this struggle to defend principles our P a r t y took a c c o u n t o f a l l t h e e c o n o m i c d i f f i c u l t i e s w h i c h m i g h t be c r e a t e d f o r the c o u n t r y . M a o Zedong thought, publicized as the further scientific development of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , might have h a d a n i n f l u e n c e , a s i t d i d i n fact o n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m munist movement a n d on certain M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties i n p a r t i c u l a r . B e c a u s e o f m a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e s , these parties, being q u i t e u n a b l e t o m a k e a p r o f o u n d a n a l y s i s o f t h i s r e -
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v i s i o n i s t i d e o l o g i c a l t r e n d , t h o u g h t t h a t i n great C h i n a a n d in M a o Zedong they had the leaders of the proletarian r e v o l u t i o n , r e s o l u t e s u p p o r t e r s i n t h e s t r u g g l e against A m e r ican imperialism and Soviet social-imperialism, natural d e f e n d e r s o f the j u s t n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n w a r s o f t h e peoples. Hence, a p r i n c i p l e d and determined struggle h a d to be waged in order to undeceive the deceived. T h e P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a undertook this struggle. T h i s is an e x perience we have l i v e d t h r o u g h a n d proved, both in the time w h e n M a o Zedong himself was alive a n d after his d e a t h . S o c i a l i s t A l b a n i a d i d not b e c o m e i s o l a t e d i n t h e w o r l d o n account o f t h i s struggle, a s t h e Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n ists c l a i m . T h e opposite o c c u r r e d . T h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a a n d the P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a made their i n t e r n a l and international positions even stronger. In this struggle to defend M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d the r e v o l u t i o n a n d t o oppose t h e p s e u d o - M a r x i s t i d e o l o g y o f M a o Z e d o n g t h o u g h t , o t h e r sister M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s , too, f o u g h t w i t h w i s d o m a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e t e r m i n a t i o n and made a valuable contribution. T h e e x p o s u r e of C h i n a as a n o n - s o c i a l i s t c o u n t r y a n d of M a o Zedong thought as an anti-Marxist theory w i p e d out a dangerous illusion in the international M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t movement, just as had occurred w i t h Soviet and Yugoslav revisionism and the other reactionary revisionist currents. A n y disguise, a n y f a l s i f i c a t i o n , a n y d e v i a t i o n f r o m t h e scientific theory of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m cannot be kept up f o r l o n g . S o o n e r o r l a t e r i t i s e x p o s e d , because i t r u n s c o u n t e r t o the ideals o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e peoples w h o f i g h t f o r f r e e d o m , f o r g e n u i n e d e m o c r a c y , f o r soc i a l i s m , f o r a society w i t h o u t e x p l o i t e r s a n d e x p l o i t e d . The present developments in C h i n a , the w h o l e home and foreign policy of the Chinese leadership, prove that t h e analyses a n d c o n c l u s i o n s o f t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f
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A l b a n i a w e r e a b s o l u t e l y a c c u r a t e a n d correct. T h e C h i n e s e l e a d e r s h i p left t h e f i e l d f r e e f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f the c a p i t a l i s t e c o n o m y , o p e n e d t h e doors t o t h e i n f l o w o f e n s l a v i n g f o r e i g n c a p i t a l , u n i t e d i n close a l l i a n c e w i t h A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d the b l a c k e s t i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e a c t i o n . C h i n a came out o p e n l y a s a n a g g r e s s i v e i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r w i t h pretensions to w o r l d h e g e m o n y . It has become one of the m a i n centres o f w o r l d c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n , w h i c h f i g h t s w i t h a l l m e a n s t o h i n d e r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f peoples a n d s t r a n g l e the r e v o l u t i o n . T o d a y C h i n e s e r e v i s i o n i s m has e m e r g e d o p e n l y as a r e a c t i o n a r y c u r r e n t , has b r o k e n off a n y c o n nection, n o t o n l y w i t h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t s , b u t also w i t h a n y d e m o c r a t i c a n d p r o g r e s s i v e m o v e m e n t . I n e v e r y case i t t a k e s t h e side o f t h e m o s t sinister, m o s t o b s c u r a n t i s t a n d fascist forces i n t h e w o r l d . T h e d i s o r d e r , c o r r u p t i o n , c o n f u s i o n a n d clashes, w h i c h h a v e o c c u r r e d a n d are o c c u r r i n g i n C h i n a , are d i r e c t consequences o f M a o Z e d o n g t h o u g h t . T h e c r i t i c i s m w h i c h t h e C h i n e s e l e a d e r s t o d a y m a k e o f M a o Z e d o n g has n o t h i n g a t all i n c o m m o n w i t h the M a r x i s t criticism w h i c h w e make. I t has n o c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e content o f h i s ideas w h i c h the p r e s e n t C h i n e s e l e a d e r s r e t a i n a n d a p p l y i n p r a c t i c e . Their criticism is an expression of the struggle for power between different r i v a l Maoist groups. These groups cannot reject M a o Z e d o n g , because a l l o f t h e m f i n d s u p p o r t a n d j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r t h e i r a c t i o n s i n h i s ideas. W i t h o u t f r e e i n g themselves f r o m M a o Z e d o n g t h o u g h t t h e C h i n e s e p r o l e tariat a n d t h e C h i n e s e p e o p l e w i l l b e u n a b l e t o f i n d t h e r i g h t r o a d w h i c h leads t o s o c i a l i s m . I n t h e f u t u r e , too, t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a w i l l c o n t i n u e its consistent p r i n c i p l e d s t r u g g l e f o r t h e c o m p l e t e e x p o s u r e of C h i n e s e r e v i s i o n i s m , f o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a clear-cut d i v i d i n g l i n e b e t w e e n M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d t h e a n t i - M a r x i s t ideas o f M a o Z e d o n g . W i t h o u t d e n o u n c i n g a n d rejecting M a o Z e d o n g t h o u g h t , w i t h o u t c o m b a t i n g a n d
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eradicating any influence of it in the revolutionary m o v e ment, t h e r e c a n b e n o serious t a l k a b o u t t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t C h i n e s e r e v i s i o n i s m or a g a i n s t m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m as a whole, the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t movement cannot be p r o p e r l y c o n s o l i d a t e d a n d d e v e l o p e d a n d t h e cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n carried f o r w a r d successfully. The more the contradictions of capitalism and imperialism deepen, and the closer the wave of the revolution approaches, the more the other revisionist current Eurocommunism, reveals its anti-Marxist and counter-revolutionary features. E u r o c o m m u n i s m is a p r o d u c t of t h e d e g e n e r a t i o n of the communist parties w h i c h took the course of r e v i s i o n ism and of the split w h i c h occurred in the revisionist camp as a r e s u l t of t h e p r e d o m i n a n c e w h i c h b o u r g e o i s n a t i o n a l ism assumed w i t h i n this camp. It is the ideology of the w o r k e r aristocracy, fed w i t h crumbs f r o m the profits of the bourgeoisie. E u r o c o m m u n ism, w h i c h is the purest ideology of bourgeois r e f o r m i s m , plays the role of the fifth column in the r a n k s of the workers' movement. The Eurocommunists, w h o were the most ardent supp o r t e r s o f t h e c a m p a i g n against S t a l i n , a l l e g e d l y t o r e t u r n to L e n i n , have n o w united openly w i t h the w h o l e chorus of the bourgeoisie a n d the social-democrats to attack L e n i n and Leninism. The very term Eurocommunism is an expression of their departure f r o m M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , of t h e i r d e n i a l o f the u n i v e r s a l l a w s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialist society. T h e E u r o c o m m u n i s t s h a v e e x h u m e d f r o m the grave and put into circulation again the old opportunist theories of Lasalle a n d Bernstein, K a u t s k y a n d t h e 2 n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l , w h i c h t h e y p u b l i c i z e a s t h e last w o r d in the creative development of M a r x i s m in our days. T h e open a t t a c k f r o m a n t i - c o m m u n i s t p o s i t i o n s a l l a l o n g t h e l i n e against the f u n d a m e n t a l t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x i s m -
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Leninism is the logical end of a l l m o d e r n revisionism and a l l its t r e n d s . T h e E u r o c o m m u n i s t s ' preachings about the supraclass capitalist state, a b o u t d e m o c r a c y f o r a l l , a b o u t t h e p e a c e f u l , parliamentary democratic r o a d to socialism, about structural reforms w i t h i n the f r a m e w o r k of the bourgeois constitution, etc., h a v e o n l y one a i m : t o sabotage t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d defend a n d p e r p e t u a t e t h e c a p i t a l i s t o r d e r . W h e n t h e Italian, F r e n c h o r S p a n i s h r e v i s i o n i s t s t a l k a b o u t t h e historic c o m p r o m i s e , t h e h i s t o r i c b l o c of t h e left, etc., or w h e n t h e y s t r u g g l e t o get i n t o the b o u r g e o i s g o v e r n m e n t s , they d o t h i s n o t i n o r d e r t o w r e s t p o w e r f r o m t h e b o u r geoisie, n o t to l i q u i d a t e t h e c a p i t a l i s t order, b u t to p r o t e c t it f r o m the revolution and to take over the management o f the a f f a i r s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e t h e m s e l v e s . T h e y w a n t t o replace s o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y , w h i c h i s n o w c o m p r o m i s e d a n d discredited i n t h e eyes o f t h e masses i n its r o l e a s a n o p e n servant of t h e b o u r g e o i s i e . W h i l e they prettify capitalism, the Eurocommunists express open h o s t i l i t y t o s o c i a l i s m . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e m , n o true s o c i a l i s m e x i s t s o r e v e r has e x i s t e d u p t i l l n o w . F o r them t h e t r u e s o c i a l i s m i s t h a t w h i c h t h e y t h e m s e l v e s have i n v e n t e d , t h e s o - c a l l e d d e m o c r a t i c s o c i a l i s m , p l u r a l ist socialism, or t h e t h i r d r o a d . The socialism envisaged by the E u r o c o m m u n i s t s is a socialism w i t h o u t t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , w i t h o u t the u n d i v i d e d l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y , w i t h o u t the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y . I n t h i s s o c i a l i s m , state p o w e r w i l l b e l o n g t o a l l classes, t h e d i f f e r e n t p a r t i e s w i l l c o m e t o leadership a c c o r d i n g t o t h e votes t h e y r e c e i v e i n elections, and t h e M a r x i s t i d e o l o g y w i l l c o e x i s t w i t h a l l t h e o t h e r ideologies, b o u r g e o i s , p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s a n d r e l i g i o u s . D i f ferent f o r m s o f t h e e c o n o m y , t h e s o c i a l i z e d p r o p e r t y a n d private enterprise, imperialist capital and the m u l t i - n a t i o n a l
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companies, w i l l exist in the socialism of the E u r o c o m munists. H e n c e , i n t h i s so-called p l u r a l i s t society, classes, p a r t i e s , ideologies, d i f f e r e n t f o r m s o f p r o p e r t y , socialist a n d c a p i t a l ist elements w i l l c o m b i n e a n d coexist i n c o m p l e t e peace a n d h a r m o n y i n t h e e c o n o m y a n d p o l i c y , i n t h e base a n d s u p e r s t r u c t u r e a n d the w h o l e l i f e o f society. H o w e v e r , s u c h a m o n g r e l c a p i t a l i s t - s o c i a l i s t society has n e v e r e x i s t e d a n d never can exist. It can exist only in the imagination of the E u r o c o m m u n i s t s . S o c i a l i s m a n d c a p i t a l i s m are t w o m u t u a l l y e x c l u s i v e social o r d e r s . T h e n e w society a d v o c a t e d b y t h e Eurocommunists is nothing but the present-day capitalist society p a i n t e d i n socialist c o l o u r s . T h e emergence of E u r o c o m m u n i s m was publicized l o u d l y b y t h e b o u r g e o i s i e w h i c h h o p e d t h a t its r e f o r m i s t ideology w o u l d overshadow the revolutionary ideology of Marxism-Leninism. It hoped that Eurocommunism w o u l d extend w i d e l y a n d become a banner to unite all the r e v i sionists o f the W e s t a n d the E a s t . B u t its hopes w e r e c o m p l e t e l y dashed. I n t h e E u r o c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s t h e m s e l v e s t h e f a c t i o n s a n d splits i n c r e a s e d , w h i l e b e t w e e n t h e d i f ferent Eurocommunist parties the struggle for leadership began. T h e squabbles and divisions w i t h the other r e v i s i o n ist p a r t i e s b e c a m e e v e n greater. M a r c h a i s ' p a r t y a b a n d o n e d t h e E u r o c o m m u n i s t c a m p a n d i s m o v i n g closer a n d closer to the Soviet revisionists. T h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of S p a i n has s p l i t u p i n t o d i f f e r e n t f a c t i o n s , i n t o o r t h o d o x a n d heretic Eurocommunists, into pro-Soviet and anti-Soviet groups. M e a n w h i l e B e r l i n g u e r ' s p a r t y i s e x p e r i e n c i n g a g r a v e i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l crisis. T h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s t h a t E u r o c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s h a v e lost m u c h o f t h e i n f l u e n c e t h e y h a d a m o n g t h e masses, a n d t h i s c a n b e seen i n t h e defeats w h i c h t h e y are s u f f e r i n g c o n t i n u a l l y i n the election campaigns, w h i c h they consider their m a i n battlefield.
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The ideas of genuine socialism have been and remain a great force to inspire, mobilize and organize the revolutionary struggle of the masses. T o d a y t h e r e i s n o n e e d t o i n v e n t n e w socialisms o r to c o p y t h e so-called s o c i a l i s m s of t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , such a s t h e S o v i e t , Y u g o s l a v , C h i n e s e a n d o t h e r models, w h i c h a r e socialist o n l y i n n a m e . T h e r e i s n o t h i n g u n k n o w n a b o u t w h a t s o c i a l i s m is, w h a t i t r e p r e s e n t s a n d w h a t i t b r i n g s about, h o w i t i s a c h i e v e d a n d h o w socialist society i s b u i l t . A t h e o r y a n d practice o f s c i e n t i f i c s o c i a l i s m exists. M a r x . E n g e l s , L e n i n and S t a l i n t e a c h u s t h i s t h e o r y . W e f i n d the p r a c t i c e o f i t in that r i c h experience of the construction of socialism in the S o v i e t U n i o n i n t h e t i m e o f L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , a n d w e f i n d i t t o d a y i n A l b a n i a , w h e r e the n e w society i s b e i n g built a c c o r d i n g t o t h e t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . O f course, a s L e n i n said, s o c i a l i s m w i l l l o o k d i f f e r e n t and w i l l h a v e its o w n s p e c i a l f e a t u r e s i n d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s as a r e s u l t of the d i f f e r i n g s o c i o - e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s , t h e w a y i n w h i c h t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s c a r r i e d out, t h e t r a d i t i o n s , the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s , etc. B u t t h e basic p r i n ciples a n d t h e u n i v e r s a l l a w s o f s o c i a l i s m r e m a i n u n s h a k e able a n d a r e e s s e n t i a l f o r a l l c o u n t r i e s . T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s carefully study the revolutionary processes i n t h e i r o w n c o u n t r i e s , a s w e l l a s t h e n a t i o n a l and i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n d i t i o n s i n w h i c h t h e y t a k e place. T h e y a r e not d o g m a t i c e i t h e r i n t h e o r y o r i n p r a c t i c e . F o r them, M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , as a d i a l e c t i c a l m a t e r i a l i s t w o r l d outlook, is a l i v i n g , c r e a t i v e d o c t r i n e in ceaseless d e v e l o p ment. T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s are not conservative and fanatical, a s t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e b o u r g e o i s c h a r g e . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e y a r e t h e m o s t p r o g r e s s i v e people, r e s o l u t e fighters against e v e r y t h i n g o u t d a t e d a n d b a c k w a r d . T h e y stand f i r m l y o n t h e p o s i t i o n s o f the n e w a n d f i g h t w i t h
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a l l t h e i r m i g h t f o r its v i c t o r y . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d a l l t h e other o p p o r t u n i s t s w h o , a s l a c k e y s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e , d e f e n d a lost cause, d e f e n d an obsolete o r d e r of o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n , are c o n s e r v a t i v e a n d r e a c t i o n a r y . I t i s p r e c i s e l y t h i s r e a c t i o n a r y p o s i t i o n w h i c h has p l u n g e d m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m i n t o a p r o f o u n d crisis. T h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e consciousness o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e peoples f r o m the i n h i b i t i n g i n f l u e n c e o f r e v i s i o n ism, the dissemination of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m w h i c h points out the o n l y correct course f o r t h e s t r u g g l e a n d v i c t o r y , i s a p r i m a r y task t o d a y i n o r d e r t o c a r r y f o r w a r d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y process i n each c o u n t r y a n d o n a w o r l d scale. W i t h the upsurge of the revolt and movements of t h e masses, w i t h t h e a w a k e n i n g o f t h e n a t i o n a l a n d class consciousness o f t h e peoples a n d f r o m t h e fact t h a t t h e w o r l d i s f a c i n g great socio-economic u p h e a v a l s , t h i s t a s k becomes e v e n m o r e u r g e n t . A l l t h e enemies a r e s t r i v i n g t o a l i e n a t e t h e masses f r o m the revolution. T h e bourgeoisie, social democracy, the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e o p p o r t u n i s t s o f e v e r y h u e are d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e i r p o w e r t o deceive t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e masses, t o i m p l a n t i d e o l o g i c a l c o n f u s i o n a n d disruption, to spread pessimism and fatalism, to arouse d i s t r u s t i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d s o c i a l i s m a m o n g t h e people, a n d t o b u i l d u p t h e psychosis t h a t i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o s m a s h a n d defeat c a p i t a l i s m a n d i m p e r i a l i s m . F o r these enemies, the o n l y p r o b l e m i s t o g i v e c a p i t a l i s m a m o r e h u m a n face, w h i c h m e a n s t h a t the b i g c a p i t a l i s t s s h o u l d c o n t i n u e to rule, but should t h r o w a few crumbs to the poor. T h e b o u r g e o i s ideologists, t h e apologists o f S o v i e t i m p e r i a l i s m , t h e advocates of t h e t h e o r y of three w o r l d s , of n o n alignment a n d the N o r t h - S o u t h dialogue, the Pope of R o m e a n d the t r a d e - u n i o n bosses a r e a l l u n i t e d i n t h i s j o i n t chorus. Great pressure is being exerted on the European
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w o r k i n g class. B e c a u s e o f t h e d o m i n a t i o n o f r e f o r m i s m , the w o r k e r s ' m o v e m e n t i n E u r o p e s t i l l has n o t d e v e l o p e d into a g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t . It has n o t g a i n e d f u l l a w a r e n e s s t h a t i n o r d e r t o c h a n g e its s i t u a t i o n t h e capitalist s y s t e m m u s t b e r e p l a c e d a n d socialist society established. H o w e v e r , t h e E u r o p e a n p r o l e t a r i a t w i l l not g o o n f o r ever o b e y i n g t h e t r a d e - u n i o n bosses a n d s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c and r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s , w h o p r a t t l e t h a t a b e t t e r f u t u r e for the w o r k i n g masses w i l l b e e n s u r e d t h r o u g h t h e d e v e l o p ment o f t h e e x i s t i n g b o u r g e o i s s t r u c t u r e s , t h e p a r l i a m e n t a r y road, t h r o u g h r e f o r m s , o r t h r o u g h U n i t e d E u r o p e . T h e oppression, v i o l e n c e , savage e x p l o i t a t i o n , u n e m p l o y m e n t , drugs, d e g e n e r a t i o n a n d i n f l a t i o n , w h i c h h a v e s w e p t t h e countries o f E u r o p e , w i l l n o t b e a b l e t o r e s t r a i n t h e s o u n d forces o f t h e E u r o p e a n peoples f r o m r e v o l t i n g against t h e rule o f c a p i t a l . U n i t e d E u r o p e i s n o t h i n g b u t a n e p h e m e r a l solution, a r e a c t i o n a r y c a p i t a l i s t p o l i c y w h i c h , sooner or later, w i l l f i n d itself f a c i n g countless d i f f i c u l t i e s o f v a r i o u s natures. H e n c e , t h e m o m e n t w i l l c o m e w h e n t h e r e v o l t o f the w o r k i n g class o f E u r o p e w i l l r e a c h t h e p o i n t t h a t it i m p e r a t i v e l y d e m a n d s a r e v o l u t i o n a r y s o l u t i o n . In these c o n d i t i o n s , it is of f i r s t - r a t e i m p o r t a n c e t h a t the c o m m u n i s t s a n d n o n - c o m m u n i s t s , p r o g r e s s i v e s a n d a l l the masses of t h e p e o p l e s h o u l d c l e a r l y u n d e r s t a n d t h a t their r e a l e n e m y i s c a p i t a l i s m , t h a t i t m u s t a n d c a n b e overthrown t h r o u g h r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggle. In this way, pessimism w i l l b e e l i m i n a t e d , a n d t h e i r c o u r a g e a n d confidence i n v i c t o r y w i l l b e i n c r e a s e d . T h e science o f M a r x and L e n i n b u i l d s u p t h i s c o n f i d e n c e o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d the masses a n d m a k e s i t i n v i n c i b l e . The p a r t y and the proletariat, that are preparing for the r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e s e i z u r e o f p o w e r , t r y t o a n a l y s e and t h o r o u g h l y m a s t e r t h e s i t u a t i o n s , t o s c i e n t i f i c a l l y d e termine t h e c h a r a c t e r a n d stages o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n i n e v e r y
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concrete instance, a n d , o n t h i s basis, t o w o r k out t h e a p p r o p r i a t e s t r a t e g y a n d tactics. T h e y s t u d y w i t h t h e g r e a t est care t h e v a r i o u s people's r e v o l u t i o n a r y c u r r e n t s w h i c h c l a s h w i t h c a p i t a l i s m a n d its parties, assess t h e i r d i r e c t i o n s , the r a t i o o f forces i n the concrete s i t u a t i o n , a n d o n t h i s basis, decide a n d p u t i n t o p r a c t i c e a l l those s k i l f u l t a c t i c s w h i c h m u s t b e u s e d t o l e a d the p o p u l a r masses o n t h e correct v i c t o r i o u s course, to c h a n n e l t h o u s a n d s of s t r e a m s into the great torrent of the revolution, in w h i c h the capitalist bourgeoisie w i l l be d r o w n e d . T h e p a r t y a n d the p r o l e t a r i a t d o not g o i n t o r e v o l u t i o n alone. I n b o u r g e o i s society t h e r e are o t h e r o p p r e s s e d s t r a t a w h i c h hate t h e c a p i t a l i s t order, t h e r e are p r o g r e s s i v e forces among the peasantry and youth, and there are other democratic and freedom-loving elements w h o cannot tolerate exploitation. T h e communists m a k e approaches to a l l these forces a n d elements, b u i l d j o i n t a l l i a n c e s w i t h t h e m o n v a r i o u s issues a n d f o r d e f i n i t e objectives. M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s are n e i t h e r s e c t a r i a n n o r l i b e r a l . T h e y a r e revolutionaries, u n w a v e r i n g in principles, but flexible in tactics. T h e f r o n t s w h i c h the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s c o n s t r u c t w i t h other p r o g r e s s i v e f o r c e s i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s against t h e bourgeoisie, a g a i n s t f a s c i s m a n d i m p e r i a l i s m , are a c o m p o n e n t p a r t of t h e s t r a t e g y of the revolution. In any alliance or front the party safeguards its o w n i n d i v i d u a l i t y , e v e n w h e n , f o r o b j e c t i v e reasons, it does not l e a d t h e f r o n t itself. T h e u n i t y o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t has b e e n a n d s t i l l i s t h e k e y p r o b l e m in the capitalist countries. T h e bourgeoisie t r i e s t o clasp t h e p r o l e t a r i a t i n a n i r o n g r i p , t o p r e v e n t i t f r o m p r o c e e d i n g o n t h e course w h i c h h i s t o r y has a l l o c a t e d it for the overthrow of exploiters and the destruction of the power of capital. The trade-unions, w h i c h in most i n s t a n c e s are s u b s e r v i e n t to t h e bourgeoisie, a r e one of the means of exerting this iron grip. T h e communists w o r k
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t o p e n e t r a t e i n t o a n d e s t a b l i s h f i r m roots a m o n g t h e w o r k i n g class, a n d a t t h e same t i m e , s t r u g g l e t o b r i n g a b o u t its u n i t y . T o d a y , w h e n t h e crisis has r e s u l t e d i n tens o f m i l l i o n s o f w o r k e r s b e i n g t h r o w n o u t i n t h e street a n d millions of others rising in strikes and demonstrations for e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l c l a i m s , i t i s easier t o u n i t e a n d organize t h e w o r k e r s i n t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t c a p i t a l . T h e u n i t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class i s a c h i e v e d i n s t r u g g l e and i n concrete r e v o l u t i o n a r y actions t o f u l f i l t h e e c o n o m i c and p o l i t i c a l d e m a n d s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . T o t h i s end, t h e Marxist-Leninists w o r k to ensure that the existing tradeunions b r e a k f r e e f r o m t h e d o m i n a t i o n o f agents o f t h e bourgeoisie, r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t s , a n d t o t u r n them i n t o i n s t r u m e n t s o f s t r u g g l e against t h e e x p l o i t i n g order. A l o n g w i t h t h i s , d e p e n d i n g o n t h e c o n d i t i o n s a n d needs, t h e y also create n e w r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a d e - u n i o n s . T h e y o u t h also a r e a m i g h t y f o r c e w h o a s p i r e a n d fight t o c h a n g e t h e u n j u s t c a p i t a l i s t society, w h o w a n t what i s n e w a n d p r o g r e s s i v e . O n l y M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and t h e r e v o l u t i o n o p e n t h i s r o a d t o t h e y o u t h , t h e y a l o n e save t h e masses o f t h e y o u t h f r o m t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d social d e g e n e r a t i o n i n t o w h i c h t h e b o u r g e o i s i e leads t h e m , open t o t h e m t h e p r o s p e c t o f a n e w , u n d e f i l e d a n d h a p p y life, i n w h i c h a l l t h e i r i n e x h a u s t i b l e energies c a n b u r s t out a n d b e f u l l y d e v e l o p e d i n t h e s e r v i c e o f society a n d progress. T h e m o v e m e n t o f t h e y o u t h g a i n s s t r e n g t h a n d can a c h i e v e its o b j e c t i v e s w h e n i t m e r g e s w i t h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t o f t h e w o r k i n g class. T h e p r e s e n t r e v o l u t i o n a r y process has m a d e t h e p r o b l e m o f the s t a n d t o w a r d s t h e b o u r g e o i s a r m y e v e n m o r e acute, not i n o r d e r t o c o n s i d e r i t a s t h e f o r c e w h i c h w i l l c a r r y out the r e v o l u t i o n , b u t i n o r d e r t o d i s r u p t a n d d i s i n t e g r a t e it, so t h a t it is n o t c a p a b l e of o p p o s i n g t h e r e v o l u t i o n . T h e c o m m u n i s t s w o r k t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e masses o f s o l d i e r s , who are sons of t h e people, do not obey t h e o f f i c e r caste
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w h e n t h e r e v o l u t i o n b r e a k s out, b u t w i l l t u r n t h e i r w e a p o n s against the r e a c t i o n a r y forces i n p o w e r a n d u n i t e w i t h the insurgents, as occurred in Iran. T h e r e v o l u t i o n i s t h e m a i n t a s k o f t h e w o r k i n g class. B u t it is prepared in struggle for the solution of the p o l i t i c a l , economic, s o c i a l a n d c u l t u r a l p r o b l e m s w h i c h c o n c e r n t h e w o r k i n g masses e v e r y d a y . I t i s these actions, these d a i l y battles, w h i c h e n h a n c e t h e consciousness o f t h e class, w h i c h s t r e n g t h e n its o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d u n i t y , w h i c h t r a i n i t a n d l e a d i t t o r e v o l u t i o n . B y m e a n s o f these battles, t h e p a r t y l i n k s i t s e l f w i t h t h e masses a n d places i t s e l f a t t h e h e a d o f t h e m . G e n u i n e p a r t i e s o f t h e w o r k i n g class are p a r t i e s o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y a c t i o n . I n o r d e r t o i n t i m i d a t e the masses a n d p a v e t h e w a y for the advent of fascism, big capital is inciting terrorism, w h i c h has a s s u m e d b r o a d p r o p o r t i o n s i n m a n y c o u n t r i e s . B y m e a n s o f t e r r o r i s m , t h e b o u r g e o i s i e also t r i e s t o s m e a r t h e g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t a n d t o set v a r i o u s elements, w h o r e v o l t against t h e o p p r e s s i o n o f t h e b o u r geoisie, o n a w r o n g course. T h e b o u r g e o i s i e d e l i b e r a t e l y i d e n t i f i e s the r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e w i t h t e r r o r i s m i n o r d e r t o create t h e i m p r e s s i o n a m o n g t h e masses t h a t t h e c o m munists, patriots and revolutionaries, w h o fight against n a t i o n a l a n d s o c i a l o p p r e s s i o n , are t e r r o r i s t s a n d a n a r c h i s t s w h o m u r d e r a n d r o b . G e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a r e against terrorism and anarchism, both in theory and in practice. T h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses i n the c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s are m o r e a n d m o r e r u n n i n g u p against the n a t i o n a l p r o b l e m , w h i c h has b e c o m e v e r y acute i n t h e present t i m e . S o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s d e n y the existence of s u c h a p r o b l e m in t h e d e v e l o p e d c a p i t a l i s t countries, s u c h a s those o f W e s t e r n E u r o p e , J a p a n , C a n a d a , etc. T h e y do n o t w a n t to r e c o g n i z e t h e fact that, as a r e s u l t of the attack of the multi-national companies b e h i n d w h i c h stands A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , t h e e x t e n s i o n o f s u p r a -
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n a t i o n a l competences o f m i l i t a r y blocs a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l e c o n o m i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t h e e x t e n s i o n o f A m e r i c a n bases and the stationing of A m e r i c a n weapons on their territories are m o r e a n d m o r e r e s t r i c t i n g the n a t i o n a l s o v e r e i g n t y , restricting the independent political action of their countries, a n d t u r n i n g t h e m g r a d u a l l y i n t o v a s s a l states. T h e w o r k i n g class m u s t t a k e u p the defence o f the sovereignty and national independence w h i c h the bourgeoisie a n d t h e s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c a n d r e v i s i o n i s t w i n g have a b a n d o n e d . T h e p r o l e t a r i a t o f E u r o p e a n d o t h e r countries must not be deceived by the propaganda of the U n i t e d States, t h e S o v i e t U n i o n o r C h i n a , e a c h o f w h i c h , f o r its o w n interests, m a k e s a b o g e y of t h e t h r e a t to freedom and national independence f r o m the r i v a l superpower. By means of this propaganda they w a n t to rob t h e m o f t h e i r f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d t o e s t a b l i s h the imperialist domination of this or that superpower. T h e class a n d n a t i o n a l m o m e n t s also c o n s t i t u t e a m a j o r p r o b l e m i n t h e c o u n t r i e s w h e r e the r e v i s i o n i s t s rule. I n p a r t i c u l a r , s o c i a l l i b e r a t i o n i n these c o u n t r i e s cannot b e a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t o p p o s i n g a n d t h r o w i n g off the y o k e o f S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m , w h i c h has e s t a b l i s h e d its c o m p l e t e e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y d o m i n a t i o n there. A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d other W e s t e r n c a p i t a l i s t powers pose a s s u p p o r t e r s o f t h e w o r k e r s ' a n d n a t i o n a l m o v e m e n t s i n these c o u n t r i e s , a s t h o u g h t h e y s u p p o r t t h e l i b e r a t i o n a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e peoples t h e r e . T h i s i s d e m a g o g y and a d a n g e r o u s g a m e i n t e n d e d to deceive the p r o l e t a r i a n s and t h e w o r k i n g masses. T h e i m p e r i a l i s t b o u r g e o i s i e w a n t s only t o separate these c o u n t r i e s f r o m t h e s p h e r e o f i n fluence o f S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m a n d t o p u t t h e m i n its own sphere of domination. T h e cause o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n i s i n s e p a r a b l e f r o m t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e peoples' l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t .
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An important feature of present-day national liberation struggles i s t h a t t h e p o l i t i c a l a w a k e n i n g t o w i n a n d d e f e n d complete national freedom and independence is accompanied w i t h a social a w a k e n i n g . The present movements o f t h e oppressed peoples a r e i n c r e a s i n g l y a i m e d n o t o n l y against f o r e i g n i m p e r i a l i s m , b u t also against its agencies w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y . T h e fact i s that, r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e i r socio-economic b a c k w a r d n e s s , the peoples of t h e o p p r e s s e d c o u n t r i e s are d i s p l a y i n g great v i t a l i t y a n d m a k i n g a n important contribution to the anti-imperialist democratic r e v o l u t i o n , w h i c h opens t h e w a y t o t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v olution T h e people's u p r i s i n g s o f I s l a m i c i n s p i r a t i o n , a s t h e bourgeoisie a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s l i k e t o d e s c r i b e these m o v e m e n t s w i t h the a i m o f d e n y i n g t h e i r a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y c h a r a c t e r , deserve s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n . It is a fact t h a t t h e r e are i n s u r g e n t m o v e m e n t s i n t h e M o s l e m countries, b u t t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s w h i c h t h e b o u r g e o i s i e and the revisionists m a k e of t h e m are ill-intentioned a n d denigrating. T h e y conceal enslaving aims towards the peoples We M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s have said a n d still say that r e l i g i o n i s o p i u m f o r t h e peoples. I n n o i n s t a n c e d o w e a l t e r o u r v i e w i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h i s q u e s t i o n . I n its content, the M o s l e m r e l i g i o n , too, i s n o d i f f e r e n t f r o m the others. T h e b r o a d masses o f t h e M o s l e m peoples i n t h e d i f f e r e n t countries have risen a n d are r i s i n g in struggle, not over the question of religion, but for national and social l i b e r a t i o n . B e l i e f i n r e l i g i o n i s r e l a t i v e a n d does n o t p r e d o m i n a t e o v e r politics. T h e peoples o f these c o u n t r i e s b e l i e v e i n a n d respect I s l a m , b u t w h e n t h e v i t a l i n t e r e s t s o f t h e people, t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e c o u n t r y a r e v i o l a t e d , t h e y r i s e i n s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e aggressor, e v e n if he is of t h e same r e l i g i o n . It is n o t t h e r e l i g i o u s
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i n s p i r a t i o n w h i c h causes t h e r e v o l t s a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y a w a k e n i n g o f peoples, b u t t h e s o c i a l a n d p o l i t i c a l c o n d i t i o n s , the i m p e r i a l i s t o p p r e s s i o n a n d p l u n d e r a n d t h e p o v e r t y and suffering imposed on them. T h e A r a b s a n d o t h e r M o s l e m peoples a r e v a l i a n t fighters a n d boast a n a n c i e n t c u l t u r e . T h e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t , anti-colonialist and anti-feudal uprisings and wars of these peoples s h o w t h a t t h e y a r e p r o g r e s s i v e a n d l o v e f r e e d o m . I f t h i s w e r e n o t so, t h e y c o u l d n o t r i s e i n s t r u g g l e for f r e e d o m a n d n a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e a g a i n s t t h e i r d o u b l e oppression, b o t h i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l . I n t h e r e g i o n s i n h a b i t e d b y t h e M o s l e m peoples t h e imperialists and social-imperialists are in difficulties. Their puppets also a r e i n d i f f i c u l t i e s . T h e state o f a f f a i r s i n these r e g i o n s speaks of a r e v o l u t i o n a r y s i t u a t i o n , of a great social m o v e m e n t of these peoples, r e g a r d l e s s of t h e fact that, at f i r s t sight, t h e y h a v e a r e l i g i o u s c h a r a c t e r , or w h e t h e r the people t a k i n g p a r t i n t h e m are b e l i e v e r s o r n o n - b e l ievers. R e v o l u t i o n a r y situations exist or are being created in m a n y c o u n t r i e s t o d a y , b u t t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n does n o t present i t s e l f a s a n i m m e d i a t e t a s k e v e r y w h e r e . O t h e r m o v e m e n t s of a d e m o c r a t i c , a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t , l i b e r a t i o n c h a r a c t e r a r e d e v e l o p i n g i n t h e w o r l d . A l l these a r e c o m ponent p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a r y process, a r e j u s t struggles w h i c h w e a k e n t h e i m p e r i a l i s t f r o n t a n d c o n t r i b u t e to t h e a c c e l e r a t i o n of t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y processes, s t r i k e blows a t t h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m a n d l e a d t o its f u r t h e r decay. T h e r e f o r e , as L e n i n teaches us, t h e w o r k i n g class, as t h e most p r o g r e s s i v e class, a n d its c o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t acti v e l y s u p p o r t a n d assist these struggles a n d p l a c e t h e m s e l v e s in the leadership of them. A n d if initially they have not a f f i r m e d t h e i r l e a d i n g positions, s t i l l t h e y m u s t s t a n d i n the f o r e f r o n t o f t h e f i g h t a n d sacrifices, because o n l y i n this w a y c a n t h e y c o m e t o t h e h e a d o f t h e m o v e m e n t a n d
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a c h i e v e its objectives, o n l y i n t h i s w a y c a n t h e r o a d b e o p e n e d f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t , people's d e m o c r a t i c r e v o l u t i o n i n t o t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n . In their struggle for national a n d social liberation the w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses c l a s h e v e r y d a y w i t h the savage v i o l e n c e o f i m p e r i a l i s m , t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d t h e forces o f r e a c t i o n . I n these c o n d i t i o n s , t h e y a r e o b l i g e d to respond to the reactionary violence w i t h revolutionary violence, the f o r m s of w h i c h are a n d cannot but be d i f f e r e n t , a c c o r d i n g t o the c o n d i t i o n s o f e a c h c o u n t r y a n d t h e s i t u a t i o n s i n w h i c h t h e y occur. I n some c o u n t r i e s t h i s v i o l e n c e has a s s u m e d o r m a y a s s u m e t h e f o r m o f t h e armed insurrection. The Marxist-Leninists take an extremel y serious s t a n d o n t h i s q u e s t i o n . T h e y c o m b a t b o t h n i h i l i s t stands a n d p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s a d v e n t u r i s m , e x p o s e a n d reject b o t h t h e M a o i s t p r e a c h i n g s a b o u t t h e e n c i r c l e m e n t o f t h e c i t y b y t h e c o u n t r y s i d e , etc., a n d t h e p s e u d o - M a r x ist t h e o r i e s w h i c h d e n y t h e d e c i s i v e r o l e o f t h e p o p u l a r masses i n t h e s t r u g g l e a n d t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e M a r x i s t Leninist parties. For our Marxist-Leninist parties the times are revolutionary. The new Marxist-Leninist parties are growing and tempering themselves all over the world. T h e i r r o l e and activity, their links and influence among the w o r k i n g class a n d masses a r e i n c r e a s i n g . N e w p a r t i e s h a v e b e e n c r e a t e d i n m a n y d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s a n d zones. A l l t h e conditions exist for t h e m to be created even where there are n o g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t i e s o f t h e w o r k i n g class. T h i s i s a n i m p e r a t i v e f i g h t i n g t a s k o f t h e m o s t conscious, revolutionary elements of the proletariat. The favourable objective situation in no w a y obscures the acute p r o b l e m s a n d m a j o r tasks w h i c h face t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s . T r u e , o u r forces a r e m o u n t i n g c o n t i n u o u s l y and the situation is developing in favour of the revolution, b u t r e a c t i o n i s a c t i v e , too. D e s p i t e t h e i r p r o f o u n d a n d
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irreconcilable contradictions, the bourgeoisie, social-democracy a n d t h e v a r i o u s r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e u n i t e d o n one t h i n g they operate j o i n t l y in the struggle against M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m and the revolution. T h e y t r y to implant distrust a n d f e a r a m o n g s t t h e masses o f t h e p e o p l e i n o r d e r t o alienate t h e m f r o m t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d s o c i a l i s m , t o a t t a c k and damage the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties in i n d i v i d u a l countries a n d the r e v o l u t i o n a r y communist movement as a whole. Earlier, w h e n M a o Zedong thought was exerting its influence in m a n y parties, the imperialists a n d sociali m p e r i a l i s t s w e r e m o r e a t ease, because t h e y k n e w t h a t this r e v i s i o n i s t c u r r e n t w a s d o i n g its w o r k o f u n d e r m i n i n g the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t m o v e m e n t . N o w t h a t t h i s c u r r e n t has been e x p o s e d , t h e e n e m i e s a r e t r y i n g t o s o w c o n f u s i o n b y s p r e a d i n g a l l k i n d s o f p s e u d o - M a r x i s t theories, t o s p l i t a n d w e a k e n t h e p a r t i e s t h r o u g h f a c t i o n a l struggle, t o manipulate w e a k a n d i l l - f o r m e d elements in various ways and i m p e l t h e m to revisionist positions. Today, however, the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties have great e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e s t r u g g l e w i t h d i f f e r e n t a n t i - M a r x ist c u r r e n t s a n d are b e t t e r a r m e d a g a i n s t t h e tactics w h i c h the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s e m p l o y . T h i s e x p e r i e n c e helps t h e m t o w a g e t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t e n e m i e s w i t h success, t o i n c r e a s e t h e i r v i g i l a n c e , t o c o n t i n u o u s l y r a i s e the i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l l e v e l o f t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s and a r m t h e m w i t h the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t theory. T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e has t a u g h t t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r l i n k s w i t h t h e masses, t o g o a m o n g s t the d i f f e r e n t s o c i a l s t r a t a a n d o r g a n i z e t h e m , t o u t i l i z e l e g a l and i l l e g a l w o r k , c o m b i n i n g t h e m c o r r e c t l y i n s t r u g g l e against m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f l e g a l i s m a n d b o u r g e o i s l i b e r a l i s m , as w e l l as of n a r r o w sectarianism and w o r k in isolation. ists In the face of the co-ordinated activity of the i m p e r i a l a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d t h e
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r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e peoples, t h e f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f the u n i t y o f t h e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t m o v e m e n t i s a n i m p e r a t i v e need. The strength of the international Marxist-Leninist c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t lies i n t h e correctness o f t h e ideas f o r w h i c h i t f i g h t s a n d i n its u n i t y . I n t h e i r s t r u g g l e t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties are guided by the teachings of o u r great classics, use t h e r i c h a n d a l l - s i d e d h e r i t a g e f r o m the C o m i n t e r n , r e l y o n t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e i r o w n s t r u g g l e against t h e r e v i s i o n i s t b e t r a y a l a n d b e a r i n m i n d t h e negative experience of the parties w h i c h degenerated into r e v i s i o n i s m . A l l these lessons a n d t h i s e x p e r i e n c e c o n s t i t u t e a v e r y great i d e o l o g i c a l , p o l i t i c a l , o r g a n i z a t i o n a l , t h e o r e t i c a l and practical wealth for tempering and strengthening the parties and the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t movement in e v e r y direction. T h e m e e t i n g s a n d discussions b e t w e e n sister p a r t i e s make a valuable contribution to strengthening the u n i t y of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t movement. In this w a y they benefit f r o m one a n o t h e r ' s e x p e r i e n c e , a r r i v e a t c o m m o n assessments of situations and u n i t y of thought a n d action. T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f one p a r t y c a n n o t r e p l a c e t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f m a n y parties. On the contrary, it is the experience of all the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties w h i c h makes the movement invincible. Standing loyal to the principles of proletarian intern a t i o n a l i s m , t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a has a l w a y s t r i e d a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o t r y t o m a k e its o w n c o n t r i b u t i o n t o s t r e n g t h e n i n g the u n i t y o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d the c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e sister p a r t i e s . It is an honour for our P a r t y of L a b o u r to stand shoulder to shoulder w i t h the other M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties, w h i c h are equal detachments of the revolutionary movem e n t o f t h e w o r k i n g class, i n t h e g r e a t h i s t o r i c s t r u g g l e f o r the cause o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d
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s o c i a l i s m . T h e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s a n d o u r w h o l e people prize v e r y h i g h l y the solidarity, the love a n d trust w h i c h the sister M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s , t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d f r e e d o m - l o v i n g peoples d i s p l a y f o r t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r a n d socialist A l b a n i a . T h i s i s a p o w e r f u l s u p p o r t a n d e n c o u r a g e m e n t f o r us. I n a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s and in any situation our P a r t y and people w i l l fight to p e r f o r m their national and international tasks w i t h honour, to b u i l d socialism successfully in A l b a n i a , and to ardently d e f e n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y cause o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n s a n d t h e peoples. Report to the 8th Congress of the P L A
THE ANGLO-AMERICAN THREAT TO ALBANIA

Memoirs
(Excerpts)
B o t h the i m p e r i a l g o v e r n m e n t s o f G r e a t B r i t a i n o f past c e n t u r i e s a n d its r o y a l g o v e r n m e n t s i n recent y e a r s h a v e a l w a y s b e e n h o s t i l e t o t h e A l b a n i a n people. T h e Tories and the different political currents that kept the E m p i r e going, a n d the t w o parties, the T o r y P a r t y and the L a b o u r Party, w h i c h have taken turns in r u n n i n g the country more recently, have always regarded A l b a n i a as a t o k e n f o r b a r t e r i n t h e i r countless deals w i t h t h e o t h e r great p o w e r s t o m a i n t a i n t h e w o r l d h e g e m o n y o f t h e B r i tish Lion. L i k e m a n y o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , A l b a n i a has not b e e n r e c o g n i z e d b y a n y o f those d i f f e r e n t B r i t i s h g o v e r n m e n t s w h i c h have safeguarded the domination of B r i t i s h capital over the peoples a n d t h e w o r l d , as a state a n d a c o u n t r y w h i c h , through innumerable efforts and sacrifices t h r o u g h the centuries, h a v e f o u g h t a g a i n s t v a r i o u s i n v a d e r s , t o b e f r e e a n d s o v e r e i g n , but o n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h i s L a n d of t h e E a g l e s h a v e been c o n s i d e r e d a savage, b a r b a r o u s people, w i t h o u t c u l t u r e , at a t i m e w h e n , despite t h e i r s m a l l n u m b e r s , these p e o p l e h a v e b e e n i n d o m i t a b l e a n d n o less c u l t u r e d t h a n t h e people o f S c o t l a n d o r C o r n wall.
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It t o o k a l o n g t i m e b e f o r e a f e w p u b l i c i s t s , some o c c a s i o n a l a m a t e u r s c h o l a r o r great poet o f t h e r o m a n t i c e r a , such as B y r o n , spread a little light among the B r i t i s h people a b o u t A l b a n i a a n d t h e A l b a n i a n s , a b o u t t h e i r culture, their strong a n d generous character, their hospitality a n d kindness towards friends, as w e l l as about the s t e r n , u n y i e l d i n g f i g h t i n g s p i r i t i n t h e face o f m a n y savage enemies w h i c h has a l w a y s characterized them. The enslaving imperialist colonial policy of Britain p r e v a i l e d o v e r m a n y c o u n t r i e s a n d peoples. B r i t a i n e n g a g e d in a t h o u s a n d a n d one m a n o e u v r e s to get t h e r i c h e s of the w o r l d i n t o its clutches, i n o r d e r t o f a t t e n t h e l o r d s a n d t h e b a r o n s a n d b u i l d u p t h e glory a n d p o w e r o f t h e E m p i r e . B r i t a i n encroached on other countries, extending its i n f l u e n c e l i k e a n o x i o u s w e e d . U n d e r t h e c l o a k o f science, t e a m s w e r e sent t o d i s c o v e r A f r i c a , a n d w h e r e v e r t h e y w e n t , t h e B r i t i s h scientists p l a n t e d t h e f l a g o f J o h n B u l l , a n d a f t e r t h e m c a m e t h e l o r d s w i t h t h e i r soldiers, w h o p u t d o w n the m u t i n y o f t h e S e p o y s ( 1 ) a n d o c c u p i e d India, people l i k e K i t c h e n e r (2), w h o exterminated the Boers w i t h f i r e a n d steel. I n d e e d L o r d B e a c o n s f i e l d ( D i s r a e l i ) a n d G l a d s t o n e a d d e d the title E m p r e s s o f I n d i a t o t h e other t i t l e s o f Q u e e n V i c t o r i a . T h i s w a s c o l o n i a l i s m , w h i c h p l u n d e r e d the f a b u l o u s r i c h e s o f I n d i a , t h e r u b i e s a n d emeralds of B u r m a and the diamonds of South A f r i c a , l o o t e d t h e g o l d o f those c o u n t r i e s a n d e n s l a v e d t h e i r peoples spiritually, economically and physically. The inhabitants o f t h e c o u n t r i e s w h i c h c a m e u n d e r its y o k e , B r i t a i n u s e d a s c a n n o n f o d d e r f o r its o w n a i m s . In the various colonial wars which Britain waged
______________________________ 1 N a t i o n a l u p r i s i n g in I n d i a (1857-1859) against the B r i t i s h overlords in w h i c h the I n d i a n peasants, craftsmen a n d espec i a l l y soldiers (Sepoys), etc. took part. 2 H. K i t c h e n e r (1850-1916) B r i t i s h e a r l a n d f i e l d - m a r shal, w a r minister (1914-1916), savage colonizer of A f r i c a .
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against other i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s , i t p u t the I n d i a n d e t a c h ments, the B e n g a l L a n c e r s , t h e A f g h a n s a n d o t h e r o p p r e s s e d peoples i n t h e f r o n t l i n e t o a b s o r b the f i r s t b l o w f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e i r masters. A l l these c o l o n i a l w a r s w e r e f o u g h t s o that the f i e l d s o f E n g l a n d c o u l d b e t u r n e d i n t o golf courses f o r t h e lords, s o t h a t t h e f o o d f o r t h e B r i t i s h Isles a n d a l l the r a w materials for industry there w o u l d come f r o m these colonies a n d the e n t i r e E m p i r e o n w h i c h , a s K i p l i n g , the a r d e n t s u p p o r t e r o f B r i t i s h e x p a n s i o n a n d c o l o n i a l i s m , t h e b a r d of t h i s E m p i r e a n d a u t h o r of t h e Jungle Books w r o t e , the s u n n e v e r sets. T h e l a w o f t h e j u n g l e w a s a p p l i e d i n t h i s e m p i r e . E v e r y t h i n g h a d t o s e r v e it. T h e B r i t i s h bourgeoisie e v e n u s e d D a r w i n ' s s c i e n t i f i c t h e o r y t o j u s t i f y the m o n s t r o u s c r i m e s i t c o m m i t t e d . D i s t o r t i n g t h i s t h e o r y , it i n v e n t e d social D a r w i n i s m to p r o v e t h a t a b i g g e r a n d m o r e p o w e r f u l people s h o u l d e l i m i n a t e o r a s s i m i l a t e a s m a l l e r people, hence, it s u p p o r t e d t h e r e a c t i o n a r y concept t h a t the b i g f i s h eats t h e small. In such conditions and w i t h such methods B r i t a i n i n s i n u a t e d herself e v e r y w h e r e b y m e a n s o f its I n t e l l i g e n c e S e r v i c e (SIS), d i s c o v e r e d o i l f i e l d s , c a p t u r e d P e r s i a a n d o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , c o u n t e r e d the a m b i t i o n s o f C z a r i s t R u s s i a , d e f e n d e d the O t t o m a n E m p i r e , a n d w h e n t h e l a t t e r t r u l y became the S i c k M a n o f t h e B o s p o r u s , c o l l a b o r a t e d w i t h B i s m a r c k ' s G e r m a n y a t t h e C o n g r e s s o f B e r l i n i n 1878, a t t a c k e d t h e P e a c e T r e a t y o f S a n S t e f a n o f o r its i n t e r e s t s , jealously guarded the strategic positions of the M e d i t e r ranean such as the Dardanelles, Suez and G i b r a l t a r , guarded t h e P e r s i a n G u l f a n d m a d e h e r s e l f the Q u e e n o f t h e Seas, the protagonist of the gunboat policy. It p r o v o k e d t h e F a s h o d a i n c i d e n t ( 3 ) a n d m a n y other s u c h t h i n g s .
__________________________________ 3 In September 1898, the B r i t i s h army, a i m i n g to occupy the w h o l e of the N i l e Valley, threatened the F r e n c h a r m y at Fashoda, the Sudan, a n d demanded its immediate evacuation of that i n h a b i t e d centre. In M a r c h 1899, the B r i t i s h a n d F r e n c h
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W h e n B r i t a i n h a d b e c o m e one o f t h e m a i n c o l o n i a l powers, w h e n the B r i t i s h dukes were w a l l o w i n g in gold a n d t h e duchesses c o u l d b a r e l y s u p p o r t t h e w e i g h t o f t h e i r d i a m o n d necklaces, d i a m o n d r i n g s a n d d i a m o n d t i a r a s , w h a t i m p o r t a n c e w o u l d t h e y g i v e t o A l b a n i a a n d its h e r o i c struggle for freedom and independence? At every crucial moment of our history, and especially w h e n the A l b a n i a n people were fighting heroically, arms in hand, against the O t t o m a n E m p i r e , B r i t a i n always took t h e side o f T u r k e y . A t t h e C o n g r e s s o f B e r l i n , t h e P r i m e Minister of Britain, Queen Victoria's favourite, L o r d B e a consfield, who, w h e n he returned to L o n d o n f r o m B e r l i n , m a d e t h e p o m p o u s d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t h e h a d b r o u g h t peace w i t h honour, and the Chancellor of Germany, Prince Bismarck, the founder of the Second Reich, d i d not even deign to listen to the A l b a n i a n delegation w h i c h the A l b a n i a n L e a g u e o f P r i z r e n ( 4 ) h a d sent t o B e r l i n t o d e m a n d a n d d e f e n d t h e r i g h t s o f o u r people. A t those d i f f i c u l t m o m e n t s , w h e n our long-suffering people h a d taken up arms in the i n s u r r e c t i o n against t h e T u r k s a n d t h e S e r b i a n c h a u v i n i s t m i n i o n s i n t h e s e r v i c e o f i m p e r i a l i s t s , t o oppose t h e p a r t i t i o n i n g of our H o m e l a n d amongst the Serbs, Monten e g r i n s , T u r k s a n d others, t o w i n t h e i r a u t o n o m y , B i s m a r c k and Disraeli disdainfully told our glorious forebears: We a r e n o t i n t e r e s t e d i n a f e w A l b a n i a n cottages. L a t e r t h e delegates o f o u r people, I s m a i l Q e m a l i a n d
_______________________________________ governments reached agreement that B r i t a i n w o u l d h o l d the N i l e V a l l e y a n d F r a n c e the western regions of the Sudan. 4 On the eve of the Congress of B e r l i n , w h i c h w a s to revise the decisions of the T r e a t y of San Stefano, delegates f r o m a l l the A l b a n i a n regions gathered i n the t o w n o f P r i z r e n o n J u n e 10, 1878, a n d decided to f o r m a p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y u n i o n w h i c h took the name T h e A l b a n i a n League o f P r i z r e n a n d fought for self-government, n a t i o n a l u n i t y and for the defence of the t e r r i t o r i a l integrity of A l b a n i a w h i c h w a s threatened by the chauvinist ambitions of the n e i g h b o u r i n g states.
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Isa B o l e t i n i , w e n t t o L o n d o n a n d d e m a n d e d o f t h e F o r e i g n Secretary, E d w a r d Grey, that A l b a n i a should be defended. W e s h a l l n o t a l l o w y o u t o p a r t i t i o n A l b a n i a , o u r great diplomat Ismail Qemali told him. We shall take up arms a n d f i g h t , a s w e h a v e a l w a y s done. T h e B r i t i s h m i n i s t e r t u r n e d a deaf ear. Later at Versailles, L l o y d George w i t h his henchmen, a c t i n g l i k e h i s predecessors i n L o n d o n , p a r t i t i o n e d A l b a n i a a n d so, o u r p a r e n t s w e r e , a s a l w a y s , o b l i g e d t o t a k e u p arms to fight the invaders of our country. A f t e r the F i r s t W o r l d W a r , too, t h e B r i t i s h t o o k t h e l e a d i n i n t r i g u i n g against our country, m e d d l i n g in our affairs a n d i n f i l t r a t i n g t h e spies o f t h e i r I n t e l l i g e n c e S e r v i c e i n t o A l b a n i a . T h e y w e r e unable to change the direction of the V l o r a uprising i n 1920 w h i c h d r o v e the I t a l i a n o c c u p a t i o n t r o o p s i n t o t h e sea. T h e B r i t i s h Intelligence Service, together w i t h Eyres, the minister of Great B r i t a i n in A l b a n i a , did everything i n its p o w e r t o w e a k e n t h e D e m o c r a t i c G o v e r n m e n t o f F a n N o l i i n 1924 a n d t o secure f r o m i t t h e concession o v e r the oil at Patos, A r d e n i c a a n d elsewhere. T h e self-proclaimed K i n g of the A l b a n i a n s , A h m e t Zog, who came to power w i t h the aid of imperialists, pursued a n open-door p o l i c y w i t h G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , a s w i t h m a n y o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , a n d s i g n e d treaties a n d a g r e e m e n t s w i t h t h e m . T h e a i m s o f these t w o i m p e r i a l i s t states w e r e t o get possession o f o u r coastline w h i c h dominates the Straights of Otranto, to t r a n s f o r m A l b a n i a into a bridgehead for penetration into the Balkans, t o e x p l o i t o u r n a t u r a l riches, etc. Z o g g r a n t e d these states most f a v o u r e d n a t i o n status, a n d t h i s g r e a t l y f a c i l i t a t e d the penetration of their capital into A l b a n i a . He went even further in this direction by granting the Anglo-Persian O i l C o m p a n y almost a complete monopoly for the exploitation of oil in A l b a n i a and concluding a provisional trade agree-
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m e n t w i t h B r i t a i n , w h i c h i n 1931 w a s r e p l a c e d w i t h a n a v i g a t i o n a n d c o m m e r c i a l t r e a t y o n t h e basis o f r e c i p r o c i t y a n d t h e most f a v o u r e d n a t i o n clause. A s t o w h a t reciprocity this i m p l i e d , it is sufficient to mention that in 1932, A l b a n i a i m p o r t e d f r o m B r i t a i n goods t o a v a l u e o f 1,586,200 g o l d f r a n c s a n d e x p o r t e d goods w o r t h a s u m of o n l y 6,665 g o l d f r a n c s t o B r i t a i n . T h e B r i t i s h m i n i s t e r i n A l b a n i a , S i r R o b e r t H o d g s o n , w h o b e c a m e Zog's i n t i m a t e a d v i s e r i n t h e 30's, f a i t h f u l l y c a r r i e d o u t t h e a n t i - A l b a n i a n p o l i c y o f h i s g o v e r n m e n t . T h r o u g h its o f f i c e r s , P e r c y , S t i r l i n g , H i l l , C r i p p s a n d o t h e r s seconded t o Z o g , B r i t i s h i m perialism, together w i t h Zog, kept the club, the prison and t h e h a n g m a n ' s noose r e a d y t o s u p p r e s s a n y m o v e m e n t o f t h e A l b a n i a n people. W i t h t h e a i d o f its f r i e n d s , a s w e l l a s through the intervention of the British, w h e n they reached agreement w i t h the Italians over the division of their spheres o f i n f l u e n c e , M u s o l i n i ' s I t a l y s e c u r e d t h e concession over the A l b a n i a n oil w h i c h was in the hands of the A n g l o Persian O i l Company. A similar situation existed in Zog's relations w i t h the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a also. H e g a v e l e g i s l a t i v e e n d o r s e m e n t t o t h e l e t t e r sent b y t h e A l b a n i a n g o v e r n m e n t i n J u n e 1922 t o t h e g o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U S A t h r o u g h w h i c h the U S A w a s g r a n t e d most f a v o u r e d n a t i o n status, hence i n p r a c t i c e w a s g i v e n t h e k e y s t o A l b a n i a . T h i s w a s one of t h e m o s t d i s g r a c e f u l d o c u m e n t s , one of t h e most d a n g e r ous t o t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e o f o u r c o u n t r y . F o r its p a r t , the U S A n e v e r g r a n t e d A l b a n i a most f a v o u r e d n a t i o n r i g h t s . S i x m o n t h s a f t e r c o m i n g t o p o w e r , Z o g leased 51,000 h e c tares o f l a n d t o t h e S t a n d a r d O i l C o m p a n y o f N e w Y o r k f o r t w o y e a r s f o r 30,000 d o l l a r s a n d r e d u c e d c u s t o m s t a r i f f s on American imports. A p a r t f r o m t h i s , Z o g also o p e n e d t h e doors t o agents o f t h e A m e r i c a n espionage s e r v i c e w h o c a m e a s m i s s i o n aries, l i k e K e n n e d y , a s p h i l a n t h r o p i s t s a n d educators, l i k e
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E r i k s o n and H a r r y Fultz. T h e latter became director of the Technical School in Tirana and was an important cadre in t h e A m e r i c a n i n t e l l i g e n c e service. A l l these people a n d others not o n l y g a t h e r e d i n f o r m a t i o n , b u t a s w a s p r o v e d l a t e r w i t h t h e sabotage i n M a l i q a n d K u o v a (today S t a l i n C i t y ) , a n d t h e t r i a l o f t h e t r a i t o r deputies, etc., t h e y h a d p r e p a r e d t h e i r agents w h o w o u l d w o r k i n t h e f u t u r e , o p e n l y o r u n d e r cover, against t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e a n d t h e p e o p l e ' s state p o w e r w h i c h t h e y w o u l d set u p . T h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , those savage a n d d e t e r m i n e d enemies o f t h e A l b a n i a n people, h a v e a l w a y s used o u r c o u n t r y a s a m e a n s o f e x c h a n g e i n t h e i r i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a n s a c t i o n s . W h e n the despotic b r i g a n d , Z o g , w a s in power, they tried to m a k e A l b a n i a directly dependent on them, politically, economically and militarily, but r a n u p against t h e c o m p e t i t i o n o f o t h e r c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , e s p e c i a l l y fascist I t a l y . In t h e 30's, because of t h e g e n e r a l c r i s i s i n the c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d a n d t h e d i v i s i o n o f t h e spheres o f i n f l u e n c e a m o n g s t t h e great i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s , a n d e s p e c i a l l y as a r e s u l t of t h e m a s s i v e p e n e t r a t i o n of I t a l i a n capital into A l b a n i a , the economic l i n k s of A l b a n i a w i t h G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d t h e U n i t e d States w e r e w e a k e n e d . Z o g became a direct tool of Italian fascism a n d t h r e w the doors w i d e open f o r its c o l o n i z a t i o n o f A l b a n i a w h i c h l e d l a t e r t o its o c c u p a t i o n . H o w e v e r , t i m e w a s t o p r o v e t h a t t h e Anglo-Americans never relinquished their o w n ambitions towards our country, although they allowed Italy to operate freely in A l b a n i a , naturally for definite aims. Nevertheless, the B r i t i s h government was pleased to see t h a t Z o g w a s b e c o m i n g a l a c k e y a n d agent o f M u s s o l i n i . B r i t a i n w a n t e d I t a l y t o o c c u p y A l b a n i a , because i t p l a n n e d t o set I t a l i a n f a s c i s m a n d G e r m a n n a z i s m , w h i c h i t w a s f i n a n c i n g , l i k e dogs t o a t t a c k t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . P r o o f t h a t t h i s p l a n e x i s t e d c a n b e seen i n t h e i n d i f f e rent attitude of C h a m b e r l a i n w h e n Mussolini's Italy attacked
THE ANGLOAMERIKAN THREAT TO ALBANIA
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o u r c o u n t r y o n A p r i l 7 , 1939. C h a m b e r l a i n , w h o k n e w i n a d v a n c e w h a t w a s g o i n g t o occur, w e n t f i s h i n g t h a t d a y . T h i s w a s t h e s a m e C h a m b e r l a i n w h o h a d a p p r o v e d the Anschluss, w h o had signed the M u n i c h Agreement selling o u t C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , a n d f i n a l l y h a n d e d o v e r the k e y s o f the defence of the E m p i r e to C h u r c h i l l . T h e statement w h i c h the B r i t i s h p r i m e minister made in the House of C o m m o n s on A p r i l 6, that Great B r i t a i n h a d no d i r e c t interests i n A l b a n i a , g a v e M u s s o l i n i a f r e e h a n d t o c a r r y out h i s p l a n s t o w a r d s o u r c o u n t r y . T h i s s t a n d b y B r i t a i n w a s g r e a t l y i n f a v o u r o f I t a l y because i t g a v e l e g a l s a n c t i o n t o its s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t s i n A l b a n i a . O n t h e d a y o f t h e i n v a s i o n o f A l b a n i a b y the I t a l i a n b l a c k s h i r t s , M u s s o l i n i sent a t e l e g r a m to h i s colleague in B r i t a i n . C h a m b e r l a i n , i n w h i c h h e w r o t e t h a t the e v e n t s i n connection w i t h A l b a n i a w o u l d not affect relations bet w e e n their t w o countries a n d w o u l d have no repercussions o n t h e status q u o i n E u r o p e a n d t h e w o r l d . T h i s o c c u r r e d one y e a r a f t e r t h e t i m e w h e n , i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e i r i m perialist r i v a l r y , w i t h w a r imminent, an agreement had been s i g n e d b e t w e e n G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d I t a l y o n t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f t h e status q u o i n t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n . B u t w h a t was the w o r t h of such an agreement between imperialist wolves! History provides m a n y examples w h i c h show that agreements a n d treaties between imperialist powers are e x p e d i e n t s , c o m p r o m i s e s to r e c o n c i l e t h e m f o r a c e r t a i n t i m e , b u t w h i c h are v i o l a t e d a s soon a s t h e s i t u a t i o n changes a n d o t h e r i n t e r e s t s dictate. I m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e aggression against A l b a n i a , t h e B r i t i s h g o v e r n m e n t m a d e a d e a l w i t h I t a l y t o the d e t r i m e n t o f t h e A l b a n i a n people. I n r e t u r n f o r t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f Italian troops f r o m S p a i n and a guarantee of the indep e n d e n c e o f G r e e c e , G r e a t B r i t a i n r e c o g n i z e d t h e fascist occupation of A l b a n i a . It is unnecessary to dwell at length on how the
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S e c o n d W o r l d W a r d e v e l o p e d , b u t I t h i n k i t necessary t o mention certain k e y moments to give a better understanding of the activity of the B r i t i s h missions in A l b a n i a at the time of the N a t i o n a l Liberation W a r . It is k n o w n that the efforts of B r i t a i n u n d e r C h a m b e r l a i n a n d F r a n c e u n d e r D a l a d i e r a l l e g e d l y t o appease H i t l e r a n d r e d u c e h i s a p p e t i t e f o r l i v i n g space w e r e i n v a i n . The M u n i c h Conference and the worthless document that e m e r g e d f r o m it, w h i c h C h a m b e r l a i n w a v e d b e f o r e t h e B r i t i s h people w h e n h e c a m e off t h e a i r c r a f t a s a n h i s t o r i c d o c u m e n t w h i c h a l l e g e d l y m e a n t peace i n o u r t i m e , was nothing but the w h i t e flag of surrender w h i c h B r i t a i n w a v e d b e f o r e t h e n a z i aggressor. T h e hopes o f that the H i t l e r i t e the Soviet U n i o n to urge Hitler in the B r i t i s h and F r e n c h bourgeoisie were w a r machine w o u l d be t u r n e d against and they did everything in their power this direction.
B r i t a i n i n t e n d e d t o k i l l t w o b i r d s w i t h one s t o n e : both the Soviet U n i o n and the T h i r d Reich. However, things d i d not t u r n out a s L o n d o n i n t e n d e d . B o u r g e o i s F r a n c e r e f u s e d the d e m a n d o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n that Czechoslovakia should be defended w i t h arms a c c o r d i n g t o t h e e x i s t i n g treaties. F a c e d w i t h t h e t h r e a t o f Hitlerite Germany, Stalin proposed to B r i t a i n and France t h a t t h e y s h o u l d f o r m a j o i n t f r o n t , b u t these t w o c a p i t a l i s t powers scorned this proposal, w h i c h could have saved t h e s i t u a t i o n , because, as I p o i n t e d o u t above, t h e y h o p e d t h a t H i t l e r w o u l d a t t a c k t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . T h i s b e i n g t h e case, t h e S o v i e t U n i o n s i g n e d a n o n - a g g r e s s i o n pact w i t h G e r m a n y . T h i s w a s a necessary p a c t w h i c h g a v e i t t i m e t o m a k e f u r t h e r p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r defence. Hitler's w a r took a direction different f r o m w h a t the B r i t i s h a n d F r e n c h i m p e r i a l i s t s i n t e n d e d , because, a f t e r t h e a t t a c k o n P o l a n d a n d its o c c u p a t i o n , h e t u r n e d o n F r a n c e w h i c h capitulated almost without fight. G e r m a n y was p r e -
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p a r i n g t o a t t a c k B r i t a i n , too, w h i c h r e m a i n e d a l o n e i n t h e w a r against H i t l e r i t e G e r m a n y . T h e latter sized up its s t r e n g t h , e s p e c i a l l y its a i r a n d n a v a l forces, a n d v i o l a t i n g the n o n - a g g r e s s i o n pact, t u r n e d a n d l a u n c h e d a f u r i o u s and perfidious attack on the l a n d of the Soviets. U n d e r the conditions in w h i c h Hitlerite G e r m a n y was g e t t i n g a l l t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s o f E u r o p e i n t o its c l u t c h e s a n d t h e B r i t i s h Isles t h e m s e l v e s w e r e u n d e r i m m i n e n t threat, w h e n t h e B r i t i s h colonies a n d t h e A m e r i c a n possessions i n t h e P a c i f i c w e r e f a l l i n g one a f t e r a n o t h e r i n t o t h e hands of militarist J a p a n , for fear of the dangerous p r o p ortions w h i c h the Hitlerite blitzkrieg h a d assumed, for fear t h a t i f the S o v i e t U n i o n w e r e defeated, too, G e r m a n y w o u l d emerge m o r e p o w e r f u l a n d it w o u l d become even m o r e d i f f i c u l t t o w i t h s t a n d its attacks, the i m p e r i a l i s t c h i e f s c o n s i d e r e d t h a t t h e n e e d h a d a r i s e n t o b a l a n c e forces, t h e r e f o r e , B r i t a i n a n d l a t e r t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a were obliged to t u r n to the Soviet U n i o n for a common f i g h t against f a s c i s m , b u t s e r i o u s l y t h i s t i m e . I n t h i s w a y , the anti-fascist Anglo-Soviet-American Coalition was created against t h e n a z i p l a g u e , w h i c h a t t a c k e d a n d o c c u p i e d Yugoslavia and Greece as well. M e a n w h i l e the A l b a n i a n people h a d r i s e n t o f i g h t fascist I t a l y w h i c h h a d a l r e a d y attacked and occupied our country. I n their Anti-fascist National Liberation W a r the A l b a n i a n people w e r e n o t alone. L i n e d u p b e s i d e t h e m n o w w e r e t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , h e a d e d b y S t a l i n , i n t h e f i r s t place, a n d a l l t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d w h o w e r e f i g h t i n g f a s c i s m , i n c l u d i n g t h e B r i t i s h a n d A m e r i c a n peoples. W e w e r e p a r t i cipants i n t h e great A n t i - f a s c i s t C o a l i t i o n , i n t h e a l l i a n c e b e t w e e n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a and Great B r i t a i n . We h a d to consider this alliance useful and necessary, a n d s u p p o r t i t f o r t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e n a z i beast, a n d t h e r e f o r e w e e x p l a i n e d its i m p o r t a n c e t o the P a r t y a n d t h e people.
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I n o u r assessment o f t h i s a l l i a n c e w e h a d t o b e n e i t h e r sectarian nor liberal, but while considering it f r u i t f u l in the context of the fight against nazism, it w a s necessary that we should never forget w h a t the governments of the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d G r e a t B r i t a i n r e p r e s e n t e d f o r o u r people, t h a t w e s h o u l d n e v e r f o r g e t t h e i r s a v a g e n a t u r e a s c a p i t a l i s t s a n d c o l o n i a l i s t oppressors, t h a t w e s h o u l d n e v e r f o r g e t t h e countless w o u n d s t h e y h a d i n f l i c t e d on the body of our Homeland. We had to put our trust i n o u r P a r t y , o u r people, o u r r i f l e s , i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n and Stalin. We had to fight to w i n our freedom w i t h sacrifice and bloodshed, a n d we must never a l l o w foreign e n e m i e s t o g a m b l e w i t h t h e fate o f o u r c o u n t r y a n d o u r people as in the past. I n one o f h i s speeches C h u r c h i l l l a u n c h e d t h e s l o g a n : Set E u r o p e ablaze. I n l a u n c h i n g t h i s slogan, h e h a d t w o a i m s : first, G e r m a n n a z i s m w a s t o b e f o u g h t b y t h e peoples, assisted w i t h a r m s a n d m i l i t a r y m i s s i o n s , a n d second, these missions, w h e r e v e r t h e y w e r e sent, w e r e t o organize pro-British reaction and fight the communist p a r t i e s a n d the n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n f r o n t s w h i c h w e r e l e d b y these parties. I n o t h e r w o r d s , w h i l e h e d e c l a r e d Set E u r o p e ablaze, h i s r e a l a i m w a s t o e x t i n g u i s h t h e f i r e t h a t h a d b e e n k i n d l e d a n d e n s u r e t h a t t h e m i s s i o n s sent e v e r y w h e r e a c h i e v e those objectives w h i c h t h e W a r O f f i c e , the F o r e i g n Office and the Intelligence Service dictated to t h e m . H e w a n t e d t h e peoples a n d the c o m m u n i s t s t o b e weakened by the w a r and reaction to emerge f r o m it s t r o n g , hence, t h e f i g w a s t o r i p e n a n d f a l l i n t o t h e m o u t h of the B r i t i s h . T h e r e a d e r w i l l a l l o w m e t o present a v e r y s h o r t h i s t o r y o f the p l a n s w h i c h w e r e concocted i n L o n d o n a g a i n s t o u r N a t i o n a l Liberation W a r before the B r i t i s h missions came to Albania.
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I n O c t o b e r 1939, w i t h t h e a i m o f s e c u r i n g f i r s t - h a n d information about the situation in our country, the B r i t i s h government appointed a consul-general based in Durrs. H o w e v e r , L o n d o n w a s n o t c o n t e n t w i t h t h i s act a l o n e w h i c h , i n fact, w a s r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e n e w status o f A l b a n i a . In t h e s p r i n g of 1940, it a s k e d t h e p e o p l e of its secret i n f o r m a t i o n s e r v i c e i n B e l g r a d e t o p r e p a r e a r e p o r t about t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f e v e n t s i n A l b a n i a a n d o r d e r e d the c r e a t i o n o f a n o f f i c e f o r A l b a n i a u n d e r S e c t i o n D . J u l i a n A m e r y , w h o u p t i l l t h a t t i m e h a d b e e n press a n d p r o p a ganda secretary in the B r i t i s h Legation in Yugoslavia, was charged w i t h this task. He prepared this report w i t h the help of G a n i and Seit K r y e z i u , degenerate elements of the f e u d a l K r y e z i u f a m i l y o f K o s o v a , i n v e t e r a t e spies w h o h a d f r e q u e n t l y c h a n g e d t h e i r bosses a n d n o w p l a c e d t h e m s e l v e s in the service of the B r i t i s h . S i m i l a r sections f o r A l b a n i a w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d i n A t h e n s w i t h t h e l o n g - t e r m B r i t i s h agent, M r s . H a s l u c k a s a d v i s e r , and in Cairo, attached to the A l l i e d Headquarters, w i t h M a j o r C r i p p s , a f o r m e r i n s t r u c t o r o f Zog's g e n d a r m e r i e , a s its chief. T h u s , t h e B r i t i s h I n t e l l i g e n c e S e r v i c e c r e a t e d its n e t w o r k a l l a r o u n d A l b a n i a a n d w a s p r e p a r i n g t o send its agents h e r e . T h e o f f i c e f o r A l b a n i a , u n d e r S e c t i o n D , m a d e d i r e c t contact w i t h v a r i o u s elements, A l b a n i a n e m i grants, o l d f r i e n d s o f B r i t a i n , m o n a r c h i s t s , r e p u b l i c a n s , l i b e r a l i n t e l l e c t u a l s , etc. w h o l i v e d i n Y u g o s l a v i a , g a t h e r e d them r o u n d itself a n d created a k i n d of organization, the so-called U n i t e d F r o n t w i t h a l l these e l e m e n t s w h o d r e a m e d of a r e p e t i t i o n of 1924, w h e n e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l reaction organized Zog's r e t u r n to A l b a n i a . A t t h i s t i m e , a f t e r h a v i n g s l u n k f r o m one c a p i t a l o f E u r o p e t o a n o t h e r , l i k e a t h i e f w i t h h i s stolen g o l d , Z o g a r r i v e d i n L o n d o n w i t h a l l h i s suite. T h e B r i t i s h g o v e r n m e n t r e g a r d e d h i m a s a v a l u e l e s s c a r d , because h e h a d b e e n discredited, d i d not enjoy the s y m p a t h y of the A l b a n i a n
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people a n d h a d n o p a r t y i n s u p p o r t o f h i m i n t h e c o u n t r y . Its c o n s u l - g e n e r a l i n D u r r s h a d i n f o r m e d i t o f t h i s fact. Therefore, it wanted to expel Zog f r o m B r i t a i n , but sensing the danger, Z o g i n f o r m e d t h e B r i t i s h g o v e r n m e n t t h a t i t was his intention to place himself at the head of the A l b a nians abroad in the service of the allied m i l i t a r y plans. A f t e r this, the F o r e i g n O f f i c e c h a n g e d its m i n d . I t a l l o w e d h i m t o stay i n E n g l a n d o n c o n d i t i o n t h a t h e d i d not engage i n p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t y w i t h o u t its p e r m i s s i o n . P o s s i b l y the chests o f g o l d w h i c h Z o g h a d w i t h h i m m a y h a v e p l a y e d t h e i r p a r t i n t h i s change o f m i n d i n t h e F o r e i g n O f f i c e . I n a n y case, t h e B r i t i s h g o v e r n m e n t r e s e r v e d t h e r i g h t t o use Z o g as a c a r d to be p l a y e d if some f a v o u r a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y p r e s e n t e d itself. I t c o n s i d e r e d t h a t Z o g m i g h t s e r v e as a figure r o u n d w h o m to gather various elements to be u s e d f o r its o w n i n t e r e s t s i f G e r m a n n a z i s m w e r e d e f e a t e d a n d f a v o u r a b l e c o n d i t i o n s c r e a t e d a s i n t h e past. F o r t h e t i m e b e i n g , h o w e v e r , t h e B r i t i s h c o u l d n o t use h i m . T h e y h a d t o w o r k u n d e r c o v e r w i t h someone else to reach the point w h e r e he could be used. A p a r t f r o m the K r y e z i u s , t h e B r i t i s h h a d t h e i r eyes o n A b a z K u p i , w h o w a s against t h e I t a l i a n s a n d p r o - Z o g , as a s u i t a b l e p e r s o n w i t h w h o m to manoeuvre. To this end, L o n d o n ordered Section D in Belgrade, w h i c h was n o w called the Special Operations E x e c u t i v e (SOE), to m a k e contact w i t h h i m . A m e r y went to Istanbul a n d together w i t h Stirling, another former instructor of Zog's gendarmerie, w h o was n o w operating in T u r k e y , met A b a z K u p i . A f t e r a little bargaini n g , A m e r y left w i t h h i m f o r Y u g o s l a v i a w h e n c e , w i t h m a n y other patriots a n d politicians, A b a z K u p i w a s t o b e s m u g g l e d i n t o A l b a n i a i n o r d e r t o o r g a n i z e Zog's f o r m e r officers, bajraktars* a n d others, i n t h e w a r against t h e occupiers!
___________________________________ * C l a n chiefs (Alb.).
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M e a n w h i l e Zog, afraid that he might be expelled, and not b e i n g i n f o r m e d o f t h e p l a n s w h i c h w e r e b e i n g h a t c h e d up, p r o p o s e d to L o n d o n , as a p r o o f of h i s l o y a l t y to t h e allies, t h a t h e s h o u l d o p e n a f i g h t i n g f r o n t f r o m S a l o n i c a . a t the h e a d o f t h e A l b a n i a n s w h o w e r e i n I s t a n b u l . A f r a i d of a political confrontation w i t h Greece, the B r i t i s h g o v e r n ment sought t h e a p p r o v a l o f t h e G r e e k g o v e r n m e n t . T h e G r e e k p r i m e m i n i s t e r M e t a x a s r e f u s e d a n d t o r p e d o e d Zog's plan. Thus, Zog, that servile lackey of Great B r i t a i n , r e m a i n ed in c o l d storage. In the S O E of Belgrade matters were proceeding more r a p i d l y t h a n before. M a n y e l e m e n t s h a d b e e n g a t h e r e d a r o u n d it, i n c l u d i n g , a p a r t f r o m t h e K r y e z i u b r o t h e r s a n d Abaz K u p i , Muharrem Bajraktari, X h e m a l Herri and others. M o s t o f t h e m w e r e s u p p o r t e r s o f Z o g . O n e f i n e d a y even t h e c o m m u n i s t M u s t a f a G j i n i s h i t u r n e d u p a t t h e S O E a n d h i s p r e s e n c e w a s a m a t t e r o f great r e j o i c i n g f o r the B r i t i s h . O a k l e y - H i l l , w h o f o r e i g h t y e a r s o n e n d h a d been i n A l b a n i a a s o r g a n i z e r o f Zog's g e n d a r m e r i e , w a s n o w r u n n i n g t h e o f f i c e f o r A l b a n i a u n d e r the S O E i n Belgrade. Considering the situation suitable for operations in A l b a n i a , H i l l e n t e r e d A l b a n i a i n A p r i l 1941, a t t h e h e a d of a s m a l l f o r c e c o m p r i s e d of e l e m e n t s w h i c h he h a d g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r a n d f i n a n c e d . A l l t h i s w a s done a l l e g e d l y t o save A l b a n i a f r o m t h e I t a l i a n fascists, but, i n fact, w a s a i m e d t o create the c o n d i t i o n s i n w h i c h o u r c o u n t r y w o u l d enter t h e s p h e r e o f B r i t i s h i n f l u e n c e i n t h e f u t u r e a n d t o a v o i d t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n y o t h e r r e s i s t a n c e centre outside B r i t i s h control, w h i c h might fight the occupiers and eliminate the influence of Great B r i t a i n . However, in the difficult situation w h i c h w a s created, especially w i t h the G e r m a n i n v a s i o n o f Y u g o s l a v i a , the a r m y o f w h i c h r e sisted n o m o r e t h a n a w e e k , t h e p l a n o f L t . - C o l . H i l l w a s f o i l e d . T h i s c o m p e l l e d h i m t o g a t h e r t o g e t h e r t h e heads o f
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the s m a l l force w i t h w h i c h he h a d entered A l b a n i a for t h e last t i m e i n T r o p o j a a n d c h a r g e each o f t h e m w i t h a s p e c i a l task: G a n i K r y e z i u was t o operate i n K o s o v a , A b a z K u p i w a s t o g o t o K r u j a , close t o t h e g o v e r n m e n t i n T i r a n a , w h i l e M u s t a f a G j i n i s h i was to enter the r a n k s of the A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t leaders. F o r t h e t i m e b e i n g , t h e i r t a s k was to fight under the disguise of ardent patriotism, a n d a s soon a s t h e c o n d i t i o n s w e r e r i p e , t h e y w e r e t o c o m e out in the open l i k e snails after a shower. W h i l e these patriots, e a c h w i t h a b a g o f g o l d s o v ereigns, d i s p e r s e d w i t h i n A l b a n i a , t h e B r i t i s h o f f i c e r r e turned to Belgrade where he surrendered with honour to the G e r m a n s and, t h r o u g h the mediation of the A m e r ican legation in Yugoslavia, a little while later returned safe a n d s o u n d t o L o n d o n . T h e resistance a n d a r m e d struggle of our people against t h e fascist occupiers, w h i c h b e g a n o n A p r i l 7 , 1939, c o n tinued uninterruptedly and was further extended and strengthened, especially after the f o r m a t i o n of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a o n N o v e m b e r 8 , 1941. A f t e r t h i s h i s t o r i c date, t h e f i g h t of t h e A l b a n i a n people e n t e r e d a n e w phase, i n w h i c h i t w a s f i e r c e r , w e l l o r g a n i z e d a n d becoming devastating for the occupiers, quislings a n d traitors. T h i s aroused concern in the bourgeois w o r l d . D u r i n g 1942 t h e F o r e i g n O f f i c e d i s p l a y e d g r e a t e r i n terest i n t h e A l b a n i a n q u e s t i o n . I t h a d h e a r d t h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a h a d been f o r m e d . A t t h e e n d o f 1942, its i n t e r e s t t u r n e d t o a l a r m , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n i t r e c e i v e d the n e w s t h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a had organized the Conference of Peza, was leading the N a t i o n a l Liberation F r o n t and that the N a t i o n a l Liberation M o v e m e n t w a s a s s u m i n g w i d e p r o p o r t i o n s . A n d a l l these things had occurred after Churchill's statement that His M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n m e n t s has t h e cause o f A l b a n i a v e r y m u c h a t heart. T h e a l a r m w a s s o u n d e d . T h e S O E i n I s t a n b u l
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proposed t h a t a n A l b a n i a n g o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d b e c r e a t e d with the aid of the B r i t i s h ; the S O E insisted that G a n i Bey K r y e z i u and M e h m e t K o n i c a should be included in this g o v e r n m e n t . A l e t t e r w a s sent t o M u h a r r e m B a j r a k t a r i through Mihajlovi, w i t h w h o m he collaborated, in w h i c h h e w a s t o l d , It i s u p t o y o u t o l e a d t h e war, a n d h e w a s assured t h a t Z o g w a s n o t g o i n g t o r e t u r n t o A l b a n i a . E v e n t s w e r e m o v i n g r a p i d l y . I n N o v e m b e r 1942 t h e allies l a n d e d i n N o r t h A f r i c a . O n D e c e m b e r 17, t h e B r i t i s h foreign secretary made a statement in the House of C o m mons, w h i c h h a d b e e n a p p r o v e d b y t h e W a r C a b i n e t a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f D e c e m b e r , i n w h i c h h e s p o k e o f t h e desire o f the B r i t i s h g o v e r n m e n t t h a t A l b a n i a s h o u l d b e l i b e r a t e d , its i n d e p e n d e n c e r e - e s t a b l i s h e d a n d t h e q u e s t i o n o f its borders e x a m i n e d a t t h e P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e . T h e S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t also m a d e a s t a t e m e n t i n w h i c h i t e x p r e s s e d its s i n c e r e d e s i r e f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f A l b a n i a a n d t h e r e - e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f its i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d s p o k e i n t e r m s o f a d m i r a t i o n a b o u t o u r f i g h t against t h e o c c u p i e r s . T h e g o v ernment o f t h e U S A also m a d e a s t a t e m e n t o n t h i s q u e s t i o n . U n d o u b t e d l y these s t a t e m e n t s w e r e m o r a l - p o l i t i c a l s u p p o r t for o u r N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , p r o m i s e d t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e o f the c o u n t r y w h e n t h e w a r w a s o v e r a n d h e l p e d t o strengthen t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o s i t i o n of A l b a n i a at a t i m e when a l l t h e peoples h a d r i s e n t o t h e i r feet t o f i g h t f a s c ism a n d n a z i s m . T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s i t u a t i o n i n A l b a n i a a r o u s e d debates among t h e c i r c l e s i n L o n d o n w h i c h w e r e i n v o l v e d w i t h Albania. However, their hearts were w a r m e d and their hopes r a i s e d b y t h e fact t h a t t h e i r f r i e n d s , A b a z K u p i a n d Mustafa G j i n i s h i , h a d m a n a g e d , i n t h e m e a n t i m e , t o e n t e r the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t , w h i l e o u t s i d e t h i s F r o n t , and as a c o u n t e r - w e i g h t to i t , an o r g a n i z a t i o n h a d b e e n created w h i c h c a l l e d i t s e l f t h e B a l l i K o m b t a r , a t t h e h e a d
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o f w h i c h w e r e people k n o w n t o t h e B r i t i s h I n t e l l i g e n c e S e r v i c e f e u d a l lords, b i g l a n d o w n e r s a n d m e r c h a n t s , bajraktars, bourgeois intellectuals, senior clergy a n d other s w o r n enemies o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s . I n these c i r c u m s t a n c e s , B r i t a i n d e c i d e d t o d i s p a t c h its m i l i t a r y missions to A l b a n i a . T h e i r purpose w o u l d be to s o u n d out the s i t u a t i o n o n t h e spot, t o g i v e t h e i r c e n t r e accurate i n f o r m a t i o n about w h i c h w a y the w i n d was b l o w i n g , t o l e a r n w h a t the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n M o v e m e n t really was, to establish l i n k s w i t h the B a l l i K o m b t a r , to assist t h e f r i e n d s sent i n b y t h e S O E , a n d m o s t i m p o r t a n t , to do t h e i r u t m o s t to ensure, u n d e r t h e d i s g u i s e of aid, t h a t t h e people's r e v o l u t i o n w o u l d f a i l b o t h i n A l b a n i a a n d e v e r y w h e r e else. These w e r e the m a i n aims w i t h w h i c h the B r i t i s h m i s s i o n s w e r e sent t o A l b a n i a , some o f t h e m t h r o u g h G r e e c e a n d others b y a i r . I n these r e m i n i s c e n c e s o f m i n e I a m r e v e a l i n g p r e c i s e l y t h e u n d e r h a n d s t r u g g l e w h i c h these m i s s i o n s w a g e d , a l t h o u g h t h e y h a d n o success, because o u r P a r t y a n d p e o p l e foiled their every action a n d plan. We could not a l l o w the b i t t e r h i s t o r y o f the past t o b e r e p e a t e d , a n d i t w a s n o t repeated. O u r P a r t y a n d people d e f e a t e d t h e I t a l i a n fascists and the G e r m a n nazis w i t h the rifle, w h i l e defeating A n g l o - A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m w i t h heroic resistance and resolute a n d i n t e l l i g e n t d i p l o m a c y , w h i c h w a s i n s p i r e d b y M a r x i s m - L e n i n i m a n d b a s e d o n the g r e a t e x p e r i e n c e of the people a n d t h e i r great leaders t h r o u g h the ages. O u r w a r against t h e G e r m a n o c c u p i e r s a n d t h e l o c a l reactionaries w h o collaborated w i t h t h e m was raging fiercely and had assumed wide proportions. At this time, t h e s p r i n g of 1944, g e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , t h e o p e r a t i o n a l i n i t i a t i v e h a d passed i n t h e h a n d s o f o u r N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n
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A r m y . (5) It had emerged f r o m the fierce fighting and countless p r i v a t i o n s o f t h e w i n t e r 1943-1944 t o u g h e n e d a n d better p r e p a r e d f o r s t e r n battles against t h e o c c u p i e r s a n d t h e i r tools i n A l b a n i a . O n t h e o r d e r o f t h e G e n e r a l S t a f f it had launched the general offensive w h i c h is k n o w n as t h e S p r i n g O f f e n s i v e . B e s i d e s t h e b a t t a l i o n s a n d etas, shock b r i g a d e s p o w e r f u l c o m m a n d s , h a d b e e n f o r m e d a n d t h e i r o p e r a t i o n s against t h e e n e m y w e r e a l w a y s c r o w n e d w i t h v i c t o r y . I n a l l t h e l i b e r a t e d zones n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n c o u n c i l s , w h i c h o p e r a t e d v i g o r o u s l y a s organs o f t h e people's state p o w e r , h a d b e e n f o r m e d . I n the occ u p i e d zones, too, a n d e v e n i n t h e cities, u n d e r g r o u n d national liberation councils h a d been created as fighting organs w h i c h u n i t e d a l l t h e a n t i - f a s c i s t p o p u l a r forces a n d assisted t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r . T h e q u i s l i n g g o v e r n m e n t s f e l l one a f t e r the other l i k e a u t u m n leaves. T h e p l a c e o f people w h o h a d c o m p r o m i s e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e I t a l i a n s w a s t a k e n b y those w h o had w o r k e d u n d e r cover, the chiefs of the B a l l i K o m b t a r a n d o t h e r r e a c t i o n a r y t r e n d s , w h o t o o k p a r t i n the R e g e n c y , t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d o t h e r t o p q u i s l i n g o r g a n s set u p b y the occupiers, a n d h e n c e b e c a m e o p e n q u i s l i n g s . H i t l e r i t e G e r m a n y k n e w t h a t i t h a d lost t h e w a r . I t h a d t o protect t h e forces w h i c h i t h a d i n A l b a n i a f r o m o u r ceaseless a t t a c k s . L i k e w i s e , i t h a d t o w i t h d r a w t h e forces i t h a d i n G r e e c e , a n d hence t o k e e p o p e n t h e r o a d s
_______________________________________ 5 In the w e e k l y report dated M a r c h 8, 1944, on the situation i n A l b a n i a i t w a s reported t o the F o r e i g n O f f i c e : 9. T h e partisan r e v i v a l is a tribute to the f l e x i b i l i t y and resilience of the L.N.C. brigades, the m a j o r i t y of w h i c h w e r e reported a m o n t h ago to be either dispersed by G E R M A N drives or faced w i t h immediate starvation. T h e strength of the Partisans seems to l i e in their discipline, energy a n d c l a r i t y of aims, qualities s i n g u l a r l y l a c k i n g in their nationalist o p p o nents. ( F O 371/43550-3372. P R O . T a k e n f r o m the photocopy o f the o r i g i n a l i n the A I H , Tirana.)
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for their w i t h d r a w a l , w h i c h were under attack by our brigades and divisions. F o r this reason the Germans l a u n c h e d p a r t i a l a n d g e n e r a l o f f e n s i v e s a g a i n s t us, s p r e a d i n g terror a n d devastating w h o l e regions. T h e occupiers h a d the support of the A l b a n i a n reaction: the Ballists, the Zogites, t h e b a j r a k t a r s , t h e q u i s l i n g s f o r m e r l y p r o Italian, n o w pro-German, w i t h w h o m they had reached a g r e e m e n t t o j o i n forces a n d w i p e out t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n A r m y . R e a c t i o n assisted its a l l y G e r m a n y , t h e n a z i a r m y , a n d a t t h e same t i m e t r i e d t o p r e p a r e f o r t h e f u t u r e , t h a t is, t o seize p o w e r w h e n t h e G e r m a n forces d e p a r t e d . W h i l e w a g i n g unrelenting w a r on the enemy we kept vigilant w a t c h on the manoeuvres of the quislings, the B a l l i K o m b t a r and the Zogites; we replied to their actions w i t h arms, w i t h a r m e d counter-attacks, and defeated their p l a n s t h r o u g h i n t e n s i v e p r o p a g a n d a a m o n g t h e people, i n opposition to the G e r m a n propaganda w h i c h loudly p r o claimed that G e r m a n y h a d a l w a y s been a n d a l w a y s w o u l d b e a f r i e n d o f t h e A l b a n i a n people, t h a t t h e G e r m a n a r m y w a s o n l y h e r e i n t r a n s i t a n d t h a t a l l o f its actions w e r e undertaken to strengthen the freedom and independence of A l b a n i a ! This demagogy was accompanied w i t h allegedly Albanian measures w i t h the National Assembly, w i t h the organization of the A l b a n i a n gendarmerie, because t h e A l b a n i a n fascist m i l i t i a w a s n o t A l b a n i a n , etc., etc. T h i s B r i t i s h h a d s u f f e r e d defeats i n t h e i r i n t r i g u e s . Seeing that their plans w e r e being consistently discovered and foiled, they thought they could improve the situation by dropping us a f e w more weapons. B u t we d i d not fall f o r t h e i r t r i c k e r y . I a d v i s e d the c o m m i s s a r s a n d the c o m m a n d e r s : Y o u m u s t c h e r i s h n o i l l u s i o n , n o hopes, a n d n o b e l i e f t h a t t h e B r i t i s h are g o i n g t o d r o p u s w e a p o n s . W e m u s t h a v e f a i t h i n ourselves, i n the P a r t y , i n t h e
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people and in our N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r . We must attack the enemy, smash it and capture arms, a m m u n i t i o n , clothing a n d food. T h i s is the only w a y that we w i l l ensure stores o f a r m s . W e e x p e c t n o t h i n g f r o m h e a v e n . W e w i l l continue to demand weapons f r o m the B r i t i s h as our allies, b u t a l l t h e y d r o p u s c o u n t f o r n o t h i n g i n o u r great w a r . I n m e e t i n g s I e x p l a i n e d t o t h e c o m m i s s a r s : W h i l e the B r i t i s h a n d the A m e r i c a n s are our allies in t h i s w a r , because t h e y a r e f i g h t i n g t h e G e r m a n s , w e m u s t never t h i n k that they sincerely support our war. T h e y do not w a n t t o a r m us, because t h e y k n o w t h a t b y d o i n g s o they are digging the grave for their real friends. T h e y w a n t u s t o f o l d o u r a r m s , t o stop f i g h t i n g a n d b e w e a k , so that they can thoroughly enslave us tomorrow. Therefore I i s s u e d t h e c a l l f o r f i g h t i n g , relentless f i g h t i n g , c o r r e c t policy, revolutionary diplomacy and vigilance, vigilance! T w o or three months after General Davies (6) was taken prisoner, B r i t a i n sought permission to send another representative to our G e n e r a l Staff, a M a j o r Palmer, w h o was p r o m o t e d a l i t t l e l a t e r to L t . - C o l o n e l . I a u t h o r i z e d t h i s a n d i n A p r i l 1944 h e w a s d r o p p e d b y p a r a c h u t e i n t h e region of K o r a , if I'm not mistaken. He was accompanied by h i s c h i e f of staff, a r a d i o o p e r a t o r a n d some o t h e r o f f i c e r . As we saw later f r o m the attitude P a l m e r adopted, he h a d b e e n i n s t r u c t e d to p r e s e n t a m o r e s y m p a t h e t i c a p p e a r a n c e , t h a t is, t o a v o i d a p p e a r i n g a s c u n n i n g a n d a r r o g a n t a s M c L e a n , ( 7 ) o r a l l e g e d l y t h e p l a i n soldier l i k e the G e n e r a l , w h o p r o v e d t o b e n o t a t a l l the s o l d i e r h e
__________________________________ 6 E d m u n d Davies chief of the B r i t i s h mission the B r i t i s h W a r O f f i c e sent in October 1943 to the G e n e r a l Staff of the A l b a n i a n N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n A r m y , (See E n v e r H o x h a , The A n g l o - A m e r i c a n Threat to A l b a n i a , 8 N n t o r i P u b l i s h ing House, T i r a n a 1982, pp. 80-172, E n g . ed.) 7 N e i l M c L e a n B r i t i s h liaison officer. In A p r i l 1943 he came to A l b a n i a as representative of the A l l i e d M e d i t e r r a nean C o m m a n d to the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n G e n e r a l C o u n c i l .
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claimed to be up t i l l the moment he surrendered to t h e Germans. P a l m e r was all smiles w h e n he met me. He was a m a n a b o u t 40, f i t - l o o k i n g , w i t h c l e a r - c u t f e a t u r e s , a n d i n t e l l i g e n t s m i l i n g eyes. A f t e r w e e x c h a n g e d greetings, h e told me that he had come to replace G e n e r a l D a v i e s at the Supreme Staff of the Partisan A r m y and to contribute his m a x i m u m to the strengthening of the friendship between our t w o countries a n d armies w h i c h w e r e allies against t h e same e n e m y , H i t l e r i t e G e r m a n y , a n d o t h e r s u c h h i g h f l o w n b u t w o r t h l e s s w o r d s . I r e p l i e d i n g e n e r a l t e r m s , too. I also a s k e d h i m i f t h e B r i t i s h i n t e n d e d t o assist u s w i t h w e a p o n s a n d c l o t h i n g , w h i c h w a s a v e r y i m p o r t a n t issue f o r us, b u t w h i c h , I t o l d P a l m e r , y o u f o r g o t t o mention. I also gave h i m a short a c c o u n t of t h e s m a l l a m o u n t of a i d w h i c h t h e y h a d g i v e n us. Your Shakespeare, I told h i m , wrote a comedy c a l l e d Much Ado About Nothing. H o w e v e r , t h i s p e r f o r m a n c e t h a t is g o i n g on t o d a y to the d e t r i m e n t of a people t h i r s t i n g f o r f r e e d o m goes b e y o n d t h e b o u n d s o f c o m e d y o r d r a m a a n d is a t e r r i b l e t r a g e d y . A s m a l l people, l i k e ours, a r e fighting a n d sacrificing everything for v i c t o r y in this w a r . T h e o n l y a i d w e a s k f r o m y o u i s i n w e a p o n s , n o t h i n g else, w h i l e a l l y o u d o i s t a l k a b o u t i t a n d i n fact w e see v e r y v e r y l i t t l e , a l m o s t n o t h i n g o f t h i s aid. Palmer laughed, although he had been smiling the w h o l e t i m e . I t s e e m e d t h e y h a d d e l i b e r a t e l y selected t h i s cheerful type in order to avoid any further worsening of r e l a t i o n s w i t h us.
______________________________________ In a u t u m n of the same year he left for L o n d o n a n d in A p r i l 1944 returned to A l b a n i a . He was attached to the reactionary forces in order to help their w a r against the n a t i o n a l l i b e ration forces. (See E n v e r H o x h a , T h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n T h r e a t to A l b a n i a , 8 N n t o r i P u b l i s h i n g House, T i r a n a 1982, pp. 29-67, 278-296, E n g . ed.)
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W i t h our landing in Italy, 1 believe w e ' l l adjust this m a t t e r better. Y o u m u s t U n d e r s t a n d o u r d i f f i c u l t i e s , Palmer tried to explain. In his attitude, conduct and w a y of speaking, he was m u c h m o r e m a t u r e , cautious, serious, a n d s y m p a t h e t i c t h a n all the other B r i t i s h officers I met d u r i n g the w a r . He posed a s i f h e s y m p a t h i z e d w i t h o u r w a r , a l t h o u g h c e r t a i n l y he approved neither of our war, nor of our political stand. However there was nothing he could do about them and he d i d not display this openly like M c L e a n , nor tell flagrant lies l i k e G e n e r a l D a v i e s . O n m a n y occasions I h a d a r g u m e n t s w i t h P a l m e r , and even spoke a n g r i l y to h i m about the stand of other B r i t i s h missions, the A l l i e d M e d i t e r r a n e a n C o m m a n d and G e n e r a l Wilson, but P a l m e r always maintained his t y p i c a l E n g l i s h a p l o m b , t o o k notes, t h o u g h t c a r e f u l l y b e f o r e h e spoke a n d r e p l i e d t o m e t a c t f u l l y a n d d i p l o m a t i c a l l y . N a t u r a l l y the question of weapons was always a source o f d i s c o r d b e t w e e n us. I n fact, w e h a d n e v e r p i n n e d a n y hopes o n g e t t i n g a r m s f r o m t h e m a n d d i d n o t r e a l l y e x p e c t that t h e y w o u l d d r o p t h e m t o us, b u t w e i n s i s t e d o n t h i s q u e s t i o n i n o r d e r t o b r i n g out t h e sabotage a n d o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s w h i c h t h e y t r i e d t o c a r r y out against us. T h e contradictions that w e h a d w i t h the B r i t i s h over the i n a d e q u a t e s u p p l y o f a r m s b e c a m e v e r y acute. A t l o n g last P a l m e r c a m e t o m e w i t h a p r o p o s a l o f t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n H e a d q u a r t e r s o n t h i s p r o b l e m . A s h e p u t it, i n order to solve the p r o b l e m of arms supplies f r o m the allies properly and quickly, the Mediterranean Headquarters proposed that we should send a m i l i t a r y delegation to B a r i and present our requirements there. T h e comrades a n d I e x a m i n e d a n d discussed t h i s p r o p o s a l at l e n g t h . I sent f o r P a l m e r a n d t o l d h i m o f o u r d e c i s i o n . H e r e j o i c e d a t h a v i n g a c h i e v e d t h i s success a n d s a i d w i t h satisfaction, N o w I b e l i e v e t h a t e v e r y t h i n g w i l l b e settled.
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I w a s c o n v i n c e d t h a t n o t h i n g w o u l d b e done. A n d i n f a c t , i t t u r n e d out j u s t a s w e h a d foreseen. O u r d e l e g a t i o n c a m e back w i t h nothing but promises and empty hands. P a l m e r often felt himself hard-pressed and could h a r d l y w a i t f o r t h e occasion w h e n h a l f a d o z e n r i f l e s w e r e d r o p p e d i n some r e g i o n s o t h a t h e c o u l d c o m e t o m e a l l s m i l e s to b r i n g the good news. The Germans were receiving mortal blows on the Soviet front, w h i c h was the m a i n front of the w a r a n d sealed t h e t o t a l defeat o f H i t l e r i t e G e r m a n y . T h e R e d A r m y had advanced into the Balkans and was driving towards t h e West. T h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n s h a d l a n d e d i n I t a l y . T h e G e r m a n forces f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s i n d i f f i c u l t i e s i n t h e A p e n n i n e P e n i n s u l a , w h i l e t h e allies a d v a n c e d v e r y s l o w l y . Kesselring's armies were m a k i n g a fighting retreat and apparently wanted to t u r n the A l p s into an impassable defence l i n e . I t h a d b e c o m e v i r t u a l l y i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h e forces o f t h e G e r m a n a r m y d e p l o y e d i n G r e e c e t o r e m a i n there any longer. T h e only possible routes for their w i t h drawal were through Macedonia and Albania to link up in Montenegro, Bosnia, Sandjak, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia to reach A u s t r i a where they w o u l d unite w i t h Kesselring's forces w i t h d r a w i n g t o w a r d s t h e A l p s . M a k i n g a thorough analysis of the general w a r situation a n d foreseeing the situations that w o u l d be created, o u r G e n e r a l S t a f f set t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n A r m y t h e i m p o r t a n t t a s k o f s t e p p i n g u p its m i l i t a r y a t t a c k s o n t h e G e r m a n - B a l l i s t forces. It also set t h e t a s k t h a t o u r s h o c k brigades must be f u r t h e r toughened and better armed, that bigger m i l i t a r y units, divisions a n d eventually a r m y corps, m u s t b e c r e a t e d , because w e a n t i c i p a t e d f i e r c e b a t t l e s w i t h t h e G e r m a n nazis, w h o , f i g h t i n g d e s p e r a t e l y d u r i n g t h e i r retreat, w o u l d l a u n c h savage o f f e n s i v e s t o w e a k e n u s a n d w i p e u s out, i n o r d e r t o k e e p t h e r o u t e s o p e n f o r their withdrawal.
483
A t the s a m e t i m e , t h e P a r t y f o r e s a w t h a t t h e d a y o f v i c t o r y w a s n o t f a r off, t h e r e f o r e p r e l i m i n a r y p r e p a r a t i o n s had to be made for the liberation of the H o m e l a n d w h i c h w a s c o s t i n g u s s o m u c h b l o o d , tears a n d s a c r i f i c e . T h e national liberation councils h a d to be strengthened everyw h e r e . I t h a d also b e c o m e i m p e r a t i v e t o h o l d a m a j o r congress a t w h i c h i m p o r t a n t p o l i t i c a l , o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d m i l i t a r y decisions, i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e i n t e r n a l s i t u a t i o n a n d f o r e i g n p o l i c y , w o u l d b e t a k e n . T h e congress h a d t o d e t e r m i n e t h e l e g a l f o r m o f t h e people's state p o w e r , t o set up t h e n e w state of people's d e m o c r a c y a n d c o n s o l i d a t e its l e a d e r s h i p . A n y a t t e m p t o u t s i d e t h e c o u n t r y t o f o r m some so-called A l b a n i a n g o v e r n m e n t i n e x i l e , etc., h a d t o be b l o c k e d l e g a l l y t h r o u g h t h e u n a n i m o u s d e c i s i o n of a great a s s e m b l y (the f i r s t p e o p l e ' s a s s e m b l y ) elected d e mocratically. W e p u t these a n d o t h e r c u r r e n t p r o b l e m s b e f o r e t h e P l e n u m of the C e n t r a l Committee of the P a r t y w h i c h met i n the m i d d l e o f M a y i n H e l m s o f S k r a p a r a n d w h i c h took t h e r e s p e c t i v e decisions a n d l a i d d o w n t h e g u i d e l i n e s for t h e f u t u r e . T h e s e g u i d e l i n e s h a d t o d o w i t h c o n t i n u i n g the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r a g a i n s t t h e e n e m y o c c u p i e r and t r a i t o r s m o r e f i e r c e l y i n o r d e r t o d r i v e a h e a d o n a l l f r o n t s t i l l t h e i r c o m p l e t e defeat, t i l l t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e whole of A l b a n i a and the setting up and consolidation of the state, a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a n d l e g i s l a t i v e p o l i t i c a l p o w e r , that is, t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of t h e state p o w e r of people's democracy throughout the w h o l e country. These things w e r e also p u t f o r w a r d a n d discussed i n t h e C o n g r e s s o f Prmet (8) a n d were embodied in the decisions w h i c h it took. T h e s e w e r e m a j o r t a s k s . O f course w e k n e w a n d t h e Party had made clear to a l l the partisans and the people that the r o a d w a s not s t r e w n w i t h rose petals, t h a t e v e n
___________________________________ 8 It was held f r o m 24-28 M a y 1944 in the t o w n of Prmet.
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m o r e b l o o d w o u l d b e shed, a n d w e w o u l d h a v e t o o v e r c o m e m a n y d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d m a k e s t i l l m o r e sacrifices. W e w o u l d a c h i e v e a l l these t h i n g s b y f i g h t i n g a n d t h e v i c t o r y w o u l d c o m e f r o m the b a r r e l o f the g u n a n d t h e correct, principled, M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t policy of the Party. W e w e r e l o c k e d i n a l i f e - a n d - d e a t h s t r u g g l e w i t h the H i t l e r i t e a r m y a n d r e a c t i o n , t h e t w o m a i n enemies, w h o m w e h a d t o t o t a l l y defeat a n d l i q u i d a t e together, once a n d for all. As I explained earlier, the reactionaries, the quisl i n g s , t h e B a l l i s t s , t h e Zogites, t h e b a j r a k t a r s a n d t h e pseudo-democrats w e r e f i g h t i n g us w i t h arms together w i t h t h e G e r m a n s , w i t h t h e a i m that, w h e n w e h a d d r i v e n t h e l a t t e r out o f t h e c o u n t r y , r e a c t i o n w o u l d b e o r g a n i z e d a n d a b l e t o seize state p o w e r . T h e s e w e r e m o m e n t s w h e n our N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n A r m y h a d become v e r y strong. R e a c t i o n c o u l d see c l e a r l y t h a t w e w e r e p u t t i n g a n e n d t o t h e o c c u p y i n g forces a n d c o u l d f e e l t h e g r o u n d s l i p p i n g f r o m u n d e r its feet. W e w e r e not o n l y d r i v i n g t h e e n e m y out o f o u r H o m e l a n d , b u t f o l l o w i n g i t i n h o t p u r s u i t , c a r r y i n g t h e f i g h t b e y o n d o u r state b o r d e r s . T h e m o r e t h e n a z i s s u f f e r e d defeat a n d t h e s t r o n g e r the N a t i o n a l Liberation W a r g r e w i n our country a n d other countries, t h e m o r e d a n g e r o u s A n g l o - A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m became. T h i s w a s a f e r o c i o u s e n e m y . I t w a s d i s g u i s e d w i t h d e m o c r a t i c slogans a n d c a l l e d itself a n t i - f a s c ist, b u t i n fact i t w a s p e r f i d i o u s , o p e r a t e d p o w e r f u l l y , a l w a y s i n disguise, a n d s o u g h t t o t u r n t h e s i t u a t i o n t o its a d v a n t a g e t o e s t a b l i s h its h e g e m o n y o v e r t h e peoples o f the w o r l d . T h e r e w e r e m a n y w h o f o r g o t t h i s , w h o u n d e r e s t i m a t e d it, w h i l e the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a a n d its l e a d e r s h i p n e v e r s l a c k e n e d t h e i r v i g i l a n c e t o w a r d s it. W e w e r e w i d e a w a k e a t e v e r y m o m e n t t o f o i l its p l a n s a n d w e d i d f o i l t h e m , one a f t e r t h e other. T h e B r i t i s h s t e p p e d u p t h e i r p r e s s u r e o n us, w h i l e w e s t r u c k b a c k a t them harder.
485
T h e y h a d h e a r d o f t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s w h i c h the P a r t y was m a k i n g to organize the Congress of Prmet and were s t r i v i n g f e v e r i s h l y t o h i n d e r it, t h e r e f o r e t h e y sent t h e i r senior o f f i c e r , L t . - C o l . L e a k e , a s t h e i r e m i s s a r y , t o meet t h e i r agent, M u s t a f a G j i n i s h i , a n d g i v e h i m d i r e c t i v e s t o s a b otage t h e C o n g r e s s . (I h a v e w r i t t e n a b o u t t h i s episode of the secret w a r o f t h e B r i t i s h against u s i n t h a t p a r t o f the m e m o i r s i n w h i c h I speak a b o u t M u s t a f a G j i n i s h i , hence I s h a l l n o t d w e l l on it here.) ( 9 ) T h e pressure, b l a c k m a i l a n d b r u t a l i n t e r f e r e n c e o f t h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n s against o u r N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n M o v e m e n t b e c a m e m o r e i n t e n s e i n t h e s u m m e r a n d e s p e c i a l l y the a u t u m n o f 1944. T h e r e w e r e reasons f o r this. T h e decisions o f t h e C o n g r e s s o f P r m e t , e s p e c i a l l y those p r o h i b i t i n g Zog's r e t u r n to A l b a n i a , on the non-recognition of any o t h e r g o v e r n m e n t w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y o r i n e x i l e , the cancelling of all agreements concluded w i t h them by Zog to t h e d e t r i m e n t of the i n t e r e s t s of o u r people, etc., h u r t t h e m b a d l y . B u t w h a t m a d e t h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n s most f u r i o u s w a s , o n t h e one h a n d , t h e g r a t i t u d e the delegates e x p r e s s e d t o t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d the R e d A r m y o f S t a l i n , w h i c h h a d t o r n t h e H i t l e r i t e a r m y t o pieces a n d w a s a d v a n c i n g t r i u m p h a n t l y t o w a r d s G e r m a n y , a n d o n the o t h e r h a n d , t h e p u b l i c c o n d e m n a t i o n o f t h e e f f o r t s o f the A n g l o A m e r i c a n a l l i e s t o p o k e t h e i r noses i n t o the i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s of o u r c o u n t r y . T h e great m o m e n t u m o f o u r w a r , t h e g e n e r a l o f f e n s i v e of our N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n A r m y and the successful deve l o p m e n t o f t h i s o f f e n s i v e i n the N o r t h a l a r m e d the leading circles in L o n d o n a n d Washington. W h i l e things were going the w a y they wanted w i t h Tito's Yugoslavia
__________________________________ 9 See E n v e r H o x h a , T h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n Threat to A l b a n i a , 8 Nntori P u b l i s h i n g House, T i r a n a 1982, pp. 173-224, E n g . ed.
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a n d w i t h G r e e c e , t h r o u g h S a n t o s a n d o t h e r agents o f theirs in the G r e e k C o m m u n i s t Party, nothing was going right for them w i t h little A l b a n i a , w h i c h they had considered a push-over. It was slipping f r o m their grip. F a c e d w i t h t h i s fact, t h e y w e r e o b l i g e d t o sit d o w n a n d w o r k out even more sophisticated plans. M e a n w h i l e in the N o r t h , the partisan forces w e r e l a u n c h i n g f u r i o u s a t t a c k s o n the o c c u p i e r s a n d r e a c t i o n a r i e s . O u r brigades h a d clashed w i t h the G e r m a n a n d Ballist troops i n t h e r e g i o n s o f D i b r a a n d K u k s . T h e c o m m a n d o f t h e 1st S h o c k D i v i s i o n i n f o r m e d u s t h a t t h e i r a m m u n i t i o n w a s r u n n i n g out. M o r e t h a n t e n d a y s h a d passed since t h e date w h e n P a l m e r h a d p r o m i s e d m e t h a t a r m a ments w o u l d be delivered. I summoned the head of the B r i t i s h mission to come to the centre of our Staff at night. Quietly, but in cold a n d clear terms I told h i m : M r . P a l m e r , t w o w e e k s o r s o ago I p r e s e n t e d t o y o u a request f o r w e a p o n s , a m m u n i t i o n a n d m o r t a r shells. Y o u a r e w e l l a w a r e w h y w e n e e d these m a t e r i a l s u r g e n t l y , because I also t o l d y o u t h e p u r p o s e of t h e m . I also t o l d y o u w h e r e w e i n t e n d e d t o o p e r a t e s o that, a s w e agreed, t h e weapons w o u l d be dropped at the place a n d on the date w e set together. Y o u w e l c o m e d m y r e q u e s t w i t h a s m i l e and told me that y o u w o u l d immediately i n f o r m the A l l i e d Mediterranean Headquarters and General Wilson about this. F o u r d a y s l a t e r y o u c a m e a n d t o l d m e t h a t t h e r e q u e s t h a d b e e n accepted a n d t h a t t h e w e a p o n s w o u l d b e d r o p p e d b y p a r a c h u t e a t t h e t i m e a n d t h e p l a c e set. O n t h e b a s i s of y o u r promise we took immediate measures, gave orders f o r o u r forces t o g o i n t o a c t i o n a n d t h e y a r e i n v o l v e d i n f i g h t i n g a t present. Y o u a r e n o t k e e p i n g y o u r w o r d a n d y o u are c a u s i n g o u r N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n A r m y g r e a t d a m a g e . I f y o u d o not t a k e i m m e d i a t e m e a s u r e s t o d r o p us the promised arms, we shall consider this a hostile
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gesture w h i c h i s d a m a g i n g a n d c a u s i n g losses t o a n a l l i e d a r m y . I f the w e a p o n s a r e not sent i m m e d i a t e l y , not o n l y shall we m a k e y o u responsible for this before w o r l d a n t i fascist o p i n i o n , b u t w e s h a l l t a k e severe m e a s u r e s against a l l t h e B r i t i s h m i s s i o n s o n o u r side. P a l m e r frowned, w h i c h was something rare for him, but w i t h h i s E n g l i s h i m p e r t u r b a b i l i t y , q u i c k l y a s s u m e d a s m i l e a n d s a i d i n self-defence, a s i f t o c a l m m e : M r H o x h a , y o u are d i s p l a y i n g hot t e m p e r . . . I c o u l d t o l e r a t e n o m o r e a n d cut h i m s h o r t : W h a t do y o u expect, s h o u l d I l a u g h , s h o u l d I not be i n d i g n a n t , not b e h o t - t e m p e r e d w h e n m y c o m r a d e s a r e being k i l l e d in the fighting? I understand the difficult situation, both for your forces a n d f o r us, b u t I believe, a n d I am s u r e of this, t h a t o u r M e d i t e r r a n e a n H e a d q u a r t e r s does not l a c k t h e w i l l t o assist y o u , b u t i t m u s t b e t h e w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h are h i n d e r i n g us. N e v e r t h e l e s s , M r H o x h a , i t i s m y d u t y t o r e p o r t once a g a i n w h a t y o u h a v e t o l d me, a n d f o r m y p a r t I s h a l l i n s i s t t h a t the m u n i t i o n s are sent, s a i d P a l m e r . T h i s w a s a n u l t i m a t u m w h i c h I g a v e t h e h e a d o f the British mission. I w o u l d avoid meeting h i m until he came t o i n f o r m m e w h e t h e r o r not the a r m s h a d b e e n sent a n d t h a t i s w h a t I d i d . W e h a d d e c i d e d t h a t i f t h e y d i d not d r o p u s the w e a p o n s , w e w o u l d e x p e l t h e B r i t i s h m i s s i o n f r o m o u r S t a f f . S u c h a t h i n g w a s not i n t h e i r interest a n d t h e y w e r e a f r a i d w e m i g h t d o this, because t h e y h a d b e g u n to understand the w a y we thought. No more t h a n three or four days went by w h e n I was i n f o r m e d that P a l m e r h a d sought a m e e t i n g . F r o m t h e c o m r a d e s I h a d r e c e i v e d the n e w s t h a t t h e a r m s h a d b e e n d r o p p e d (after w e h a d s m a s h e d the G e r m a n a n d B a l l i s t forces). T h e L t . - C o l o n e l came and, smiling as usual, told m e : M r H o x h a , t h e d e s i r e o f b o t h o f u s has been f u l f i l l e d , the a r m s h a v e b e e n dropped.
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The c o m r a d e s t o l d me, I said. T h a n k y o u , i n p a r t i c u l a r , f o r y o u r efforts. Y o u w h o are here k n o w t h e s i t u a t i o n better t h a n those w h o a r e i n Italy, I a d d e d . T h i s pleased P a l m e r g r e a t l y a n d a f t e r h e h a d d r u n k the tea a n d eaten the f r u i t w h i c h I o f f e r e d h i m , h e w e n t off r e j o i c i n g . The A n g l o - A m e r i c a n imperialists were still holding two o r t h r e e cards t o b e used a t the a p p r o p r i a t e m o m e n t . A t this t i m e t h e c a r d w h i c h seemed t o t h e m t o h a v e t h e most chance w a s t h a t o f G a n i K r y e z i u , t h e f e u d a l l o r d o f Kosova, who, it was whispered, was preparing to f o r m a g o v e r n m e n t , a t least f o r N o r t h e r n A l b a n i a . W e v e r y q u i c k l y m a d e this c a r d w o r t h l e s s . W e w e r e i n O d r i a n o f P r m e t . T h e m a i n forces o f o u r a r m y w e r e engaged i n s u c c e s s f u l actions i n C e n t r a l a n d N o r t h e r n A l b a n i a . On S e p t e m b e r 20, 1944, I r e c e i v e d an urgent radiogram i n w h i c h Comrade Manush Myftiu r e p o r t e d that the forces o f the 5th B r i g a d e h a d s u r r o u n d e d G a n i K r y e z i u ' s eta, h a d c a p t u r e d Seit K r y e z i u , L l a z a r F u n d o , alias Z a i F u n d o , a n d t h e B r i t i s h o f f i c e r a t t a c h e d t o t h e m , S i m c o x , a n d w e r e h o l d i n g t h e m u n d e r arrest, awaiting our instructions as to what to do w i t h them. One d a y later, G a n i K r y e z i u w a s also c a p t u r e d . O f course t h i s w a s good n e w s f o r us. A t last these enemies o f t h e A n t i - f a s c i s t N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , t h e Communist Party of Albania and international communism, w o u l d r e n d e r account. As I r e a d the r a d i o g r a m I c o u l d see in my m i n d ' s eye, as on a c i n e m a screen, a l l t h e e v i l deeds a n d hostile a c t i v i t y o f these i n d i v i d u a l s d u r i n g t h e i r lives, a n d I r e c a l l e d e v e r y t h i n g that I h a d seen a n d h e a r d about t h e m . Z a i F u n d o w a s the son o f a m e r c h a n t f r o m K o r a , f r o m a f a m i l y w h i c h posed as g e n t r y . As a y o u n g d e m o c r a t he h a d been a m e m b e r of the p r o g r e s s i v e a s s o c i a t i o n Bashkimi a n d at the b e g i n n i n g of t h e 20's h a d t a k e n p a r t i n the a n t i - f e u d a l m o v e m e n t .
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Z a i was caught up in the w a v e of political activity and it seemed as if he h a d taken a different r o a d f r o m that of h i s f a m i l y , as if he h a d t a k e n t h e s i d e of d e m ocracy against the f e u d a l lords. W h e n Z o g returned to T i r a n a w i t h the aid of foreign p o w e r s , the m a i n s u p p o r t e r s o f the F a n N o l i g o v e r n m e n t e m i g r a t e d a b r o a d . Z a i F u n d o w e n t , too. E v e n t u a l l y h e e n d e d u p i n the S o v i e t U n i o n w i t h a g r o u p o f A l b a n i a n s , a m o n g s t w h o m w e r e A l i K e l m e n d i , K o o T a s h k o a n d others. Some years later w e heard f r o m A l i K e l m e n d i that Z a i F u n d o h a d b e t r a y e d c o m m u n i s m , hence h a d become a renegade a dangerous and very c u n n i n g Trotskyite, but h a d escaped the p u r g e o f the T r o t s k y i t e s , B u k h a r i n i t e s , a n d other renegades, because w h e n his T r o t s k y i t e a c t i v i t y a n d v i e w s w e r e d i s c o v e r e d , h e w a s not i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . N o w he was to be found sometimes in S w i t z e r l a n d , sometimes i n F i a n c e , o r e l s e w h e r e , w o r k i n g f u r i o u s l y a n d o p e n l y against c o m m u n i s m , against S t a l i n a n d against the S o v i e t U n i o n , as a l e a d i n g f i g u r e in the r a n k s of the Trotskyite 4th International, and had placed himself in the service o f w h o k n o w s w h i c h o f the i m p e r i a l i s t states w h i c h w e r e o r g a n i z i n g t h e sabotage a n d t h e f i g h t against t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . T h e r e f o r e , w e w e r e not s u r p r i s e d w h e n h e w a s f o u n d i n t h e s e r v i c e o f the B r i t i s h . O n t h e eve o f the fascist o c c u p a t i o n h e r e t u r n e d t o A l b a n i a w i t h the p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e Z o g g o v e r n m e n t , a f t e r h a v i n g g i v e n assurances t h a t h e w o u l d not engage i n politics. Z a i F u n d o d i d not c o m e w i t h o u t u l t e r i o r m o t i v e s . H e w a s not a n economic emigrant, nor any o r d i n a r y political emigrant, but r e n o w n e d a s a n a n t i - Z o g i t e a n d a n t i - f e u d a l a n d e s p e c i a l l y as a c o m m u n i s t . T h e resistance o f o u r people against the despotic r e g i m e of Zog was b u i l d i n g up, the communist groups w e r e extendi n g t h e i r r a n k s a n d a c t i v i t y , fascist I t a l y h a d got o u r H o m e l a n d i n t o its clutches a n d w a s p r e p a r i n g f o r its o c c u p a t i o n .
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The situation in Europe was disturbed. The tramp of the j a c k b o o t s a n d the c l a s h o f t h e b a y o n e t s o f G e r m a n n a z i s m and Italian fascism were becoming loud and ominous. The wars of plunder had begun. P r e c i s e l y i n these t r o u b l e d times, l i k e a w o l f s e e k i n g cover i n the fog, Z a i F u n d o r e t u r n e d t o A l b a n i a , u n d o u b t e d l y sent b y f o r e i g n agencies t o p r e p a r e t h e t e r r a i n f o r t h e e n e m y , t o sabotage t h e c r e a t i o n o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a a n d t h e a r m e d resistance o f t h e A l b a n i a n people. W e u n d e r s t o o d t h e d a n g e r o f t h i s renegade, hence w e took t h e necessary m e a s u r e s t o f i g h t h i m t o the f i n i s h . I u n d e r t o o k t o u n m a s k h i m a m o n g t h e teachers, p r o f e s s o r s a n d students a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e t o d i s c o v e r h i s m a n o e u v r e s a n d m e t h o d s o f w o r k , w h e r e h e w o u l d create h i s bases a n d h o w h e w o u l d e x t e n d h i s n e t w o r k . T h e o t h e r c o m r a d e s u n d e r t o o k t h e task t o m a k e c l e a r t o w o r k e r s a n d t h e peasant e l e m e n t w h o this t r a i t o r w a s . R i g h t f r o m the start w e w a t c h e d the a c t i v i t y o f t h i s n o t o r i o u s i n d i v i d u a l among the merchant bourgeoisie and liberal and democratic i n t e l l i g e n t s i a o f K o r a . I t w o u l d b e d i f f i c u l t f o r h i m t o p e n e t r a t e a m o n g s t t h e w o r k e r s o f K o r a because t h e y h a d l o n g k n o w n w h a t h e was, w h e r e a s i f h e w e r e t o attempt to establish links w i t h the countryside, he w o u l d d o t h i s t h r o u g h t h e l i b e r a l beys a n d aghas. T h i s i s h o w w e b e g a n t h e w o r k against h i m , w i t h t h e o l d g u a r d o f the C o m m u n i s t G r o u p o f K o r a i n the f o r e f r o n t . Z a i F u n d o set t o w o r k s y s t e m a t i c a l l y . H e m a d e c o n t a c t w i t h a l l those about w h o m the p r e f e c t a n d h i s agents h a d not the slightest t r a c e of doubt, hence he w a s l e g a l i z i n g h i s a c t i v i t y a c c o r d i n g t o t h e promises m a d e b e f o r e h i s return to Albania. H e e s t a b l i s h e d l i n k s w i t h t h e l e a d e r s o f the m e r c h a n t bourgeoisie o f K o r a w h o w e r e l i n k e d w i t h t h e M o s l e m beys a n d aghas, w h o w e r e m o r e i n contact w i t h t h e c o u n t r y -
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side a n d a m o n g the most t r u s t e d s u p p o r t e r s o f Z o g a n d h i s h e n c h m e n . H e l i n k e d u p , also, w i t h those w h o f o r m e d the o p i n i o n o f t h e M o s l e m lite o f K o r a , w h o b e c a m e his closest f r i e n d s . C e r t a i n i n t e l l e c t u a l s o f K o r a , e s p e c i a l l y the p r o - f a s c i s t ones, also b e c a m e s u p p o r t e r s of Z a i F u n d o . W e d i s c o v e r e d these t h i n g s v e r y q u i c k l y because w e k e p t his m e e t i n g s o u t i n t h e t o w n a n d h i s f r e q u e n t v i s i t s t o individual families under careful surveillance. It was difficult for us to learn w h a t he talked about w i t h these people, b u t s o m e t i m e s w e h e a r d o f i t t h r o u g h t h e i r b o a s t i n g . Z a i p r e e n e d h i m s e l f a s a n able p o l i t i c i a n , as a m a n of great c u l t u r e . He t o l d t h e m t h a t he w a s for r e f o r m s , b u t in a m o d e r a t e way, because it w a s not t i m e yet f o r f a r - r e a c h i n g r e f o r m s , t h a t the c o u n t r y w a s b a c k w a r d f r o m the aspect of education, etc., etc., but he n e v e r w e n t d e e p l y i n t o w h a t s h o u l d b e done. H e s p o k e fine w o r d s a b o u t t h e y o u t h , a v o i d e d t a l k i n g d i r e c t l y about t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d S t a l i n a n d s a i d : I a m a c o m m u n i s t , a s t h e w h o l e w o r l d , i n c l u d i n g the prefect, k n o w s , a n d t h e r e is no w a y I c a n h i d e this.(!) W e m e t f r o m t i m e t o t i m e , r e p o r t e d o n his a c t i v i t y a n d . a f t e r discussion, took decisions t o expose h i m f u r t h e r as an e n e m y of the w o r k e r s , as an e n e m y of the g e n u i n e l a n d r e f o r m w h i c h w o u l d b e the s a l v a t i o n o f the p e a s a n t r y , etc. N a t u r a l l y , Z a i a n d his f r i e n d s d i d not l i k e this s t r u g g l e w h i c h the B o l s h e v i k s , a s t h e y c a l l e d us, w a g e d against h i m . K o o T a s h k o . w h o posed a s the head o f o u r g r o u p , d i d not l i k e it e i t h e r . H e , too, t r i e d to f o r c e us not to s t r u g g l e against Z a i F u n d o , because h e a l l e g e d l y h a d anti-fascist sentiments! However, we carried on w i t h our work. Z a i F u n d o e x p r e s s e d his anti-fascist sentiments t o m e one t i m e w h e n h e s t o p p e d m e i n the street i n K o r a . T h e r e I seized the o p p o r t u n i t y a n d p o u r e d out e v e r y t h i n g I h a d against h i m . W h a t d i d I n o t c a l l h i m ! E v e r y e p i t h e t that f i t t e d h i m : T r o t s k y i t e , e n e m y o f s o c i a l i s m a n d S t a l i n ,
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e n e m y of t h e A l b a n i a n people, etc. F r o m t h a t d a y on I n e v e r set eyes o n h i m a g a i n . Soon after the Italian occupation he disappeared f r o m sight. N o t h i n g w a s h e a r d a b o u t w h e r e h e w a s , w h a t h e w a s d o i n g , w h e t h e r h e w a s l e g a l o r i l l e g a l . C o u l d h e h a v e been a l l o c a t e d some secret m i s s i o n b y the occupier, o r some n a t i o n a l i s t o r T r o t s k y i t e g r o u p ? W e h a d t o f i n d out. F i n a l l y the news reached us that Z a i F u n d o was underg r o u n d i n K o s o v a w h e r e h e h a d l i n k e d u p w i t h t h e chiefs o f r e a c t i o n i n K o s o v a , the b r o t h e r s o f C e n o B e y K r y e z i u from G j a k o v a , G a n i and Seit K r y e z i u . T h e y had formed a eta a n d , a c c o r d i n g to o u r i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e r e w a s a B r i t i s h m i s s i o n w i t h t h e m . T h i s m i s s i o n w a s not s u b o r d i n a t e t o the B r i t i s h m i s s i o n s located i n other zones o f A l b a n i a , or if it was subordinate to them, this they kept v e r y secret. A s i s k n o w n , d u r i n g t h e I t a l i a n o c c u p a t i o n the t e r r i tories of K o s o v a c a m e u n d e r the d o m i n a t i o n of the I t a l i a n s a n d , f o r purposes o f d e m a g o g y , G r e a t e r A l b a n i a , o r Ethnic A l b a n i a was created in this w a y . It was clear to u s t h a t f a s c i s m w a s not t h i n k i n g o f the b e n e f i t o f A l b a n i a a n d the A l b a n i a n s , but o f its o w n interests. T h i s w a s a n incitement to A l b a n i a n reaction to serve their Italian fascist p a t r o n s better a n d t o d r a w g r e a t e r e c o n o m i c gains, a n d i n fact, t h e A l b a n i a n q u i s l i n g s , i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h the fascist r e a c t i o n i n K o s o v a , o r g a n i z e d the s y s t e m a t i c plunder of K o s o v a under the direction of the Italians. H o w e v e r , t h r o u g h t h e slogan in the e n d K o s o v a has b e e n u n i t e d w i t h A l b a n i a , the I t a l i a n fascists, l i k e t h e G e r m a n nazis later, r e c k o n e d t o deceive the A l b a n i a n people a n d the A l b a n i a n s o f K o s o v a b y t e l l i n g t h e m t h a t t h e i r d r e a m s had been realized and that only Italian fascism h a d brought this about, t h e r e f o r e they s h o u l d n o t f i g h t against I t a l y , but against the c o m m u n i s t s . W e a n d the people o f K o s o v a . w i t h the e x c e p t i o n o f some c h i e f s w h o s e h e a r t s w e r e not
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b l e e d i n g f o r A l b a n i a , f o u g h t this d e m a g o g y o f fascism. T h e A l b a n i a n people w e r e n e v e r t a k e n i n b y t h i s v i l e a n d v e r y dangerous d e m a g o g y . O u r P a r t y a n d t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t a d o p t e d c l e a r a n d correct stands o n t h i s p r o b l e m . T h e people u n d e r s t o o d u s a n d f o l l o w e d us, w h i l e r e a c t i o n and its c h i e f s f o u g h t us to the e n d . T h e K r y e z i u f a m i l y o f K o s o v a c a m e w i t h i n this l a t t e r category, t h a t is, a m o n g t h e chiefs o f r e a c t i o n . T h e K r y e zius w e r e n o t o r i o u s i n K o s o v a a s r e a c t i o n a r y f e u d a l lords, oppressors a n d e x p l o i t e r s o f the peasants a n d o p p o n e n t s of the p o w e r f u l l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t s of the people of K o s o v a against the T u r k s a n d the G r e a t - S e r b s . T h e K r y e zius. D r a g a s a n d o t h e r s w e r e a l w a y s not j u s t i n o p p o s i t i o n , not j u s t i n secret s t r u g g l e , but i n open s t r u g g l e against the r e v o l u t i o n a r y e f f o r t s a n d struggles of Isa B o l e t i n i , B a j r a m C u r r i , Hasan Prishtina, A z e m and Shote Galica, a n d others f o r the l i b e r a t i o n o f A l b a n i a . C e n o B e y K r y e z i u , the oldest o f the b r o t h e r s a n d chief of the c l a n , w a s a f r i e n d a n d agent of the G r e a t - S e r b s , o f the K i n g o f the S e r b s , C r o a t s a n d Slovenes, w h o r u l e d in K o s o v a , too, a f r i e n d a n d agent of P a i , at t h a t t i m e the Y u g o s l a v p r i m e m i n i s t e r . H e s e r v e d his S e r b i a n p a t r o n s w e l l t o the d e t r i m e n t o f A l b a n i a . H e w a s one o f the m a i n assistants a n d i n t e r m e d i a r i e s o f A h m e t Z o g , w h o w a s a n o t h e r agent o f the S e r b s a t t h a t t i m e . Z o g , d r i v e n f r o m A l b a n i a b y the r e v o l u t i o n o f J u n e 1924. d i d not w a s t e h i s t i m e i n Y u g o s l a v i a . W i t h the a p p r o v a l a n d d i r e c t assistance of Pai and K i n g Alexander, he returned to Albania together w i t h C e n o B e y . I n r e t u r n f o r this, Z o g g a v e the S e r b s the A l b a n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s o f V e r m o s h a n d S h n N a u m , as I s a i d e a r l i e r , w h i l e he g a v e C e n o B e y K r y e z i u one of his sisters as his w i f e . T h u s , w i t h the r e t u r n o f A h m e t Z o g , C e n o B e y , the agent o f the Serbs, also e n t e r e d A l b a n i a a n d Zog's f a m i l y a s a n h o n o u r e d s o n - i n - l a w t o k e e p a n eye o n the p o l i t i c a l
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m o v e s o f h i s outstanding b r o t h e r - i n - l a w a n d t o k e e p h i m u n d e r the c o n t r o l o f the Serbs. H o w e v e r , t h e r e w e r e no bounds to the perfidy of the future c a r n i v a l k i n g . He w a s c h a n g i n g the t r o u g h h e f e d f r o m . C o m p a r e d w i t h t h e b r i l l i a n t perspectives, w h i c h t h e t a l k s w i t h fascist I t a l y o f f e r e d h i m , S e r b i a n o l o n g e r s e r v e d his purposes. I n d e e d , it became an obstacle, as d i d the agent of t h e S e r b s , C e n o B e y , the beloved b r o t h e r - i n - l a w w h o w e n t i n a n d out o f Zog's p a l a c e w i t h s u c h self-assurance. T h e r e f o r e , one m o r n i n g i n P r a g u e , C e n o B e y w a s assassinated b y u n k n o w n persons. Z o g w a s v e r y grieved a n d h i s court w e n t i n t o m o u r n i n g ! H o w e v e r n o one w a s t a k e n i n b y t h i s farce, least o f a l l the S e r b s a n d the K r y e z i u s . A f t e r the m u r d e r , C e n o ' s place w a s t a k e n b y G a n i B e y , a n o t h e r agent o f t h e S e r b s , a n a n t i - A l b a n i a n f e u d a l l o r d , r e a d y t o serve e v e r y Kralj,* o r w h o e v e r w o u l d p a y h i m most. I n t h e t i m e o f t h e G e r m a n o c c u p a t i o n , one f i n e d a y G a n i B e y K r y e z i u , p o s i n g a s a p a t r i o t , took t o t h e m o u n t a i n s w i t h h i s eta against t h e occupiers, w h o w e r e o n l y i m a g i n a r y occupiers, in p r i n c i p l e , t o h i m , because i n fact h i s eta n e v e r f i r e d a shot against t h e m . H o w e v e r , what astonished us was that the B B C a n d the newspaper Mundimi ( 10 ) of B a r i h a d a great d e a l to say a b o u t the i m a g i n a r y f i g h t i n g o f t h i s eta a n d its c o m m a n d e r . H e h a d t w o commissars w i t h h i m : t h e B r i t i s h o f f i c e r S i m c o x , a n agent o f t h e I n t e l l i g e n c e S e r v i c e , a n d t h e T r o t s k y i t e o f t h e 4th I n t e r n a t i o n a l , Z a i F u n d o . T h u s , G a n i , Z a i and S i m c o x comprised a trio of the Intelligence Service. T h e r e w a s also G a n i ' s b r o t h e r , Seit, w h o posed as a s o c i a l d e m o c r a t a n d w a s b o u n d h a n d a n d foot t o t h e B r i t i s h agency. W h e n t h i n g s seemed t o b e g o i n g b a d l y f o r t h e m i n
_____________________________________ * Serbian for k i n g . 10 P u b l i s h e d by the A n g l o - A m e r i c a n s in A l b a n i a n . It engaged in propaganda by distorting the facts and events in their interest. It was dropped into A l b a n i a f r o m the air.
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K o s o v a , G a n i K r y e z i u ' s eta crossed i n t o t h e d i s t r i c t s o f Tropoja and K u k s . T h e task o f G a n i , Z a i a n d the B r i t i s h w a s t o f i g h t against the partisans, t o sabotage o u r A n t i - f a s c i s t N a t i o n a l L i b e r a tion W a r a n d e s t a b l i s h a n d s t r e n g t h e n connections w i t h M u h a r r e m B a j r a k t a r i , C e n Elezi, F i q r i D i n e and other reactionary chiefs in N o r t h e r n A l b a n i a . Together w i t h them they p r e p a r e d t h e t e r r a i n f o r t h e f u t u r e , s o that, w i t h the defeat o f G e r m a n y , t h e y w o u l d t a k e p o w e r . O f course t h e y pinned t h e i r hopes o n B r i t a i n , because t h e y n u r t u r e d the belief t h a t i t w o u l d i n t e r v e n e i n the B a l k a n s w i t h its a r m y and, since the p a r t i s a n forces w o u l d b e exhausted f r o m fighting the Germans, they would be easily liquidated. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e m , h i s t o r y w o u l d repeat itself. T h e y w o u l d also create a g o v e r n m e n t and, in t h e e n d . the f e u d a l l o r d s w o u l d r u l e o u r c o u n t r y a n d people a g a i n . Therefore, t h e y thought, w e m u s t h o l d back, c o n s e r v e o u r s t r e n g t h , m u s t not i n v o l v e o u r s e l v e s i n f i g h t i n g a n d b e f r e s h a n d v i g o r o u s w h e n the d a y comes t o t a k e p o w e r . T h i s w a s the i d e a a n d plan o f r e a c t i o n a n d t h e B r i t i s h . H o w e v e r , t h e i r r e c k o n i n g was astray. O u r P a r t y f o i l e d t h e i r p l a n s . G a n i K r y e z i u ' s eta c o u l d not operate f r e e l y , u n d e t e c t e d b y o u r forces, w h i c h w e r e c o n t i n u a l l y p u r s u i n g a n d a t t a c k ing the G e r m a n s a n d the chiefs o f i n t e r n a l r e a c t i o n . W e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t G a n i a n d Z a i w i t h a s m a l l eta a n d w i t h the B r i t i s h o f f i c e r a t t a c h e d t o t h e m , e q u i p p e d w i t h a radio t r a n s m i t t e r , w e r e t r y i n g to create a m o v e m e n t against our P a r t y a n d the A n t i - f a s c i s t N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , b y m e a n s o f the r e a c t i o n a r i e s o f K o s o v a a n d the b a j r a k t a r s o f N o r t h e r n A l b a n i a . W e g a v e o u r forces o r d e r s t o t r a c k t h e m d o w n , p u r s u e t h e m , c a p t u r e t h e m a n d defeat t h e i r a c t i v i t y b e f o r e i t h a d r e a l l y got g o i n g . G a n i K r y e z i u o p e r a t e d underground, hidden f r o m us and, w h e n he was h a r d pressed b y o u r p a r t i s a n s , crossed o v e r t o K o s o v a w h e r e h e had his bases. W e w e r e u n a b l e t o m o v e f r e e l y i n K o s o v a
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o n account o f t h e i n t r i g u e s o f the Y u g o s l a v s a n d o f V u k manovi Tempo, in particular, and were obliged to watch f o r w h e n the K r y e z i u ' s eta r e t u r n e d w i t h i n o u r b o r d e r s . T h e r e f o r e , w e h a d i s s u e d s p e c i a l t o p secret o r d e r s t o o u r forces t o f o l l o w t h e i r m o v e m e n t s c a r e f u l l y a n d t o c a p t u r e t h e m as soon as t h e y e n t e r e d A l b a n i a n t e r r i t o r y . T h e o r d e r h a d b e e n c a r r i e d out a n d t h e t r a i t o r s w e r e c a p t u r e d . Z a i F u n d o , S e i t K r y e z i u a n d the B r i t i s h M a j o r S i m c o x w e r e c a p t u r e d i n the D o b r e j M o u n t a i n , w h i l e G a n i B e y a t the B y t y i F l a t , w h e r e the tents b r o u g h t f r o m E n g l a n d f o r the w a r h e a d q u a r t e r s h a d b e e n p u t u p . I l e a r n e d the h i s t o r y of his c a p t u r e later, b u t this is not the place to describe it. Meanwhile, Colonel V e l i m i r Stojni, accompanied by a m a j o r c a l l e d N i j a z D i z d a r e v i , a n d one o r t w o o t h e r s o f l o w e r r a n k , h a d come t o o u r c o u n t r y . T h e y c a m e t o the C C o f o u r P a r t y a n d the G e n e r a l S t a f f a s delegates o f T i t o , t h e C C o f C P Y a n d the Y u g o s l a v G e n e r a l S t a f f , a s a l i a i s o n g r o u p i n o r d e r t o give u s t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e a n d e x c h a n g e e x p e r i e n c e w i t h us o n the w a r a n d the p a r t y . A t t h a t t i m e w e c o n s i d e r e d t h e m f r i e n d s , because they posed a s c o m m u n i s t s a n d h a d s t i l l not been e x p o s e d a n d come out a s renegades f r o m M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . N e v e r theless, i n t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s , w e n o t i c e d c e r t a i n i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t t h e y w e r e not i n o r d e r . I n d e e d , w e h a d h a d c o n t r a dictions w i t h t h e m o v e r m a t t e r s o f p r i n c i p l e , b u t i t h a d n e v e r crossed o u r m i n d s t h a t t h e y h a d gone s o f a r a n d f a l l e n s o l o w a s t o c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h the B r i t i s h b e h i n d the scenes to o u r d e t r i m e n t . We had our first meeting w i t h t h e m in Helms. They i n f o r m e d u s about the s i t u a t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a a n d w e l i k e w i s e s p o k e a b o u t the s i t u a t i o n i n o u r c o u n t r y . T h e i m pressions, w h i c h I a n d M i l a d i n P o p o v i , w h o m w e c a l l e d A l i , f o r m e d at the f i r s t m e e t i n g a n d a f t e r a series of t a l k s w i t h t h e m , w e r e not p a r t i c u l a r l y f a v o u r a b l e .
497
It seems to me that t h e y d i d not t e l l us much, I said to A l i , everything they told us we k n o w and have put into practice. Not o n l y that, r e p l i e d M i l a d i n , but the a u t h o r i t a t i v e air, a r r o g a n c e a n d conceit of V e l o (Stojni) d i d not please me one bit. He p r e t e n d s to k n o w e v e r y t h i n g a n d seems as if he w a n t s to say t h a t he has to feed us on the bottle. But w e d o n ' t s w a l l o w that, t h e r e f o r e t h e y h a v e t o treat u s as comrades. It seems to me t h a t t h e other one ( m e a n i n g N i j a z Dizdarevi) is cleverer a n d more cunning, I told A l i . Y o u a r e not m i s t a k e n , h e said, but w e s h a l l see. K e e p y o u r head, I a d v i s e d M i l a d i n , because y o u w i l l have the o p p o r t u n i t y t o t a l k w i t h t h e m a l l the t i m e , t h e r e fore, w h e n y o u f e e l that y o u are h a r d - p r e s s e d , b r e a k off the c o n v e r s a t i o n a n d say t h a t ' E n v e r m u s t decide a n d not we'. T h i s w a s the a g r e e m e n t w e r e a c h e d w i t h M i l a d i n P o povi, t h a t g e n u i n e c o m m u n i s t a n d b e l o v e d Y u g o s l a v comrade, w h o n u r t u r e d a n a r d e n t a n d p u r e l o v e f o r o u r P a r t y a n d people. H o w e v e r , t h e r e is a l o n g h i s t o r y to o u r relations w i t h V e l i m i r S t o j n i . F o r the m o m e n t I s h a l l deal o n l y w i t h w h a t o c c u r r e d b e t w e e n u s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the q u e s t i o n o f G a n i a n d S e i t K r y e z i u , Z a i F u n d o a n d the B r i t i s h officer. A s soon a s w e r e c e i v e d t h e r a d i o g r a m w h i c h the comrades sent us about t h e i r c a p t u r e , we met, discussed the question a n d t o o k o u r d e c i s i o n . T h e facts w e r e f l a g r a n t for a l l to see. We sent a r a d i o g r a m to t h e c o m r a d e s in the N o r t h i n w h i c h w e i n s t r u c t e d t h e m t o t r y Z a i a n d the K r y e z i u s b e f o r e a m i l i t a r y c o u r t w h i c h t h e y s h o u l d set u p . They w e r e t o d i s a r m t h e i r eta a n d , a f t e r d o i n g p o l i t i c a l w o r k w i t h the m e m b e r s of it, t h e y w e r e to send t h e m home, a s f o r M a j o r S i m c o x , t h e y w e r e t o h a n d h i m o v e r t o some B r i t i s h m i s s i o n i n o u r t e r r i t o r y . A l i w e n t t o the house w h e r e
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V e l i m i r Stojni was staying to i n f o r m h i m about w h a t had occurred and our decision. I w a i t e d for hours on end for A l i to come back for lunch a n d w h e n h e f i n a l l y a r r i v e d , h e w a s f u m i n g w i t h anger. W h a t ' s w r o n g w i t h you? I a s k e d h i m . What's w r o n g w i t h me! he said. They are rotters! T h e y don't agree w i t h the d e c i s i o n a n d s a i d i f i t i s n o t r e s c i n d e d , t h e y w i l l b r e a k off r e l a t i o n s w i t h us, p a c k t h e i r bags a n d r e t u r n t o Y u g o s l a v i a . H o w is it possible f o r t h e m to do s u c h a t h i n g o v e r a renegade a n d these t r a i t o r f e u d a l l o r d s ? I a s k e d h i m . It's possible a l l right. s a i d M i l a d i n , I c o u l d n ' t c o m e t o a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e m i n a n y w a y a n d left t e l l i n g t h e m : ' T h i s is a p r o b l e m t h a t is up to t h e A l b a n i a n s , c o m e a n d talk w i t h E n v e r and convince him.' So they are going to come a n d t a l k w i t h you. All right, I s a i d . V e l i m i r Stojni and N i j a z Dizdarevi came at the ap p o i n t e d t i m e . M i l a d i n a n d I w e r e there. W e g r e e t e d t h e m , shook hands, a n d o f f e r e d t h e m cigarettes. V e l o s m o k e d but D i z d a r e v i d i d not. W e w e r e c a l m a n d t h e y t r i e d t o a p p e a r calm. I opened the conversation by saying that A l i had i n f o r m e d m e about t h e i r v i e w s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the p r i soners c a p t u r e d i n the N o r t h . T h i s astonished me. I t o l d t h e m . because the i n t e r e s t s o f o u r t w o p a r t i e s a n d o u r c o m m o n w a r r e q u i r e t h a t these enemies s h o u l d get the severe p u n i s h m e n t t h e y deserve. I r e m e m b e r as if it w e r e t o d a y t h a t V e l i m i r S t o j n i , w h o h a d a pale face a n d l o o k e d e v e n p a l e r f r o m the p o w d e r h e used, f l u s h e d w i t h a n g e r a n d rose t o h i s feet w i t h his eyes l o o k i n g savage a n d s a i d t o m e : W e Y u g o s l a v s , t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f T i t o a n d the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a , do not p e r m i t t h e m to be shot.
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Y o u a s t o n i s h m e greatly, I s a i d , that y o u d e f e n d these enemies. E x c u s e m e , b u t p e r h a p s y o u d o not r e a l l y k n o w w h o t h e y are. W e s h a l l h a n d t h e m o v e r t o t h e m i l i t a r y c o u r t a n d l e a v e i t t o t h e c o u r t t o decide. S u c h people d e s e r v e a bullet, a n d I b e g a n to speak a b o u t t h e i r biography. V e l i m i r Stojni interrupted me saying: T h e r e i s n o n e e d f o r y o u t o t e l l u s a b o u t t h e m , because w e k n o w w h o t h e y are, a n d i f y o u g i v e the o r d e r f o r t h e m t o b e p u t o n t r i a l a n d shot, w e s h a l l b r e a k off r e l a t i o n s with you and leave for Yugoslavia. Y o u are m a k i n g a big mistake in putting our fraternal a n d c o m m u n i s t r e l a t i o n s i n t h e b a l a n c e against o u r s t a n d t o w a r d s these enemies, w h o a r e f e u d a l l o r d s w h o h a v e s u c k e d t h e b l o o d of t h e people of K o s o v a , a n d a renegade from the C o m m u n i s t International, a Trotskyite, an enemy o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d S t a l i n , a n e n e m y o f o u r people and our Party, I told V e l i m i r Stojni. I ' m not d i s c u s s i n g w h o t h e y are, s a i d V e l i m i r S t o j n i , but h a n d t h e m o v e r t o u s because t h e y a r e K o s o v a r s , hence t h i s i s a n issue o f p r i n c i p l e . W e h a v e o u r p a r t y , o u r f r o n t , o u r l a w s a n d o u r courts. T h e y m u s t b e h a n d e d o v e r to us and we shall do what we t h i n k fit w i t h them. Other wise, w e s h a l l leave. We a r e n o t b r e a k i n g off r e l a t i o n s w i t h the peoples of Y u g o s l a v i a w h o a r e f i g h t i n g against t h e nazis, I s a i d , but y o u r a r e w r o n g w h e n y o u say t h a t t h e y are K o s o v a r s , O n l y G a n i a n d S e i t K r y e z i u a r e f r o m K o s o v a a n d since y o u are a p p a r e n t l y so f o n d of these n o t o r i o u s b e y s of K o s o v a , t a k e t h e m , let t h e m b e y o u r s , w h i l e Z a i F u n d o , w h o is not a Y u g o s l a v citizen, nor resident in Y u g o s l a v i a , n o r o f Y u g o s l a v o r i g i n , b u t i s f r o m K o r a , does not b e l o n g t o y o u , a c c o r d i n g t o y o u r o w n thesis, I t o l d V e l i m i r S t o j n i . T h e y a r e together, s a i d V e l i m i r S t o j n i , a n d h a v e their centre in Kosova. B u t y o u see, w e c a p t u r e d t h e m o p e r a t i n g against o u r
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Party and our Front in A l b a n i a n territory! According to y o u r thesis, I r e p l i e d , if we c a p t u r e the q u i s l i n g X h a f e r D e v a , since h e i s a K o s o v a r , w e s h o u l d h a n d h i m o v e r t o y o u t o b e t r i e d f o r t h e c r i m e s h e has c o m m i t t e d i n A l b a n i a ! Such reasoning won't hold water. However, I c o n t i n u e d s p e a k i n g t o V e l i m i r S t o j n i , I d o not t h i n k t h a t the C P o f Y u g o s l a v i a a n d T i t o (at t h a t t i m e w e h a d n o suspicions about h i m , o n the c o n t r a r y ) w i l l t h i n k a s y o u do, but since y o u w e i g h o u r f r a t e r n a l r e l a t i o n s against t h e stand w h i c h should be adopted towards traitors and feudal lords, w e s h a l l h a n d t h e m o v e r t o y o u a n d I s h a l l g i v e t h e o r d e r f o r this i m m e d i a t e l y . Z a i F u n d o , t h e e n e m y o f t h e Communist P a r t y of A l b a n i a and the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of Yugoslavia w i l l be tried and if the partisan court sen tences h i m t o d e a t h , h e w i l l b e shot i m m e d i a t e l y . V e l i m i r S t o j n i left t h e house o f o l d M e h m e t , w h e r e I had put up, h a v i n g saved the feudal lords G a n i and Seit K r y e z i u , agents o f t h e S e r b i a n c h a u v i n i s t s a n d t h e B r i t i s h a n d enemies o f o u r w a r , f r o m d e a t h . A f t e r h i m P a l m e r ( 1 1 ) c a m e t o me. A p p a r e n t l y , t h e dele gates o f T i t o a n d the B r i t i s h E m p i r e h a d c o m e t o a g r e e m e n t w i t h each other. P a l m e r , too, a l t h o u g h i n m o r e m o d e r a t e terms, a s k e d m e t o release t h e K r y e z i u s , F u n d o a n d S i m c o x . In order to persuade me he a d d e d : Release t h e m , G e n e r a l , a n d w e s h a l l assist y o u w i t h arms.
_____________________________ 11 T h e headquarters of the S O E in B a r i , Italy, on October 8, 1944, sent its mission Consesus II in A l b a n i a the f o l l o w i n g message: . . . L a z a r F u n d o was captured w i t h Simcox and S a i d . . . He may therefore be in grave danger and strongly recommend you should do utmost secure his l i b e r a t i o n a n d evacuation to Italy. C o n v i n c e d F u n d o sincerely p r o - B r i t i s h and believe that his intimate knowledge o f B a l k a n s a n d C e n t r a l E U R O P E a n d Communist P a r t y organization might m a k e h i m most v a l u a b l e to I.S.L.D. (Signals f r o m S O E Headquarters in B a r i , Italy, to M i s s i o n Consensus II, M a y - O c t . 1944, No. 60, pp. 122-123.)
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As f o r y o u r 'aid', I r e p l i e d , we h a v e l o n g been aware that it is nothing but words. Y o u personally have informed me several times on end that the B r i t i s h aircraft are t o d r o p w a r m a t e r i a l s a t S t a r a v e c k a a n d e l s e w h e r e . I n fact, the a i r c r a f t h a v e f l o w n o v e r o u r c o u n t r y not t o t a r i n g u s a i d , h o w e v e r , b u t f o r other purposes. W e see t h e m cross o u r b o r d e r s f r o m K o r a e n r o u t e t o Greece. Yes, b u t t h e y h a v e r u n i n t o resistance a n d h a v e been forced to c h a n g e course, he s a i d in j u s t i f i c a t i o n . I u n d e r s t a n d c l e a r l y w h y t h e y h a v e c h a n g e d course, I said, but nevertheless, w e a r e f e d u p w i t h s u c h tales. Y o u w e r e s p e a k i n g a b o u t those t h a t w e h a v e c a p t u r e d i n the N o r t h . O n the q u e s t i o n o f the t w o t r a i t o r s f r o m K o sova, I h a v e g i v e n t h e Y u g o s l a v r e p r e s e n t a t i v e m y r e p l y . As for Z a i F u n d o , w h a t we shall do w i t h h i m is our business, w h i l e as to y o u r o f f i c e r , I h a v e issued the o r d e r t o h a n d h i m o v e r t o y o u . I b e l i e v e the m a t t e r i s n o w clear to y o u . T h a t is a l l I h a v e to say, I s a i d a n d stood u p t o let h i m k n o w I h a d n o f u r t h e r t i m e t o w a s t e w i t h him. I w a s a s t o n i s h e d o v e r t h i s coincidence. We d i d not k n o w t h a t T i t o h a d l o n g been l i n k e d w i t h C h u r c h i l l . W e k n e w t h a t C h u r c h i l l ' s s o n h a d been a t t a c h e d t o T i t o a n d also k n e w a b o u t T i t o ' s l i n k s w i t h S u b a i , a s w e l l a s about his v i s i t t o I t a l y a n d t h a t h e h a d h e l d t a l k s w i t h B r i t i s h personalities, but we d i d not k n o w w h a t he h a d cooked up and was cooking up w i t h the B r i t i s h . Thus, this question ended in disgrace for the Yugoslavs a n d t h e B r i t i s h . I i s s u e d t h e o r d e r for t h e c o m r a d e s t o h a n d over G a n i a n d S e i t t o t h e Y u g o s l a v p a r t i s a n forces, a n d this w a s done, w h i l e t h e y w e r e t o p u t Z a i F u n d o o n t r i a l a n d p u n i s h h i m s e v e r e l y , a n d t h i s w a s done. T h i s w a s o n l y one aspect o f a l l t h a t h o s t i l e w o r k w h i c h the Y u g o s l a v s w e r e t o c a r r y o n against o u r P a r t y , against the P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a a n d against s o c i a l i s m i n
502
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A l b a n i a , b o t h o n the eve o f the l i b e r a t i o n o f o u r c o u n t r y a n d later. T h i s s a m e V e l i m i r S t o j n i a n d h i s associate, N i j a z D i z d a r e v i , w h o h a d been e n t r u s t e d b y T i t o w i t h c a r r y i n g out t h e i r hostile a c t i v i t y , w e r e t o c a r r y i t f u r t h e r a t Berat, b u t that i s a n o t h e r l o n g s t o r y w h i c h w i l l b e dealt w i t h in a separate book. ( 12 ) H o w e v e r , let us r e t u r n b r i e f l y to the q u e s t i o n of the K r y e z i u s , because t h e r e w a s a s e q u e l to it. W h e n w e w e n t t o B e r a t t o h o l d the i m p o r t a n t m e e t i n g o f the 2nd P l e n u m o f t h e C C o f t h e P a r t y , a t a t i m e w h e n V e l i m i r Stojni a n d N i j a z Dizdarevi, together w i t h N a k o Spiru, K o i Xoxe, Sejfulla Malshova, Pandi Kristo and others, in a c o n s p i r a c y b e h i n d t h e scenes, w e r e p r e p a r i n g the attack o n the correct l i n e o f the P a r t y , V e l i m i r S t o j n i came t o m e i n m y office, together w i t h S e i t K r y e z i u . V e l i m i r i n t r o d u c e d h i m t o me. I k n e w S e i t K r y e z i u w h e n I w a s a s t u d e n t in P a r i s , I said. I don't k n o w w h e t h e r he r e m e m b e r s me. Yes, r e p l i e d Seit, I r e m e m b e r you. Then V e l i m i r Stojni told me: Seit has c o m e h e r e o n t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f T i t o w h o asks y o u t o assist h i m t o get t o B a r i i n I t a l y , because h e has been e n t r u s t e d w i t h t h e t a s k o f s e c u r i n g w e a p o n s for K o s o v a f r o m the allies (obviously f r o m the British). T h e t h i n g w a s clear. G a n i K r y e z i u a n d the B r i t i s h w e r e w a s t i n g n o t i m e . T h e y left one K r y e z i u w i t h T i t o a n d w e r e t a k i n g the other a b r o a d , p e r h a p s t o L o n d o n . How is he going to travel, what help do you want f r o m us? I a s k e d . W e h a v e n o c o n n e c t i o n w i t h B a r i . E v e r y t h i n g has been a r r a n g e d b y t h e G e n e r a l S t a f f of the Yugoslav a r m y and the A l l i e d Mediterranean H e a d quarters, S t o j n i r e p l i e d .
_______________________________________ 12 See E n v e r H o x h a , T h e Titoites (Historical notes), 8 Nntori P u b l i s h i n g House, T i r a n a 1982, pp. 182-222, E n g . ed.
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V e r y w e l l , I t o l d T i t o ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , since this business has a p p a r e n t l y been a r r a n g e d , t h e r e i s n o t h i n g f o r i t b u t w e m u s t h e l p h i m r e a c h the Coast. T h i s w h o l e business b e c a m e c l e a r e r later, w h e n i t c a m e out w h a t a d a n g e r o u s e n e m y a n d a c t i v e agency of i m p e r i a l i s m Y u g o s l a v T i t o i s m w a s . H o w e v e r , w e h a d sensed a n d detected t h e i r savage h o s t i l i t y t o w a r d s u s l o n g b e f o r e t h i s t h r o u g h t h e i r actions, w h i c h w e n t f r o m b a d t o worse. T h e r e w e r e m a n y w h o w e r e not a w a r e o f the fierce s t r u g g l e w h i c h w e w e r e w a g i n g against t h e B r i t i s h , against t h e i r secret w a r a n d u n d e r h a n d p l a n s against us, t h e r e f o r e great d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d k e e n v i g i l a n c e w e r e r e q u i r e d a n d there must be no hesitation on the part of our P a r t y in its actions. O u r P a r t y c a r r i e d out its d i f f i c u l t b u t g l o r i o u s m i s s i o n w i t h h o n o u r a n d success a n d o v e r c a m e t h e n u merous dangers w i t h w h i c h it was confronted. F o l l o w i n g the u l t i m a t u m w h i c h G e n e r a l W i l s o n sent m e a n d t h e reply that I gave h i m , (13) we were a w a i t i n g their reaction, therefore we were w i d e awake, ready to take countermeasures. It w a s not l o n g b e f o r e the B r i t i s h m a d e a m o v e . T h e y began to e x e r t o t h e r pressures, e v e n m o r e dangerous, to the i n d e p e n d e n c e o f o u r c o u n t r y . A s e v e r y o n e k n o w s , the W e s t e r n a l l i e s h a d p r o m i s e d t h a t t h e y w o u l d open t h e second f r o n t i n E u r o p e i n 1942. H o w e v e r , t h e y d i d not d o this i n 1942 n o r i n 1943, b u t o n l y i n J u n e 1944, w h e n H i t l e r i t e G e r m a n y w a s o n its last legs. U n d e r t h e p r e t e x t
_______________________________________ 13 In J u l y 1944 general W i l s o n , head of the A l l i e d M e d i t e rranean C o m m a n d , sent the G e n e r a l C o m m a n d e r of the A N L A , General-Colonel E n v e r H o x h a , an u l t i m a t u m d e m a n d i n g the cessation of f i g h t i n g activities against the reactionary armed bands in the north of A l b a n i a a n d reconciliation w i t h them. Comrade E n v e r H o x h a rejected the u l t i m a t u m and the forces of the A N L A c a r r i e d their f i g h t i n g on to the n o r t h of the country, too.
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o f o p e n i n g this f r o n t , t h e y w a n t e d t o l a n d i n A l b a n i a , too. T o this e n d t h e y began t h e i r a t t e m p t s t o l a n d a n a r m y . O u r P a r t y understood that their attempts to land an a r m y w e r e not f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f f i g h t i n g t h e G e r m a n s i n A l b a n i a , because t h i s w a s b e i n g done s u c c e s s f u l l y b y t h e Albanian National Liberation A r m y , w h i c h was completely c a p a b l e o f l i b e r a t i n g its o w n c o u n t r y w i t h o u t t h e a i d o f t h e a r m e d forces o f t h e friends, b u t f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f g e t t i n g A l b a n i a i n t o t h e i r clutches. O u r P a r t y d i d not p e r m i t this, a n d as I s h a l l d e s c r i b e b e l o w , r e f u s e d a n d rejected t h e i r r e p e a t e d p r o p o s a l s t o l a n d allied t r o o p s i n o u r c o u n t r y w h e r e , w h e n a n d i n the n u m b e r s a n d w i t h the m e a n s t h e y w a n t e d . T h i s w a s a t e r r i b l e d a n g e r w h i c h threatened our country. O u r clear d e c i s i o n w a s t h a t w e m u s t resist t h i s d a n g e r resolutely, even if this meant becoming i n v o l v e d in a r m e d clashes w i t h o u r sincere allies. O u r P a r t y c o u l d n o t p e r m i t a r e p e t i t i o n of A p r i l 7, 1939, or the m a s s a c r e of m a r t y r e d B o r o v a . N o f o r e i g n a r m y , w h e t h e r a l l i e d o r not, w i l l be permitted to do what it likes in our country, was o u r decision. N o w t h e people, w i t h t h e i r P a r t y a t t h e head and their o w n National Liberation A r m y , were the masters o f the c o u n t r y . T h e s i t u a t i o n w a s c h a n g i n g d a y b y day. T h e G e r m a n nazis w e r e l i v i n g t h e i r last m o m e n t s . O u r a r m e d forces w e r e a t t a c k i n g t h e m e v e r y w h e r e . R e a c t i o n d i d not k n o w w h e r e t o g o f o r shelter. E v e r y n i g h t T i r a n a w a s u n d e r attack b y o u r forces a n d the o n l y escape r o u t e f o r t h e G e r m a n s w a s t h r o u g h S h k o d r a . I t w a s also t h e escape r o u t e for t h e r e a c t i o n a r i e s , b u t a v e r y d a n g e r o u s route for them. The first attempt. As I h a v e p o i n t e d out, t h e B r i t i s h s u f f e r e d a defeat w i t h t h e r e p l y o f o u r G e n e r a l S t a f f t o t h e pressures t h e y e x e r t e d a n d i n t h e u l t i m a t u m w h i c h t h e y sent u s about not a t t a c k i n g t h e i r f r i e n d s i n A l b a n i a . N e x t
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t h e y t h o u g h t t h e y w o u l d b r i n g troops t o t h e v i c i n i t y o f T i r a n a o n the eve i f its l i b e r a t i o n . B y t h i s m e a n s the B r i t i s h , together w i t h t h e r e a c t i o n a r i e s , a i m e d t o i m p o s e t h e m s e l v e s on us in order to realize their m a j o r purpose. If this proved i m p o s s i b l e , a t least t h e y m i g h t b e a b l e t o t a k e the t r a i t o r c h i e f s L u m o S k n d o , A b a z K u p i a n d others, together w i t h t h e i r forces, t o some o f o u r p o r t s f r o m w h i c h t h e y c o u l d be w i t h d r a w n to Italy and elsewhere. T o t h i s e n d , P a l m e r c a m e t o m e a t o u r base i n O d r i a n a n d , w i t h h i s u s u a l s m i l e , began t o t e l l m e t h a t t h e H u n s (the B r i t i s h f r e q u e n t l y c a l l e d the G e r m a n s this) w e r e o n t h e i r last legs, t h a t t h e a l l i e d f r o n t w a s e x t e n d i n g a n d so on a n d so f o r t h . I w a i t e d f o r h i m to get r o u n d to the m a i n p o i n t , because I r e a l i z e d t h a t a l l t h i s w a s l e a d i n g up to something, therefore I s i m p l y listened and said n o t h i n g . A t last h e got a r o u n d t o h i s t h e m e : M r . H o x h a , h e said, up t i l l n o w t h e r e has been good c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n us. O f c o u r s e w e ' v e h a d some d i s agreements, b u t s u c h t h i n g s o c c u r e v e n b e t w e e n f r i e n d s , n e v e r t h e l e s s w e a r e a l l i e s f o r a great cause a n d o u r t w o sides h a v e been f i g h t i n g f o r y e a r s o n t h e same f r o n t against t h e same e n e m y . B o t h w e a n d y o u h a v e f o u g h t h a r d a n d h a v e assisted each o t h e r i n this w a r . W e h a v e t r i e d t o assist y o u w i t h o u r w e a p o n s a n d a m m u n i t i o n , a l t h o u g h o f course t h i s a i d has been i n s u f f i c i e n t . O u r H e a d q u a r t e r s t h i n k s , h e c o n t i n u e d , that f r o m n o w o n i t s h o u l d g i v e y o u g r e a t e r assistance a n d proposes, a p a r t f r o m a i d w i t h w e a p o n s , t o s e n d y o u a i d w i t h tommies, w h o m , w i t h y o u r p e r m i s s i o n , w e c o u l d d r o p a s c o m m a n d o forces i n t h e r e g i o n o f P e z a , Ishm and Darsia. In this way, our two allied armies w i l l j o i n together like brothers to attack this plague and put a n e n d t o i t m o r e q u i c k l y . W i t h this a i d w h i c h w e propose, w h a t w e h a v e i n m i n d i s t o assist y o u a n d y o u r f r i e n d s a n d ours, t h e Y u g o s l a v s , because i n this w a y f e w e r G e r m a n s w i l l pass t h r o u g h t h e i r t e r r i t o r y .
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P a l m e r h a d c o m e t o the e n d o f h i s speech. H i s face w a s set i n t h a t p e r p e t u a l s m i l e o f w h i c h I w a s h e a r t i l y s i c k a n d w h i c h seemed t o i m p l y : L o o k w h a t w o n d e r f u l t i d i n g s I'm bringing you?! I l i t a cigarette as I t h o u g h t : A c c e p t a n c e of his p r o p o s a l w o u l d l e a d t o the i n i t i a l f o r m o f a B r i t i s h i n v a s i o n . N e v e r theless, I h a d t o r e p l y t o h i m i n the s a m e c o i n : s m i l e f o r smile. Thank y o u v e r y much, I said s m i l i n g at h i m , I t h a n k y o u r H e a d q u a r t e r s a n d y o u f o r b r i n g i n g m e this p r o p o s a l o f concrete a i d , e v e n w i t h tommies w h o m y o u w a n t t o d r o p b y p a r a c h u t e a r o u n d T i r a n a . I t i s t r u e that we h a v e been a n d a r e a l l i e s in a g r e a t c o m m o n cause. It is l i k e w i s e t r u e t h a t B r i t a i n i s f i g h t i n g , a n d I agree w i t h y o u o n this, but t h e A l b a n i a n people a r e f i g h t i n g , too, a n d they began the w a r against the A x i s p o w e r s b e f o r e G r e a t B r i t a i n , i n d e e d t h e y began i t a n d are c o n t i n u i n g i t alone. W h e n I t a l y i n v a d e d u s B r i t a i n t u r n e d a deaf ear. W e f o u g h t on barefooted, ragged and hungry, but u n y i e l d i n g . T h e e n e m y has d e s t r o y e d villages, t o w n s a n d w h o l e regions, has k i l l e d m a n y people, b u t w e , too, h a v e w r e a k e d h a v o c o n t h e e n e m y . W e fought the I t a l i a n s t o o t h a n d n a i l a n d b r o u g h t t h e m t o t h e i r knees. W e are d o i n g the s a m e t h i n g w i t h the nazis, too. Y o u a n d o u r o t h e r a l l i e s h a v e f o u g h t on other fronts, too. We k n o w this. But here , a n d I r a i s e d my voice, on our soil, only the Albanian people have fought and only they will fight till the end. Y o u d i d not b e l i e v e u s w h e n w e t o l d y o u t h a t t h e people w e r e w i t h t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t , t h a t t h e y w e r e a n d are w i t h u s because w e are t h e i r t r u e sons. B u t y o u see w h a t i s o c c u r r i n g n o w ? T h e w h o l e people h a v e r i s e n t o t h e i r feet. In t h e c o u r s e of battles, we b u i l t up a p o w e r f u l , i n v i n c i b l e army, and now that we are beginning to call the tune, y o u propose t o b r i n g a n a r m y i n t o o u r t e r r i t o r y ! I t i s a bit late i n t h e d a y f o r this. N o , M r . P a l m e r , w e d o not
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accept y o u r p r o p o s a l , because t h e r e is no r e a s o n f o r y o u t o d r o p troops here. Y o u can see w i t h y o u r o w n eyes w h a t p r o p o r t i o n s o u r w a r has a s s u m e d , t h a t w e h a v e l o n g since gone b e y o n d t h e phase o f i s o l a t e d actions a n d are n o w o n the o f f e n s i v e a g a i n s t t h e n a z i s a n d t h e i r c o l l a b o r a t o r s o n all fronts. Is t h i s not so? It is so, b u t . . . H e w a n t e d t o say s o m e t h i n g , b u t I c o n t i n u e d a n d d i d not let h i m speak. W e h a v e a m p l e forces i n P e z a , D a r s i a , I s h m a n d e v e r y w h e r e else a n d w e h a v e n o n e e d f o r a i d i n m e n , i n c o m m a n d o s , t h e r e f o r e w e d o not a l l o w y o u t o d r o p t h e m . The m i s s i o n s y o u h a v e h e r e a r e s u f f i c i e n t . W e h a v e n e v e r concealed f r o m y o u a n y i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t o u r f i g h t i n g o r a n y t h i n g i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e e n e m y . T h e r e f o r e , please transmit my thanks to y o u r Headquarters and our categorical r e f u s a l o f t h e p r o p o s a l y o u m a d e t o us. P a l m e r left w i t h o u t a n o t h e r w o r d . I i m m e d i a t e l y notified Peza that if they discovered paratroops b e i n g d r o p p e d , t h e y s h o u l d open f i r e o n t h e m and w i p e t h e m out. T h i s d i a b o l i c a l p l a n o f the B r i t i s h w a s l i n k e d w i t h the p r o p o s a l w h i c h M u s t a f a G j i n i s h i h a d m a d e to me e a r l i e r , t h a t he s h o u l d be a l l o w e d to f o r m b r i g a d e s i n P e q i n , D a r s i a a n d e l s e w h e r e outside t h e o r d e r s a n d c o m m a n d of M y s l i m P e z a . I r e j e c t e d t h i s p r o p o s a l . T h e pieces of the p u z z l e w e r e f a l l i n g i n t o place. T h e s e forces of G j i n i s h i would have collaborated w i t h the B r i t i s h paratroops. The second attempt. S o m e t i m e l a t e r , P a l m e r came back a g a i n w i t h t h e p r o p o s a l t o m a k e a s m a l l s y m b o l i c l a n d i n g w i t h a c o m m a n d o force, t h i s t i m e o n t h e Coast, at S p i l e of H i m a r a . W h y d o y o u w a n t t o m a k e this l a n d i n g ? I a s k e d him. F o r t w o reasons, h e said. To s h o w o u r c o l l a b o r a t i o n
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w i t h y o u a n d t o w i p e o u t the G e r m a n g a r r i s o n a t S p i l e o f H i m a r a , w h i c h has n o m i l i t a r y i m p o r t a n c e but observes the m o v e m e n t s of o u r ships. I k n o w t h a t t h e g a r r i s o n is u n i m p o r t a n t , I t o l d Palmer, however, I shall give y o u my reply in t w o or three d a y s ' t i m e , w h e n I h a v e m o r e d e t a i l e d i n f o r m a t i o n on the situation. I discussed t h e m a t t e r w i t h t h e c o m r a d e s a n d w e d e c i d e d t h a t t h i s t i m e w e w o u l d g i v e the B r i t i s h a s a t i s f a c t i o n w h i c h e n t a i l e d no d a n g e r f o r us. I o r d e r e d o u r forces o n the Coast t o t a k e u p positions a t P i l u r , N i v i c a - B u b a r , L l o g a r a a n d t o g o t o the a i d o f the B r i t i s h t r o o p s i f t h e y r a n i n t o a n y d a n g e r d u r i n g t h e i r a t t a c k o n the G e r m a n garrison. I sent f o r P a l m e r a n d i n f o r m e d h i m t h a t w e accepted his p r o p o s a l . I also w a r n e d h i m that the G e r m a n g a r r i s o n m u s t b e the o n l y o b j e c t i v e o f the o p e r a t i o n a n d , a f t e r i t w a s w i p e d out, t h e B r i t i s h forces m u s t r e - e m b a r k i n t h e i r boats a n d g o a w a y . T h e y w o u l d not b e p e r m i t t e d t o l i n g e r a n d settle in here. T h i s w a s a c a t e g o r i c a l o r d e r . Let us c a r r y out t h i s a c t i o n j o i n t l y , I p r o p o s e d to Palmer. T h a n k you, h e said, but w e s h a l l d o i t ourselves. Nevertheless, I t o l d h i m . our m e n w i l l t a k e u p s u r r o u n d i n g p o s i t i o n s a n d w i l l g u a r d t h e roads t o e n s u r e t h a t n o n e o f t h e n a z i s escapes f r o m the t r a p a n d w e w i p e t h e m out l i k e rats. W e s h a l l b e t h e r e t o protect y o u r l a n d i n g a n d y o u r w i t h d r a w a l a f t e r the action, I a d d e d t o let h i m k n o w that h e m u s t t a k e o u r o r d e r s v e r y s e r i o u s l y , because w e w e r e not j o k i n g . T h e a c t i o n w a s c a r r i e d out. T h e G e r m a n s c a p t u r e d 9 B r i t i s h p r i s o n e r s a n d w e r e o n the p o i n t o f c o m p l e t e l y l i q u i d a t i n g the B r i t i s h c o m m a n d o . However, o u r 12th B r i g a d e i n t e r v e n e d , r o u t e d the G e r m a n g a r r i s o n , l i b e r a t e d H i m a r a a n d f r e e d the p r i s o n e r s . W h a t r e m a i n e d o f the B r i -
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t i s h c o m m a n d o c l i m b e d b a c k into t h e i r boats a n d w i t h d r e w t o the p l a c e t h e y h a d sailed f r o m . I t w a s o n l y later, w i t h t h e i r n e x t a t t e m p t , w i t h the operation to land British commandos at K a k o m e , Saranda, that w e w e r e t o u n d e r s t a n d w h y the B r i t i s h u n d e r t o o k this a c t i o n , w h i c h w a s o f n o interest t o t h e m a n d w i t h o u t any strategic importance. The third attempt. T h e same old r e f r a i n t h i s t i m e , too. P a l m e r came, l a u n c h e d i n t o his i n t r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e n m a d e the p r o p o s a l . I a s k e d h i m : W h a t i s t h e interest that i m p e l s y o u t o propose s u c h a thing? T h e small G e r m a n force in Saranda is doomed to be w i p e d out, its o n l y escape r o u t e is by sea, a n d we p l a n t o t h r o w t h e m i n t o the sea v e r y soon, t h u s l i b e r a t i n g the w h o l e of the South. P r e c i s e l y , s a i d P a l m e r . T h e r e f o r e y o u s h o u l d agree t o c a r r y out t h i s a c t i o n j o i n t l y , because i n t h i s w a y w e b l o c k the r o a d f o r the d e f e a t e d G e r m a n forces w h i c h m i g h t enter f r o m Greece. T h i s a t t e m p t , too, w a s t o end l i k e t h a t i n S p i l e . A s soon a s w e took the d e c i s i o n i n the G e n e r a l Staff, we informed comrades K a h r e m a n Y l l i and G a f u r ui, g i v i n g them clear orders on how to enter into discussion w i t h t h e B r i t i s h , w h a t t o say t o t h e m a n d h o w t o act. W e i n s t r u c t e d t h e m t h a t i n the talks, t h e y m u s t present o u r a r m y a s i t was, a r e g u l a r a r m y . D o n o t a l l o w t h e B r i t i s h t o m a k e a n y a d v a n c e outside these orders, w a s the i n s t r u c t i o n w e g a v e t h e m . A f t e r this, I sent f o r P a l m e r . W e agree t h a t w e s h o u l d a t t a c k the G e r m a n g a r r i s o n i n S a r a n d a together, I t o l d h i m , but w e s h a l l a t t a c k f r o m the l a n d a n d y o u f r o m the sea, a n d once the a c t i o n i s over, y o u r forces m u s t w i t h d r a w i m m e d i a t e l y . H e n o d d e d his h e a d . H e seemed d i s s a t i s f i e d , but n e v e r -
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theless c o n s i d e r e d it a success t h a t we h a d a g r e e d t h a t t h i s a c t i o n s h o u l d b e c a r r i e d out j o i n t l y . A n d that i s w h a t w a s done. P a r t i s a n forces o f the 14th, 12th a n d 19th B r i g a d e s of o u r a r m y l a u n c h e d a f u r i o u s assault o n the e n e m y . A f t e r three d a y s o f f i e r c e f i g h t i n g , t h e y w i p e d out the G e r m a n s a n d S a r a n d a w a s l i b e r a t e d . M o r e t h a n 150 G e r m a n s w e r e t a k e n p r i s o n e r , i n c l u d i n g the colonel w h o commanded them. The B r i t i s h commandos, w h o s e f i g h t i n g a m o u n t e d m e r e l y t o f i r i n g some salvos o f a r t i l l e r y a t the L k u r s fortress a n d the B u t r i n t M o nastery, also e n t e r e d the l i b e r a t e d t o w n a s victors. Nevertheless, since most o f t h e B r i t i s h l a n d e d f r o m t h e sea. t h e y h a d m a n y casualties, w h i l e w e h a d f e w . H o w e v e r , after the o p e r a t i o n w a s c o m p l e t e d , o u r c o m m a n d in Saranda reported to me that the c o m m a n d o f the B r i t i s h troops h a d a s k e d f o r t h e G e r m a n c o l o n e l to be h a n d e d o v e r to t h e m to be sent to I t a l y , a l l e g i n g that in this w a y more publicity w o u l d be given to the f i g h t f o r the l i b e r a t i o n o f S a r a n d a ; o u r c o m m a n d also r e p o r t e d t h a t the B r i t i s h soldiers w e r e b e h a v i n g b a d l y , b r e a k i n g shop w i n d o w s , s t e a l i n g the goods a n d t a k i n g t h e m to t h e i r ships a n d t h a t t h e r e w a s a d a n g e r of a r m e d clashes b e t w e e n t h e B r i t i s h a n d the p a r t i s a n s . T h e B r i t i s h c o m m a n d h a d w a n t e d t o c o n t i n u e the a t t a c k i n l a n d t o D e l v i n a a n d G j i r o k a s t r a s o that the B r i t i s h s o l d i e r s c o u l d p a r a d e a s l i b e r a t o r s b e f o r e the people t h e r e ! H o w e v e r , o u r c o m r a d e s h a d t o l d t h e m t h a t these t o w n s h a d b e e n l i b e r a t e d a n d n o w the B r i t i s h m u s t l e a v e . A f t e r t h i s t h e B r i t i s h c o m m a n d h a d p r o p o s e d t o the p a r t i s a n c o m m a n d that they should m a k e a joint attack on C o r f u . T h e s e w e r e v e r y serious a n d d a n g e r o u s m a t t e r s . W e n o t i f i e d o u r c o m m a n d t o o r d e r the p a r t i s a n s t o k e e p t h e i r t e m p e r s a n d protect t h e t o w n , t o c o n s o l i d a t e t h e i r p o s i t i o n s at Qafa e Gjashts, B u t r i n t and Bogaza, to keep the a r t i l l e r y o n the h i l l s a b o v e S a r a n d a a n d a t the B u t r i n t m o n a s t e r y
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in readiness, to be v i g i l a n t a n d k e e p m o v e m e n t on the sea u n d e r close o b s e r v a t i o n a n d t o i n f o r m u s i m m e d i a t e l y i f other B r i t i s h s h i p s a p p e a r e d a n d , i f t h e y m o v e d t o w a r d s the shore, to a w a i t o r d e r s f r o m us a n d to f i r e a r t i l l e r y shots to w a r n t h e m off. I o r d e r e d t h e m to s e n d the G e r m a n colonel u n d e r escort to B e r a t . O n the o t h e r h a n d , I s u m m o n e d P a l m e r u r g e n t l y a n d made an e n e r g e t i c protest a b o u t the requests of the B r i t i s h command, as w e l l as about the unpleasant behaviour of the B r i t i s h soldiers. I t o l d h i m that the j o i n t task h a d been c a r r i e d out, S a r a n d a h a d b e e n l i b e r a t e d a n d , i n the t e r m s o f the d e c i s i o n , the B r i t i s h forces m u s t b e w i t h d r a w n a s q u i c k l y a s possible. P a l m e r p r e t e n d e d t o b e i n d i g n a n t a b o u t t h e b a d beh a v i o u r o f the B r i t i s h s o l d i e r s a n d t o l d m e t h a t h e w o u l d r e p o r t that t h e forces m u s t b e w i t h d r a w n i m m e d i a t e l y . W e w a i t e d f o r the B r i t i s h t o w i t h d r a w , b u t n o t h i n g w a s b e i n g done. T h e y p o s t p o n e d t h e i r d e p a r t u r e f r o m d a y to day. A p p a r e n t l y , their a i m w a s to r e m a i n there and have S a r a n d a a s t h e i r base o n t h e C o a s t a n d i n the t e r r i t o r y o f A l b a n i a . ( 1 4 ) M u s s o l i n i also h a d l i k e d t h i s p e a r l o f o u r country so m u c h that he h a d named it Porto Edda, after h i s o w n d a u g h t e r . B u t the t i m e s h a d c h a n g e d . T h e pearl had an owner. S e v e r a l t i m e s I sent f o r P a l m e r t o protest t o h i m a n d h e a s s u r e d m e t h a t h e w o u l d n o t i f y his centre t o o r d e r the w i t h d r a w a l . I n the end, the c u p w a s f u l l . O u r p a t i e n c e w a s at an end. I issued h i m an u l t i m a t u m , instructing h i m to
______________________________________________ 14 Immediately after the l a n d i n g of the B r i t i s h commandos in the S a r a n d a zone, on September 29, 1944, B a r i reported to the F o r e i g n O f f i c e amongst other things: 2. Subsequent development of the operation depends upon a number of factors w h i c h cannot at present be assessed. B u t it is possible that if everything goes w e l l we may be able to maintain a permanent footing on A l b a n i a n soil as w e l l as in Corfu. (Telegram N o 722. F O 371/43572-3584. P R O : F r o m the photocopy of the o r i g i n a l in the A 1 H , Tirana.)
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t r a n s m i t i t i m m e d i a t e l y t o the A l l i e d M e d i t e r r a n e a n H e a d q u a r t e r s . If the B r i t i s h c o m m a n d o s a r e not w i t h d r a w n f r o m S a r a n d a b y the g i v e n date, t h e n w a r w i l l b r e a k o u t b e t w e e n t h e p a r t i s a n s a n d the B r i t i s h , I i n f o r m e d h i m . I i n s t r u c t e d o u r forces t h e r e to be in readiness, a w a i t i n g a n o r d e r t o a t t a c k the B r i t i s h w i t h a r m s a n d t o let t h e m k n o w that we h a d taken a l l measures and were determined t o t h r o w t h e m i n t o t h e sea. A t t h i s t h e y b e g a n t o p a n i c . P a l m e r a r r i v e d and proposed to m e : O u r forces a r e r e a d y t o w i t h d r a w , b u t w e ask y o u r p e r m i s s i o n t o w i t h d r a w , not b y sea, b u t t h r o u g h D e l v i n a , M u z i n a , D r o p u l l a n d Pogon. T h e d i a b o l i c a l p l a n o f the B r i t i s h w a s o b v i o u s . T h e y w a n t e d to s h o w t h e m s e l v e s off as l i b e r a t o r s , to create d i s t u r b a n c e s a m o n g the m i n o r i t y people, t o l i n k u p w i t h the forces o f Z e r v a , t o r o a m a t w i l l t h r o u g h o u r free zones, etc. In n o w a y w i l l w e p e r m i t y o u r b r i g a d e t o g o b y this route, I t o l d h i m . It m u s t go b a c k w h e r e it came f r o m , i m m e d i a t e l y , b y sea. I t i s m y d u t y t o i n f o r m y o u : m a k e n o a t t e m p t t o g o past o u r f o r t i f i e d places o t h e r w i s e y o u w i l l b e a t t a c k e d . I f this occurs, y o u m u s t b e a r the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . W e are d e t e r m i n e d t o d e f e n d o u r s e l v e s a n d t o d e f e n d the s o v e r e i g n t y o f o u r c o u n t r y . W e h a v e c o n s i d e r e d you friends and we want you to continue to be friends. T h e r e f o r e , y o u m u s t c a r r y out i m m e d i a t e l y the d e c i s i o n w h i c h w e took j o i n t l y . E v e n t u a l l y the B r i t i s h c l i m b e d i n t o t h e i r boats a n d . . . w e w e r e r i d o f t h e m . J u s t a t t h i s time, i n O c t o b e r , t h e y l a n d e d i n G r e e c e , w h e r e the s i t u a t i o n w a s s i m i l a r t o t h a t in o u r c o u n t r y t h e eve of l i b e r a t i o n . T h e y e n t e r e d t h a t c o u n t r y f r e e l y , u n d e r the a g r e e m e n t s i g n e d a t C a s e r t a , w h i c h w a s the d e a t h w a r r a n t f o r t h e v i c t o r y o f the G r e e k C P , the E A M a n d t h e f r e e d o m o f t h e G r e e k people. Because of the vigilance and determination of our
THE ANGLOAMERICAN THREAT to ALBANIA
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glorious P a r t y , a l l the p l a n s t o l a n d troops i n o u r c o u n t r y failed one a f t e r the other. A l t h o u g h t h e y f a i l e d i n these a t t e m p t s , t h e B r i t i s h did not g i v e u p t h e i r e f f o r t s t o i n t e r v e n e i n o u r c o u n t r y . A f t e r the f o r m a t i o n o f t h e D e m o c r a t i c G o v e r n m e n t o f A l b a n i a on O c t o b e r 22, 1944. we s t a y e d in B e r a t f o r a b r i e f p e r i o d . T h e a l l i e d m i s s i o n s w e r e there, too. T h e houses where the A n g l o - A m e r i c a n missions were quartered had been t u r n e d i n t o h o r n e t s ' nests. A l l sorts o f people w e n t i n and out t h e i r doors. Secret i n f o r m a t i o n w a s g i v e n a n d r e ceived. N e w p l a n s w e r e concocted. The B r i t i s h o f f i c e r c a m e to see me, C o m r a d e S p i r o Moisiu i n f o r m e d me. W h a t d i d h e s a y ? D i d h e h a v e a n y n e w s about the r e c o g n i t i o n of o u r G o v e r n m e n t ? I a s k e d . It w a s s e v e r a l days since w e h a d h a n d e d t h e f o r e i g n m i s s i o n s o u r request to their governments for recognition of our Democratic G o v e r n m e n t . ( 1 5 ) B u t t h i s h a d f a l l e n o n deaf ears. No, r e p l i e d G e n e r a l M o i s i u , he d i d not touch o n t h a t p r o b l e m , b u t t o l d m e t h a t w e s h o u l d r e p a i r the a i r f i e l d at K u o v a . because t h e y are g o i n g to o r d e r a i r c r a f t to b r i n g a i d f o r t h e people! W h a t d i d y o u say to h i m ? I a s k e d . W e can't r e p a i r it at the m o m e n t , I t o l d h i m , because w e h a v e other m o r e u r g e n t p r o b l e m s . ' W e s h a l l h e l p
________________________________________ 15 T h e letter w h i c h the B r i t i s h ambassador to M o s c o w A r c h i b a l d C l a r k K e r r sent to M o l o t o v on October 30, 1944, says: Dear Mr. Molotov, 1. I have been instructed by my government to i n f o r m the Soviet G o v e r n m e n t that in the present confused situation in A l b a n i a they do not. propose to recognise the 'Provisional G o v e r n m e n t ' set up there by the F.N.C. party 2. My government hope that the Soviet G o v e r n m e n t w i l l concur in this course. 3. A s i m i l a r c o m m u n i c a t i o n is being addressed to the G o vernment of the U n i t e d States. ( F O 371/43564-3530. No. 2179: P R O . T a k e n f r o m photocopy o f the o r i g i n a l i n the A 1 H , Tirana.)
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y o u , ' t h e E n g l i s h m a n said, a n d the m a t t e r w a s left for m e t o discuss w i t h you. I agree, I said, but we m u s t t a k e a good l o o k at w h a t t h e i r a i m is. A s f o r w h a t h e t o l d y o u a b o u t b r i n g i n g us 'aid', we k n o w v e r y w e l l how m u c h they w o r r y about the interests o f o u r people. It's m o r e l i k e l y t h e y ' r e w o r r i e d about our oil. A p p a r e n t l y they t h i n k they w i l l give us a f e w p o u n d s a n d consider t h a t t h e y h a v e b o u g h t t h e o i l - f i e l d . T h i s d a n g e r e x i s t e d . A t one t i m e K u o v a h a d b e e n h e l d a s a concession b y t h e A n g l o - P e r s i a n O i l C o m p a n y , w h i c h h a d sold i t t o t h e I t a l i a n c o m p a n y A I P A . w i t h r i g h t s t o e x p l o i t i t f o r 9 9 years. N o w t h a t I t a l y h a d b e e n r e d u c e d to such a feeble c o n d i t i o n , t h e y m i g h t t h i n k t h a t the t i m e h a d come t o t a k e i t back, t h i s t i m e f o r n o t h i n g . C o m r a d e S p i r o came b a c k again, v e r y a n g r y , a n d t o l d me: It t u r n e d out just a s y o u s a i d . C o m r a d e E n v e r . T h e B r i t i s h o f f i c e r met m e a n d s a i d w i t h o u t a b l u s h : ' H e r e is our aid, 40 pounds. I n f o r m us w h e n you finish r e p a i r i n g the f i e l d so that the a i r c r a f t c a n come!' D o n ' t distress y o u r s e l f , C o m r a d e S p i r o , I said, w e k n o w exactly w h a t they are and we are sick and tired of t h e i r 'aid'. I t o l d the E n g l i s h m a n : ' T h i s isn't e n o u g h to feed t h e people w h o w i l l w o r k t h e r e f o r t w o days, s o put i t b a c k i n y o u r pocket.' c o n t i n u e d S p i r o . W e s h a l l r e p a i r the a i r f i e l d w h e n w e need i t a n d w h e n i t suits us.' W i t h this p a r t i n g shot, h e b i d t h e B r i t i s h p h i l a n thropist grood-bye. W e s t i l l d i d not k n o w that L t . - C o l . P a l m e r , t h r o u g h T a r a s c o n i , the m a n a g e r o f A I P A i n K u o v a . h a d got c o n t r o l of the o i l . T h i s act, too, w o u l d be d i s c o v e r e d a n d dealt w i t h later. T h e B r i t i s h also sought the assistance o f the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a s a n a l l y t o a c h i e v e t h e i r p r e d a t o r y a i m s .
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We had information that an A m e r i c a n m i l i t a r y mission was staying w i t h Sknder M u o , a leader of the B a l l i K o m b t a r , i n D u k a t o f V l o r a . S k n d e r M u o posed a s a patriot a n d i t w a s r u m o u r e d t h a t h e w a s g o i n g t o create a s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c p a r t y w h i c h n e v e r c a m e to a n y t h i n g . He was a two-faced individual. He had placed himself i n the s e r v i c e o f b o t h t h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n s a n d the Germans. T h e latter became aware of this and killed h i m . A b o u t the e n d o f A p r i l o r t h e b e g i n n i n g o f M a y 1944, I don't r e m e m b e r c l e a r l y , T h o m a s S t e f a n i , w i t h t w o others, presented h i m s e l f t o o u r S t a f f a t H e l m s . H e w a s a b o u t 30 y e a r s of age, a short, t h i c k - s e t m a n . S o m e t i m e s he spoke English, sometimes A l b a n i a n . B u t he spoke neither of them w e l l a n d w i t h a n accent a s t h o u g h h e h a d a m o u t h f u l o f p o r r i d g e . H e h a d p l e n t y t o say b u t n o t w i t h m u c h sense. I've b e e n sent t o t h e A l b a n i a n p a r t i s a n s b y A i r F o r c e H e a d q u a r t e r s a s l i a i s o n officer, t h i s A m e r i c a n l i e u t e n a n t told u s a t t h e f i r s t m e e t i n g w e h a d w i t h h i m . W h e n w e r e y o u sent? w e a s k e d h i m . It's w a r t i m e , gentlemen, he s a i d . W e set out some t i m e ago, b u t w e w e r e o b l i g e d t o s p e n d s e v e r a l m o n t h s , first a t K a r a b u r u n o f D u k a t a n d l a t e r a s guests o f M r . Muo, but he.... W e k n e w he w a s b o u n d to come to a b a d end, we told h i m . S e v e r a l t i m e s w e a p p e a l e d t o h i m t o j o i n the National Liberation M o v e m e n t but he didn't want to a n d . . . he w a s shot l i k e a s t r a y d o g . . . We three are of A l b a n i a n origin, Thomas Stefani hastened to say, to get off the subject of S k n d e r M u o , we are f r o m K o r a . T h a t i s good t o hear. A s A l b a n i a n s w e s h a l l get o n well, I s a i d . First, I am an A m e r i c a n , then an A l b a n i a n , gentlemen. Such is my duty. B u t w h a t is y o u r d u t y ? I a s k e d .
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A s l i a i s o n officer, I s h a l l e n s u r e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s b e tween you and my Headquarters and w i l l report f r o m t i m e to t i m e as t h e n e e d arises. I h a v e s p e c i a l i n s t r u c t i o n s from General Stawell to gather intelligence information on t h e e n e m y , e s p e c i a l l y n u m b e r - p l a t e s a n d other i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h w i l l h e l p s u p p o r t the actions o f y o u r m i l i t a r y forces against the occupier. T h i s w a s the d u t y o f t h i s degenerate A l b a n i a n , w h o so f o o l i s h l y boasted to us that he w a s first an A m e r i c a n . H o w e v e r , w e k n e w t h a t h e h a d been sent t o t h r o w dust i n t h e eyes o f the A l b a n i a n f a m i l i e s o f e c o n o m i c e m i g r a n t s i n A m e r i c a i n o r d e r t o say t o t h e m : Y o u see, w e too, h a v e come t o h e l p the A l b a n i a n people. H e h a d c o m e t o p r e p a r e the g r o u n d a n d t h e p r e m i s e s f o r the n o t o r i o u s M r F u l t z , w h o was to organize plots and b l a c k m a i l against our people's state p o w e r f r o m the f i r s t m o n t h s o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n of A l b a n i a . He was an ex-policeman w h o m the A m e r i c a n s later p r o m o t e d t o c a p t a i n a n d b e c a m e t h e g u i d e o f the p u p i l s a n d boys o f F u l t z , w h o h a d o p e n e d a n o f f i c e o f the A m e r i c a n O S S ( 1 6 ) for A l b a n i a i n B a r i i n Italy. T h e B r i t i s h a n d A m e r i c a n s t h o u g h t that e v e r y t h i n g w o u l d g o s m o o t h l y f o r t h e m a n d t h e y acted. H o w e v e r , the P a r t y c o u n t e r e d t h e i r plans, f o u g h t t h e m b l o w f o r b l o w a n d f o i l e d t h e m one after the other. T h e P a r t y w o r k e d t o ensure t h a t e v e r y t h i n g w o u l d g o c o m p l e t e l y i n f a v o u r o f the A l b a n i a n people a n d o f the f r e e d o m , i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d sovereignty of our beloved Homeland. W i t h the l i b e r a t i o n o f A l b a n i a , t h e m i s s i o n s o f P a l m e r a n d T h o m a s S t e f a n i d i s a p p e a r e d , a l o n g w i t h t h e heads of reaction. T h e i r place was taken by the missions of the B r i t i s h G e n e r a l Hodgson and the A m e r i c a n s Jacobs and _______________________________________ 16 Office of Strategic Services.
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Fultz, A n g l o - A m e r i c a n missions w h i c h h a d as their objective to organize the political opposition, economic interference t h r o u g h U N R R A a n d sabotage o f t h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f o u r country. T h e s t o r y o f h o w w e dealt w i t h t h i s l o n g , c o n t i n u o u s c h a i n o f h o s t i l e a c t i v i t i e s , w h i c h w e r e c a r r i e d out b y e x ternal enemies in collaboration w i t h A l b a n i a n reaction, a n d w h i c h I h a v e done m y best t o o u t l i n e b r i e f l y here, constitutes o n l y a f r a g m e n t of t h e m i l i t a n t h i s t o r y of o u r heroic P a r t y . T h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t a n d t r i u m p h o v e r this a c t i v i t y r e t a i n t h e i r v a l u e a s great lessons, b o t h a b o u t the p e r i o d i n w h i c h the events w h i c h I m e n t i o n took place, a n d about t h e s u b s e q u e n t course of the P a r t y to d e f e n d o u r f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e , the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e tariat a n d s o c i a l i s m i n A l b a n i a . T h e b i t t e r lessons o f h i s t o r y h a v e a l w a y s a d d e d t o o u r v i g i l a n c e , a n d t h a t i s w h y w e h a v e b e e n able t o detect, to u n m a s k a n d to defeat the d i a b o l i c a l p l a n s of false f r i e n d s . T h e c o n s i s t e n t l y correct r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t a n d o f t h e C P A d u r i n g t h e w a r a n d i n t h e f i r s t p o s t L i b e r a t i o n years, towards the hostile a n t i - A l b a n i a n policy and interference of the A n g l o - A m e r i c a n s and towards every other problem p l a y e d its v i t a l r o l e i n t h e a c h i e v e m e n t a n d c o n s o l i d a t i o n of t h e c o m p l e t e i n d e p e n d e n c e of our c o u n t r y . L a t e r , the experience of this stand was to serve us in determining a n d p u r s u i n g a correct p r i n c i p l e d o p e n a n d consistent p o l i c y t o w a r d s f r i e n d s a n d e n e m i e s o f e v e r y type. W h e n i t p l a c e d itself a t the h e a d o f t h e A n t i - f a s c i s t N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r our P a r t y was young, n e w l y formed. It grew bigger a n d s t r o n g e r , t e m p e r e d itself in battle, g a i n e d a w e a l t h of e x p e r i e n c e a n d a s s i m i l a t e d the science o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n ism. T h i s m a d e i t i n v i n c i b l e , a b l e t o d i s c o v e r a n d cope successfully w i t h the dangers w h i c h threatened it in all stages of t h e r e v o l u t i o n . If it h a d gone to sleep, if it h a d
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rested o n its l a u r e l s , n e i t h e r the P a r t y n o r socialist A l b a n i a w o u l d b e i n existence t o d a y . T h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r i s one o f the most g l o r i o u s c h a p t e r s in t h e h i s t o r y of o u r people, b u t it is also one of the greatest p r o o f s of the p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l m a t u r i t y o f o u r P a r t y a n d o f the correctness o f its M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t l i n e . T h e P a r t y i n s p i r e d t h e w o r k i n g masses o f t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e a n d m a d e t h e m conscious t h a t t h e y m u s t u n i t e , t a k e u p a r m s against t h e n a z i - f a s c i s t o c c u p i e r s and the local traitors and t r i u m p h over them. A f t e r countless sacrifices o u r people, u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p of t h e P a r t y , d r o v e out t h e f o r e i g n occupiers, d i s c o v e r e d a n d u n masked the behind-the-scenes manoeuvres and raised i n s u r m o u n t a b l e b a r r i e r s to the secret p l a n s of allies a n d their friends, overthrew the reactionary classes a n d established their o w n power for the first time in history. T h a t w h i c h i s w o n t h r o u g h b l o o d , sweat a n d s a c r i f i c e i s cherished dearly, and so we have beautified and strengthened the p o v e r t y - s t r i c k e n a n d b a t t e r e d A l b a n i a o f t h e past, h a v e m a d e i t h o n o u r e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d , a n u n c o n q u e r a b l e fortress o f s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m o n the shores of the A d r i a t i c . Its i n v i n c i b l e s t r e n g t h has been a n d i s based o n t h e just cause i t c h a m p i o n s . O u r P a r t y took u p this cause a n d has p r o v e d t o h a v e t h e a b i l i t y a n d foresight to d e f e n d it. T h i s is a cause of a people w h o a r e living and building their own life and freedom. O u r c o u n t r y does not i n t e r f e r e w i t h a n y other c o u n t r y , b u t i t has n e v e r p e r m i t t e d a n d n e v e r w i l l p e r m i t a n y o n e to interfere and meddle in our internal affairs and to damage t h e free a n d h a p p y l i f e w h i c h w e a r e b u i l d i n g a n d e n j o y . T h e r e are h u n d r e d s o f m i l l i o n s o f people w h o a d m i r e , respect a n d s u p p o r t socialist A l b a n i a , because i t d e f e n d s a n d a d h e r e s to s u c h a p o l i c y . H o w e v e r , t h e r e a r e some, t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d t h e i r l a c k e y s , w h o say t h a t w e h a v e i s o l a t e d o u r s e l v e s f r o m the c i v i l i z e d w o r l d . T h e s e g e n t l e m e n are m i s t a k e n .
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B o t h t h e b i t t e r h i s t o r y o f o u r o w n c o u n t r y i n t h e past a n d the r e a l i t y o f t h e w o r l d w h i c h t h e y a d v e r t i z e , h a v e convinced us that it is by no means a civilized world, but a w o r l d i n w h i c h t h e b i g g e r a n d t h e s t r o n g e r oppress a n d skin the smaller and the weaker, in w h i c h money and corruption m a k e the law, a n d injustice, perfidy and backstabbing t r i u m p h . T h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s i n socialist A l b a n i a are v e r y p r o found, the victories are magnificent, our strength is i n v i n cible, b u t w e m u s t n e v e r f o r g e t t h e lessons o f h i s t o r y . O u r P a r t y a n d people must always bear in m i n d the hostile activity f r o m abroad or f r o m w i t h i n this they must never forget. T h e y m u s t n e v e r n u r t u r e t h e slightest i l l u s i o n t h a t the i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d t h e c a p i t a l i s t s c h a n g e t h e i r n a t u r e , become r e a s o n a b l e , p e a c e f u l a n d r e l i n q u i s h t h e i r a i m s . T h e r e m u s t n e v e r b e a n y i d e a t h a t t h e class s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n u s and the e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l enemies can be toned d o w n i n t h e least. We have suffered at the hands of invaders, we have suffered at the hands of false friends, but this has not m a d e a n d does m a k e u s isolate ourselves, a s t h e y accuse us. W e a r e v i g i l a n t a n d t a k e s t r o n g defence m e a s u r e s against e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l enemies. W e h a v e b e e n d i s i l l u s i o n e d b y false f r i e n d s , too, b u t w e h a v e c o n f i d e n c e i n the h u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s o f f r i e n d s a n d w e l l - w i s h e r s o f socialist A l b a n i a . W e h a v e a l w a y s h a d m a n y f r i e n d s a n d well-wishers a l l over the w o r l d . T h e long and irreconcilable s t r u g g l e w i t h p e r f i d i o u s f r i e n d s , t h e i r savage a c t i v i t y and s u b v e r s i v e aims, h a v e n e v e r caused u s t o lose o u r t r u s t in true friends. At all times our friends have experienced the s t r e n g t h o f t h e A l b a n i a n s ' g i v e n w o r d , w h i l e the e n e m i e s have experienced t h e i r boundless anger a n d merciless fight. We are f u l l y convinced that w i t h a courageous r e v olutionary stand, in u n i t y of thought and deed w i t h the
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genuine Marxist-Leninists, in friendship w i t h the oppressed a n d e x p l o i t e d peoples a n d w i t h t h e honest a n d progressive folk throughout the w o r l d , we s h a l l be able t o cope w i t h b l o c k a d e s a n d s t o r m s w h e r e v e r t h e y m a y c o m e f r o m . R i g h t i s o n o u r side, t h e f u t u r e b e l o n g s t o u s . T h i s g i v e s u s c o u r a g e a n d s t r e n g t h t o speak t h e t r u t h openly and sincerely, to reply resolutely to whoever smiles a t u s h y p o c r i t i c a l l y , t o w h o e v e r conceals t h e d a g g e r a n d has v e n o m i n h i s h e a r t . O u r p o l i c y i s consistent. I t does not s w i n g t o t h e c h a n g i n g breezes o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l e v e n t s . Its basis is n o t t h e secret d i p l o m a c y of faceless m e n , n o t b a r g a i n s s t r u c k b e h i n d t h e scenes, n o t t h e r u b l e o r t h e d o l l a r . It is n o t a p o l i c y of o p e n i n g t h e doors to f r i e n d s a n d enemies i n d i s c r i m i n a t e l y . W e h a v e n o t a l l o w e d a n d w i l l n o t a l l o w t h e w o l f t o get i n t o o u r s h e e p f o l d . W e h a v e disposed o f t h e w o l f w i t h t h e b u l l e t a n d w e s h a l l c o n t i n u e to do so, a l t h o u g h t h e y accuse us of i s o l a t i n g o u r s e l v e s f r o m the c i v i l i z e d w o r l d . A p e o p l e a n d a p a r t y w h o a r e b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m , w h o a r e d e f e n d i n g a cause w h i c h i s t h e cause o f a l l t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d , c a n n o t b e i s o l a t e d s i m p l y because t h e y d o n o t a l l o w a n y o n e t o d a m a g e t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e w o n a t t h e cost o f t h e i r o w n blood. T h e people, w i t h t h e P a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class a t t h e h e a d , are a n d m u s t b e v i g i l a n t a t e v e r y m o m e n t , m u s t n e v e r b e d e c e i v e d b y some sweet w o r d f r o m r e a c t i o n , m u s t n e v e r t h i n k t h a t t h e e n e m i e s are t o n i n g d o w n t h e s t r u g g l e against us, m u s t n e v e r b e d e c e i v e d b y t h e t e m p o r a r y c h a n g e s in international circumstances, but must take and judge t h e m f o r n o t h i n g other t h a n w h a t t h e y are, w e m u s t t a k e advantage of them and w i l l continue to do so without m a k i n g a n y concession t o enemies, t o r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s - r e v i s i o n i s t circles, s o t h a t o u r correct r e v o l u t i o n a r y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t stand is never liberalized. W h i l e p u t t i n g e n e m i e s o f e v e r y k i n d i n t h e i r place, a t
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the same t i m e , w e m u s t a l w a y s l o v e , h o n o u r a n d assist t h e f r i e n d s o f socialist A l b a n i a a n d w e s h o u l d d o t h i s w i t h u n e r r i n g M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t j u d g e m e n t , w i t h i r o n logic, a n d n e v e r s i m p l y because t h e y a r e o u r f r i e n d s . I n l i f e t h e r e are f r i e n d s a n d f r i e n d s , t h e r e f o r e w e m u s t k n o w h o w t o d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n t h e m . A l b a n i a is a s m a l l state, l i k e a ship s a i l i n g i n a n o c e a n w i t h m i g h t y w a v e s , t h e r e f o r e w e must h a v e i t t i g h t a n d t r i m , m u s t steer i t w e l l , m u s t n o t lose our b e a r i n g s , o t h e r w i s e w e s h a l l f o u n d e r i n t h e s a v a g e w a v e s o f t h i s f u r i o u s ocean. T h e w o r k i n g class a n d its P a r t y m u s t r e l y o n t h e i r own s t r e n g t h f i r s t of a l l , m u s t n e v e r f o r g e t t h e interests o f t h e people, m u s t a l w a y s r e l y o n t h e people's c r e a t i v e abilities a n d j u d g e m e n t , m u s t a l w a y s c o n s u l t t h e people's opinion, b u t n e v e r as a m e r e f o r m a l i t y . The guarantees for our present and future, to m a k e socialist A l b a n i a u n c o n q u e r a b l e a n d i m p a s s a b l e t o o u r enemies, a r e t h e c o n t i n u o u s s t r e n g t h e n i n g of t h e state of the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e e x t e n s i o n a n d c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f o u r socialist d e m o c r a c y , a n d a l l - r o u n d a n d unceasing e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e c r e a t i o n of a s t r o n g i n d e p e n d e n t e c o n o m y , c a p a b l e of s o l v i n g a l l t h e c o m p l i c a t e d p r o b l e m s o f socialist a n d c o m m u n i s t c o n s t r u c t i o n w i t h its o w n forces, c a p a b l e o f s u c c e s s f u l l y w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t pressures a n d blockades a n d k e e p i n g itself u n d a m a g e d b y t h e d e a t h dealing c r i s i s w h i c h h a s seized t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t world, is indispensable in order to have a free a n d independent socialist A l b a n i a . O u r strength is based on the correct revolutionary l i n e o f the P a r t y , o n t h e u n b r e a k a b l e P a r t y - p e o p l e u n i t y , w h i c h i s based o n o u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y d o c t r i n e , M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . Against this strength a l l the plots and attacks of enemies w i l l b e d e f e a t e d a n d a l l t h e disguises w i l l b e t o r n f r o m false f r i e n d s o f A l b a n i a . O u r people m u s t a l w a y s b e r e a l i s t i c
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in everything, in policy, in the economy, in investments a n d in expenditure. They must always keep in m i n d that in o r d e r t o cope w i t h t h i s d a n g e r m e a s u r e s m u s t b e t a k e n i n a d v a n c e s o t h a t w e a r e n o t t a k e n b y s u r p r i s e . A n d one i s not t a k e n b y s u r p r i s e w h e n h e f i g h t s a g a i n s t e u p h o r i a , self-satisfaction and unfounded o p t i m i s m . Let the enemies bewail the fact that our people are a l w a y s i n s t r u g g l e ! L i f e itself i s s t r u g g l e , a n d w h e n t h i s s t r u g g l e i s w o n l i f e becomes b e a u t i f u l a n d p r o s p e r o u s , w h e n i t i s d e f e n d e d w i t h s t r u g g l e i t n e v e r becomes g l o o m y a n d i t i s w o r t h w h i l e l i v i n g . T h i s i s a g r e a t lesson f r o m o u r h i s t o r y . T h i s i s also m y u n s h a k e a b l e b e l i e f w h i c h t h e P a r t y w i t h its ideology, M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , has e m b u e d i n m e a n d w h i c h has b e e n i m p l a n t e d i n m e b y m y people, w h o m I h a v e s e r v e d a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o serve, s p a r i n g nothing, during my whole life, by fighting as their loyal soldier, a r m s i n h a n d , w i t h r e v o l u t i o n a r y f i r e i n m y h e a r t , w i t h the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t i d e o l o g y i n m y h e a d , a g a i n s t every type of external and internal enemy of the Party, the w o r k i n g class, t h e people, s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m . I a m f u l l y c o n f i d e n t t h a t t h e P a r t y , t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e people w i l l a l w a y s b e o n t h e alert, a l w a y s v i g i l a n t , always on the revolutionary offensive to overcome the difficulties of g r o w t h and to avert a n d overcome the possible dangers. I n t h i s w a y t h e i r present a n d f u t u r e w i l l b e u n s h a k e a b l e and brilliant.
Taken f r o m The A n g l o - A m e ricar, Threat to Albania, A l b a n i a n edition, T i r a n a 1982
ON THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION

Panorama
February 1982
F r o m the present international situation we must d r a w some c o n c l u s i o n s w h i c h w i l l h e l p u s t o k e e p u p t o date and, a t t h e s a m e t i m e , t o t a k e m e a s u r e s w h e n a n d w h e r e necessary. A t its 8 t h C o n g r e s s , t h e P a r t y a n a l y s e d t h e i n t e r n a tional situation, correctly forecasting the w a y s in w h i c h i t w o u l d d e v e l o p , a n d t h e consequences o f a n d t h e r e a sons f o r these d e v e l o p m e n t s . L i f e , t h e e v e n t s w h i c h a r e o c c u r r i n g , v i n d i c a t e t h e correctness o f t h i s a n a l y s i s , a n d t h e correct, p r i n c i p l e d p o l i t i c a l s t a n d s o f t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o n t h e w o r l d p r o b l e m s a n d t h e f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f o u r state. T h e diplomatic i n f o r m a t i o n , the m a n y different, and w e m a y say, f a v o u r a b l e a r t i c l e s o f t h e w o r l d press, etc., show t h a t t h e p r o c e e d i n g s o f o u r C o n g r e s s h a v e been received w i t h g r e a t i n t e r e s t e v e r y w h e r e b y f r i e n d s , p r o gressive p e o p l e a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses, b u t also b y enemies w h o h a v e r e a d t h e r e p o r t o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m mittee. T h i s is a g r e a t o p p o r t u n i t y a n d a d v a n t a g e to f u r ther c o n s o l i d a t e t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o s i t i o n s o f o u r P a r t y and c o u n t r y . T h e e x t e r n a l w o r l d i s s e e i n g once a g a i n that, l i k e i t o r not, t h e p o l i c y o f o u r state i n e v e r y s i t u a t i o n i s a n u n w a v e r i n g resolute, p r i n c i p l e d p o l i c y . T h e w o r l d a p preciates t h a t t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a
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is an independent country w h i c h pursues an independent p o l i c y , u n i n f l u e n c e d b y others, i s t h e o n l y c o u n t r y i n t h e w o r l d t h a t does n o t accept c r e d i t s f r o m a n y state a n d i s b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m w i t h its o w n forces, t h a t o n t h i s c o u r s e i t has a c h i e v e d successes i n a l l f i e l d s a n d i s a l w a y s p r e p a r e d t o d e f e n d itself f r o m a n y a g g r e s s i o n . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f o u r P a r t y a n d state h a s h a d p o s i t i v e r e p e r c u s s i o n s t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d , is c o n s i d e r e d a s e r i ous p o l i c y , a n d t h e r e f o r e i t arouses respect a m o n g t h e people. W e m u s t f u r t h e r c o n s o l i d a t e t h i s f a v o u r a b l e p o s i t i v e p o s i t i o n t h r o u g h o u r correct p o l i t i c a l stands, o u r p e n e t r a t i n g M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t v i e w of events w h i c h occur in the w o r l d , o u r correct socialist s t a n d s i n r e l a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r states, etc. T h e great e c o n o m i c crisis, a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e p o l i t i c a l crisis, too, are g r o w i n g deeper w i t h e a c h p a s s i n g day, e n g u l f i n g a l l t h e c o n t i n e n t s a n d states o f t h e w o r l d . T h e only exception is A l b a n i a . F o r us this is something real and not at all surprising, w h i l e f o r others it is an astonishing, unbelievable phenomenon. Nevertheless, there are s m a l l states a n d p r o g r e s s i v e people i n t h e w o r l d w h o k n o w a n d u n d e r s t a n d the P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c of. A l b a n i a and want to take it as an example. The present situation in the w o r l d is explosive and f r a u g h t w i t h g r a v e d a n g e r s f o r v a r i o u s peoples a n d states. The t w o superpowers, the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , a r e i n a deep p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c crisis. I n t h i s s i t u a t i o n each o f t h e m i s s t r i v i n g t o g a i n supremacy over the other in v i t a l fields, such as a r m a m e n t s , b u t also t r y i n g t o a v o i d a w a r b e t w e e n t h e m . A t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e y h a v e n e v e r ceased t h e i r p r e p a r a t i o n s for the outbreak of a new w o r l d w a r . These feverish p r e p a r a t i o n s w h i c h cost t h e m colossal i n v e s t m e n t s a n d f u r t h e r deepen t h e e c o n o m i c c r i s i s i n those t w o c o u n t r i e s , a m o n g t h e i r allies a n d o t h e r states, m a i n t a i n t h e p s y c h o s i s
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o f w a r a n d i n t i m i d a t e t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e allies, a t h i n g w h i c h assists t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s t o i m p o s e t h e i r p o l i c y o n t h e m and others. A t p r e s e n t t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e Soviet U n i o n are struggling to retain and extend their spheres o f i n f l u e n c e , t o s t r e n g t h e n n e o - c o l o n i a l i s m . L o c a l w a r s , w h i c h a r e i n c i t e d b y these t w o s u p e r p o w e r s a n d t h e i r allies, are o n t h e a g e n d a t o d a y . N o w t h e r e are m a n y such hotbeds of local w a r s all over the w o r l d : in A f r i c a , A s i a , C e n t r a l and L a t i n A m e r i c a , the M i d d l e East and elsewhere. A n o t h e r r e a l i t y o f o u r d a y s i s t h e f a c t that, w h i l e the superpowers and w o r l d capitalism really are m e r c i lessly e x p l o i t i n g a n d p l o t t i n g a g a i n s t t h e peoples, occupying them m i l i t a r y and in other forms, they do not feel t h e m s e l v e s secure a n d d o n o t h a v e t h e p r o f i t s t h e y w a n t t o h a v e , a r e n o t m a n a g i n g t o create t h e s i t u a t i o n s t h e y w a n t t o create. T h r o u g h a r m e d s t r u g g l e , p o l i t i c a l and economic strikes, or t h r o u g h open or undeclared host i l e stands, t h e peoples i n a l l p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d are creating troubles for w o r l d capitalism. Seen as a whole, t h i s u n r e l e n t i n g resistance i n a v a r i e t y o f f o r m s o f a c t i v ity is a m o u n t i n g force against neo-colonialism and imper i a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t a g g r e s s i v e forces. H e n c e , n o t o n l y are t h e r e a r areas o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e Soviet U n i o n insecure, but their m i l i t a r y - e c o n o m i c alliances, too, a r e i n deep crisis. The grave international situation, the innumerable crises a n d d a n g e r s i n t h e w o r l d , h a v e a r o u s e d v i g i l a n c e , t h e s e n t i m e n t o f s e l f - d e f e n c e a n d r e s i s t a n c e a m o n g the peoples a n d i n c r e a s e d t h e i r ceaseless d e m a n d s against those w h o g o v e r n , oppress a n d e x p l o i t t h e m . T h e r e f o r e , t h e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t w o r l d t o d a y i s f a c e d w i t h a great stea d i l y m o u n t i n g p r e s s u r e f r o m t h e w o r k i n g masses. T h i s situation is reflected in the political moments in w h i c h
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w e a r e l i v i n g . N e i t h e r t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , n o r t h e S o v i e t U n i o n c a n e s t a b l i s h its w o r l d h e g e m o n y . A t present b o t h a r e t r y i n g t o escape f r o m t h e c r i s i s b y m e a n s w h i c h c a n n o t e l i m i n a t e it. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e s e means are deepening and aggravating the crisis and m a y lead to the outbreak of a w o r l d conflict. I t i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c t h a t these t w o s u p e r p o w e r s a r e d o i n g t h e i r u t m o s t t o s h i f t the b u r d e n o f t h e g r a v e econ o m i c c r i s i s w h i c h has t h e i r c o u n t r i e s i n its g r i p o n t o other states, r e g a r d l e s s o f w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e y a r e t h e i r allies, m e m b e r s o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y o r N A T O . S u c h a n a c t i o n destabilizes t h e a l l i a n c e s t h e m s e l v e s , creates deep c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h i n e a c h a l l i a n c e a n d causes p o l i t i c a l , e c o nomic and military disequilibrium w i t h i n them and bet w e e n these t w o aggressive alliances, N A T O a n d the W a r saw Treaty. T h e e c o n o m i c c r i s i s has also b r o u g h t p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y crisis to the t w o opposing camps. T o d a y we are w i t n e s s i n g the w e l l - k n o w n , n a t u r a l p h e n o m e n o n o f c a p i t a l i s m t h a t t h e s t r o n g e r t r i e s t o i m p o s e its w i l l a n d l a w s o n t h e w e a k e r , t h e s m a l l e r , o n t h e rest. C o n c r e t e l y w e see that in this unstable situation the Soviet U n i o n is strivi n g t o e s t a b l i s h its c o m p l e t e h e g e m o n y o v e r t h e W a r s a w Treaty countries, w h i l e the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a is doing the same t h i n g in N A T O . It is difficult for either of t h e m to r e a l i z e its o b j e c t i v e , b u t less so f o r t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d m o r e s o f o r the U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a . T h e r e are p r o f o u n d e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y d i s a g r e e m e n t s b e t w e e n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d its E u r o p e a n p a r t n e r s . T h e s e d i s a g r e e m e n t s e x i s t , b o t h in the joint f r a m e w o r k of United Europe over economic issues a n d i n N A T O o v e r m i l i t a r y issues. B u t d i s a g r e e m e n t s e x i s t also w i t h t h e i n d i v i d u a l E u r o p e a n p a r t n e r s a n d allies. T h e r e f o r e , i t i s u n d e r s t a n d a b l e w h y t h e R e a g a n administration, in order to intimidate them, almost openly
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threatens the countries of Western E u r o p e w i t h the d a n ger w h i c h t h e S o v i e t m i l i t a r y s u p e r i o r i t y presents t o t h e m . U n d e r t h i s s l o g a n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a i s demanding the deployment of Pershing-2 and Cruise nuclear missiles in Europe, and that the E u r o p e a n m e m ber countries of N A T O undertake more military e x p e n d i t u r e . W e s t G e r m a n y , w h i c h i s a state w i t h v e r y great, i f n o t the m o s t i m p o r t a n t , e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y p o t e n t i a l in N A T O , is not s u b m i t t i n g either to the w i l l or to the policy of Reagan. O n the other hand, the B o n n government i n particular, in opposition to the A m e r i c a n policy, is saying o p e n l y that i t i s n o t t h e P o l i s h q u e s t i o n , b u t t h e h i g h i n t e r e s t rates o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a t h a t are c a u s i n g t h e p r e s e n t crisis. T h e r e f o r e , a l t h o u g h it h a s a h a n d i n t h i s q u e s t i o n , B o n n does not accept a n d i s n o t participating in the economic sanctions taken by Reagan against either P o l a n d or the Soviet U n i o n . These contrad i c t i o n s b e t w e e n B o n n a n d W a s h i n g t o n are s e r i o u s a n d h a v e consequences i n t h e p o l i c y o f t h e E u r o p e a n C o m m o n M a r k e t , w h i c h is being eroded by the crisis and t h e d i s a g r e e m e n t s b e t w e e n E u r o p e a n states. S u c h o p p o s i t i o n also h a s its p r o f o u n d consequences w i t h i n N A T O . I n its r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , U n i t e d E u r o p e has p r o f o u n d p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d m o n e t a r y contradictions. At present it is developing into a capitalist grouping, n a t u r a l l y w i t h the contradictions t h a t e x i s t b e t w e e n t h e p a r t i c i p a t i n g states, i n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a . I n v i e w o f t h i s s i t u a t i o n , t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a h a s u r g e d I t a l y t o p r o p o s e a k i n d of political-economic treaty between the European C o m m o n M a r k e t a n d the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a . B u t f o l l o w i n g the recent talks held between H a i g a n d C o l o m bo, n o m o r e has b e e n h e a r d a b o u t t h i s I t a l i a n p r o p o s a l .
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This means that the disagreements between United E u r o p e a n d t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a r e deep. I n fact, t h e A m e r i c a n p o l i c y i n E u r o p e , i n t h e M i d d l e East and L a t i n and C e n t r a l A m e r i c a is not properly in t u n e w i t h t h a t o f t h e W e s t - E u r o p e a n allies, w h o h a v e t h e i r o w n a i m s , s e p a r a t e f r o m those o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a . T h e E u r o p e a n allies are c l i n g i n g t o N A T O a s a c o u n t e r w e i g h t to t h e m i l i t a r y - p o l i t i c a l p r e s s u r e of t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y a n d also m a i n t a i n i n g t h e i r e c o n o m i c r e l a t i o n s i n t h e c o m p l i c a t e d t a n g l e o f t h e great c r i s i s o f t h e capitalist economy and the multinational companies, but at the same t i m e they have pronounced differences w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a . The P o l i s h problem, created by the political-econom i c b a n k r u p t c y o f t h e P o l i s h r e v i s i o n i s t state, b y t h e oppressive Soviet policy a n d the crisis in C o m e c o n and the W a r s a w Treaty, created a field of operation for the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , t h e W e s t e r n states a n d f o r a l l t h e r e a c t i o n a r y forces i n t h e w o r l d a n d , f i r s t o f a l l , f o r the V a t i c a n and the P o l i s h catholic church. On this probl e m we m a y d r a w the f o l l o w i n g conclusions: by means of the P o l i s h church and Solidarity, the P o l i s h p r o b l e m d e v e l o p e d i n t o a n acute c r i s i s w h i c h b r o u g h t t h e e s t a b lishment of m a r t i a l l a w in that country, the temporary silencing of Solidarity and to some extent l i m i t e d the omnipotence and openly hosile activity of the c h u r c h ; t h e P o p e of R o m e b e c a m e a f o r e i g n m i n i s t e r of t h e cause of the Polish c h u r c h and w o r l d reaction; the efforts of the Americans to incite the Soviet U n i o n to intervene manu militari in P o l a n d , as it d i d in C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , so t h a t t h e S o v i e t U n i o n w o u l d b e d i s c r e d i t e d a n d i n v o l v e itself i n m i l i t a r y a n d p o l i t i c a l a d v e n t u r e s , f a i l e d . O n t h e basis of the W a r s a w Treaty, the Soviet a r m y was in Poland, but the Soviets h i d their h a n d and it was the P o l i s h a r m y t h a t s h o w e d its fist. T h e p r o p a g a n d a a n d b i g s t r i k e s
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in P o l a n d , the d a i l y homilies of the Pope, the threats a n d s a n c t i o n s o f R e a g a n , d i d n o t b r i n g t h e d e s i r e d result, and the countries of Western Europe avoided commiting themselves totally to the A m e r i c a n policy in Europe a n d r e f u s e d t o t a k e t h e concrete m e a s u r e s d e m a n d e d b y t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a . T h e y s t u c k t o t h e i r p o l i c y of talks and not b r e a k i n g off relations w i t h the revisionist c o u n t r i e s o f t h e E a s t , a n d m a i n t a i n e d a n d e v e n i n creased t h e i r economic relations w i t h t h e m and the Soviet U n i o n . T h e countries of W e s t e r n E u r o p e and, in the first place, t h e F e d e r a l R e p u b l i c o f G e r m a n y h a v e m a d e h e a v y i n v e s t m e n t s i n those c o u n t r i e s , a d v a n c i n g l a r g e c r e d i t s a n d l o a n s t o t h e m , t h e r e f o r e t h e y d o n o t w a n t t o lose either their profits or the influence they exert there by means of the investments, loans and credits w h i c h they have provided. One w i n g of the A m e r i c a n extreme right tried to i n t i m i d a t e the disobedient Europeans by threatening them w i t h the Monroe Doctrine. But A m e r i c a n isolationism is nonsensical in today's complicated relations of w o r l d c a p i t a l . I n t h e c o n s u m e r society o f t o d a y A m e r i c a n isolationism w o u l d mean certain death for the United S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a a n d f o r its p a r t n e r s . V e r y great a n d i n c u r a b l e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s e x i s t w i t h i n C o m e c o n also. Its t o t a l collapse i s p r e v e n t e d o n l y b y t h e presence of the Soviet m i l i t a r y force, w h i c h makes the l a w in the member countries of the W a r s a w Treaty. The S o v i e t U n i o n a n d its a l l i e s a r e u p t o t h e i r n e c k s i n d e b t t o t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , t h e F e d e r a l R e p u b l i c of G e r m a n y and other capitalist countries. T h e economy o f t h e C o m e c o n c o u n t r i e s i s u t t e r l y b a n k r u p t a n d i n deep crisis. T h e r e , too, a s i n t h e W e s t , i n f l a t i o n a n d u n e m p l o y m e n t a r e i n c r e a s i n g , p r i c e s are g o i n g s k y - h i g h , a n d t h e r e a r e n o t e n o u g h c o n s u m e r goods t o meet m i n i m a l d a i l y needs. B o t h N A T O a n d t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y a r e s h a k e n
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internally. In the f o r m e r the instability is more evident, in the latter it is silent f o r fear of the Soviet s w o r d of Damocles. T h e t r e a t i e s a n d a g r e e m e n t s are f a l l i n g a p a r t b e c a u s e of the circumstances created by the clash of the t w o superpowers and their partners. The truth about the H e l s i n k i m e e t i n g has b e c o m e c l e a r t o a l l a n d l i f e i s p r o v i n g t h a t those o f u s w h o c o n d e m n e d i t l o n g ago w e r e r i g h t . L i k e the recent m e e t i n g o f M a d r i d , t h e t h e o r y o f T i t o a n d t h e Y u g o s l a v s a b o u t t h e n o n - a l i g n e d w o r l d , etc., t h a t m e e t i n g p r o v e d a d i s g r a c e f u l fiasco. A s o u r P a r t y h a s s a i d , e v e r y thing is being manipulated by the two superpowers, t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , a s w e l l as by w o r l d capitalism, w i t h the aim of suppressing the revolution. Interventions and the m i l i t a r y occupations by t h e s u p e r p o w e r s , s u c h a s that o f t h e S o v i e t s i n A f g h a n i s t a n and A n g o l a , the A m e r i c a n occupation of El Salvador, Israel, t h e I r a n - I r a q c o n f l i c t , t h e P o l i s h crisis, t h e g u e r i l l a w a r i n N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d , t h e p o l i t i c a l - e c o n o m i c catastrophe of Titoite Yugoslavia and the coming to power of socialist p a r t i e s i n s e v e r a l E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s , speak o f the decay of w o r l d capitalism, of the confusion w h i c h reigns i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n w h i c h i s s e e t h i n g w i t h revolution. T h e measures w h i c h w o r l d capitalism is t a k i n g , the terror it employs, the manoeuvres and m a n i p u l a t i o n s undertaken by the parties of the bourgeoisie, i n c l u d i n g the revisionist parties, w h i c h have t u r n e d into mere second-rank social-democratic parties, do not reduce the a n g e r o f t h e masses w h o a r e c o u n t e r - a c t i n g e v e r y d a y w i t h m o r e a n d m o r e force, u p t o t h e use o f w e a p o n s . In particular it must be pointed out that Titoite Y u g o slavia is completely engulfed in a catastrophe and not o n t h e b r i n k o f it. T h e p o l i t i c a l a n d n a t i o n a l clashes b e t w e e n clans i n t h a t c o u n t r y are o b v i o u s a n d w i l l b e c o m e e v e n m o r e so. T h e e c o n o m i c c r i s i s has r e a c h e d t h e p h a s e
ON THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION o f d e s p e r a t i o n . Y u g o s l a v i a i s u p t o its n e c k c a n n o t r e p a y t h e m w i t h m o r e loans. I n there is immense unemployment, inflation prices are going up every day beyond the d i n a r y w o r k i n g people.
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i n debts a n d that country is galloping, reach of or-
The Great-Serb clan is powerful, but for tactial reasons i s o b l i g e d t o s u r r e n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p t o t h e C r o a t Slovene clan in order to stabilize the situation through a m o r e complete opening up to the West. At present the W e s t i s g r e a t l y c o n c e r n e d t o see t h e a d v a n c e s t h e G r e a t S e r b s a r e m a k i n g t o t h e Soviet. U n i o n . T h e savage oppression of the people of K o s o v a and other A l b a n i a n s w h o inhabit their ancestral territories in Y u g o s l a v i a c o n t i n u e s . H o w e v e r , t h e resistance o f t h e A l b a n i a n s i s c o n t i n u i n g , a n d i n c r e a s i n g , too. T h e y a r e d e f e n d i n g themselves v e r y w e l l and putting up great opposition to the injustices and terror imposed on t h e m by the GreatS e r b s , M a c e d o n i a n s a n d M o n t e n e g r i n s . T h e i r j u s t resist a n c e has t u r n e d t h e p r o b l e m o f K o s o v a i n t o a d i s t u r b i n g international problem u n f a v o r a b l e to Y u g o s l a v i a . B u t the terror and the efforts being made there to denationalize the A l b a n i a n s are continuing. Nevertheless, the Serbs w i l l n e v e r succeed i n t h i s . T h e fairest solution to the p r o b l e m of K o s o v a and that of the other A l b a n i a n s w h o inhabit their o w n territories i n Y u g o s l a v i a i s t h e one t h a t t h e 8 t h C o n g r e s s o f t h e Party of Labour of A l b a n i a put forward. The GreatSerbs and the Socialist Federative Republic of Y u g o s l a v i a attacked this solution, w h i l e w o r l d opinion approved it a n d c o n s i d e r e d i t correct. T h e Y u g o s l a v s w e r e d e n o u n c e d b o t h w i t h i n t h e i r c o u n t r y a n d a b r o a d f o r t h e i r actions a g a i n s t t h e people o f K o s o v a a n d t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a . T h e y b r o u g h t great d i s c r e d i t u p o n themselves w i t h their slanders and the hostility they disp l a y e d towards the People's Socialist R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a .
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W e e m e r g e d t r i u m p h a n t , because w e d e f e n d e d a j u s t cause. T h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a a n d t h e policy of our P a r t y emerged f u l l of dignity on the i n t e r national arena and our positions were f u r t h e r strengthened. Today the voice of A l b a n i a is listened to w i t h s y m p a t h y a n d a t t e n t i o n i s p a i d t o its p o l i c y . It is v e r y important to us to have sound international o p i n i o n o n o u r s i d e ; w e m u s t s t r e n g t h e n respect f o r t h e correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p o l i c y o f o u r g o v e r n m e n t a m o n g the governments of the various countries of the w o r l d w i t h w h i c h w e h a v e d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s , a n d t h i s , too, i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t t o us. T h e p r o g r e s s i v e w o r l d a d m i r e s a n d respects u s f o r o u r d e t e r m i n a t i o n , courage, i n d e p e n d e n c e , a n d c o r r e c t n e s s i n o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h others, f o r o u r h o n e s t y a n d f o r t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t course w h i c h o u r people a n d P a r t y p u r sue i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m i n t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l ist R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a . T h e r e f o r e , t h e P a r t y a n d w e , i t s leadership, must m a i n t a i n and strengthen this victory, w h i c h as the 8th Congress reiterated, is continually consolidated by safeguarding the p u r i t y of the line of our M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t P a r t y . Hence, w e must w o r k w i t h all o u r m i g h t , i n t e l l i g e n t l y , a n d w i t h g r e a t care, t o f u r t h e r s t r e n g then the situation of our country internally and abroad.
The Superpowers
WE MUST NOT S E P A R A T E T H E INTENSIFICATION WITH PRIORITY IN T H E A L L O C A T E D LOWLAND ZONE FROM T H E INTENSIFICATION OF AGRICULTURE OVER T H E WHOLE COUNTRY
Contribution at the meeting of the Political Bureau of the CC of the PLA (1)
A p r i l 24, 1982
The directive of the 8th Congress of the P a r t y about the priority intensification of the m a i n part of the plains of the coastal zone of the country requires that we study the matter m u c h more profoundly, especially n o w that we are c o n c r e t i z i n g t h i s d i r e c t i v e a n d p u t t i n g i t i n t o p r a c t i c e . I n s p i r e d b y t h e decisions o f t h e Congress, t h e w o r k i n g people of agriculture all over the country have gone into action to attain the targets of the 7th F i v e - y e a r P l a n . In t h e zone a b o u t w h i c h w e a r e t a l k i n g , too, t h e o r i e n t a t i o n s of the P a r t y about the p r i o r i t y intensification of agriculture are b e i n g r e a f f i r m e d a n d c o n c r e t i z e d . N e v e r t h e l e s s t h e s t u d y w h i c h w e are e x a m i n i n g t o d a y leads us to the conclusion that we have launched the
_______________________________ 1 T h i s meeting discussed the report of the M i n i s t r y of A g r i c u l t u r e , presented by the c o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s , O n t h e w o r k done a n d the measures f o r the a p p l i c a t i o n of the d i r e c tive of the 8th Congress of the P a r t y about the p r i o r i t y i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d livestock p r o d u c t i o n in the a l l o cated l o w l a n d zones.
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i d e a s a b o u t i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n , b u t n o t a l l t h e issues h a v e b e e n p r o p e r l y u n d e r s t o o d , a n d t h a t i s w h y w e are p r o c e e d i n g i n f i t s a n d starts o n t h i s m a t t e r , i n t h e a l l o c a t i o n o f t h e m e a n s w h i c h must be added for this purpose as w e l l as on m a n y other problems. A f t e r the contributions w h i c h have been m a d e h e r e I w a n t t o m a k e clear once a g a i n t h e o r i e n t a t i o n o n h o w t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n i n t h i s zone s h o u l d b e u n d e r s t o o d a n d , i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h this, h o w t h i s m a t e r i a l s h o u l d b e r e s t u d i e d a n d discussed b y the r a n k a n d file, s o t h a t t h e measures w h i c h must be t a k e n can be discussed and d e c i d e d u n e q u i v o c a l l y at a f u t u r e m e e t i n g of t h e P o l i t i c a l Bureau... In the first place it m u s t be c l e a r to t h e state a n d e c o n o m i c organs t h a t t h e P a r t y ' s o r i e n t a t i o n a b o u t p r i o r i t y i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f t h e p l a i n s o f t h e c o a s t a l zone does n o t m e a n that n o w the problem of intensification is presented f o r t h i s zone alone. I f t h e i d e a o f i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n i s c o n ceived in this way, this is not only politically incorrect, but w i l l not give the desired economic results either. F r o m t h e p o l i t i c a l aspect i t w i l l create a n u n d e s i r a b l e s i t u a t i o n in the mentality of the cooperativist peasantry of the o t h e r zones. T h e peasants m i g h t t h i n k : W h y are t h e coo p e r a t i v i s t s o f t h i s zone f a v o u r e d , w h i l e n o m e a s u r e s are b e i n g t a k e n i n o u r f a v o u r ? T h i s w i l l b e one o f t h e c o n sequences i f w e c o n c e n t r a t e a l l o u r a t t e n t i o n o n t h i s zone a n d w e a k e n o u r a t t e n t i o n i n t h e least t o t h e rest o f a g r i c u l t u r e . L i k e w i s e , f r o m t h e e c o n o m i c aspect w e c a n n o t a c h i e v e t h e o b j e c t i v e s set f o r t h e i n c r e a s e o f t h e a g r i cultural and livestock products by concentrating only on t h e p l a i n s of t h e coastal zone, w h i c h c o v e r a b o u t 100 t h o u s a n d hectares, w h e n w e h a v e 600-700 t h o u s a n d h e c t ares o f a r a b l e l a n d i n o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y , o n w h i c h the o v e r w h e l m i n g bulk of the cooperativist peasantry l i v e and work... We must look at the distribution of the material-
ON THE INTENSIFICATION OF AGRICULTURE
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t e c h n i c a l base w i t h t h i s eye, too. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e m a t e r i a l p r e s e n t e d y o u i n t e n d t o a l l o c a t e a n o t h e r 970 t r a c t o r s a n d 266 h e a d e r h a r v e s t e r s t o t h e zone w i t h t h e h i g h e s t i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n , w h i l e t o t h e o t h e r zone w h i c h , a s w e s a i d , c o v e r s a n a r e a 6-7 t i m e s g r e a t e r y o u i n t e n d t o a l l o c a t e less, o n l y 316 t r a c t o r s a n d 174 h e a d e r h a r v e s t e r s , t h a t is, a b o u t a t h i r d of those w h i c h are to go to t h e zone of h i g h e s t intensification, w h i c h even today is more heavily mechanized. Therefore I t h i n k we should be very careful in this d i r e c t i o n a n d n o t t h i n k the s k y i s t h e l i m i t , a n d s i n c e t h i s zone is b e i n g i n t e n s i f i e d let us g i v e it 3 t i m e s m o r e m a c h i n e r y t h a n t h e o t h e r zones, t o w h i c h w e h a v e allocated no small tasks to increase production. We must t a k e p r o p e r a c c o u n t o f this, because w e h a v e a b a d h a b i t t h a t w e get c a r r i e d a w a y b y a n e w i d e a a n d s o m e t i m e s i t h a p p e n s , a s f o r e x a m p l e w h e n w e get n e w t r a c t o r s a n d t r u c k s , t h a t e v e r y b o d y w a n t s t o a b a n d o n the o l d ones a n d t a k e n e w ones. T h e i d e a o f t h e p r i o r i t y i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f t h e p l a i n s seems t o h a v e b e e n w o r k e d out m o r e o r less i n t h i s w a y , too. T h e monetary and material means for the development of agriculture d u r i n g this five-year plan have been a l l o c a t e d . T h e zone a b o u t w h i c h w e a r e s p e a k i n g i s i n c l u d e d in the overall five-year p l a n f o r the development of agriculture according to the orientations given by the C o n g r e s s a n d occupies a n i m p o r t a n t part w i t h i n this plan, w h i c h must be accomplished without fail, indeed, efforts must be made to overfulfil it over the entire country... I n t e n s i f i c a t i o n i n itself i s a v e r y p r o g r e s s i v e i d e a o f e x t r e m e i m p o r t a n c e , b u t i t i s also q u i t e c o m p l i c a t e d . D o w e h a v e t h e m e a n s necessary t o a c c o m p l i s h s u c h a g r e a t a n d i m p o r t a n t i d e a a l l a t once? C a l c u l a t i o n s w i l l s h o w t h a t we h a v e o n l y some of them. Therefore, if we do not e x a m ine this progressive idea thoroughly, if we do not t h i n k a b o u t
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h o w these m e a n s m u s t b e s u p p l e m e n t e d a n d w h e r e t h e y should be found, w h i c h of them can be produced in the country and other such matters, the intensification could b e h i n d e r e d o r m i g h t m a k e some progress, b u t w o u l d f a i l t o a c h i e v e t h e o b j e c t i v e s set a t t h e p r o p e r t i m e , because t h e r e are i n h i b i t i n g f a c t o r s . I n o r d e r t o c a r r y out t h e a d v a n c e d i d e a f o r t h e p r i o r i t y i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of a b o u t 100 t h o u s a n d h e c t a r e s of l a n d , amongst other things, excavators and other machines are needed t o d i g canals. N o w t h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s : w h e r e w i l l those m a c h i n e s b e f o u n d a n d c a n t h e y b e p r o d u c e d i n t h e c o u n t r y ? A p a r t f r o m this, pipes, cement, g r a v e l , r o c k , a n d t r u c k s f o r t r a n s p o r t a r e r e q u i r e d , t h a t is. a n e x t e n s i v e m a t e r i a l base i s necessary. T h e n i t w i l l b e n e c e s s a r y t o o p e n m o t o r roads, etc. T h e r e f o r e t h e M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e must understand the p r o b l e m t h o r o u g h l y and should present to the government a p l a n for the intensification o f 100 t h o u s a n d hectares, w h i c h m u s t b e d o n e w i t h o u t f a i l , a p l a n d e t a i l e d f o r e a c h successive y e a r a n d f o r a l l t h e m a t e r i a l m e a n s r e q u i r e d , w h i c h t h e M i n i s t r y w i l l seek t o i n c l u d e i n t h e p l a n . T h e t h i n g i s t h a t , besides t h e i n t e r e s t e d b r a n c h e s a n d sectors, t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a n d t h e government must think about h o w the orientations and d i r e c t i v e s w h i c h are i s s u e d a n d t h e targets w h i c h w e set a r e g o i n g t o b e a c c o m p l i s h e d , w i t h t h e a i m o f a s s i s t i n g t h e base a n d e n s u r i n g t h a t these o r i e n t a t i o n s a n d d i r e c t i v e s f i n d concrete a p p l i c a t i o n . Let us take for e x a m p l e the question of cement. It is used everywhere and is in d e m a n d not o n l y w i t h i n the c o u n t r y , b u t also f o r e x p o r t . So, s o m e o f t h e c e m e n t p r o d u c e d i s a l l o c a t e d f o r e x p o r t , a n d t h i s i s r i g h t , because i f w e d o n ' t e x p o r t w e c a n n o t b u y , s i n c e t h e r e are n o imports without first exporting. B u t here the problem arises that, i f t h e q u a n t i t y o f c e m e n t w h i c h i s e x p o r t e d w e r e u s e d i n a g r i c u l t u r e f o r d r a i n a g e , canals, etc., t h e
537
e c o n o m i c b e n e f i t w o u l d b e v e r y great. H e n c e t h e q u e s t i o n : W h a t m u s t b e d o n e t o e n s u r e t h a t b o t h t h e i n t e r n a l needs and the exports of cement are f u l f i l l e d ? C e r t a i n l y we must consider increasing the capacity of the cement factory a t V l o r a , f o r e x a m p l e . I n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e this, t h a t is, t o increase t h e p r o d u c t i v e c a p a c i t y o f t h a t f a c t o r y , w e n e e d n e w k i l n s , etc., etc. I t o o k t h e p r o b l e m of c e m e n t o n l y as a n e x a m p l e , because w e h a v e p o s s i b i l i t i e s t o d o s i m i l a r t h i n g s i n m a n y o t h e r sectors i n o r d e r t o r e s p o n d i n t h e p r o p e r w a y t o t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e o v e r the whole country. Another fundamental problem w h i c h it seems to me is not being understood correctly is that we should not t r e a t t h e zone of t h e c o a s t a l p l a i n s as a b l o c k , in a u n i f o r m w a y , f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f t h e m a t e r i a l base n e e d e d , b u t should study it concretely, proceeding f r o m the yields w h i c h h a v e been a c h i e v e d i n e a c h a g r i c u l t u r a l e c o n o m y . T h i s w i l l l e a d u s t o t h e correct c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e m a t e r i a l base w h i c h w e h a v e p l a n n e d , o r w h i c h i s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h i s zone, s h o u l d n o t b e s h a r e d o u t e v e n l y o v e r t h e w h o l e zone, b u t i n d i f f e r e n t p r o p o r t i o n s , g i v i n g m o r e t o those e c o n o m i e s a n d sectors w h i c h are m o r e b a c k w a r d i n t h e i r y i e l d s a n d w h i c h h a v e t h e n e c e s s a r y c o n d i t i o n s t o rise t o t h e l e v e l o f t h e y i e l d s w h i c h a r e p r o j e c t e d f o r t h i s zone, o r w h i c h a d v a n c e d economies, sectors, o r b r i g a d e s a r e already getting... H e n c e , f r o m t h e w h o l e z o n e o f a b o u t 100 t h o u s a n d h e c t a r e s w h i c h w e are i n t e n s i f y i n g w i t h p r i o r i t y , i n t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e m a t e r i a l base w h i c h w e are i n c r e a s i n g , f o r t h e 7 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n w e c a n l e a v e out, say, 35-40 t h o u s a n d hectares, because w e h a v e a l r e a d y a c h i e v e d t h e intensification we are seeking w i t h the means we have t o d a y i n t h e a r e a . W e s h o u l d use t h e a d d i t i o n a l m e a n s t o accelerate t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of t h e rest, so t h a t t h e y r e a c h the level of that area w h i c h is at a higher level of i n -
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t e n s i f i c a t i o n a t present. O f c o u r s e t h e r e i s n o l i m i t t o i n tensification, but we must make our calculations in the w a y we are discussing, otherwise the results w i l l not be satisfactory. I n t h e zone o f p r i o r i t y i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f a b o u t 100 t h o u s a n d h e c t a r e s t h e r e are c e r t a i n m e a s u r e s w h i c h w e m u s t c e r t a i n l y t a k e i n a l l t h e economies, r e g a r d l e s s o f w h i c h has t a k e n h i g h y i e l d s a n d w h i c h h a s not. W h a t a r e these m e a s u r e s ? T h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f p e r m a n e n t d r a i n a g e . W e m u s t c o n t i n u e t o d o t h i s except, p e r h a p s , i n t h e economies i n w h i c h w e have already done i t a n d w h i c h have taken in high yields. B u t it must be done w i t h o u t f a i l in the other economies w h e r e it has not been done. We m u s t decide t h i s . T h e i r r i g a t i o n o f l a n d d e p e n d s o n o u r economic a n d m a t e r i a l potential. If we have t h e possibilities to irrigate the entire intensified zone to a satisf a c t o r y l e v e l , i t seems t o m e t h a t t h i s s h o u l d b e d o n e . In regard to the use of fertilizers, machines, tractors c o m b i n e s o r o t h e r c o m p l e x f a r m i n g m a c h i n e s , i n a l l these directions there must be differentiation. N o w w e c o m e m o r e c o n c r e t e l y , o n a b r o a d scale, t o t h e slogan w e h a v e e m p l o y e d : W e m u s t c a t c h u p w i t h t h e advanced. In order to catch up w i t h the advanced, first of a l l t h e consciousness of t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s p l a y s a m a j o r role, b u t t h e means, seeds, w a t e r , etc., also p l a y a n important role. Therefore, although the w i l l f o r f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t m a y e x i s t i n a l l those e c o n o m i e s w h i c h h a v e achieved h i g h yields in a given area or cooperative, we m u s t t a k e m e a s u r e s t o f a v o u r t h e o t h e r areas a n d c o o p e r a t i v e s . W h e r e t h e r e i s a n e c o n o m y w h i c h has a c h i e v e d high yields we must allow it to go on getting yields of 7 0 q u i n t a l s o f m a i z e p e r h e c t a r e f o r some t i m e a n d b e content t h a t t h i s e c o n o m y , w i t h t h e e x p e r i e n c e i t h a s g a i n e d a n d t h e base w h i c h i t has, c o n s o l i d a t e s its s t a b i l i t y a n d gets j u s t a l i t t l e m o r e .
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I n s p e c i f i c areas o f t h e z o n e o f p r i o r i t y i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n w e h a v e m a n a g e d t o get v e r y g o o d y i e l d s w i t h t h e m e a n s w h i c h have been allocated. If we take, a n d we must take certain measures for the intensification of specific parts o f t h i s zone, t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f w h i c h i s b e i n g d o n e n o t i n one y e a r b u t i n f i v e y e a r s , a n d i f t h e a i d i n m a t e r i a l s is not provided evenly, but differentiated according to the r e q u i r e m e n t s o f s p e c i f i c p a r t s o f t h e zone, t h e n w e w i l l h a v e t h e r e s u l t t h a t one p a r t o f t h e z o n e w i l l a c h i e v e t h e y i e l d s set a t t h e e n d o f t h e f i v e - y e a r p e r i o d , a n o t h e r at the end of the f o u r t h year or the t h i r d year of the f i v e y e a r p e r i o d , a n d i n t h e e n d t h e w h o l e zone w i l l a c h i e v e t h e y i e l d s w e set. L e t u s b e q u i t e c l e a r a b o u t w h a t I a m s a y i n g . W h e n d e f i n i n g t h e areas w h i c h are n o t i n t e n s i f i e d yet i n t h e z o n e w h i c h w e a r e g o i n g t o i n tensify, this w i l l be done in proportion w i t h the possibilities w h i c h w e p r o v i d e . W i t h i n t h a t zone d i f f e r e n t c o n d i t i o n s p r e v a i l : some parts have a n u m b e r of favourable cond i t i o n s , some a v e r a g e c o n d i t i o n s a n d o t h e r p a r t s less f a v o u r a b l e c o n d i t i o n s . W e w i l l b e g i n w i t h those t h a t h a v e less f a v o u r a b l e c o n d i t i o n s , t h e n w e w i l l come t o those w i t h average conditions and we w i l l reach the highest level at t h e e n d o f t h e f i v e - y e a r p e r i o d . T h u s t h e w h o l e zone w i l l be intensified to a higher level. H e n c e this is n o t a j o b to be done by guess w o r k , b u t o n t h e b a s i s o f c a r e f u l s t u d y . I n o r d e r t o a c c o m p l i s h it, t h e specialists o f t h e base m u s t b e c o n c r e t e l y i n v o l v e d i n it, because t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n i s d e c i s i v e . I t i s e s s e n t i a l that they must be listened to and their opinions be carefull y discussed. O n l y i n this w a y w i l l we, the leadership o f the P a r t y , be sure w h a t our possibilities are and, as the p e o p l e s a y : w e m u s t cut o u r coat a c c o r d i n g t o o u r cloth. W e m u s t b e c e r t a i n a b o u t h o w m u c h cloth w e h a v e , because w e a r e g o i n g t h r o u g h a d i f f i c u l t i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t u ation, so we cannot proceed by m a k i n g promises and
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t h e n f a i l t o f u l f i l t h e m . T h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s a r e great, b u t some people s t i l l h a v e r e s e r v a t i o n s . W e m u s t c l e a r l y u n d e r stand the international situation and the great hostility w i t h w h i c h A l b a n i a is threatened. We must be very rigorous, precise and r e v o l u t i o n a r y about the accomplishm e n t o f tasks, o t h e r w i s e w e c a n n o t a d v a n c e . T o m o r r o w t h e enemies m i g h t c o m m i t a p r o v o c a t i o n a g a i n s t us, t h e r e f o r e w e m u s t h a v e reserves n o w . H e n c e , w e m u s t t h i n k about the times of danger. A l l our w o r k in agriculture, w h i c h is very complicated and wide-ranging, must be understood as a whole. W h e n we take measures to add something, we must be t r u l y conscious t h a t t h e a d d i t i o n m u s t b e a s m u c h a s n e c e s s a r y a n d w e s h o u l d n o t w o r k i t out o n t h e a v e r a g e ! I f w e set t h e targets i n t h i s w a y , t h e a v e r a g e w i l l b e m u c h h i g h e r . I f the a v e r a g e r e m a i n s w h a t i t is, t h e r e i s n o n e e d t o use s u p p l e m e n t a r y forces a n d means, because w e n e e d t o use t h e m elsewhere. W e are not l i v i n g i n plenty, y o u must bear this in m i n d . We m a k e sacrifices in one direction in order to f u l f i l another need, w h i c h must be f u l f i l l e d , e s p e c i a l l y t h e needs o f a g r i c u l t u r e w h i c h i s t h e basis o f our economy. Therefore, in the resolution that w i l l be presented to t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u , t h i s q u e s t i o n m u s t b e set o u t c o n c i s e l y o n t h e basis o f studies, s o t h a t w e k n o w i n t i m e h o w m a n y hectares o f l a n d w i l l b e i n t e n s i f i e d w i t h i n t h i s zone a n d h o w m a n y are intensified already. These things must be clearly defined. Likewise, the amount of production that w i l l be t a k e n in a given n u m b e r of hectares in the i n t e n sified zone as w e l l as the yields w h i c h w i l l be achieved f r o m t h e m in the third, f o u r t h and f i f t h years of the f i v e y e a r p l a n m u s t b e set out. T h a t i s t o say, t h e r e s o l u t i o n must make certain definitions, w h i c h w i l l be kept in m i n d w h i l e c a r r y i n g o u t t h i s task, because t h e w o r k t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e o b j e c t i v e s w i l l b e d o n e o n t h e basis o f t h e
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d e c i s i o n . W h e n t h e y i e l d s a r e set, t h i s m u s t b e done n o t a s average yields (2) for the w h o l e Republic, but yields for the zones w h i c h w i l l b e i n t e n s i f i e d . T h i s i s a s p e c i a l d e c i s i o n w h i c h w e are t a k i n g for this z o n e . . . I r e p e a t once a g a i n t h a t t h e p r o b l e m of a g r i c u l t u r e m u s t be seen as a w h o l e . T h e p l a n s w h i c h are set m u s t be f u l f i l l e d a n d o v e r f u l f i l l e d , because t h e r e are m a n y p o s s i b i l i t i e s a n d reserves. W e m u s t b e conscious t h a t these reserves m u s t be d r a w n on, irrespective of the decision w h i c h we shall take. W h a t we are doing is an addition. These things must be done w i t h o u t d e p r i v i n g the hills and all the other zones w h i c h a r e n o t b e i n g i n t e n s i f i e d , b u t , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , b y a s s i s t i n g a n d i n t e n s i f y i n g t h e m , too. T h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n h a s b e g u n on a good serious course and n o w it must be continued. Therefore we must not content o u r s e l v e s w i t h those y i e l d s w e get i n w h e a t a n d h y b r i d maize, but still more w o r k must be done in bread g r a i n a n d other crops and, especially, in livestock raising. I w a n t to emphasize that for the intensification of livestock raising it is essential to continue the w o r k in f o r a g e c r o p s a n d t o secure t h e m n o t o n l y f o r t h i s zone, but for the whole of A l b a n i a . We must accomplish the p l a n i n l i v e s t o c k r a i s i n g w i t h t h e p r o d u c t i v i t y w e h a v e set, a n d i n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e t h i s t h e f o d d e r base m u s t b e intensified w i t h o u t fail. If it is necessary to take measures t o i n t e n s i f y t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f f o d d e r base i n some o t h e r districts w h e r e we have concentrated livestock raising, this m u s t b e done. I n L e z h a , f o r e x a m p l e , w e h a v e set targets for increased numbers of livestock, therefore we must t h i n k a b o u t t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f t h e f o d d e r base f o r t h e l i v e s t o c k i n t h a t d i s t r i c t . B u t w h e r e i s t h a t base t o b e secured? Is that w h i c h is secured in the plains or hills of
________________________________ 2 In Republic 1985 the w a s 30.6 average yields of wheat quintals per hectare. for the whole
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L e z h a sufficient? No, it is not. T h e n we must take measures. T h i s p r o b l e m i s not s e p a r a t e d f r o m t h e o t h e r p r o b l e m s of intensification. A part of the plains w h i c h are intensified s h o u l d b e a l l o c a t e d t o f o r a g e crops, a n d t h e s a m e m u s t b e done f o r vegetables, too. V e g e t a b l e s a r e v e r y i m p o r t a n t for man, and they lead to economy in the consumption of bread. We must guarantee the production of bread, must i n c r e a s e g r a i n p r o d u c t i o n , b u t s h o u l d also s a v e g r a i n b y e a t i n g m o r e vegetables, f r u i t a n d a n i m a l p r o d u c t s . I f w e a r e t o c o n s u m e m o r e vegetables, w e m u s t p r o d u c e a m p l e quantities of them, and to do this we must take measures to secure m o r e t h a n 400 q u i n t a l s of t o m a t o e s p e r h e c t a r e . To achieve this yield we must m a k e investments. We have m a d e i n v e s t m e n t s f o r d a i r y cows, too. b u t some w e h a v e k e p t w e l l a n d some w e h a v e a l l o w e d t o degenerate. Seeds d e g e n e r a t e i n a s i m i l a r w a y because t h e y h a v e t h e i r o w n cycle. We must go over to the production of first-quality seeds, h y b r i d seeds, i n t h e q u a n t i t i e s a n d w i t h t h e q u a l i t y w h i c h we need for ourselves and export, for the i n t e r n a l market, for the production of preserved fruit and vegetables, etc. T h i s , too, is i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n . As a conclusion, basing ourselves on this five-year plan, to accomplish w h i c h efforts should be made, we must take measures for the intensification of the plains in a n u m b e r of zones so t h a t t h e y , too, a c h i e v e t h e l e v e l of t h e m o s t a d v a n c e d zones a n d n o t o n l y f o r s u c h c r o p s a s m a i z e , w h e a t , c o t t o n a n d beans, w h i c h a r e m e n t i o n e d i n t h e s t u d y p r e s e n t e d t o us, b u t also f o r f o r a g e c r o p s a n d vegetables. I n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e m e a n s w e h a v e a l l o c a t e d f o r t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f vegetables, w e m u s t b e a r i n m i n d that they require not only practice, but also m o r e m e c h a n i z e d means, t h e r e f o r e i n t h i s c o m p l e x o f m e c h a n isms, besides c o m b i n e s a n d t r a c t o r s , w e m u s t i n c l u d e
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other l i g h t means w h i c h are used in planting, hoeing, h a r v e s t i n g a n d t r a n s p o r t i n g vegetables. N o w w e c o m e t o f r u i t . W e a g r e e d l o n g ago t h a t s o m e s m a l l f a c t o r i e s s h o u l d b e set u p i n a n u m b e r o f centres a s close a s p o s s i b l e t o l a r g e - s c a l e p r o d u c t i o n o f f r u i t a n d vegetables, because i n t h i s w a y w e a v o i d u n n e c e s s a r y transport. Therefore this question should be restudied and concrete proposals be m a d e q u i c k l y . See h o w m a n y problems there are in agriculture. M e h m e t S h e h u , w h o posed a s t h e c o m p l e t e e x p e r t , t h o u g h t i t w a s r o u g h l y one b i g issue, b u t h e w a s w r o n g . T h e r e a r e n u m e r o u s p r o b l e m s a n d d e s p i t e o u r desires we cannot solve t h e m a l l immediately. Therefore, in our s t u d i e s a n d decisions, w e n e e d f i r m o r d e r . . . I t h i n k that we must understand agriculture and the needs of t h e p e o p l e as i n t e r l i n k e d . It is important that we create plenty and we must create more suitable conditions so as to achieve this in scientific ways, through the concentration and circulation of production according to science and the soil. T h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n a n d s p e c i a l i z a t i o n of crops w h i c h w i l l be w i d e l y extended in this zone b r i n g changes in the development of the economy, and as the advanced experience of the Plasa agricultural cooperative h a s s h o w n , t h e y a r e also b r i n g i n g changes i n concepts. T h e n e w concepts o f l a r g e - s c a l e socialist p r o d u c t i o n are g r a d u a l l y t a k i n g t h e p l a c e o f o l d concepts. I n t h i s w a y w e a l s o c o m b a t t h e o l d concepts o f a u t a r c h y , i n t h e sense that it is often demanded that a l l the crops should be p r o d u c e d w i t h i n t h e one e c o n o m y a n d , i n d e e d , y e a r s ago this was m o r e pronounced and reflected even in brigades. T h e s t r u g g l e w h i c h has b e e n w a g e d a g a i n s t t h e mosaic o f c r o p s w i t h i n s m a l l areas m u s t n o w b e w a g e d a g a i n s t m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f a u t a r c h y i n l a r g e r areas. O f c o u r s e o u r e c o n o m y a n d o u r socialist a g r i c u l t u r e a r e r u n o n t h e basis o f t h e u n i f i e d state p l a n . I n o r d e r t o
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sabotage t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f P l a s a , t h e e n e m i e s o f t h e P a r t y , M e h m e t Shehu and company, went so far as to say: Either the structure of crops according to the p l a n , or P l a s a w i t h its o w n r o t a t i o n o f crops. H o w e v e r , w h e n h e w a s a b o u t a t t h e e n d o f h i s t e t h e r a n d c o u l d see t h a t t h e roots o f h i s e v i l w o r k w e r e b e i n g e x p o s e d , M e h m e t came to me and said, W e shall m a k e the w h o l e of A l b a n i a like Plasa... T h e p r o b l e m of the w i d e extension of the experience of P l a s a , of course, c o u l d n o t be s o l v e d w i t h a s t r o k e o f t h e pen, b u t w e h a v e s a i d a t o t h e r t i m e s , too, t h a t w e have delayed in a p p l y i n g this experience. In order to a p p l y it, a n u m b e r o f m a n o e u v r e s m u s t b e m a d e i n t h e p l a n t i n g o f v a r i o u s crops. A p a r t i c u l a r c r o p m a y b e r e m o v e d f r o m one e c o n o m y a n d g i v e n t o a n o t h e r e c o n o m y according to the need for rotation. That is h o w we can m a n o e u v r e b e t w e e n t h e t w o economies, e s p e c i a l l y w h e n , i n the zone f o r w h i c h w e a r e s p e a k i n g , w e h a v e t e r r i t o r i a l c o n t i n u i t y . A s t h e s p e c i a l i s t s t e l l us, i n t h i s case s c h e m e s of rotation can be d r a w n up covering t w o economies, irrespective of the fact that they m a y be different f r o m the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l aspect. T h e r e a r e g r e a t e r p o s s i b i l i t i e s t o d o t h i s w i t h c e r t a i n crops w h i c h i m p r o v e t h e s o i l , s u c h a s lucerne, etc., e s p e c i a l l y b y i n c r e a s i n g t h e h u m u s a n d the content of n u t r i t i v e elements. I t h i n k these m a n o e u v r e s a r e p a r t i a l a n d c a n b e c a r r i e d out w i t h i n t h e o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e p l a n o n a d i s t r i c t scale a n d e v e n m o r e s o o n t h e scale o f t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y . E a c h a g r i c u l t u r a l e c o n o m y i s r e q u i r e d t o engage i n t h i s w o r k better. B u t t h e d i s t r i c t s a n d t h e M i n i s t r y o f A g r i culture, i n cooperation w i t h the State P l a n n i n g C o m mission, must p l a y a special role. I t h i n k t h a t t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of s c i e n t i f i c s c h e m e s of rotation of agricultural production and the struggle against a u t a r c h y s h o u l d be c o n c e i v e d on a b r o a d e r s c a l e .
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L e t us take onions, f o r example. We say that we should p r o d u c e a s m a n y o n i o n s a s possible. B u t w h y a r e w e t o p r o d u c e s o m a n y o n i o n s ? a s k s the c o o p e r a t i v i s t . I w a n t bread. V e r y w e l l , h e s h o u l d b e t o l d , - o n i o n s w h i c h a r e grown, packaged, and preserved properly can be exported a n d used to b u y another food-stuff. Or, if the conditions permit, lucerne should be planted on this land and w i t h t h i s y o u w i l l get m o r e meat, m i l k , hides, etc,. W h a t I a m saying is that we should not consume everything we p r o d u c e a t h o m e , b u t e x p o r t s o m e t h i n g s a n d i m p o r t those w h i c h we do not produce ourselves. Of course this must not place in jeopardy the production of bread and other m a i n products w i t h i n the country. But, if by exploiting the c o n d i t i o n s b e t t e r w e m a y e x p o r t meat, t h a n w e h a v e s o m e t h i n g i n o u r h a n d s t o i m p o r t w h a t w e a r e s h o r t of. I t h i n k t h a t w e w i l l n o t h a v e shortages i f w e p r o c e e d s c i e n t i f i c a l l y a t s u c h a r a t e a n d w i t h s u c h courage. W e w i l l p r o d u c e t h e t h i n g s w e n e e d w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y a n d also h a v e some f o r e x p o r t . T h u s w e w i l l h a v e i n o u r h a n d s a great economic force to manoeuvre abroad and to further develop industry, agriculture and other branches of the economy. In regard to the advance of our agriculture on the r o a d of s o c i a l i s m , another important measure has been the creation of the higher-type cooperatives. N o w w h e n we are in the phase of higher intensification, this must be s t u d i e d s o t h a t w e k n o w w h e r e these c o o p e r a t i v e s s h o u l d be classified, are we to consider t h e m intensified or not? W i l l w e c o n t i n u e t o g i v e t h e m state a i d a s b e f o r e , o r w i l l t h i s a i d b e n o w g i v e n t o o t h e r cooperatives, s o t h a t t h e y , too, r e a c h t h e l e v e l o f t h e f o r m e r ? A l r e a d y t h e h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s h a v e a c h i e v e d a g o o d l e v e l of d e v e l o p m e n t , i n d e e d s o m e o f t h e m h a v e a c h i e v e d t h e l e v e l o f state f a r m s , o t h e r s a l i t t l e less, b u t o t h e r s s t i l l h a v e o u t s t r i p p e d t h e state f a r m s . I n t h e h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s w h e r e t h e
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i n v e s t m e n t s w h i c h t h e state h a s m a d e u p t i l l n o w a n d t h e investments of the cooperatives themselves h a v e served to r a i s e the l e v e l r e q u i r e d f o r t h e i n t e n s i f i e d zone, t h e state should no longer m a k e investments at that level w h i c h it has done u p t i l l n o w . T h e r e f o r e t h e f u n d s t h a t w e h a v e foreseen for investments should be d i v i d e d in a differenti a t e d w a y , a c c o r d i n g t o needs. T h e f u n d s w h i c h t h e state has p r o v i d e d f o r t h e h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s h a v e b e e n a s u p p o r t f o r t h e m , t h e d i r e c t p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e state i n t h e i r d e v e l o p m e n t h a s g i v e n results. N o w p a r t o f these f u n d s w i l l n o l o n g e r b e p r o v i d e d , b u t t h e state does n o t d e m a n d r e p a y m e n t o f t h e m . S i n c e those f u n d s h a v e b e e n w e l l u t i l i z e d a n d those c o o p e r a t i v e s h a v e a c h i e v e d a h i g h level of development and the well-being of the members has b e e n r a i s e d , t h e y m u s t a l l o c a t e f o r a c c u m u l a t i o n a percentage different f r o m that of the other cooperatives and cover more investments w i t h their o w n funds. The state c a n a n d m u s t g i v e m o r e assistance t o t h e o t h e r cooperatives. T h e r e f o r e , w h e n t h e f u n d s are s h a r e d o u t a n d t h e a i d w h i c h t h e state w i l l p r o v i d e i s a l l o c a t e d , i t s h o u l d b e t a k e n i n t o account t h a t , i n r e g a r d t o t h e r a i s i n g o f t h e i r l e v e l , the scale o f the d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t h e y i e l d s t h e y h a v e a c h i e v e d , t h e h i g h e r - t y p e c o o p e r a t i v e s are close t o the y i e l d s a n d t h e i n c o m e s o f state f a r m s o f t h e zones of i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n or w h i c h a r e c o n s i d e r e d as intensified. This must be understood correctly and profo u n d l y , because t h e state o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t does n o t w o r k o n l y f o r t h e h i g h e r - t y p e cooperatives, in order to enable t h e m only to i m p r o v e the l i v i n g s t a n d a r d o f t h e m e m b e r s . O u r state also t h i n k s about the other cooperatives. B u t the higher-type cooperatives m u s t m a i n t a i n t h e l e v e l a c h i e v e d a n d r a i s e i t f u r t h e r , because t h e y h a v e a l l t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s . The intensification w i t h p r i o r i t y of the l o w l a n d zone
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must not upset the existing regime of agricultural cooperatives. W h a t d o I m e a n b y t h i s ? I t i s i n t e n d e d t h a t t h e p l a i n o f N d r o q , f o r instance, s h o u l d b e i n t e n s i f i e d . S o i n v e s t ments w i l l be m a d e there for this purpose. B u t the m o u n t a i n o u s zone o f t h i s c o o p e r a t i v e , too, w i l l c o n t i n u e t o b e d e v e l o p e d w i t h t h e a i d w h i c h t h e state h a s p r o v i d e d and w i l l continue to provide. Hence we w i l l proceed t o w a r d s t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f p r o d u c t i o n i n t h i s zone, too. T h e d i v i s i o n o f i n c o m e p e r w o r k d a y a n d t h e f o r m a t i o n o f v a r i o u s f u n d s w i l l b e d o n e o n t h e basis o f t h e rules w h i c h exist in the Constitution of Cooperatives. T h i s is a p r o b l e m of g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e in t h e f i e l d of the relations of production. The problem of the production of agricultural machinery and equipment within the country w a s r a i s e d here, too. W h e n s p e a k i n g a b o u t i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n , i t s h o u l d b e b o r n in m i n d that this means that in maize, for example, w e m u s t get 60-70 q u i n t a l s p e r h e c t a r e o n a n a r e a f r o m 10-20 t h o u s a n d hectares, t o w h i c h t h o u s a n d s m o r e hectares w i l l be added in the near future, w h e n more maize w i l l be needed to increase the n u m b e r of livestock. S u c h huge areas o f m a i z e c a n n o t b e h a r v e s t e d w i t h those m e a n s w e use t o d a y . L i k e w i s e i t i s n o t p o s s i b l e f o r u s t o i m p o r t f r o m a b r o a d a l l those m a c h i n e s t o h a r v e s t t h e m a i z e a n d t h e w h e a t , t o p i c k f r u i t , etc., etc., w h i c h a r e n e e d e d . T h e n w h a t must we do? We must begin to b u i l d harvesti n g m a c h i n e s , etc., i n t h e c o u n t r y . A p a r t f r o m the m o t o r s ( a l t h o u g h t h i s , too. s h o u l d b e e x a m i n e d , because t h e r e a r e a n u m b e r of electrical engineering plants w h i c h could produce them), it is quite possible f o r us to do this. T h e r e are m a n y other questions l i k e this w h i c h are connected w i t h agriculture and w h i c h have not been studied in their o w n t i m e , s o t h e y m u s t b e s t u d i e d n o w . I s a y t h i s because b e t t e r l a t e t h a n n e v e r a n d because i n the c o m i n g y e a r s an even more favourable situation w i l l be created in
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a g r i c u l t u r e , a l t h o u g h other p r o b l e m s w i l l emerge, s i n c e w e w i l l n e e d not o n l y m o r e h a r v e s t e r s , b u t also m o r e tractors. A p a r t f r o m the autotractor combine i n T i r a n a , w h i c h has v e r y i m p o r t a n t t a s k s f o r a g r i c u l t u r e , w e m u s t s t u d y the possibilities to take measures to strengthen the a g r i cultural machinery plants. Besides the a g r i c u l t u r a l m a c h i n ery plant in Durrs, perhaps the others should be strengthened, too. B u t h o w m u c h t h o u g h t has b e e n g i v e n t o t h i s a n d t o w h a t e x t e n t t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s are b e i n g c r e a t e d f o r s u c h a step? It seems to me t h a t t h e i d e a r a i s e d h e r e t h a t a good p a r t of t h e c a p a c i t y of a g r i c u l t u r a l m a c h i n e r y plants in the districts is employed in producing spare parts a n d e q u i p m e n t f o r i n d u s t r y , i s n o t correct. I f t h i s comes a b o u t s i m p l y because these p l a n t s are u n d e r t h e M i n i s t r y of Industry and Mines, then we should examine the question of whether they should be under the M i n i s t r y of Industry, or the M i n i s t r y of Agriculture. In the context of intensification, w i t h the increase of agricultural and livestock products everywhere in A l b a n i a , the shortage of transport will be a great problem . We c o n t i n u e t o r e a d i n the p a p e r s a b o u t mass r o a d t r a n s p o r t parallel w i t h the railway, about unnecessary shuttling of goods b a c k a n d f o r t h . T h e r e f o r e t h e r a t i o n a l u t i l i z a t i o n o f the m e a n s we h a v e is a great r e s e r v e f o r a g r i c u l t u r e , too. L i k e w i s e i t i s necessary t o p r o d u c e m o r e carts a n d t r a i l e r s . H o w e v e r t h i s w o r k has b e e n l e f t t o t h e w o r k s h o p i n S h i j a k o r some l o c a l i n i t i a t i v e , w h i c h c a n n o t f u l f i l a l l the needs o f t h e c o u n t r y f o r t h i s k i n d o f t r a n s p o r t , t h e r e fore the production of it must be increased especially i n those d i s t r i c t s w h i c h h a v e t i m b e r . A p a r t f r o m carts, m o t o r t r a n s p o r t i s necessary, too. a n d a s y o u say, some t r u c k s c a n b e i m p o r t e d f r o m a b r o a d . B u t t h e r e i s one t h i n g w h i c h s h o u l d b e b o r n i n m i n d : w e are s t r u g g l i n g t o save l a n d a n d t o a v o i d l o s i n g i t .
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In fact, however, a p a r t of the l a n d w i l l be w i t h d r a w n f r o m p r o d u c t i o n because t h e p r o d u c t s m u s t b e t r a n s p o r t e d o n t h i s l a n d w h e r e t h e y a r e p r o d u c e d , hence r o a d s w i l l be needed and this requires land. H e r e we have to make c a r e f u l c a l c u l a t i o n s , t h a t is, w e m u s t e n s u r e t h a t t h e q u a n t i t y o f p r o d u c t s w h i c h are lost f r o m t h e p a r t o f t h e l a n d w h i c h i s a l l o c a t e d f o r t h e b u i l d i n g o f roads i s c o m p e n s a t e d f o r t h r o u g h t h e i n c r e a s e i n y i e l d s . W e agree t o t h e o p e n i n g of these roads, because t h e t r a n s p o r t of a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s b y t r u c k i s q u i c k e r a n d causes f e w e r losses. I have another matter w h i c h is a n d w h i c h is not s o l v e d . I am referring to the contracts between interested ministries and the cooperatives . T h e o r g a n s of t h e M i n i s t r y o f I n t e r n a l T r a d e a n d those o f t h e M i n i s t r y o f t h e L i g h t a n d Foodstuffs Industry do sign a k i n d of contract w i t h the a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives, but not w i t h a strict regime a n d penalties w h i c h are u s u a l l y i n c l u d e d in contracts b e t w e e n state e n t e r p r i s e s . A s a result, i t i t n o t i c e d t h a t s o m e a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s , e s p e c i a l l y vegetables, f r u i t , etc., a r e s o m e t i m e s c o l l e c t e d a n d s o m e t i m e s n o t b y t h e s u b s i d i a r y o r g a n s o f m i n i s t r i e s . I t seems t o m e t h a t t h i s m a t t e r must be looked at more c a r e f u l l y a n d should not c o n t i n u e as it is. I n d e e d , I t h i n k t h a t t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s s h o u l d h a v e a b r a n c h o r sector e n g a g e d i n t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n a n d t r a d i n g o f t h e p r o d u c t s , t h e s i g n i n g o f contracts, and the f o l l o w i n g up of the obligations w h i c h result f r o m the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of contracts. I f t h e r e w e r e s u c h a sector o r p o s i t i o n i n t h e m a n a g e m e n t of the cooperative, it w o u l d be in a position to deal w i t h the organs of the M i n i s t r y of the Internal T r a d e or the M i n i s t r y of the L i g h t and Foodstuffs Indust r y and require t h e m to sign contracts on the quantities of various agricultural and livestock products w h i c h they w i l l t a k e a n d these c o n t r a c t s s h o u l d i n c l u d e severe m u t u a l p e n a l t i e s . I f t h e goods p r o d u c e d are n o t collected, t h e
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party in fault w i l l pay the damage just as the cooperative m u s t p a y f o r t h e d a m a g e i f t h e p r o d u c t s are n o t d e l i v e r e d at the time and in the conditions stipulated in the contract. It seems to me t h a t s u c h a t h i n g does n o t e x i s t at p r e s e n t . I f t h e organs o f t r a d e r e q u i r e t h a t t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s h o u l d d e l i v e r t h e goods a t t h e i r depot, t h e y m u s t p a y f o r t h e t r a n s p o r t f r o m t h e f i e l d t o t h e depot w h e n t h e m e a n s f o r t h i s p u r p o s e , t h e carts, t r a i l e r s , etc., b e l o n g to t h e c o o p e r ative. A l l these t h i n g s s h o u l d b e e n v i s a g e d i n t h e c o n tract. I f t h e y act i n t h i s w a y p r o d u c t i o n w i l l b e e n c o u r a g e d , o t h e r w i s e , w h e n p r o d u c t s a r e not c o l l e c t e d a n d a r e d a m a g e d , the c o o p e r a t i v e is l i a b l e to s a y t h a t it is a w a s t e of t i m e to produce them. Then, there is another matter w h i c h must be e x a m i n e d : t h e q u e s t i o n of s t a n d a r d s of t h e goods. It c a n a n d does h a p p e n t h a t some o f t h e p r o d u c t s m a y n o t b e u p t o t h e requirements for export or the standards for internal trade, because t h e y m a y h a v e been d a m a g e d . T h i s does n o t m e a n t h a t t h e goods r e f e r r e d t o s h o u l d b e rejected, b u t m e a s u r e s s h o u l d b e t a k e n t o process t h e m i n d u s t r i a l l y , o r t h e y s h o u l d be bought by the trade organs at a l o w e r price, actually p r o t e c t i n g t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e state, b u t n o t t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f t h e peasant. A n d these goods c a n b e s o l d a t p r i c e s a t w h i c h t h e people w i l l b u y t h e m . I p o i n t e d o u t some of these p r o b l e m s n o t because they should all be brought u n d e r the study w h i c h w i l l b e r e d o n e o f t h e l o w l a n d zone o f p r i o r i t y i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n . W e s h a l l decide i n t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u a b o u t t h e m o r e fundamental problems w h i c h we took up this time. T h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d the state a n d e c o n o m i c o r g a n s m u s t d e c i d e and take concrete measures on the other questions in o r d e r t o s u p p o r t t h i s great p r o g r a m f o r t h e i n t e n s i f i c a tion of agriculture, as the 8th Congress of the P a r t y decided. About the 7th Five-year P l a n
MARXISM-LENINISM IS A NECESSITY, LIKE THE AIR WE BREATHE AND THE FOOD WE EAT
From a contribution at the meeting of the Secretariat of the CC of the PLA (1)
April 26, 1982
At first Comrade Enver Hoxha inquired what opinion the comrades of the Party School had about the programs, the lectures, the seminars, the students, the teachers and about raising their pedagogic-scientific level. After he was given the answers to these questions and was informed about the influence the activity of the enemy Fiqret Shehu (2) had on the method of work of the Party School, Comrade Enver Hoxha said: I n o r d e r t o m a k e the P a r t y S c h o o l a t r u l y r e v o l u t i o n ary institution, and this we must do without fail, we must t h i n k h a r d a b o u t h o w t o r e v o l u t i o n i z e it, h o w t o s m a s h c e r t a i n p r e j u d i c e s a n d m e t h o d s w h i c h h a v e b e c o m e obsolete. T h e t e a c h i n g staff of the school c a n see to t h i s best. In r e g a r d to the measures w h i c h y o u w i l l take for the revolutioniza t i o n o f t h e school, C o m r a d e J o r g j i , ( 3 ) y o u m u s t c e r t a i n l y
_____________________________________ 1 T h i s meeting discussed the report W e must raise the level of the w o r k for the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t education in the ' V . I. L e n i n ' P a r t y School, in the P a r t y courses and the education forms. 2 See p. 568 of this volume. 3 J o r g j i Sota, at that time vice-director of the V. I. L e nin Party School.
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c o n s u l t w i t h a n d ask n o t o n l y C o m r a d e s R a m i z [ A l i a ] o r F o t o [ a m i ] , b u t f i r s t o f a l l , the s t u d e n t s o f the P a r t y S c h o o l , w h o are P a r t y cadres a n d w o r k e r s . T h e v o i c e o f the P a r t y i s decisive. T h e s t u d e n t o f t h e P a r t y S c h o o l w h o comes f r o m t h e base a n d k n o w s it, w i l l g i v e t h e m o s t c o r r e c t s o l u t i o n to a p r o b l e m of the t h e o r y h e i s t a u g h t t h e r e , s o h e s h o u l d say o p e n l y : C o m rade teacher, t h e l e c t u r e w h i c h y o u are d e l i v e r i n g t o us, goes i n t h i s e a r a n d o u t the o t h e r ! T h e m e t h o d o f w o r k m u s t be c h a n g e d , because I go b a c k to t h e base a n d f o r g e t a l l these t h i n g s y o u t e l l me, the t h e o r y w h i c h I a m l e a r n i n g here i s not p r o p e r l y l i n k e d w i t h t h e w o r k i n t h e t e r r a i n , a n d so o n . Therefore the w o r k in the P a r t y School up t i l l n o w has not b e e n done p r o p e r l y f r o m the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l , p e d a gogic a n d other aspects. I a m n o t s a y i n g t h a t y o u h a v e been i d l e a n d done n o t h i n g , b u t w e m u s t l o o k r a t h e r m o r e closely i n t o these s h o r t c o m i n g s w h i c h e x i s t t h e r e ! I h a v e g i v e n o r d e r s t h a t a c o n t r o l t e a m s h o u l d go to t h e V . I . L e n i n P a r t y S c h o o l t o see w h a t w a s b e i n g done t h e r e b y F i q r e t S h e h u w h o t r e a t e d t h e school a s her u n t o u c h a b l e zone a n d , i n fact, w h e n t h e c o m r a d e s o f t h e t e a m f r o m the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a p p a r a t u s w e n t t o t h e P a r t y S c h o o l , the e n e m y F i q r e t S h e h u t r i e d t o shut t h e door t o t h e m . B u t C o m r a d e F o t o a m i i n s i s t e d s a y i n g : I a m sent here b y the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the P a r t y . But why, she asked. is there anything wrong w i t h us here?
W h a t e v e r t h e r e is, r e p l i e d C o m r a d e F o t o , the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e i s g o i n g t o check u p o n you. So, t h e comrades o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e w e n t t h e r e f o r t h i s purpose, w h i l e y o u k e p t silent, y o u d i d not r a i s e t h e p r o b l e m s a s y o u s h o u l d h a v e done. It was said here that the programs of the school must
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be revised. B u t in what directions must they be revised? T h e r e w a s t a l k , also, a b o u t s c h o l a s t i c i s m . B u t w h a t d o you mean by scholasticism and what must you do to l i q u i date t h i s s p i r i t ? A s e m e r g e d here, a f t e r h e a r i n g lectures, the students m a k e summaries f r o m their study of the l i t e r a t u r e a n d , o f course, t h e y s p e n d some t i m e o n t h e m , but i t m a y also h a p p e n t h a t these s u m m a r i e s are m a d e b y one o f t h e m a n d t h e others t a k e t h e m f r o m h i m . I f t h i s i s done, those w h o get t h i n g s r e a d y m a d e f r o m others do not w o r k , but, in a w a y , s l e e p ! F o r t h e teachers t o b e a b l e t o a c t i v i z e the students i n s e m i n a r s a n d e n c o u r a g e debate, t h e y t h e m s e l v e s m u s t h a v e m o r e e x t e n s i v e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e w o r k o f the P a r t y a n d a m o r e t h o r o u g h u n d e r s t a n d i n g of its life, so as to avoid scholasticism in lectures and seminars. Scholasticism m a n i f e s t s i t s e l f f o r some reasons. A teacher, f o r e x a m p l e , has p r e p a r e d a l e c t u r e on a t h e o r e t i c a l q u e s t i o n of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , w h i c h he reads once a w e e k or a year, a c c o r d i n g t o the p r o g r a m . D u r i n g t h e school y e a r h e m a y h a v e to p r e p a r e a b o u t 20 l e c t u r e s w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e a c o m p l e t e cycle. C e r t a i n l y , f o r this h e m u s t s t u d y , b u t i n o r d e r t o l i q u i d a t e s c h o l a s t i c i s m a n d s t i m u l a t e debate a m o n g his students i n s e m i n a r s , h e m u s t b e i n close t o u c h w i t h the l i f e o f the P a r t y a n d i n h i s l e c t u r e s m u s t d e a l w i t h p r o b l e m s t h a t one comes u p against i n practice. T h i s i s h o w h e w i l l a v o i d s c h o l a s t i c i s m . T h e r e f o r e teachers m u s t k n o w life. W h a t prevents t h e m f r o m doing this? Here it was said that the teachers of the P a r t y School take part i n the m e e t i n g s o f the f o r u m s o f d i s t r i c t p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s , i n p l e n u m s , m e e t i n g s o f a c t i v i s t s , etc., a n d a f t e r r e t u r n i n g t o S c h o o l t h e y discuss t h e e x p e r i e n c e t h e y b r i n g a l o n g . H a v e y o u h a d a n y assistance f r o m the a p p a r a t u s o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y ? I f i t has not been g i v e n , w h y ? W h a t h a s been l a c k i n g ? W a s t h e r e l a c k o f interest, or w i l l i n g n e s s on t h e p a r t of the v a r i o u s sectors of the
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a p p a r a t u s o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , h a v e t h e y u n d e r r a t e d the w o r k w i t h the P a r t y School and the whole system of M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t education, or is there a n y other reason? R e g a r d i n g the t e a c h i n g p r a c t i c e o f t h e s t u d e n t s o f t h e P a r t y S c h o o l i n t h e districts, y o u s a i d t h a t y o u h a v e r e a c h e d some conclusions. T h i s i s a l l v e r y w e l l , b u t b e c a r e f u l , because i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h i s p r a c t i c e i t i s n o t y o u r d u t y t o seize o n t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s y o u n o t i c e i n the w o r k o f t h e P a r t y i n the d i s t r i c t s a n d r e p o r t t h e m t o t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , a s y o u h a v e done u n t i l n o w . N o , t h a t i s n o t t h e r o l e of t h e P a r t y S c h o o l . It is a d i f f e r e n t m a t t e r if y o u see t h a t the P a r t y l i n e a b o u t a p a r t i c u l a r q u e s t i o n is v i o l a t e d , o r notice t h a t y o u r g r a d u a t e s a r e n o t a p p l y i n g in practice what you have taught them. Y o u m a y i n f o r m the a p p a r a t u s about this, a n d t h a t w o u l d b e o f i n t e r e s t to us. T h e p r a c t i c e course d u r i n g w h i c h y o u r s t u d e n t s a r e sent f o r one m o n t h to t h e districts, a c c o r d i n g to the p r o g r a m , has other a i m s . In the f i r s t place, it h e l p s students not t o lose t o u c h w i t h l i f e , t o l i n k u p b e t t e r w i t h the base a n d p r o d u c t i o n , a n d not t o lose t h e f e e l i n g o f P a r t y w o r k i n practice. I n short, t h e y see t h e a p p l i c a t i o n i n p r a c t i c e o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y g i v e n t h r o u g h t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f the P a r t y , w h i c h r e a c h t h e base not t h r o u g h the P a r t y School, but t h r o u g h P a r t y channels. In this sense, w e say t h a t t h e s t u d e n t s w h o c o m e t o t h e P a r t y School f r o m production have applied the directives of the P a r t y e v e n b e f o r e that, t h a t is, t h e y h a v e a d v a n c e d o n t h e r o a d of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , h a v e a t h e o r e t i c a l a n d p r a c t i c a l basis, a n d i n t h e P a r t y S c h o o l t h e y p e r f e c t a n d e x t e n d this k n o w l e d g e f u r t h e r . W h i l e c a r r y i n g out t h e i r practice, t h e y a r e students a n d teachers a t t h e same t i m e . T h a t is h o w it m u s t be u n d e r s t o o d . I b e l i e v e it is clear. I w a n t to raise a n o t h e r q u e s t i o n . In t h e q u e s t i o n we are e x a m i n i n g i n t h i s m e e t i n g a b o u t r a i s i n g the l e v e l o f
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the w o r k f o r t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t e d u c a t i o n o f cadres i n t h e V . I . L e n i n P a r t y S c h o o l , i n P a r t y courses a n d i n f o r m s o f e d u c a t i o n , t h e P a r t y S c h o o l i s the m a i n factor. I n fact, P a r t y courses a n d the f o r m s o f e d u c a t i o n d o not c o n c e r n y o u , t e a c h e r s o f t h e P a r t y S c h o o l , because t h e y are directed by the party committees of the districts and o f the a r m y , hence, t h i s i s n o t y o u r d u t y . B u t the p a r t i c i p a n t s i n these courses a n d f o r m s o f e d u c a t i o n m a y c o m e to a t t e n d y o u r S c h o o l l a t e r , so I ask t h e q u e s t i o n s : H a v e y o u e v e r t h o u g h t , w h e n y o u g o t o t h e base, t o s u p e r v i s e the p r a c t i c e of y o u r students, to check up a l i t t l e also on the w o r k f o r t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t e d u c a t i o n w h i c h i s done i n t h e P a r t y courses a n d t h e f o r m s o f e d u c a t i o n i n the d i s t r i c t s ? H a v e y o u a n i d e a a b o u t h o w t h e y are c o n d u c t e d ? A r e t h e i r t e a c h i n g p r o g r a m s s u i t a b l e o r n o t ? D o e s the p a r t y c o m m i t t e e o f t h e d i s t r i c t o r o f the a r m y f o l l o w u p p r o p e r l y the w o r k w h i c h i s done i n t h e m ? W h e n e v e r y o u do this, as I said, y o u m u s t not c o n s i d e r it y o u r p e r m a n e n t task, b u t o n l y as a m e a n s of i n f o r m a t i o n . I t h i n k y o u n e e d this k i n d o f interest a n d i n f o r m a t i o n , because the students c o m i n g t o t h e P a r t y S c h o o l h a v e a l r e a d y gone t h r o u g h these p a r t y courses a n d f o r m s o f e d u c a t i o n . I t h i n k the P a r t y s h o u l d a t t a c h e x t r e m e l y great i m p o r t a n c e t o these courses a n d f o r m s , because, together w i t h p r a c t i c a l m a t t e r s , t h e o r e t i c a l k n o w l e d g e i s also g i v e n i n t h e m . In the f o r m s of e d u c a t i o n t h e r e is debate of a t r u l y revolutionary character a n d we must w o r k to encourage i t s o t h a t i t a l w a y s r e t a i n s t h i s c h a r a c t e r . W h e n w e say that it should have a r e v o l u t i o n a r y character, we mean t h a t i t m u s t b e c a r r i e d out o n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t l i n e o f the P a r t y . T h e p a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h e t h r e e - m o n t h courses perfect their theoretical knowledge further. H e n c e , as I s a i d before, y o u m u s t h a v e an i d e a of the w o r k done i n these courses f o r the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t education of communists, and perhaps, demand to examine
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those p a r t s o f the p r o g r a m w h i c h y o u j u d g e m u s t b e e x a m i n e d . S h k o d r a , f o r instance, i s a n i n d u s t r i a l city, b u t i n t h i s d i s t r i c t w h i c h is also a b o r d e r district, t h e r e is a s p e c i f i c s i t u a t i o n . S h k o d r a , also, i s a d i s t r i c t i n w h i c h the C a t h o l i c c l e r g y e x e r c i s e d s t r o n g i n f l u e n c e . A c t u a l l y this i n f l u e n c e does n o t e x i s t t o d a y , r e l i g i o n i s n o l o n g e r p r a c t i s e d , b u t w e m u s t not forget t h a t r e l i g i o u s i n f l u e n c e a n d p r e j u d i c e s s t i l l l i n g e r o n . T h e r e f o r e , not o n l y t h e sector o f e d u c a t i o n o f the P a r t y C o m m i t t e e o f this d i s t r i c t , w h i c h m u s t espec i a l l y check u p o n , m u s t b e i n f o r m e d a n d t a k e m e a s u r e s about these questions, b u t y o u , too, as the P a r t y S c h o o l , m u s t w o r k i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , because cadres f r o m t h i s d i s t r i c t , also, come t o y o u . I n t h i s m a n n e r y o u w i l l b e i n f o r m e d about h o w t h r e e - m o n t h P a r t y courses a r e w o r k i n g i n S h k o d r a , w h a t t h e m e s are t r e a t e d i n t h e m a n d i n the f o r m s o f e d u c a t i o n . K n o w i n g these, y o u are i n a p o s i t i o n t o t e l l the S h k o d r a c o m r a d e s w h e r e , o n w h a t p r o b l e m s of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t education, they should concentrate most, because t h e d u t y f o r c o n d u c t i n g these courses d e v o l v e s o n the p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s o f t h e d i s t r i c t s . I n d e e d , y o u m a y e v e n g o t o the P a r t y C o m m i t t e e o f the d i s t r i c t a n d raise these p r o b l e m s w i t h t h e m . H a v e y o u done these t h i n g s ? I f y o u have, it's v e r y g o o d ! T h e great n e e d f o r the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t e d u c a t i o n has impelled us to f i n d s u c h f o r m s o f w o r k , assistance a n d c o n t r o l . T h a t i s w h a t the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y teaches us. too. S i n c e y o u h a v e p r a c t i s e d these f o r m s o f w o r k , y o u c a n g o o n t o d o so, c e r t a i n l y , b y m a k i n g t h e m s t i l l m o r e perfect. I n m y o p i n i o n , i n the P a r t y S c h o o l w e t r a i n n e i t h e r chinovniky* n o r o f f i c e w o r k e r s , n o r P a r t y w o r k e r s . T o t h e V. I . L e n i n P a r t y S c h o o l , a n d P a r t y courses a n d
________________________________ * State employees (Russ. in the original).
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f o r m s o f e d u c a t i o n i n the P a r t y w e s e n d cadres o f t h e P a r t y a n d its levers, so that t h e y a c q u i r e k n o w l e d g e of o u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y , w h i c h w i l l serve t h e m a s a g u i d i n g compass t o f i n d t h e i r b e a r i n g s i n the w o r k the P a r t y assigns t h e m to do. A s f o r the P a r t y w o r k e r s , a s w e l l a s a l l the i n s t r u c t o r s , t h e y are a p p o i n t e d , t h a t is, t h e y are o f f i c e w o r k e r s , w h e r e a s a l l t h e secretaries o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y a r e elected. T h e s e a r c secretaries t o d a y , t o m o r r o w they m a y not b e re-elected, o r one o f t h e m m a y become d i r e c t o r of a p l a n t , etc., so a n o t h e r c o m r a d e is elected p a r t y s e c r e t a r y i n h i s place. H e m a y n o t h a v e gone t h r o u g h the P a r t y S c h o o l , but t h e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e o f the d i s t r i c t o r the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e deems i t r e a s o n a b l e t h a t h e s h o u l d b e m a d e t h e f i r s t s e c r e t a r y o f the p a r t y c o m m i t t e e o f the d i s t r i c t , because h e has t h e r e q u i r e d q u a l i t i e s a n d c a n l e a d t h e P a r t y w o r k i n t h e d i s t r i c t . S o . n e i t h e r the V . I . L e n i n P a r t y S c h o o l , n o r the P a r t y courses t r a i n P a r t y w o r k e r s . It is a d i f f e r e n t m a t t e r f o r those w h o a r e a p p o i n t e d as s u c h . H o w e v e r , these, too, w h e t h e r or not t h e y h a v e f i n i s h e d t h e P a r t y S c h o o l , c a n g o o v e r t o sectors i n w h i c h t h e r e i s need f o r t h e m , a n d w e m a y b r i n g other people i n t h e i r places. T h e P a r t y assigns t h e m t o t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e w o r k i n g places. O n l y a s m a l l percentage of the w h o l e n u m b e r o f i n s t r u c t o r s a n d P a r t y w o r k e r s a r c sent t o the P a r t y S c h o o l . T h a t i s h o w a t t e n d i n g t h e P a r t y S c h o o l a n d P a r t y courses m u s t b e u n d e r s t o o d . W h e n I p r o p o s e d that t h e r e s h o u l d be no m a r k s in the P a r t y School, I meant that both to this School a n d to P a r t y courses w e s e n d c a r e f u l l y selected people w h o u n d e r s t a n d the i m p o r t a n c e o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t e d u c a t i o n , hence, m a r k s have no importance for us and differentiation by means of m a r k s s h o u l d not e x i s t t h e r e . O f course, there m u s t b e g r e a t e r i n v o l v e m e n t on the p a r t of the teachers so that a l l
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those w h o are sent t o the V . I . L e n i n P a r t y S c h o o l , o r t o courses o r g a n i z e d b y t h e P a r t y , the t r a d e - u n i o n s o r t h e y o u t h , s h o u l d a s s i m i l a t e w h a t i s e n v i s a g e d i n the p r o g r a m . So, t h e y n e e d not be g i v e n m a r k s , as is done at state schools. I n the P a r t y S c h o o l t h e y w i l l a c q u i r e k n o w l e d g e o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a n d a l l these people w i l l w o r k o n m a n y d i f f e r e n t f r o n t s t o c a r r y o u t the tasks the P a r t y sets t h e m . T r u e , the P a r t y sends selected people there, b u t t h e y w i l l j u s t i f y the t r u s t o f t h e P a r t y o n l y i f t h e y are d i s c i p l i n e d a n d h a v e a s o u n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g of e d u c a t i o n , of t h e n e e d f o r m a s t e r i n g t h e k n o w l e d g e g i v e n a t the S c h o o l . A s f o r t h e w o r k the P a r t y w i l l assign t h e m t o l a t e r , t h i s i s d e c i d e d by the plenum, the bureau of the party committee of the d i s t r i c t , t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o r t h e o t h e r organs, i n w h i c h t h e y f i g u r e as cadres. B u t h o w i s t h i s d e c i d e d b y these o r g a n s ? A c c o r d i n g t o w h a t c r i t e r i a ? F o r w h a t I k n o w , t h e y base t h e i r decisions o n t h e r e f e r e n c e w h i c h the P a r t y S c h o o l issues f o r each student. T h i s r e f e r e n c e s h o u l d b e the f r u i t o f the c o l l e c t i v e t h i n k i n g o f a l l t h e teachers o f the P a r t y S c h o o l , a n d not as the e n e m y F i q r e t S h e h u d i d , n o r s h o u l d it be a r e f e r e n c e issued by one teacher alone. T h e r e f o r e , I t h i n k t h a t each teacher s h o u l d w r i t e a r e f e r e n c e f o r e a c h one of h i s students, a n d t h e n , o n the basis o f the o p i n i o n s o f a l l t h e teachers, a g e n e r a l r e f e r e n c e of t h e s t u d e n t s h o u l d e v e n t u a l l y b e w r i t t e n a n d signed b y t h e S c h o o l d i r e c t o r . Hence, the a i m is the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t education of the c o m m u n i s t s b y a l l f o r m s a n d i n a l l w a y s . W e m a y say that w i t h t h e p r o g r a m s a p p r o v e d b y the S e c r e t a r i a t o f the Central Committee of the P a r t y we have defined w h a t w e s h o u l d teach these people, a n d w e h a v e done i t w e l l . N o w w e are m a k i n g some a d d i t i o n s . I n m y o p i n i o n t h e a d d i t i o n s w e are m a k i n g a r e good, p r o v i d e d w h a t a l l t h e c o m r a d e s s a i d s h o u l d b e c a r r i e d out, s o a s t o l i n k t h e S c h o o l m o r e closely w i t h l i f e , w i t h p r a c t i c e . I t seems t o m e
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that t w o years, perhaps not even three lifetimes, w h i c h we c a n n o t h a v e because o u r l i f e e x p e c t a n c y is 68 y e a r s , ( 4 ) are not e n o u g h t o m a s t e r K a r l M a r x a n d L e n i n a t school. W h a t a m I r e f e r r i n g to? I a m r e f e r r i n g t o t h e care w h i c h s h o u l d b e d e v o t e d t o the m a t e r i a l s r e c o m m e n d e d f o r the s t u d e n t s o f the P a r t y S c h o o l . T h e p r o g r a m o f t h e S c h o o l i n c l u d e s a great n u m b e r of subjects, a n d if the s t u d e n t of the S c h o o l is t o l d to s t u d y t h e w h o l e of t h e Anti-Dhring of E n g e l s , or the w h o l e of Materialism and Empiriocriticism o f L e n i n , a n d o t h e r w o r k s o f t h e classics, w e m u s t b e r e a l i s t i c e n o u g h t o k n o w t h a t h e w i l l not b e a b l e t o d o this properly. O f c o u r s e studies i n the P a r t y S c h o o l w i l l b e based o n the w o r k s of the classics, o t h e r w i s e it w o u l d not be a Party School. B u t if there is overburdening, something m u s t b e left out a n d o n l y those m a t e r i a l s o f the classics, o f o u r g r e a t teachers, w h i c h h a v e a b e a r i n g o n t h e t h e m e and w h i c h are considered sufficient should r e m a i n for study. A s i s k n o w n , L e n i n has w a g e d a relentless s t r u g g l e against a lot of i d e a l i s t ideologists a n d p h i l o s o p h e r s , as w e l l as factionalists and opportunists, i m b u e d w i t h all kinds o f w r o n g a n d a n t i - M a r x i s t ideas a n d v i e w s . H e w r o t e w h o l e b o o k s i n t h e course o f h i s c o n t r o v e r s y w i t h t h e m , i n w h i c h h e has u n c o v e r e d a n d a r g u e d the m i s t a k e s o f t h e i r ideas a n d theories. W e a l l k n o w a b o u t t h i s great s t r u g g l e o f L e n i n against v a r i o u s o p p o r t u n i s t c u r r e n t s . N o w the q u e s t i o n i s a s k e d : I s i t necessary t o r e c o m m e n d t h e s t u d e n t s t o get i n t o a l l these d e t a i l s ? T h e s e w o r k s o f L e n i n c o n t a i n great lessons f o r us, because we c a n use t h e m to d r a w analogies, b u t i n the s h o r t t i m e a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e m the s t u d e n t s c a n n o t a s s i m i l a t e a l l the ideas r e f l e c t e d i n L e n i n ' s w o r k s . T h e r e f o r e w e s h o u l d g i v e the s t u d e n t s those p a r t s
________________________________________ 71 4 In 1987 the l i f e expectancy in A l b a n i a reached to over years.
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w h i c h are connected w i t h the t h e m e s w e h a v e selected a n d insist that t h e y a s s i m i l a t e t h e m t h o r o u g h l y , because these w i l l s t a n d t h e m i n good stead i n l i f e . So, w h a t I a m d r i v i n g a t here i s t h a t w e m u s t ask the students t o w o r k o n those m a t e r i a l s o f t h e classics w h i c h i l l u s t r a t e the themes t h e y s t u d y , s o t h a t h e w h o f i n i s h e s the P a r t y S c h o o l a n d has some e x p e r i e n c e o f w o r k s h o u l d b e a b l e t o d r a w a n a n a l o g y r e a d i l y i n the s t r u g g l e against the opponents o f o u r i d e o l o g y today. A l s o , w e m u s t not f o r g e t t h a t those w h o come t o the P a r t y S c h o o l are n o t i g n o r a n t of these questions. F i r s t , because t h e y l i v e in a socialist c o u n t r y a n d since t h e i r c h i l d h o o d t h e y h a v e been e d u c a t e d w i t h t h e c o m m u n i s t ethics a n d m o r a l i t y , a n d h a v e r e c e i v e d a M a r x i s t Leninist education. S e c o n d , b e f o r e t h e y c o m e t o the P a r t y S c h o o l , t h e y a t t e n d v a r i o u s state schools, the p r o g r a m s o f w h i c h are b u i l t o n the basis o f P a r t y o r i e n t a t i o n s , o n o u r t h e o r y w h i c h orientates the s t u d e n t s t o w a r d s the M a r x i s t - L e n i n ist l i n e o f the P a r t y . B o t h a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y a n d a t a l l the other h i g h e r schools, a l l studies are b a s e d o n science and Marxism-Leninism. T h i r d , t h e y h a v e p a r t i c i p a t e d i n the f o r m s o f e d u c a t i o n f o r the mass o r g a n i z a t i o n s : t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the L Y U A , the T U A a n d the W U A , w h i c h i n p r a c t i c e not o n l y h a v e a r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i f e as such, b u t also o r g a n i z e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t e d u c a t i o n a l courses. F o u r t h , t h e press, t h e r a d i o a n d t e l e v i s i o n a n d a l l o t h e r mass m e d i a , w h i c h p l a y a p o w e r f u l r o l e i n t h e e d u c a t i o n o f people, e x e r t t h e i r i n f l u e n c e o n t h e m , too. T h e students w h o are sent t o the P a r t y S c h o o l are people w h o l i v e i n o u r socialist c o u n t r y , s u r r o u n d e d b y o u r Marxist-Leninist propaganda and agitation. At the P a r t y S c h o o l t h e y deepen t h e i r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t e d u c a t i o n f u r t h e r . I n the m a t e r i a l p r e s e n t e d to the Secretariat of the
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C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the P a r t y t h e a i m o f t h e proposals m a d e i s n o t clear. W h y d o y o u propose t h a t i n t h e P a r t y S c h o o l t h e r e s h o u l d b e p a r a l l e l classes, one f o r cadres w i t h h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n a n d a n o t h e r f o r cadres w i t h s e c o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n ? N o , I do not agree t h a t we s h o u l d create a separate class f o r cadres w i t h h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , o r that these s h o u l d s t u d y o n l y t w o y e a r s at the P a r t y S c h o o l . I a m not t e l l i n g y o u t h a t w e s h o u l d n o t send cadres w i t h h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n t o the V . I . L e n i n P a r t y S c h o o l , either, b e cause w e also h a v e o n e - y e a r courses o f p o l i t i c a l e c o n o m y a n d p h i l o s o p h y there. If we m u s t open a g a i n a o n e - y e a r course f o r some cadres w i t h h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , w e c a n d o this, too. I n m y o p i n i o n , t h i s c a t e g o r y o f cadres w h o h a v e f i n i s h e d h i g h e r school s h o u l d not g o t h r o u g h t h e same p r o g r a m o f t h e P a r t y S c h o o l a s those w i t h s e c o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n , but should study M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m more profoundly and a d v a n c e i t f u r t h e r . W h y s h o u l d cadres, w h o h a v e e x p e r i e n c e of, say, f i v e , t e n o r t w e l v e y e a r s o f w o r k , w a s t e t w o y e a r s ? I f w e need p h i l o s o p h e r s o r economists, w e m a y s e n d cadres w i t h h i g h e r s c h o o l i n g t o o n e - y e a r courses o f philosophy and political economy, w h i l e we m a y open a n o t h e r p a r a l l e l class f o r t h e o t h e r cadres w i t h h i g h e r s c h o o l i n g , w h o w e t h i n k s h o u l d b e sent t o s t u d y together w i t h t h e cadres w i t h s e c o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n . B u t i t seems t o m e t h a t i t i s w r o n g f o r the cadres w i t h h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n t o d o t w o y e a r s o f P a r t y S c h o o l a f t e r h a v i n g f i n i s h e d the state school. L e t u s c a l c u l a t e r o u g h l y t h e t i m e o f s c h o o l i n g f o r a c a d r e w i t h h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n . T h i s c a d r e f i n i s h e s the s e c o n d a r y school a n d t h e n the U n i v e r s i t y , w h i c h m a k e s a t o t a l o f e i g h t o r n i n e y e a r s a t school, w i t h o u t r e c k o n i n g the t i m e f o r the 8-year school. I f w e send h i m f o r a n o t h e r t w o years in the P a r t y School, then he w i l l have to spend eighteen y e a r s of his l i f e at school, t h e t i m e f o r the 8-year school i n c l u d e d . It seems to me t h i s is n o t r i g h t , is n o t r a t i o n a l . H e r e t h e r e w a s t a l k also about c u r t a i l i n g the d u r a t i o n
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o f courses a t the P a r t y S c h o o l . T h i s has a n a d v a n t a g e , because the students w h o a t t e n d t h e m a r e c u l t u r e d people a n d , i f y o u p u t s u p e r f l u o u s phrases i n y o u r m a t e r i a l s , they c a n see the r e d u n d a n c i e s , a n d m a y t e l l y o u : G i v e u s t h e essence here, w h a t e v e r w i l l h e l p u s t o p r o c e e d o n t h e r i g h t road. B o t h f r o m the m a t e r i a l p r e s e n t e d t o u s a n d t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s of t h e c o m r a d e s , I h a v e c o m e to t h e c o n c l u sion t h a t t h e a i m here i s t o h a v e a s m a n y people w i t h h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n a t t e n d the P a r t y S c h o o l . I a m not opposed t o s e n d i n g cadres w i t h h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n t o the P a r t y S c h o o l , b u t I t h i n k t h a t t o t h i s S c h o o l w e s h o u l d send m o r e w o r k e r s w i t h s e c o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n , b u t not those w i t h 8-year s c h o o l i n g o n l y . T o d a y w e h a v e m a n y w o r k e r s w i t h secondary education. W h y d o I say t h a t m o r e w o r k e r s w i t h s e c o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n s h o u l d come to t h e P a r t y S c h o o l ? I s a y so because t h r o u g h this S c h o o l w e g i v e t h e w o r k i n g class a s t r o n g Marxist-Leninist education. The workers should p r e d o m i nate i n the P a r t y S c h o o l , a n d w e s h o u l d not c o n s i d e r them to be below understanding the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t theory. I f w e t h i n k s o w e are m a k i n g m i s t a k e s . T h e w o r k ers u n d e r s t a n d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m v e r y w e l l , i n d e e d , t h e y u n d e r s t a n d i t b e t t e r t h a n those w h o h a v e f i n i s h e d t h e general secondary school and have never w o r k e d in p r o d u c t i o n . W e m u s t send t o t h e P a r t y S c h o o l those w o r k e r s w h o h a v e done eight o r m o r e y e a r s i n d i f f i c u l t sectors o f p r o d u c t i o n , s u c h a s forges, factories, m i n e s a n d s a w - m i l l s . W e d o not i n t e n d t o m a k e t h e m P a r t y w o r k e r s , b u t b y sending them to the P a r t y School we raise the ideological l e v e l o f t h e w o r k i n g class. T h i s m u s t not b e d o n e o n l y a t the P a r t y S c h o o l , b u t also a t P a r t y courses i n t h e d i s t r i c t s a n d i n the a r m y ; t h e s a m e o r i e n t a t i o n a p p l i e s t o t h e m , too, whereas it is obvious that in the forms of education we include everybody.
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T h e fact t h a t a c a d r e w i t h h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n stands at a higher level than the other workers w h o attend the same t h r e e - m o n t h courses, s h o u l d m a k e h i m u n d e r s t a n d t h a t h e p l a y s a n e d u c a t i v e role, a n e n c o u r a g i n g role, a n d p r o m p t h i m t o t a k e a m o r e a c t i v e p a r t i n d i s c u s s i o n , because by so d o i n g he h e l p s t h e w o r k e r s rise to a h i g h e r i d e o l o g i c a l l e v e l . I f one o f these w o r k e r s w h o attends t h r e e m o n t h courses s h o u l d b e sent t o the P a r t y S c h o o l , t h e n his case m u s t be l o o k e d at. Proceeding f r o m the a i m that we should give them all the best p o s s i b l e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t e d u c a t i o n , t h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s : W h y s h o u l d w e e x c l u d e cadres w i t h s e c o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n f r o m a t t e n d i n g c o r r e s p o n d e n c e courses o f t h e P a r t y S c h o o l a n d a d m i t o n l y those w i t h h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n ? I raise t h i s p r o b l e m because t h e m a t e r i a l p r e s e n t e d t o u s r e a d s : . . . a s a r u l e , o n l y cadres w i t h h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n a r e a d m i t t e d t o c o r r e s p o n d e n c e courses. T h e q u e s t i o n i s n o t t h a t t h e c a d r e w i t h h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n m a s t e r s the subject b e t t e r because h e has m o r e e f f i c i e n t m e t h o d s o f a s s i m i l a t i n g lessons, b u t t h a t t h e cadres w i t h s e c o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n , also, s h o u l d s t u d y M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . T h e cadres o f t h e y o u t h m a y a t t e n d t h e courses f o r the y o u t h , p r o v i d e d t h a t t h e P a r t y has t h i s w o r k u n d e r its c o n t r o l . P e o p l e w h o s t u d y i n t h e courses o f t h e y o u t h , i f t h e y are i n t e n d e d t o w o r k a m o n g the y o u t h , s h o u l d c o n t i n u e t h i s w o r k f o r some y e a r s , because the t i m e comes w h e n t h e y m u s t l e a v e t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n o n account o f age l i m i t . T h e o n e - y e a r course o n w o r k a m o n g the y o u t h w h e n t h e y m u s t l e a v e t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n o n account o f n o t b e a n obstacle t o s e n d i n g t h e m t o t h e P a r t y S c h o o l again. We c a n open other courses of a s h o r t e r p e r i o d of three, four or five months, depending on their importance, at the P a r t y School. These m a y be full-time or correspondence courses.
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W e h a v e been w o r k i n g a n d h a v e m a d e a l l these a c h i e v e m e n t s , but, as I h a v e stressed on other occasions, t h e q u e s t i o n i s t h a t the w o r k o f the P a r t y , i s v e r y b e a u t i f u l , b u t it is also a s c i e n t i f i c a n d v e r y s t r i c t l y o r g a n i z e d a c t i v i t y . I am not s p e a k i n g h e r e a b o u t the s p i r i t of i n i t i a t i v e , w h i c h the c o m m u n i s t s s h o u l d h a v e a n d about other q u e s tions, but a b o u t it t h a t the l e a d i n g organs of the P a r t y m u s t necessarily be i n f o r m e d about the life of the P a r t y and s u p e r v i s e it, o t h e r w i s e , t h e y c a n n o t k n o w t h e s i t u a t i o n . W e m u s t not consider s u p e r v i s i o n o n l y the w o r k done b y c o n t r o l teams. I t h i n k that this f o r m of w o r k is good, because c o n t r o l teams, w h e n t h e y c o m e back, discuss a n d r e p o r t t o t h e S e c r e t a r i a t o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o r t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u . I n t h e i r r e p o r t s t h e r e a r e some g e n e r a l p r o b l e m s , but t h e r e are also specific, p o s i t i v e or n e g a t i v e q u e s t i o n s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f the d i s t r i c t . B u t t h i s i s not e v e r y t h i n g . I n the d a i l y l i f e o f the P a r t y t h e r e a r e m a n y t h i n g s w h i c h the P a r t y m u s t e x p l o r e , a c t i v a t e a n d e n l i v e n . I n r e g a r d t o this, t h e m e t h o d o f w o r k a n d a c t i v i t y o f t h e i n s t r u c t o r s a n d sectors i n the a p p a r a t u s o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the P a r t y s h o u l d b e f u r t h e r p e r f e c t e d , b e cause just as t h e y r e p o r t a n d are p r e p a r e d to say e v e r y t h i n g about economic a n d p o l i t i c a l p r o b l e m s , so m u s t t h e y be j u s t as r e a d y , not to say r e a d i e r , to r e p o r t a b o u t the l i f e of the Party. I n its r e p o r t s t o t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , the p a r t y c o m m i t t e e o f the d i s t r i c t m a y r o u n d t h i n g s out. I f w e t a k e u p questions i n g e n e r a l , t h i s w i l l not g i v e u s a c o m p l e t e p i c t u r e o f the s i t u a t i o n . B u t s h o u l d w e h a v e d e t a i l s b r o u g h t here to t h e S e c r e t a r i a t ? W h a t I am d e m a n d i n g is not this, but that the people a t the grassroots s h o u l d b e a c t i v e . H e w h o d r a f t s the r e p o r t s h o u l d c a l l t o g e t h e r a l l t h e i n s t r u c t o r s , those w h o h a v e c h e c k e d u p o n t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s , both through the protocols of their meetings and in their practical life and activity. Basing himself on such i n f o r m -
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ation, he should come out w i t h his o w n conclusions before the b u r e a u of t h e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e of t h e d i s t r i c t . If the P a r t y , t h e n its i n s t r u c t o r s s h o u l d propose t o t h e b u r e a u a b o u t p r e s e n t i n g a r e p o r t to the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e of the P a r t y , t h e n its i n s t r u c t o r s s h o u l d propose t o t h e b u r e a u o f the P a r t y C o m m i t t e e t h a t t h e y m a k e a n a n a l y s i s o f the zone of R o s k o v e c or t h a t of M a l l a k a s t r a , f o r instance, to e x a m i n e the s i t u a t i o n o f the P a r t y l i f e there. I f i t a p p e a r s t o b e w e a k , t h e n t h e reasons s h o u l d b e stated w h y i t i s w e a k , a n d i n w h a t t h e w e a k n e s s consists. I f the s i t u a t i o n i s s t r o n g , t h e n t h e good w o r k done s h o u l d b e p o i n t e d out. T h e r e p o r t s h o u l d b e based o n t h i s a n a l y s i s a n d b e d r a f t e d after s e c u r i n g a l l - r o u n d i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m m a n y sources, a n d not f r o m t h e m e m b e r o f the p l e n u m o n l y , because he, too, m a y b e s u b j e c t i v e , w h e r e a s i n s t r u c t o r s s h o u l d base t h e m selves o n the P a r t y w o r k . Protocols of meetings have to be kept carefully in e a c h basic o r g a n i z a t i o n . I n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y w e h a v e n o w c o m m u n i s t s w i t h s c h o o l i n g w h o are a b l e to k e e p t h e p r o t o c o l s of m e e t i n g s of the o r g a n i z a t i o n p r o p e r l y . T h e r e a r e c o m m u n i s t s w i t h l i t t l e s c h o o l i n g , too, but t h e r e are also those w i t h m o r e s c h o o l i n g , i n d e e d w e h a v e n o w i n t e l l e c t u a l s , s u c h as a g r o n o m i s t s , teachers, etc., e v e n i n t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the v i l l a g e . T h e instructor of the p a r t y committee must have it in h i s w o r k p l a n t o f o l l o w u p some basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t o check u p o n t h e i r P a r t y l i f e t h r o u g h t h e m , b u t e v e n i f h e has not t h i s p a r t i c u l a r i t e m i n his p l a n , h e s h o u l d look i n t o t h e P a r t y l i f e o f the o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o w h i c h h e goes. B u t does he r e a l l y go to the grassroots? I am not i m p l y i n g t h a t he s h o u l d go t h e r e e v e r y day, t h o u g h I do not agree to it t h a t t h e i n s t r u c t o r s h o u l d go to an o r g a n i z a t i o n o n l y once a m o n t h , because in t h i s case he w o u l d not do h i s j o b properly. T h e i n s t r u c t o r m u s t g o t o t e n o r f i f t e e n basic o r g a n i z a -
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tions a n d a t t e n d t h e i r m e e t i n g s at least once a m o n t h ; or he m a y f i r s t r e a d the p r o t o c o l of the m e e t i n g a p a r t i c u l a r o r g a n i z a t i o n has h e l d the m o n t h before, d r a w some c h a racteristic questions f r o m it and tell t h e m h o w to proceed i n the f u t u r e . T h e i n s t r u c t o r o f the a p p a r a t u s o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y , w h e n h e comes b a c k here, t o t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , m u s t also b r i n g a l o n g h i s notes a b o u t t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n i n w h i c h h e has been. B o t h t h e i n s t r u c t o r o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a n d t h a t o f t h e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e of t h e d i s t r i c t m u s t be in a p o s i t i o n to report instantly about the party organizations of the zones w h e r e t h e y h a v e been, a t a n y m o m e n t t h a t t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o r the b u r e a u o f the P a r t y C o m m i t t e e o f the d i s t r i c t m a y ask i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g i n t h i s zone o r that. T h e y m a y b e a s k e d t o b r i n g a l o n g the protocols, too, but I t h i n k t h a t t h e y k n o w t h e s i t u a t i o n e v e n w i t h o u t the protocols, because t h e y h a v e t a k e n t h e necessary notes f r o m t h e protocols w h i c h t h e y h a v e r e a d at t h e grassroots. Is this how they do it or not? S h o u l d this be done in this w a y or not? A n d if it should, then should the i n s t r u c t o r s h a v e t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r zones, o r s h o u l d t h e y n o t ? D i v i s i o n into zones does not i m p l y t h a t a n i n s t r u c t o r s h o u l d not g o t o t h e zone c o v e r e d b y a n o t h e r i n s t r u c t o r , and vice versa. No, it implies only that the instructor of a g i v e n zone s h o u l d f e e l h i s r e s p o n s a b i l i t y f o r t h e z o n e w h i c h i s assigned t o h i m . J u s t a s cadres w o r k i n g i n a g r i culture hold themselves responsible for the w o r k they have been a p p o i n t e d to, so is the i n s t r u c t o r of t h e a p p a r a t u s o f the p a r t y c o m m i t t e e assigned t o w o r k i n a p a r t i c u l a r zone. H e can t a k e p a r t i n c o n t r o l teams, too. P e r h a p s , t h i s w o r k i s g o i n g o n w e l l i n some d i s t r i c t , b u t i t i s not so e v e r y w h e r e , t h e r e f o r e I t h i n g t h a t we m u s t r e v i e w these questions. T h e m o r e so, as someone s a i d h e r e t h a t we h a v e a b a n d o n e d the d i s t r i b u t i o n o f i n s t r u c t o r s t o p a r t i c u l a r
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zones. T h i s p r o b l e m seems t o b e o f a n o r g a n i z a t i o n a l c h a racter, w h e r e a s I t h i n k t h a t it is also a p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l p r o b l e m w h o s e s o l u t i o n assists i n t h e a l l - r o u n d education of the communists. I h a v e a n o t h e r q u e s t i o n . We h a v e t a k e n a d e c i s i o n to t h e effect t h a t t h e f i r s t s e c r e t a r y o f t h e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e o f t h e d i s t r i c t s h o u l d e v e r y m o n t h c a l l t h e secretaries o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y , i f n o t a l l o f t h e m a t once, a t least i n i n d i v i d u a l g r o u p s , a n d i n f o r m t h e m about the internal and the international situation. In this meeting the secretary of the p a r t y committee of the district should speak about current problems of the economy, the degree of m o b i l i z a t i o n of the w o r k e r s in the enterprises a n d of t h e m e m b e r s of a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s of the d i s t r i c t , assessing t h e g o o d w o r k d o n e b y t h i s o r t h a t secretary. He derives his i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m the instructors w h o h a v e s t u d i e d t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e sectors f r o m t h e r e p o r t s a n d p r o t o c o l s o f t h e m e e t i n g s o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s , a n d h a v e a c t u a l l y a t t e n d e d some o f t h e m . A l s o , h e k e e p s t h e secretaries o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t o u c h w i t h the political situation, m a k i n g a brief s u m m a r y of the m a i n w o r l d events. So, t h r o u g h these m e e t i n g s , t h e f i r s t secretary keeps the P a r t y organizations of the district i n f o r m e d about the situation. T h a t is all. I have finished w i t h this question. T h a n k you, C o m r a d e J o r g j i , a n d send my regards to a l l the teachers and students of the P a r t y School. On behalf of the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u , a n d on my behalf, tell t h e m that they should be u n y i e l d i n g a n d extend their k n o w ledge t h r o u g h t h e s t u d y o f t h e m a t e r i a l s o f t h e P a r t y a n d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m w h i c h , n o w m o r e t h a n e v e r before, i s a n a b s o l u t e necessity, l i k e t h e a i r w e b r e a t h e e v e r y m o m e n t a n d t h e f o o d w e eat. R e p o r t s a n d Speeches 1982-1983
A SYNOPSIS OF THE SECRET ACTIVITY OF THE ENEMY MEHMET SHEHU
Speech delivered at the 4th Plenum of the CC of the PLA (1)

September 24, 1982
F r o m the investigations f o l l o w i n g the suicide of M e h m e t S h e h u ( D e c e m b e r 18, 1981), a n d f r o m t h e d o c u m e n t s i n t h e possession o f t h e P a r t y , i t r e s u l t s t h a t M e h m e t S h e h u w a s a n agent r e c r u i t e d b y t h e A m e r i c a n s f r o m t h e t i m e he attended Fultz's school in T i r a n a . On Fultz's orders, M e h m e t Shehu went to study in a m i l i t a r y school in Italy, a n d o n t h e o r d e r s o f the A m e r i c a n secret s e r v i c e h e w a s sent to S p a i n . A f t e r t h e defeat o f t h e a n t i - f a s c i s t w a r i n S p a i n , M e h m e t S h e h u went to a refugee camp in F r a n c e w h e r e he stayed for three years, at a time w h e n m a n y of his c o m r a d e s escaped f r o m it. I n t h e c a m p h e w a s r e c r u i t e d
__________________________________________ 1 T h e 4th P l e n u m of the C e n t r a l Committee of the P L A , held on September 24, 1982, heard and unanimously approved the speech delivered by the F i r s t Secretary of the C e n t r a l Committee o f the P L A , Comrade E n v e r H o x h a , w h i c h put f o r w a r d A synopsis of the secret activity of the enemy M e h met Shehu, and decided that this tableau be analysed in a l l the basic organizations of the P a r t y . T h i s decision w a s i m mediately carried out and w i t h i n two-three days the w h o l e Party was i n f o r m e d about and expressed f u l l solidarity w i t h it.
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a s a n agent o f t h e B r i t i s h I n t e l l i g e n c e S e r v i c e also. H e w a s t a k e n out o f t h e c a m p b y a n o f f i c e r o f t h e G e r m a n G e s t a p o a n d one o f t h e I t a l i a n S I M , passed t h r o u g h I t a l y , where he was held t w o months, and was then handed o v e r i n D u r r s t o t h e A l b a n i a n n o t o r i o u s spy, M a n K u k a l e s h i , w h o r e l e a s e d h i m a f t e r 2 0 days, a n d M e h m e t S h e h u went to M a l l a k a s t r a and l i n k e d up w i t h the organization of our P a r t y there. D u r i n g the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n War, M e h m e t S h e h u a n d h i s w i f e , F i q r e t S a n x h a k t a r i , w e r e r e c r u i t e d a s agents o f t h e Y u g o s l a v s , too, b y D u a n M u g o a . ( 2 ) T o t h i s e n d , t h e f o r m e r w a s g i v e n t h e secret p s e u d o n y m M I S H ( M e h m e t Ismail Shehu), and the latter the pseudonym F I S A R I (Fiqret Sanxhaktari). F r o m the written documents of M e h m e t Shehu it is p r o v e d t h a t he w a s a m e m b e r ( 3 ) of t h e B e r a t plot, together w i t h K o i X o x e a n d N a k o S p i r u , i r r e s p e c t i v e o f the fact t h a t h e w a s n o t a t B e r a t (in N o v e m b e r 1944). D u r i n g t h e w a r , too, M e h m e t S h e h u h a d d i s p l a y e d signs of discontent, because at t h e 1st N a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e at L a b i n o t i n M a r c h 1943 h e w a s elected o n l y a c a n d i d a t e m e m b e r of the C e n t r a l Committee and at Prmet, at the A n t i - f a s c i s t N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n C o n g r e s s i n M a y 1944, h e w a s not p r o m o t e d t o g e n e r a l , l i k e s e v e r a l others w h o m he scorned. M e h m e t S h e h u wanted the mistakes w h i c h he had made
____________________________________ 2 H e began his w o r k w i t h M e h m e t S h e h u i n V l o r a i n the spring a n d summer of 1943 and intensified it even more w h e n the pair of t h e m arranged that they should be together i n the 1st Shock B r i g a d e . W h i l e i n the Brigade, M u g o a r e cruited F i q r e t S a n x h a k t a r i , too, a n d arranged her betrothal to M e h m e t Shehu for the aims of his secret activity. 3 A p a r t f r o m other things, this emerges clear also in the letter M e h m e t S h e h u addressed t o K o i X o x e o n December 10, 1944, in w h i c h he is enthusiastic about the a n t i - P a r t y t u r n at Berat. See E n v e r H o x h a , T h e Titoites (Historical Notes), 8 N n t o r i P u b l i s h i n g House, T i r a n a 1982, pp. 549-555, E n g . ed.
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and continued to make by violating the line of the P a r t y a n d f a i l i n g to carry out the orders of the G e n e r a l Staff, over w h i c h he h a d been criticized several times, to be f o r g o t t e n , a n d n o w i t i s q u i t e c l e a r t h a t h e d i d not d o a l l t h i s w i t h o u t a p u r p o s e . So, h e h a d u s e d t e r r o r i n t h e v i l l a g e s t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e 1st B r i g a d e passed t o d i s c r e d i t t h e P a r t y a n d t h e p a r t i s a n forces, e l e v a t e d t o a l e g e n d t h e i n c u r s i o n of t w o b a t t a l i o n s of t h e 1st B r i g a d e to rescue the G e n e r a l Staff f r o m the G e r m a n - B a l l i s t encirclement, a l t h o u g h h e n o t o n l y d i d not rescue it, b u t M e h m e t S h e h u d e l i b e r a t e l y w a s t e d t w o w e e k s (in p l a c e o f t w o days), t a k i n g t h e forces of t h e B r i g a d e o v e r a n u m b e r of d a n g e r o u s paths, t h u s , c a u s i n g m a n y b r a v e f i g h t e r s o f t h i s B r i g a d e to l a y d o w n their lives heroically. M e h m e t S h e h u opposed t h e o r d e r o f the G e n e r a l S t a f f f o r t h e 1st D i v i s i o n t o cross t h e S h k u m b i n R i v e r a n d m o v e t o t h e N o r t h , because t h i s order w a s not in accord w i t h the strategy of the A n g l o Americans w h o wanted to have Northern A l b a n i a under t h e i r i n f l u e n c e , t h r o u g h t h e forces o f t h e i r agents, A b a z K u p i , M u h a r r e m B a j r a k t a r i and other bajraktars. M e h m e t S h e h u came to A l b a n i a a n d fought not as a c o m m u n i s t a n d p a r t i s a n , b u t as a m e r c e n a r y sent by t h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n s to serve their plans for the f u t u r e of A l b a n i a . A f t e r h i s suicide, a p r o g r a m w r i t t e n b y h i s o w n h a n d at the t i m e w h e n he came to A l b a n i a , was f o u n d i n h i s safe. T h i s w a s n o t h i n g b u t a b o u r g e o i s - d e m o c r a t i c program w h i c h made no mention at a l l of socialism and the c o m m u n i s t p a r t y , b u t o f m a n y parties, j u s t a s t h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n missions and the reactionary groups w h i c h supported them t r i e d to b r i n g about in the period i m mediately after the L i b e r a t i o n of our country. Immediately after Liberation, either to satisfy his careerist a m b i t i o n s , o r o n t h e o r d e r o f t h e A m e r i c a n secret service, M e h m e t S h e h u p l a c e d h i m s e l f i n t h e s e r v i c e o f the chief of the Soviet m i l i t a r y mission in A l b a n i a , the
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agent o f S o v i e t c o u n t e r - i n t e l l i g e n c e , m a j o r I v a n o v , b y g i v i n g h i m secret r e p o r t s against t h e l e a d e r s h i p a n d t h e line of our Communist Party, in w h i c h he demanded an i n t e r v e n t i o n e i t h e r b y the S o v i e t s o r T i t o ( w h o m h e d e scribes a s a b i g f i g u r e ) t o c h a n g e t h e s i t u a t i o n i n A l b a n i a , because i t w a s h a r d t o g o o n l i k e t h a t w i t h E n v e r H o x h a . I n t h i s c o n t e x t i t i s easy t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e a c r o b a t i c twists a n d contradictory stands of M e h m e t S h e h u d u r i n g the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r and after Liberation, before a n d a f t e r t h e 8 t h ( 4 ) a n d 11th ( 5 ) P l e n u m s o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e (in 1948), s o m e t i m e s d e f e n d i n g t h e Y u g o s l a v theses, sometimes opposing them under the protection of Soviet advisers. A t the 8th P l e n u m N a k o S p i r u was exposed a n d condemned as an enemy by the Yugoslavs and K o i X o x e , while Mehmet S h e h u was described as anti-Yugoslav, and f r o m chief of the G e n e r a l Staff of the A r m y he was appointed minister of communications. (6) A f t e r the letters of the C P S U ( b ) to the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a , t h e 11th P l e n u m c a m e a n d M e h m e t
_______________________ 4 It held its proceedings in F e b r u a r y 1948. At this P l e n u m , w h i c h is described as a b l a c k spot in the glorious history of the C P A , the correct l i n e of our P a r t y w a s h e a v i l y violated and n a t i o n a l independence and sovereignty w e r e placed in jeopardy. T h i s m a r k e d the c u l m i n a t i o n of the i n i m i c a l activity of the Titoites and their agents, headed by K o i X o x e , w h o , by c o m i n g out w i t h the banner of the saviour of the Party, put f o r w a r d as a p l a t f o r m the a n t i - M a r x i s t a n t i - A l b a n i a n theses of the CC of the C P Y . 5 It h e l d its proceedings on September 13-24, 1948. T h i s P l e n u m , w h i c h p u t an end to a l l distortions and mistakes in the p o l i t i c a l a n d organizational l i n e of the Party, m a r k e d the beginning of a thorough-going turning-point in the l i f e of the P a r t y and the fate of our country. It restored unity in the leadership and i n c o m p a r a b l y raised the authority of the Party. 6 At that time, Belgrade insisted that M e h m e t Shehu should not be eliminated altogether, but be given the portfolio of a m i n i s t r y .
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S h e h u h a s t e n e d to p r o c l a i m h i m s e l f a s t a n d a r d - b e a r e r of t h e correct l i n e i n s u p p o r t o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d S t a l i n . A f t e r t h e l e t t e r o f t h e C P S U ( b ) , a f t e r t h e 11th P l e n u m , a n d the 1st C o n g r e s s o f o u r P a r t y u n t i l S t a l i n ' s d e a t h (19481953), M e h m e t S h e h u s p o k e i n p u b l i c a n d w o r k e d i n t h e spirit of the line of the Party, defending the Soviet U n i o n a n d S t a l i n a n d e x p o s i n g T i t o a n d h i s c l i q u e a s agents o f imperialism, just as our whole P a r t y did. F o l l o w i n g t h e d e a t h o f S t a l i n , the t e a m t h a t c a m e t o power condemned Beria, the chief of the Soviet K G B , for m a n y v i o l a t i o n s o f the l a w . W e a s k e d M e h m e t S h e h u t o e x a m i n e w h e t h e r m i s t a k e s h a d also b e e n m a d e i n the o r g a n s of our M i n i s t r y of Internal A f f a i r s , of w h i c h he was the head. Mehmet S h e h u was afraid that his links w i t h the Soviet K G B had been discovered a n d he might suffer the same fate as B e r i a . He went to the Soviet ambassador L e v i c h k i n , w h o m he assured of his loyalty to the n e w K h r u s h c h e v i t e t e a m t h a t h a d come t o p o w e r , a n d s o u g h t S o v i e t p r o t e c t i o n , because, a c c o r d i n g t o h i s statements, E n v e r H o x h a r e g a r d s m e w i t h suspicion, a n d h e w a s v e r y d i s t u r b e d a b o u t this. L e v i c h k i n a d v i s e d M e h m e t S h e h u t o c o m e t o m e a n d m a k e h i s p o s i t i o n clear, w h i l e e n s u r i n g h i m t h a t he, L e v i c h k i n , w o u l d protect h i m . L e v i c h k i n personally came to me, told me of M e h m e t Shehu's worries a n d t h a t h e h a d a d v i s e d h i m t o c o m e t o me. M e h m e t S h e h u d i d not come f o r t w o o r t h r e e w e e k s . A t a s u b s e q u e n t meeting, L e v i c h k i n asked me whether I had talked w i t h M e h m e t S h e h u . I r e p l i e d t h a t h e h a d not c o m e t o m e a n d I h a d n o i n t e n t i o n o f s u m m o n i n g h i m , because M e h m e t S h e h u h a d t o r e p o r t t o m e a n d m a k e a t h o r o u g h selfc r i t i c i s m , since I c o n s i d e r e d it a m i s t a k e t h a t he h a d g o n e to L e v i c h k i n without first discussing w i t h me as G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y about w h o m h e c o m p l a i n e d . L e v i c h k i n w a s a l a r m e d a n d ordered M e h m e t S h e h u t o c o m e t o m e . F i r s t
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h e sent F i q r e t S h e h u t o f e e l m y pulse. S h e c a m e t o e n q u i r e w h a t was w r o n g w i t h Mehmet Shehu, w h o was extremely w o r r i e d (as if she h e r s e l f k n e w n o t h i n g ) . I t o l d h e r W e have n o t h i n g against h i m , so y o u h a d better ask h i m w h e t h e r h e has s o m e t h i n g against us. In this w a y M e h m e t S h e h u was reassured that we h a d n o t m a d e a n y d i s c o v e r y a n d h a d n o suspicions a b o u t h i m . O n L e v i c h k i n ' s u r g i n g , too, h e c a m e t o m e , m a d e a s e l f - c r i t i c i s m a n d , also, m a d e a s e l f - c r i t i c i s m in t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u and i n the P l e n u m o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , s a y i n g t h a t h e h a d m a d e a serious m i s t a k e i n g o i n g to the Soviet ambassador to complain about the G e n e r a l Secretary of the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e without discussing the matter w i t h h i m and without raising the p r o b l e m i n the leadership of the P a r t y . L a t e r , s o m e t h i n g else o c c u r r e d w h i c h g r e a t l y a l a r m e d and w o r r i e d M e h m e t S h e h u : Sokrat B u f i , a P a r t y cadre w h o w a s s t u d y i n g i n M o s c o w a t t h a t t i m e , sent t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a letter in w h i c h , amongst other things, he said: Mehmet Shehu is a provocateur... Mehmet Shehu w a s furious about this a n d demanded insistently in the S e c r e t a r i a t a n d i n the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , a n d several times to me personally, that S o k r a t B u f i b e a r r e s t e d a n d c o n d e m n e d . W e d i d n o t accept h i s p r o p o s a l , because t o c o n d e m n h i m s i m p l y f o r t h e fact t h a t he h a d made a criticism of a p a r t y leader w o u l d be cont r a r y to the norms of the Party. Since Sokrat B u f i was app o i n t e d v i c e - c h a i r m a n of t h e e x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e of a district, the doubts of M e h m e t Shehu that we had discovered s o m e o f h i s sins w e r e f u r t h e r a r o u s e d a n d h e c o n t i n u e d t o b e o n p i n s a n d needles, t o l i v e a n d w o r k i n great a n x i e t y . T h e c o m i n g t o p o w e r o f K h r u s h c h e v a n d t h e 20th Congress of the C P S U brought reconciliation between the
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Soviet revisionists and the Titoites. B o t h parties, in collabo r a t i o n a n d u n i t y w i t h one a n o t h e r , c o m b i n e d t h e i r p l a n s and went into action to change the situation in the inter national communist and workers' movement, especially i n the c o u n t r i e s o f p e o p l e ' s d e m o c r a c y , i n f a v o u r o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t a i m s o f K h r u s h c h e v a n d t h e agent o f i m p e r i a l ism, Tito. Just as they had done in Poland, H u n g a r y , B u l g a r i a , C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , R u m a n i a , etc., t h e y t r i e d t o r e h a b i l i t a t e t h e i r g r o u p o f agents, K o i X o x e a n d c o m p a n y , i n A l b a n i a , too, b u t t h e y f a i l e d . B o t h t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p and Suslov officially demanded the rehabilitation of K o i X o x e , t h a t is, t h a t w e s h o u l d r e t u r n t o t h e 2 n d P l e n u m a t B e r a t , a d m i t the so-called m i s t a k e s o f o u r P a r t y i n l i n e a n d in our relations w i t h the Yugoslavs, a demand w h i c h cannot be claimed to have been made at that time w i t h o u t the knowledge of the chief of the Soviet mission in A l b a n i a , M a j o r I v a n o v , t h e close f r i e n d o f the c h i e f o f the Y u g o s l a v mission in our country, the notorious Colonel V e l i m i r S t o j n i , w h o o r g a n i z e d t h e deals b e h i n d the scene a n d t h e first Titoite plot in the 2nd P l e n u m of the C e n t r a l C o m mittee at Berat. In the context of the feverish activity of K h r u s h c h e v a n d T i t o a f t e r t h e 20th Congress, t h e i r agents i n A l b a n i a , w i t h Mehmet Shehu, Beqir Balluku, and Fiqret Shehu in t h e l e a d , i n close c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e Y u g o s l a v a n d S o v i e t embassies i n o u r c o u n t r y , o r g a n i z e d t h e p l o t t o c h a n g e t h e course o f the P a r t y C o n f e r e n c e o f T i r a n a , w i t h t h e o l d a i m of overthrowing the sound leadership of the Party, r e h a b i l i t a t i n g a n t i - P a r t y e l e m e n t s a n d people's enemies, K o i X o x e and company, of changing the line and going t o the f o r t h c o m i n g C o n g r e s s o f the P a r t y o n t h e l i n e s l a i d down for us by K h r u s h c h e v and Tito, according to the 20th C o n g r e s s o f t h e C P S U . T h e i r a i m w a s n o t o n l y t o c o n d e m n S t a l i n , b u t also those w h o f o l l o w e d h i s r o a d . The group of plotters at the T i r a n a Conference was de-
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f e a t e d . S o m e w e r e e x p e l l e d f r o m t h e P a r t y , some others (those w h o w e r e p r o v e d t o h a v e h a d l i n k s w i t h t h e Y u g o s l a v e m b a s s y , because a t t h a t t i m e w e h a d n o i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e S o v i e t embassy) w e r e h a n d e d o v e r t o the court. H o w e v e r , t h e m a i n c u l p r i t s escaped. M e h m e t S h e h u a n d B e q i r B a l l u k u ( w h o w a s a delegate o f the C e n t r a l Committee to the Conference retreated into the back ground, condemned the plotters, w h i l e F i q r e t Shehu, w h o was first secretary of the P a r t y Committee of Tirana, v o w e d t h a t she h a d not t h e slightest w a r n i n g , t h a t e v e r y t h i n g h a d h a p p e n e d b e h i n d h e r b a c k , t h a t she h a d b e e n s h u t u p a t h o m e p r e p a r i n g the r e p o r t , etc. F i q r e t w a s d i s missed as first secretary and the r e p r i m a n d was recorded on her registration document. At that time we k n e w nothing i n r e g a r d t o F e o r S h e h u w h o , i t n o w t u r n s out, w a s a n agent i n the s e r v i c e o f t h e U D B a n d w a s t h e l i a i s o n agent between the Y u g o s l a v embassy and M e h m e t and Fiqret Shehu. M e h m e t S h e h u personally m a i n t a i n e d the direct l i n k s w i t h the Soviet embassy, r e a d i l y exploiting the good relations we had w i t h the Soviet U n i o n at that time. I n the s i t u a t i o n w h i c h w a s c r e a t e d a f t e r the f a i l u r e o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e - T i t o i t e plot a t t h e T i r a n a C o n f e r e n c e a n d t h e resolute, o p e n u n m a s k i n g b y o u r P a r t y o f t h e e v e n t s i n P o l a n d , a n d e s p e c i a l l y those i n H u n g a r y , t h e U D B o f T i t o - R a n k o v i o r d e r e d t h e i r secret agents L i r i Gega, D a l i N d r e u a n d Panajot P l a k u to flee to Y u g o s l a v i a i n o r d e r t o create a n o p p o s i t i o n a b r o a d a n d t o f i g h t u s through their mouths. T h e first two were arrested attempt i n g t o cross t h e b o r d e r , w h i l e P a n a j o t P l a k u , w i t h t h e a i d of M e h m e t S h e h u and his collaborators amongst the officers o f t h e a r m y a n d t h e state s e c u r i t y , ( 7 ) crossed o u r state b o r d e r
___________________________________ 7 Reference here is to the enemies of the P a r t y a n d the people, the f o r m e r minister of defence, B e q i r B a l l u k u , a n d the former minister o f i n t e r n a l affairs, K a d r i H a z b i u .
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a n d w o r k e d f o r some t i m e i n a n a l l e g e d l y c l a n d e s t i n e r a d i o w h i c h broadcast t h e o l d T i t o i t e p o i s o n a g a i n s t o u r P a r t y and country f r o m the territory of Y u g o s l a v i a . H o w e v e r , s e e i n g t h a t t h e y c o u l d d o u s n o h a r m from outside , t h e Yugoslav revisionists planned to b r i n g Panajot P l a k u to A l b a n i a w i t h t h e a i m t h a t he, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e i r secret agents a n d o t h e r enemies, t r i e d from inside t o c a r r y o u t t h e secret p l o t s o f t h e Y u g o s l a v a n d S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s . So, t h e y sought K h r u s h c h e v ' s help, h o p i n g that he w o u l d exercise p r e s s u r e o n u s a n d i n f l u e n c e u s s o t h a t w e w o u l d accept Panajot P l a k u in A l b a n i a . Sensing the advantages of this course, K h r u s h c h e v w a s r e a d y t o c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h T i t o , as he d i d over the P o l i s h a n d H u n g a r i a n question, to m i s l e a d t h e w o r k o f t h e P a r t y C o n f e r e n c e o f T i r a n a (1956), etc., t h e r e f o r e , h e d i d n o t f a i l t o i n t e r v e n e f o r a c o n c i l i a t i o n w i t h t h e t r a i t o r . A s t h e f i r s t step, h e t o l d u s t h a t he was considering admitting h i m to the Soviet Union, since P l a k u himself h a d expressed this desire in a letter h e h a d sent t o K h r u s h c h e v . H e is a t r a i t o r , I t o l d K h r u s h c h e v , a n d if y o u accept h i m i n y o u r c o u n t r y , w e s h a l l b r e a k off o u r f r i e n d s h i p w i t h y o u . I f y o u d o accept h i m , y o u m u s t h a n d h i m o v e r t o u s s o w e c a n h a n g h i m i n t h e m i d d l e o f the s q u a r e in Tirana. W h e n the Soviet revisionists saw that they had failed in H u n g a r y a n d elsewhere, a n d could no longer have cont r o l of the situation in the communist movement and in t h e socialist c a m p , t h e y r e t r e a t e d a l i t t l e f r o m t h e i r s u b v e r s i v e s t r u g g l e i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h T i t o , because h e w a s d r a w i n g them in the revisionist m i r e more deeply than t h e y h a d t h o u g h t of, t h e y p u b l i c l y s u p p o r t e d t h e stands o f t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a b y p u b l i s h i n g its a r t i c l e s , etc. W h e r e a s T i t o , o n h i s p a r t , i n h i s n o t o r i o u s speech a t
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P u l a launched a direct personal attack in w h i c h , more than ever before, he condemned the cult of E n v e r H o x h a a n d called for the o v e r t h r o w of the leadership of our Party. P r e c i s e l y at these m o m e n t s , i n s t e a d of w a g i n g a m o r e s t e r n s t r u g g l e against T i t o i s m , K h r u s h c h e v a n d h i s c o l laborators went further d o w n on the road of collaboration w i t h Tito, thus p r o v i n g the falsity of his support for our Party. K h r u s h c h e v ' s collaboration w i t h the Y u g o s l a v r e v i sionists w a s o b v i o u s a l s o i n t h e s t a n d t h e y a d o p t e d t o w a r d s enemy elements: D a l i Ndreu, L i r i Gega and Panajot P l a k u . W h e n our organs captured D a l i N d r e u and L i r i G e g a r e d h a n d e d a n d p l a c e d t h e m i n t h e dock, t h e Y u g o s l a v s j u m p e d u p i n rage, a n d s o d i d K h r u s h c h e v . H e sent a n u r g e n t r a d i o g r a m to the Soviet ambassador in T i r a n a , K r y l o v , to intervene w i t h me to ensure that the enemies a n d traitors w e r e n o t c o n d e m n e d . T h e s e w e r e p r e c i s e l y those d a y s o f N o v e m b e r 1956 w h e n , as I s a i d above, T i t o d e l i v e r e d h i s n o t o r i o u s speech a t P u l a i n w h i c h , a m o n g s t other t h i n g s , he called openly for the overthrow of the leadership of the P L A a n d f o r m y c o n d e m n a t i o n . K h r u s h c h e v sent K r y l o v w i t h t w o m a i n instructions: we were not to reply sternly to T i t o ' s speech a n d n o t t o p u n i s h t h e c a p t u r e d agents w h o w e r e r e n d e r i n g a c c o u n t b e f o r e t h e people's court. W e v e r y q u i c k l y gave K h r u s h c h e v and Tito the answer: in regard t o t h e f i r s t i n s t r u c t i o n , w e p u b l i s h e d a r t i c l e s i n t h e press i n w h i c h w e f i r e d off a l l o u r b a t t e r i e s against T i t o , T i t o i s m a n d t h e speech a t P u l a ; i n r e g a r d t o t h e s e c o n d i n s t r u c t i o n , w e g a v e t h e agents a n d t r a i t o r s t h e p u n i s h m e n t t h e y deserved. T h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a c o n t i n u e d its i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e against T i t o i s m p e r s i s t e n t l y . I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h i s s t r u g g l e w e w e r e c o n f r o n t e d w i t h the K h r u s h chevite revisionists, too, sometimes directly, sometimes
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indirectly (Khrushchev's letter about his visit to T i t o ; refusal on our part to condemn Stalin, at a t i m e w h e n the others c o n d e m n e d h i m ; o u r o b j e c t i o n t o a r a p p r o c h e m e n t w i t h Belgrade on the plane K h r u s h c h e v w i s h e d ; the open statement o f o u r v i e w s a b o u t T i t o a n d h i s g r o u p i n s o m e meetings w i t h K h r u s h c h e v a n d S u s l o v , s o m e t h i n g w h i c h irritated them so m u c h that K h r u s h c h e v said to me a n g r i l y : W h e r e d o y o u w a n t t o l e a d us, o n t o S t a l i n ' s road? W e engaged i n i n t e n s i v e p r o p a g a n d a against Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s m a n d , o n t h e i d e o l o g i c a l p l a n e , i n d i r e c t l y a t t a c k e d also the views that K h r u s h c h e v and his clique w e r e spreading; i n t h e m e e t i n g o f the c o m m u n i s t a n d w o r k e r s ' p a r t i e s i n 1957 we a d o p t e d a r e s o l u t e s t a n d against T i t o i s m as a secret a g e n c y o f i m p e r i a l i s m , w h i c h w a s also i n c l u d e d i n t h e declaration.) O u r c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h t h e S o v i e t l e a d e r ship were steadily mounting, we were heading for the conf r o n t a t i o n of J u n e 1960 at B u c h a r e s t . I n t h e s u m m e r o f 1960 L i r i B e l i s h o v a w a s i n B e i j i n g with a parliamentary o f the delegation, at the time that the was meeting the W o r l d Federation of Trade Unions the
b e i n g h e l d there. C o n t r a r y t o e v e r y p a r t y r u l e a n d n o r m , contradictions between the Chinese and Soviets emerged openly at that meeting. In opposition to the stand o f the l e a d e r s h i p went to the of our P a r t y , w h i c h d i d not w a n t to embassy and reported all that the p r o n o u n c e itself p r e m a t u r e l y o n these c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , L i r i Soviet C h i n e s e h a d t o l d her. W e sent L i r i B e l i s h o v a t w o letters, one t o B e i j i n g a n d one t h a t r e a c h e d h e r o n t h e w a y b a c k to Moscow, in w h i c h we criticized her for her stand in B e i j i n g a n d e x p l a i n e d the s t a n d she m u s t t a k e i n M o s c o w . H o w e v e r , L i r i B e l i s h o v a , a s a n agent o f t h e S o v i e t s , n o t only d i d not follow the advice of the leadership P a r t y , but met K o z l o v , talked w i t h of the him, listened to h i m
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a n d e v e n h a n d e d o v e r t o t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s o u r letters w h i c h , w h e n w e a s k e d h e r f o r t h e m , she t o l d u s she h a d burnt them. W h e n she r e t u r n e d t o A l b a n i a , L i r i B e l i s h o v a t o o k C o m r a d e H y s n i [Kapo] aside a n d said to h i m , Let us keep C o m r a d e E n v e r o u t o f these clashes, b u t H y s n i d e n o u n c e d L i r i . S h e h a d also m e t M e h m e t S h e h u a n d t o l d h i m , D o n ' t t a l k a b o u t K h r u s h c h e v , because e v e r y t h i n g y o u say reaches h i s ears. M e h m e t S h e h u r e l u c t a n t l y a d m i t t e d t h i s m u c h later, w h e n he saw that the leadership of the P a r t y was condemning L i r i Belishova. W h a t other pressure L i r i B e lishova h a d exerted on h i m is not k n o w n . L i k e w i s e , we do not k n o w w h a t K o s y g i n said to M e h m e t Shehu w h e n he was in hospital in Moscow for treatment. Mehmet Shehu told us that K o s y g i n had tried to convince h i m that C h i n a must be condemned and this had angered h i m , so he left the hospital a n d returned to A l b a n i a . N o w i t t u r n s out t h a t M e h m e t , t o g e t h e r w i t h Fiqret, h a d been s u m m o n e d to a meeting w i t h M i k o y a n at w h i c h A n d r o p o v a n d , I t h i n k , also t h e c h i e f o f s e c u r i t y , Shelepin, were present and talked for four hours w i t h them. M e a n w h i l e , M e h m e t S h e h u saw that the leadership of our P a r t y w a s not going to tolerate K h r u s h c h e v ' s plans against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and the international communist a n d w o r k e r s ' movement any longer. O u r P a r t y w o r k e d out the p l a t f o r m for the stand it w o u l d take at Bucharest, r e t a i n i n g its r i g h t t o p r e s e n t its v i e w s a t t h e r e g u l a r m e e t i n g o f a l l p a r t i e s (in N o v e m b e r 1960 i n M o s c o w ) . A t t h a t t i m e M e h m e t S h e h u w a s i n a q u a n d a r y : w h o m t o please a n d w h o m t o displease. T o p l a c e h i m s e l f i n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e P a r t y w a s o f n o b e n e f i t t o h i m , because he w o u l d suffer the fate of L i r i Belishova and a l l the o t h e r a n t i - P a r t y enemies, t h e r e f o r e h e c o u l d not f o l l o w the r o a d w h i c h his Soviet patrons advised him.
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A t t h i s t i m e M e h m e t S h e h u left f o r N e w Y o r k a t t h e head of a government delegation to the U N O . He travelled o n the B r i t i s h t r a n s - A t l a n t i c l u x u r y l i n e r Q u e e n E l i z a b e t h . W e k n e w t h a t T i t o , also, w a s t r a v e l l i n g o n t h a t s h i p , b u t i t n e v e r crossed o u r m i n d s t h a t M e h m e t S h e h u m i g h t m e e t Tito. N o w w e learn that H a r r y F u l t z o f the A m e r i c a n C I A and R a n d o l p h C h u r c h i l l , w h o w a s a top figure of t h e I n t e l l i g e n c e S e r v i c e b u t f i g u r e d on t h e p a s s e n g e r l i s t as a j o u r n a l i s t , w e r e also a b o a r d . S e e i n g t h e g r o u p w h i c h a c c o m p a n i e d M e h m e t S h e h u , those w h o a r e n o w i n j a i l for being members of his group ( L l a m b i Ziishti, L l a m b i P e i n i , G a n i K o d r a a n d some others), i t e m e r g e s t h a t during the one-week trip M e h m e t Shehu, being their agent, m i g h t v e r y w e l l h a v e h a d a n d c e r t a i n l y d i d h a v e secret m e e t i n g s a n d t a l k s w i t h T i t o , F u l t z a n d R . C h u r c h i l l , together o r one a t a t i m e , i n f o r m e d t h e m o f t h e s i t u a t i o n i n a n d t h e stands o f o u r P a r t y , t h e acute c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w h i c h were arising w i t h the Soviet U n i o n and the stand w h i c h the l e a d e r s h i p o f o u r P a r t y i n t e n d e d t o t a k e i n M o s c o w . T h e strategies o f t h e t h r e e agencies, Y u g o s l a v , A m e r i c a n a n d B r i t i s h , w e r e i n a c c o r d a n d t h e y suggested t o their superagent that he should unreservedly support t h e stands o f t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e P a r t y , w h i c h w o u l d l e a d t o t h e great b r e a c h a n d r u p t u r e w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . T h e y w o u l d lose n o t h i n g i f w e s u p p o r t e d C h i n a . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h i s f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e i r secret p r o A m e r i c a n , p r o - T i t o i t e f r i e n d s (such a s Z h o u E n l a i , L i u S h a o q i a n d D e n g X i a o p i n g ) , w o u l d serve t h e i r l o n g e r - r a n g e strategic p l a n s (to i n v o l v e u s i n t h e l i b e r a l p o l i c i e s o f China, such as it began later w i t h the N i x o n - Z h o u E n l a i m e e t i n g , o r w h e n Z h o u E n l a i u r g e d B e q i r B a l l u k u t o act r e l y i n g on a Y u g o s l a v i a - R u m a n i a - A l b a n i a a l l i a n c e ) , etc. Mehmet Shehu returned f r o m the U n i t e d States o f
A m e r i c a f u l l o f courage a n d b e c a m e m o r e c a t h o l i c t h a n
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t h e P o p e , w a s u n r e s t r a i n e d i n h i s defence o f t h e l i n e of our P a r t y against the plans and stands of K h r u s h c h e v a n d the revisionist Soviet leadership. Indeed, he organized scenes i n o r d e r t o boost h i m s e l f a n d t h o r o u g h l y c e m e n t our trust in h i m . W h e n we were at the M e e t i n g of 81 P a r t i e s i n M o s c o w , i n N o v e m b e r 1960, h e p r o p o s e d t h a t we should leave the house in w h i c h the Soviets h a d placed us, because t h e y a r e c a p a b l e of p o i s o n i n g us. (He w a s a f r a i d r a t h e r o n h i s o w n account.) W h e n w e w e n t t o t h e r e s i d e n c e o f o u r e m b a s s y i n M o s c o w , t h r o u g h t h e secret microphones w h i c h the Soviets h a d planted and w h i c h w e d i s c o v e r e d , h e t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e m a f i e r y message e u l o g i z i n g o u r P a r t y a n d its f i r s t secretary, w h i l e a b u s i n g t h e m r o u n d l y f o r t h e i r d i s g r a c e f u l act i n e a v e s d r o p p i n g o n t h e i r close f r i e n d s , s u c h a s t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a a n d its leaders. M e h m e t S h e h u s t u b b o r n l y o p p o s e d our return by ship v i a the Black Sea and organized our r e t u r n b y t r a i n through A u s t r i a a n d Italy. W e agreed t o these m e a s u r e s , because w e n o l o n g e r t r u s t e d t h e S o v i e t s , either, but w i t h the zeal w h i c h he displayed he strengthened o u r t r u s t i n h i m a n d also p r o t e c t e d h i m s e l f . N e v e r t h e l e s s , M e h m e t S h e h u could not but be w o r r i e d that he m i g h t pay w i t h his head for the betrayal w h i c h he was c o m m i t t i n g against h i s S o v i e t p a t r o n s as a d i s o b e d i e n t agent. T h e r e w a s n o l a c k o f some h i n t s a n d n e e d l i n g . I n m y b o o k The Khrushchevites I h a v e r e c o r d e d w h a t K o s y g i n s a i d t o m e t h a t there a r e e n e m i e s i n y o u r leadership. * However, w h e n I called on M e h m e t Shehu to translate t h i s t o m e better, K o s y g i n s h u t h i s m o u t h a n d s a i d t h a t I h a d n o t u n d e r s t o o d h i m p r o p e r l y . T h e r e , too, I h a v e w r i t t e n about the pressure exerted on us by the Soviet militarymen w h o had even had an argument w i t h Mehmet
_____________________________________ * See E n v e r H o x h a , T h e K r u s h c h e v i t e s (Memoirs), 8 N n tori P u b l i s h i n g House, T i r a n a 1980, p. 432, 2nd E n g . ed.
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Shehu. N o w another explanation can be given for w h y K h r u s h c h e v a t o u r last m e e t i n g s a i d t o u s : T h i s i s h o w M a c M i l l a n w a n t e d t o speak t o me, a t w h i c h M e h m e t S h e h u j u m p e d t o h i s feet a n d w e b r o k e off t h e m e e t i n g . A p parently w h e n K h r u s h c h e v mentioned the E n g l i s h m a n M a c M i l l a n , M e h m e t S h e h u f e a r e d t h a t h e m i g h t open a w o u n d w h i c h w o u l d cause h i m great p a i n . A f t e r the Meeting of 81 Parties, K h r u s h c h e v and c o m p a n y t r i e d t o p a t c h u p t h e i r r e l a t i o n s w i t h us. T h i s t h e y t r i e d t o d o a t o u r 4 t h Congress, ( 8 ) w i t h t h e l e t t e r s t h e y sent us, a s w e l l a s t h r o u g h t h e C h i n e s e , etc. T h e y also t r i e d t o t u r n u s t o t h e i r course t h r o u g h e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y pressures, b u t t h e y f a i l e d i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s . W e m a i n t a i n e d o u r i m m o v a b l e s t a n d . W e e x p e l l e d t h e S o v i e t s f r o m the base a t V l o r a ; t h e y cut off t h e i r e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y a i d , e v e n b r o k e off d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s . M e a n w h i l e , our P a r t y pursued the course of M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m a n d M e h m e t S h e h u endorsed its l i n e , i n d e e d , h e g r e a t l y a d v e r t i s e d h i s r o l e i n these s i t u a t i o n s a n d , o f course, i n t h e eyes o f the A m e r i c a n s a n d Y u g o s l a v s posed a s i f i t w a s h e t h a t i n s p i r e d t h i s course. F r o m t h e p l a n s w h i c h t h e y h a d m a d e a n d t h e secret contacts w h i c h t h e y m a i n t a i n e d , t h e A m e r i c a n s a n d t h e Y u g o s l a v s k n e w this, t h a t i s w h y a l l t h e W e s t e r n secret agencies a l l o w e d t h e i r boy t o t h u n d e r against t h e m w i t h s u c h s t a t e m e n t s a s W e a r e d a n c i n g i n t h e w o l f ' s m o u t h , etc., etc. T h e y accepted a n y abuse, p r o v i d e d t h a t t h e i r agent c o u l d c l i m b h i g h e r a n d h i g h e r a n d m i g h t p u t t h e h e l m o f o u r P a r t y a n d state t o w a r d s the W e s t .
_________________________________ 8 T h e 4th Congress of the P L A c a r r i e d out its proceedings f r o m 13-20 F e b r u a r y 1961.
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T h e S o v i e t s lost t h e i r p a t i e n c e w h e n t h e y s a w t h e y h a d f a i l e d . A t f i r s t t h e y d e c i d e d t o w a r n t h e i r agent. T h e r e fore, i n a p u b l i c speech K h r u s h c h e v s a i d : T h e A l b a n i a n l e a d e r s h i p has s o l d o u t f o r 30 pieces of silver. N o t l o n g after that an Italian newspaper wrote something and finally t h e S o v i e t s d e c i d e d t o expose t h e i r agent, w h o h a d b e e n e x p o s e d i n fact b y t h e o t h e r r i v a l services, a s o f t e n o c c u r s in the imperialist and revisionist jungle. The Central C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C P S U sent a l e t t e r t o t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f o u r P a r t y , i n w h i c h i t accused M e h m e t S h e h u o f b e i n g a n agent o f i m p e r i a l i s m . W e r e c e i v e d t h i s l e t t e r a t a t i m e w h e n w e w e r e a t daggers d r a w n w i t h t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s , w h e n M e h m e t S h e h u posed a s t h e i r a r d e n t o p p o n e n t a n d i t n e v e r crossed o u r m i n d s t o h a v e a n y d o u b t s a b o u t h i m . W e r e a d t h e l e t t e r i n t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u , also, i n t h e p r e s e n c e of M e h m e t a n d r e j e c t e d it as a base p r o v o c a t i o n o f K h r u s h c h e v a n d c o m p a n y t o s p l i t us. M e h m e t S h e h u s i g h e d w i t h relief, h e h a d got a w a y w i t h it. A f t e r the suicide of M e h m e t S h e h u documents were f o u n d w h i c h p r o v e t h a t h e w a s a n agent o f the I n t e l l i g e n c e S e r v i c e , too. H i s n a m e a n d some c o d e d p s e u d o n y m s s u c h a s B A B - 0 0 8 , etc., f i g u r e i n these d o c u m e n t s . F r o m t h e m i t emerges that M e h m e t S h e h u h a d even received money for h i s services a n d t h e centre i n s t r u c t e d t o l e a v e h i m a t peace, w h i c h m e a n t t h a t h e w a s one o f those p o t e n t i a l agents t h a t a r e left d o r m a n t , a s t h e y say i n t h e l a n g u a g e o f s p y i n g agencies, so as to be u s e d w h e n n e e d e d . A m o n g these d o c u m e n t s t h e r e is a l e t t e r a d d r e s s e d to the Soviet intelligence officer, M a j o r Ivanov, i m m e d i a t e l y after Liberation, couched in m a n y v i l i f y i n g terms against t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y a n d f u l l o f h a t r e d f o r t h e s o u n d cadres w h o defended this line, especially against the G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y E n v e r H o x h a , H y s n i K a p o a n d others. T h i s l e t t e r p r o v e s t h a t M e h m e t S h e h u , a p a r t f r o m h i s l i n k s a s a secret
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agent o f t h e Y u g o s l a v s , h a d also e s t a b l i s h e d l i n k s w i t h a greater power. (9) ( A f t e r h i s s u i c i d e a n o t e w a s f o u n d i n h i s safe i n h i s o w n h a n d a b o u t his h a v i n g w r i t t e n a l e t t e r t o Ivanov.) F o r t h e sake o f p u b l i c i t y M e h m e t S h e h u z e a l o u s l y c o n t i n u e d t h e struggle a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , b u t proceeding f r o m other purposes a n d aims, quite the opposite o f t h e l o f t y a i m s o f t h e P a r t y w h i c h w o r k e d f o r t h e defence o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d t h e s u p r e m e i n t e r e s t s o f o u r people a n d socialist H o m e l a n d . T h e e v e n t s o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a i n A u g u s t 1968 c a m e a b o u t a n d t h e P a r t y d e c i d e d t o d e n o u n c e the W a r s a w T r e a t y , t o t a k e o u r c o u n t r y out o f t h i s i l l - f a m e d t r e a t y de jure, a l t h o u g h de facto we h a d w i t h d r a w n f r o m it at the e n d o f 1960. O n t h i s occasion, M e h m e t S h e h u d e l i v e r e d t h e speeches a s p r i m e m i n i s t e r a n d , o f course, h e p r e s e n t e d this to his patrons as his personal victory. T h e A m e r i c a n secret a g e n c y (and those l i n k e d w i t h it, f i r s t o f a l l , the Titoites) t h o u g h t t h a t A l b a n i a w a s l e f t e x p o s e d a n d u n d e f e n d e d , a n d since C h i n a w a s f a r a w a y , it considered that the time h a d come w h e n our country w o u l d t u r n its face t o w a r d s t h e W e s t . I n 1972 M e h m e t S h e h u w e n t t o P a r i s f o r a n o p e r a t i o n , accompanied by the same team that accompanied h i m to the U N O , plus his w i f e F i q r e t Shehu. There he m a d e contact w i t h a t o p f i g u r e o f t h e A m e r i c a n C I A , w h o s a i d to h i m : What are y o u doing? Y o u are getting old, y o u m u s t act! M e h m e t Shehu reported to h i m about the situation a n d the p l o t s w h i c h w e r e b e i n g p r e p a r e d (by B e q i r B a l l u k u a n d A b d y l K l l e z i and company). The C I A recommended that
________________________________ 9 On the orders of H a r r y F u l t z w h o w a s the o f f i c i a l r e p r e sentative of the A m e r i c a n mission in T i r a n a , M e h m e t Shehu, going deeper d o w n the road of betrayal, i m m e d i a t e l y after L i b e r a t i o n i n f i l t r a t e d into the secret service of the Soviet U n i o n .
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h e s h o u l d act, b u t w i t h o u t c o m p r o m i s i n g h i m s e l f . I t p r o posed t h r e e v a r i a n t s f o r t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f E n v e r H o x h a : 1) in a m o t o r a c c i d e n t ; 2) t h r o u g h s h o o t i n g w i t h a r i f l e f r o m a d i s t a n c e ; or 3) w i t h d e l a y e d - a c t i o n p o i s o n . It w a s left to M e h m e t S h e h u to put into action the variant he c o n s i d e r e d m o s t feasible. T h r o u g h Feor Shehu, M e h m e t S h e h u received the same instructions f r o m the Y u g o s l a v U D B , w h i c h was completely in agreement w i t h the C I A . I n P a r i s M e h m e t S h e h u w a s also g i v e n a s o p h i s t i c a t e d r a d i o r e c e i v e r - t r a n s m i t t e r w h i c h h i s eldest son, w h o w a s a n e l e c t r o n i c s engineer, set u p i n h i s house, r e a d y t o f u n c tion. I n fact, M e h m e t S h e h u h a d t u r n e d , o r w a s t o t u r n , h i s w h o l e f a m i l y i n t o a nest of secret agents, a f a m i l y of v i p e r s . As we said, F i q r e t S h e h u had been recruited d u r i n g the w a r b y D u a n M u g o a a n d h a d t h e p s e u d o n y m a s a n agent, F I S A R I , w i t h o u t t a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t w h a t she m i g h t h a v e done e a r l i e r w h e n she w e n t t o I t a l y o n a o n e - o r t w o - y e a r c o u r s e d u r i n g t h e o c c u p a t i o n , o r w h a t L i r i G e g a (and S m i t h [ 1 0 ] ) m i g h t have done w i t h her w h e n they w o r k e d t o g e t h e r i n t h e 1st A r m y C o r p s . E v e n t u a l l y M e h m e t S h e h u h a d m a d e h i s second son, S k n d e r , a c o l l a b o r a t o r a n d w h e n h e w e n t a b r o a d (especially w h e n h e w e n t t o s t u d y i n Sweden), M e h m e t S h e h u charged h i m to establish contact w i t h t h e C I A a n d act a s a l i a i s o n agent, w h i l e a c t i v a t i n g h i s y o u n g e r son a n d h i s w i f e i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f a f o r e i g n embassy in Tirana. Hence, M e h m e t S h e h u was directed and ordered by the A m e r i c a n C I A t o w o r k out c o n c r e t e p l a n s t o o v e r t u r n t h e s i t u a t i o n i n A l b a n i a i n f a v o u r o f t h e West, t o set i n m o t i o n
___________________________________ 10 O f f i c e r of the B r i t i s h m i l i t a r y mission in A l b a n i a , secret agent of the Intelligence Service, a f r i e n d of L i r i G e g a and M u s t a f a G j i n i s h i . D u r i n g the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r h e was attached to the Staff of the 1st D i v i s i o n of the A N L A .
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a n d u r g e f o r t h i s p u r p o s e t h e agents k n o w n o r u n k n o w n to h i m , regardless or w h e t h e r they were w o r k i n g for the Y u g o s l a v s , G r e e k s , B r i t i s h , I t a l i a n s a n d others, b u t a v o i d i n g compromising himself. Thus began the implementation of the r a m i f i e d conspiratorial plan organized under cover by M e h m e t S h e h u : I. The hostile activity of F a d i l P a r a m i and his group i n the f i e l d o f c u l t u r e , a r t a n d t h e r a d i o a n d t e l e v i s i o n s e r v i c e f o r t h e d e g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e l i n e i n these f i e l d s . H o w ever, a s i s k n o w n , the P a r t y q u i c k l y dealt w i t h t h i s g r o u p a n d its a c t i v i t y ; M e h m e t S h e h u h a s t e n e d t o w a s h h i s h a n d s of them, indeed be thundered loudly against people of art and the y o u t h in order to realize his a n t i - P a r t y aims in this w a y , a s h e h a d done d u r i n g t h e w a r t o s t r a i n the r e l a t i o n s a n d the l i n k s o f t h e P a r t y w i t h these s t r a t a . II. I n 1973 t h e g r o u p o f B e q i r B a l l u k u w a s set i n m o t i o n . I t p r e p a r e d t h e m i l i t a r y p u t s c h t h r o u g h t h e b l a c k theses, the t h e o r y of s l i p p i n g a w a y , of a b a n d o n i n g t h e coast a n d t h e cities t o i m p e r i a l i s t aggressors, the p a t r o n s o f Mehmet Shehu. Beqir B a l l u k u was completely unmasked. E v e n Petrit D u m e and H i t o ako, w h o were in the plot, abandoned him. Mehmet Shehu, who was the head of the p l o t a n d p u l l e d t h e s t r i n g s b e h i n d the scenes (now i t t u r n s out t h a t a l l these b l a c k m a t e r i a l s h a d b e e n a p p r o v e d b y h i m ) , t r i e d t o save P e t r i t D u m e a n d H i t o a k o . T h e y h a d great hopes t h a t t h r o u g h M e h m e t S h e h u t h e i r heads w o u l d b e saved, a s h e t o l d t h e m i n t h e P l e n u m o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , ( 1 1 ) a n d t h e y d i d not g i v e M e h m e t S h e h u a w a y , b u t h e c o u l d n o t save t h e m f r o m t h e d a n g e r f o r fear of damaging himself. III. M e a n w h i l e M e h m e t S h e h u , t h i s t i m e m o r e d i r e c t l y , set i n m o t i o n h i s h e n c h m e n , A b d y l K l l e z i , K o o T h e o d h o s i a n d K i o N g j e l a t o c a r r y o u t sabotage i n t h e e c o n o m i c
______________________________________ 11 T h e 5th P l e n u m of the C e n t r a l Committee of the P L A w h i c h was convened f r o m J u l y 25-26, 1974.
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field, especially in the oil industry a n d agriculture, to disorganize the economy of the country by beginning to w o r k out a n d i n t r o d u c e f o r m s o f Y u g o s l a v s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . M e h m e t S h e h u f a i l e d i n these t h r e e d i r e c t i o n s . T h r o u g h o u t t h i s p e r i o d , T i t o , w h o w a s f o l l o w i n g the s i t u a t i o n a t t e n t i v e l y , t h o u g h t t h a t since h e h a d h i s agent i n the l e a d e r s h i p o f o u r P a r t y a n d state, a f t e r t h e f a l l o f R a n k o v i in Y u g o s l a v i a and the exposure of the barbarities w h i c h h e h a d p e r p e t r a t e d i n K o s o v a , a s w e l l a s a f t e r the situations w h i c h were created w i t h our leaving the W a r s a w T r e a t y , h e c o u l d m a k e some concessions i n r e g a r d t o K o s o v a a n d o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h it. K o s o v a b e g a n t o b r e a t h e a l i t t l e m o r e f r e e l y , A l b a n i a n schools w e r e opened, t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f P r i s h t i n a w a s set u p , c u l t u r a l r e l a t i o n s , v i s i t s t o one a n o t h e r a n d o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s b e g a n . T i t o a n d c o m p a n y cherished the old dream that through K o s o v a they could i n f l u e n c e t h e l i b e r a l forces i n A l b a n i a a n d , i n t h i s w a y , m a k e p o s s i b l e t h e u n i o n o f A l b a n i a w i t h K o s o v a i n the f r a m e w o r k o f Y u g o s l a v i a . W h e n t h e leaders o f K o s o v a t o l d T i t o : T h e A l b a n i a n s are f a n n i n g u p n a t i o n a l i s t s e n t i m e n t s a n d s p e a k i n g against you, h e r e p l i e d : T h a t ' s not y o u r business. L e t t h e m abuse m e i f t h e y w a n t t o . . . T i t o s a i d t h i s because h e k n e w t h a t i n A l b a n i a h e h a d M e h m e t S h e h u , who, after three failures, was regrouping the other con spirators, especially in the M i n i s t r y of Internal Affairs, w i t h F e o r S h e h u a n d some others.( 12 ) N e v e r t h e l e s s , M e h m e t S h e h u n e e d e d t i m e t o h a t c h u p n e w plots. M e a n w h i l e Tito died. A situation of political and econ omic insecurity was created in Yugoslavia. T h e w o r l d capi t a l i s t c r i s i s h a d g r i p p e d Y u g o s l a v i a , too, w h i c h w a s u p t o i t s ears i n debt. T h e s i t u a t i o n w a s s e e t h i n g i n K o s o v a m o r e t h a n a n y w h e r e else o n account o f t h e G r e a t - S e r b o p p r e s ____________________________________ 12 As emerged later the former minister of i n t e r n a l affairs, the enemy of the people a n d Party, K a d r i H a z b i u , was the closest collaborator of M e h m e t Shehu.
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s i o n , t h e u n e m p l o y m e n t a n d t h e g l o o m y prospects f o r t h e w o r k i n g people w h o s a w t h a t i n t h e i r m o t h e r l a n d , i n s o cialist A l b a n i a , the situation was quite different. Thus, K o s o v a d i d not serve as a bridgehead for the penetration of Titoite self-administration and ideological degeneration into A l b a n i a , but A l b a n i a showed K o s o v a the brilliant features of true socialism in our country. A n d this it d i d t h r o u g h n o r m a l , o f f i c i a l , b i l a t e r a l r e l a t i o n s a n d contacts w i t h K o s o v a a n d n o t t h r o u g h secret agents, because, f i r s t , t h i s w a s n o t t h e l i n e o f o u r P a r t y , a n d second, t h e Y u g o s l a v secret a g e n c y ( t h r o u g h F e o r S h e h u ) w a s a t t h e h e a d o f t h e organs o f t h e M i n i s t r y o f I n t e r n a l A f f a i r s . T h e r e f o r e , t h e theses of the Y u g o s l a v s a b o u t t h e a l l e g e d i n t e r f e r e n c e of A l b a n i a b y m e a n s o f secret agents f o r t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f demonstrations in K o s o v a have no foundation. The A m e r i c a n a n d Y u g o s l a v secret agencies b e g a n t o b e w o r r i e d lest K o s o v a escape f r o m t h e i r c o n t r o l , lest A l b a n i a i n t e r v e n e , possibly, as they thought, in collaboration w i t h B u l g a r i a a n d the Soviet U n i o n . T h e demonstrations (13) that took place in K o s o v a alarmed the Great-Serbs and the Yugoslav U D B so m u c h that the Titoites were forced to take draconian measures, they sent i n t h e a r m y a n d c r u s h e d t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s w i t h t a n k s . H u n d r e d s o f people w e r e k i l l e d a n d w o u n d e d . A conflagration dangerous to the i n t e r n a l situation of Y u g o s l a v i a , n o w s h a k e n b y b o t h e c o n o m i c crises a n d p o l i t i c a l crises, b r o k e out. T h e s e s a v a g e r e p r e s s i v e m e a s u r e s c a u s e d a great sensation i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l o p i n i o n . A l b a n i a m a i n t a i n e d a n open s t a n d , a s r e s o l u t e a s i t w a s w i s e . A p a r t f r o m t h e s l a n d e r s t h a t these d e m o n s t r a t i o n s h a d allegedly been inspired by A l b a n i a , the Yugoslavs h a d to take immediate measures to discredit the Stalinist
____________________________________ 13 In M a r c h - A p r i l 1981.
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A l b a n i a n leadership in order to disturb and overturn the sound situation in A l b a n i a , as w e l l as to confuse the p a t r i o t i c - r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces i n K o s o v a . T h e y d e m a n d e d t h a t t h e i r agent M e h m e t S h e h u act. The Yugoslav U D B was i n collaboration w i t h the C I A a n d w a s a w a r e o f its d i r e c t i v e s f o r t h e l i q u i d a t i o n o f E n v e r H o x h a . Therefore, they demanded that M e h m e t S h e h u send his w i f e urgently to Paris. T h e demonstrations t o o k p l a c e i n M a r c h , w h i l e she w e n t t o P a r i s i n A p r i l 1981. T h e r e a n e n v o y f r o m a l a m a n i (the p s e u d o n y m o f D u a n M u g o a w h o h i m s e l f h a d d i e d , b u t h i s m i s s i o n a s a n agent l i v e d on) p r e s e n t e d h i m s e l f t o h e r a n d g a v e h e r t h e poison w h i c h had to be administered immediately to Enver Hoxha. Fiqret Shehu and Mehmet Shehu had racked their brains together about w h e n , w h e r e a n d h o w they w o u l d act w i t h t h e v a r i a n t s w h i c h t h e C I A h a d suggested t o t h e m a n d h a d f o u n d a s t h e most f e a s i b l e v a r i a n t t h e a d m i n istration of the delayed-action poison, w h i c h could be c a r r i e d out w h e n w e p a i d e a c h o t h e r v i s i t s . I n t h e c o n d i tions under w h i c h I travelled, the motor accident w a s r u l e d out, w h i l e t h e a t t e m p t w i t h a r i f l e w a s too s e n s a t i o n a l a n d w i t h u n f o r s e e a b l e dangers. T h e variant w h i c h the Yugoslavs gave M e h m e t S h e h u t o act i m m e d i a t e l y a n d q u i c k l y f o u n d h i m u n p r e p a r e d . M e h m e t S h e h u w a s afraid, d i d not l i k e being placed in a corner. Therefore, he appealed to his m a j o r patron, the A m e r i c a n C I A . F i q r e t S h e h u began to visit the capitals of Europe Vienna, Stockholm, Kopenhagen. Both in Stockh o l m a n d i n D e n m a r k she m e t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e C I A and put f o r w a r d M e h m e t Shehu's idea that they s h o u l d n o t act h a s t i l y , a s t h e Y u g o s l a v s d e m a n d e d , because they w e r e not w e l l p r e p a r e d ; the poisoning or p h y s i c a l l i q u i d a t i o n o f E n v e r H o x h a c o u l d b e p u t off t i l l u n t i l M a r c h 1982 ( d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r h o l i d a y s ) , m e a n w h i l e t h e y c o u l d
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u n d e r t a k e some a c t i o n w h i c h m i g h t cause a split i n t h e P a r t y a n d encourage t h e l i b e r a l element. T h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e C I A discussed t h e m a t t e r w i t h h i s c e n t r e a n d , a t t h e second m e e t i n g , t h i s t i m e i n D e n m a r k , g a v e h i s a p p r o v a l for Mehmet Shehu's variant. In this context M e h m e t Shehu arranged the engagement of one of h i s sons to t h e d a u g h t e r of a f a m i l y in t h e c i r c l e of w h i c h there were 6 or 7 fugitive w a r criminals, i n c l u d i n g t h e n o t o r i o u s agent o f t h e C I A , A r s h i P i p a . S u c h a n e n g a g e m e n t c o u l d n o t f a i l t o attract t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e p u b l i c . A n d i t w a s done p r e c i s e l y w i t h t h e a i m o f a t t r a c t i n g p u b l i c a t t e n t i o n a n d c a u s i n g a sensation, so t h a t if it w e r e accepted b y the P a r t y , i t w o u l d l e a d t o splits a n d l i b e r a l i s m a m o n g others, too, i n the P a r t y , t h e Y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n , etc. I f i t w e r e not accepted b y t h e P a r t y , m e a s u r e s w o u l d b e t a k e n against M e h m e t S h e h u , not i m p r i s o n m e n t , o f course, b u t demotion, r e m o v a l f r o m his position, or even expulsion f r o m t h e P a r t y . T h i s w o u l d cause a sensation a n d t h e Y u g o s l a v s c o u l d use it, a s t h e y n e e d e d it, f o r t h e i r p r o p a g a n d a purposes t o d i s c r e d i t t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a , and especially E n v e r H o x h a , who, as they have repeated over and over again, is eliminating his collaborators as Stalin did. H o w e v e r , t h e p l a n s d i d not w o r k out a s M e h m e t S h e h u had intended. T h e P a r t y intervened immediately, the e n g a g e m e n t w a s b r o k e n off, M e h m e t S h e h u w a s c r i t i c i z e d by the comrades for this m a j o r political mistake, he was required to m a k e a profound self-criticism to f i n d the sources o f s u c h a n e r r o r a n d i t w a s l e f t t h a t t h i s w o u l d b e done a f t e r t h e 8 t h C o n g r e s s o f t h e P a r t y . H e d i d not expect this. H e t r i e d t o m a k e some o t h e r m i s t a k e s : h e c o m p l e t e l y neglected h i s r e p o r t f o r t h e 8 t h C o n g r e s s o f t h e P a r t y , p r e s e n t e d i t late a n d w i t h f l a g r a n t p o l i t i c a l e r r o r s a n d t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u r e j e c t e d it. M e h m e t S h e h u w a n t e d to m a k e a self-criticism at the C o n g r e s s o v e r t h e e n g a g e -
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m e n t o f h i s s o n (his a i m w a s t o cause a n upset i n t h e Congress), b u t i t w a s r e f u s e d , too. I n t h e C o n g r e s s h e p u r p o s e l y sat l i k e a r e p e n t a n t s i n n e r a n d t h i s w a s so o b v i o u s t o t h e delegates a n d t h e T V v i e w e r s t h a t t h e y b e g a n t o a s k one a n o t h e r w h y . Meanwhile, the question of Kosova was becoming dangerous. T h e Yugoslavs were being unmasked before international public opinion, w h i l e the authority of our country was rising. The Yugoslavs saw that nothing h a p p e n e d , e i t h e r b e f o r e t h e C o n g r e s s o r a f t e r it. M e h m e t S h e h u d e l i v e r e d t h e r e p o r t t o t h e Congress, h e w a s elected t o t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u a n d n o m e a s u r e w a s t a k e n against h i m , as the Yugoslavs hoped, to demote h i m or to remove h i m f r o m t h e f u n c t i o n h e h a d i n t h e state. O n c e the C o n g r e s s w a s over, p e r h a p s M e h m e t S h e h u i n f o r m e d t h e Yugoslavs that even after the delivery of his self-criticism h e w a s b e i n g t r e a t e d j u s t t h e same. F r o m w h a t h e h a d understood f r o m his talks w i t h us the measure of sanction w o u l d be of an internal party character. T h i s was of no benefit to the Titoites, the Great Serbs and the Y u g o s l a v U D B , w h o were expecting and w a n t i n g disorder to occur i n A l b a n i a a t a l l costs. T h e r e f o r e , o n t h e eve o f t h e m e e t i n g of the Political Bureau, at w h i c h the grave political mistake o f M e h m e t S h e h u w a s t o b e discussed, t h e Y u g o s l a v embassy in Tirana, acting on orders w h i c h it had received f r o m B e l g r a d e , sent its agent a n d contact m a n , F e o r S h e h u , to M e h m e t S h e h u to transmit the ultimatum of the U D B t h a t E n v e r H o x h a m u s t b e k i l l e d a t a l l costs, e v e n in the meeting, even if M e h m e t Shehu himself is killed. So hard-pressed were the U D B , the Great-Serb and Titoite c l i q u e w i t h t h e s i t u a t i o n i n K o s o v a , s o g l o o m y seemed the future, that they decided to destroy their t r u m p card, t h e i r superagent, p r o v i d e d o n l y t h a t s o m e t h i n g s p e c t a c u l a r w o u l d o c c u r w h i c h w o u l d s h a k e socialist A l b a n i a a n d
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Party of Labour of A l b a n i a to their foundations! A t t e n o'clock a t n i g h t , o n D e c e m b e r 16, 1981, F e o r Shehu went to Mehmet Shehu's home and transmitted the o r d e r o f t h e i r secret c e n t r e . O n D e c e m b e r 17, t h e d i s c u s s i o n c o m m e n c e d i n t h e meeting of the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u . A l l the comrades, old a n d new, took part in the discussion a n d resolutely condemned M e h m e t S h e h u ' s act o f e n g a g i n g h i s son t o a g i r l i n w h o s e f a m i l y there were 6 to 7 w a r criminals. T h e y expressed their dissatisfaction w i t h M e h m e t Shehu's self-criticism, demanded that he made it more p r o f o u n d a n d disclosed w h e r e t h e cause o f s u c h a m i s t a k e l a y , a s k e d h i m m a n y questions, r e m i n d e d h i m t h a t h e h a d m a d e m i s t a k e s d u r i n g the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , also, t h a t h e h a d p l a c e d h i m self above t h e P a r t y , t h e y s p o k e a b o u t h i s u n r e s t r a i n e d conceit a n d a r r o g a n c e t o w a r d s t h e cadres a n d t o w a r d s v i r t u a l l y a l l h i s closest c o l l a b o r a t o r s i n t h e w o r k o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t , t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u , etc. ( O n t h e d a y f o l l o w i n g t h e suicide, a l l these c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o the d i s c u s s i o n , w h i c h had been tape-recorded, w e r e h e a r d just as they were made by the w h o l e P l e n u m of the C e n t r a l Committee and t h e m e e t i n g s o f t h e p a r t y activists.) T h e criticisms by the members of the Political B u r e a u w e r e s t r o n g , open a n d b o l s h e v i k , b u t o n l y the r e c o r d i n g of a serious r e p r i m a n d on h i s r e g i s t r a t i o n d o c u m e n t w a s d e m a n d e d a s s a n c t i o n . T h i s w a s t h e s p i r i t i n w h i c h I , too, had prepared my contribution in w h i c h I outlined the history of M e h m e t Shehu's mistakes, beginning f r o m the p e r i o d o f the w a r (this c o n t r i b u t i o n , too, w a s h e a r d b y t h e P l e n u m o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a n d b y t h e m e e t i n g s o f party activists as it w o u l d have been delivered f o l l o w i n g t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s of o t h e r comrades.) H o w e v e r , because t h e m e e t i n g w e n t o n late, m y c o n t r i b u t i o n w a s not d e l i v e r e d t h a t d a y . T h u s , i t w a s left t h a t the meeting w o u l d continue the f o l l o w i n g day, but M e h m e t
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S h e h u w a s t o l d t o r e f l e c t d e e p l y a l l n i g h t because his excuse for the engagement d i d not h o l d water. W h a t I said a l a r m e d M e h m e t Shehu, he suspected that the crime w h i c h he was preparing might have been disc o v e r e d . T h e bold M e h m e t S h e h u t h o u g h t a l l n i g h t a b o u t h o w t o escape f r o m t h e t i g h t spot a n d w o r k e d o u t a n d applied a p l a n of his own. A p p a r e n t l y , he judged matters i n t h i s w a y : I a m a s g o o d a s d e a d , t h e best t h i n g i s t o save w h a t I can, a n d h e d e c i d e d t o act l i k e h i s f r i e n d N a k o S p i r u , to k i l l himself, t h i n k i n g the P a r t y w o u l d b u r y t h i s statesman, t h i s l e g e n d a r y leader, t h i s p a r tisan a n d fighter i n Spain w i t h honours, w o u l d not s u l l y h i s r e p u t a t i o n , b u t w o u l d s a y t h a t the g u n w e n t off a c c i d e n t a l l y (as h e suggested i n t h e l e t t e r w h i c h h e left), a n d t h u s , a t least, h e w o u l d n o t lose h i s past a n d h i s f a m i l y w o u l d not suffer. Together w i t h his w i f e he flushed the poison d o w n the W C a n d c h a r g e d h i s eldest son w i t h d i s m a n t l i n g a n d r e m o v i n g the compromising parts of the radio w h i c h he h a d i n s t a l l e d f o r h i m . (He h a d k e p t some o f these a t h i s h o m e a s h e w a s n o t arrested.) A c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n f o r m a t i o n given by the enemy F i q r e t S h e h u about the existence of t h e r a d i o , t h e eldest son w a s c a l l e d u p b y t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n o r g a n s a n d h e a d m i t t e d it, b u t w h e n h e w a s a l l o w e d t o g o home to h a n d over the parts of the radio, w h i c h he h a d hidden, he c o m m i t t e d suicide, so as not to r e v e a l everyt h i n g h e k n e w a n d h a d done (at a t i m e w h e n h i s c r i m i n a l mother had given all the information). F i q r e t S h e h u , a s t h e agent she w a s (she w h o t r e m b l e d and wept over nothing, agreed to the suicide of her husband coolly and cynically, p r o v i d e d only that their historic past a n d she a n d h e r sons w e r e s a v e d . H o w e v e r , t h e y h a d r e c k o n e d w i t h o u t t h e host. A s soon a s t h e y i n f o r m e d m e a b o u t M e h m e t S h e h u ' s f i n a l act, w i t h i n moments I proposed that his suicide should be
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condemned, that he had acted as an enemy, and the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u e x p r e s s e d its u n a n i m o u s c o n d e m n a t i o n o f t h e act o f this e n e m y . N o t o n l y t h e l e a d e r s h i p a n d t h e P a r t y , b u t o u r w h o l e p e o p l e c o n s i d e r e d t h i s a h o s t i l e act and maintained a revolutionary stand. T h e P a r t y and people c o n t i n u e d w i t h e n t h u s i a s m , i n d e e d , w i t h g r e a t e r determination and unity, the w o r k for the implementation of t h e decisions of t h e 8th C o n g r e s s of t h e P a r t y . T h e U D B a n d t h e C I A w e r e left b i t i n g t h e i r f i n g e r s , t h e K G B r u b b e d its h a n d s i n d e l i g h t . T h e f o r e i g n n e w s agencies r e l a t e d t h e fact a s w e h a d g i v e n it, t h a t M e h m e t S h e h u committed suicide in a crisis of nervous breakd o w n . H e r e a n d t h e r e some c o m m e n t s e c r e t l y p a i d f o r by the Yugoslavs was made. However, even the Yugoslavs w e r e u n a b l e t o e x p l o i t t h i s act i n t h e i r o f f i c i a l press, a p a r t f r o m charging a students' newspaper in Zagreb to w r i t e about the drama w h i c h h a d occurred at the meeting of the A l b a n i a n leadership (according to the version w h i c h the U D B had planned). A c c o r d i n g to this newspaper, . . . M e h m e t S h e h u f i r e d some shots w i t h a C h i n e s e r e v olver of this or that calibre(!), but E n v e r Hoxha's c o m rades k i l l e d h i m . T h e fate o f E n v e r H o x h a i s n o t k n o w n . . . A scenario m o d e l l e d o n w e s t e r n s w i t h g u n f i g h t s w h i c h o c c u r r e d i n the saloons a t t h e t i m e ! B u t w h a t c o u l d t h e y d o ? T h i s i s w h a t t h e y w a n t e d ! B u t t h e i r agent w a s b u r i e d l i k e a dog, o r b e t t e r t o s a y t h a t t h e i r t r u m p c a r d , t h e s u p e r agent o f the C I A a n d the U D B i n A l b a n i a w a s t h r o w n a w a y (14) for nothing.
__________________ 14 T h e dangerous plot of M e h m e t Shehu, l i k e the previous plots a n d groups of conspirators, w a s discovered by the forces a n d the vigilance of the P a r t y and its leadership w i t h C o m r a d e E n v e r H o x h a at the head, a n d not by the state security, w h i c h w a s headed by active secret agents, m a i n l y of the Y u g o s l a v U D B , such a s K o i X o x e , M e h m e t Shehu, K a d r i H a z b i u and Feor Shehu w h o for nearly f o u r decades w i t h h e l d f r o m the P a r t y i n f o r m a t i o n about the secret activities c a r r i e d out by
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A l b a n i a has a l w a y s s u p p o r t e d K o s o v a a n d t h e p o p u lation of other A l b a n i a n regions of Y u g o s l a v i a in their l e g i t i m a t e r i g h t s , b u t K o s o v a , a l l t h e A l b a n i a n s w h o rose i n d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , d o n o t r e a l i z e w h a t colossal assistance they gave A l b a n i a by forcing the Yugoslav U D B to play its t r u m p c a r d a n d d e s t r o y its last great hope o f o v e r throwing the Marxist-Leninist leadership in A l b a n i a , w h i c h had continually u n m a s k e d and was relentlessly u n m a s k i n g the T i t o i t e b e t r a y a l , s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , n o n - a l i g n m e n t , t h i s f i l t h y agency of A m e r i c a n and B r i t i s h imperialism, of international reaction, of social-democracy and whoever else y o u l i k e . T o g e t h e r w i t h M e h m e t S h e h u , t h e agencies o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s , s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d others, l i k e the Y u g o slav U D B , received a blow w h i c h they w i l l feel for a long time. The big m a i n tumour was removed, the sound body of the P a r t y was t h o r o u g h l y cleansed. H o wever , the P a r t y k n o w s that s m a l l microbes that r e m a i n m a y infect separate cells, n e w m i c r o b e s m a y f o r m i n its s o u n d b o d y . Therefore, we must never lower our vigilance. We n e e d t o b e v i g i l a n t a n d t o w o r k t o r e a l i z e the p l a n s , t o c o n t i n u a l l y r a i s e t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e masses, t o f u r t h e r strengthen the u n i t y of the P a r t y and the people around it, t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e d e f e n c e o f t h e H o m e l a n d , w e n e e d u n t i r i n g w o r k and vigilance, always vigilance, to defend the victories achieved t h r o u g h so m u c h blood a n d sacrifices, the freedom, independence, the victories of socialism. W e m u s t n o t f o r g e t t h a t t h e e n e m y does n o t sleep, w e m u s t n o t f o r g e t t h a t these v i c t o r i e s w h i c h w e h a v e scored h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d o n t h e basis o f a c o r r e c t M a r x i s t - L e n i n ____________________________________ each of t h e m in succession, thus covering up their d i r t y crimes w h i c h they committed against our country a n d people. T h e discovery and defeat of this plot w a s a shattering b l o w w h i c h destroyed the diabolic plans of the imperialists a n d r e v i s i o nists against socialist A l b a n i a .
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i s t l i n e , l o y a l t y t o t h e ideals o f s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m , t h e p u r s u i n g o f t h e l i n e o f o u r great classics, M a r x , E n g e l s , L e n i n a n d S t a l i n o n t h e class s t r u g g l e w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y a n d i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e P a r t y , a s w e l l a s against t h e e x t e r n a l enemies, t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s , w o r l d r e a c t i o n a n d t h e i r secret agencies. T h e c a l l o f t h e P a r t y has b e e n a n d r e m a i n s : W o r k a n d v i g i l a n c e f o r the b e n e f i t o f t h e and the future of the n e w generations! L o n g live the P a r t y ! Glory to Marxism-Leninism! people
A l w a y s Vigilant, vol. 2
W O R K AND VIGILANCE TO M A K E THE PEOPLE'S STATE POWER EVER STRONGER
Address to the electors (1)

November 10, 1982
D e a r c o m r a d e electors, I a m v e r y h a p p y t o b e h e r e a m o n g y o u , the d e a r people of our beloved capital, a n d to thank y o u for the great honour y o u have done me by appointing me as y o u r c a n d i d a t e f o r d e p u t y t o t h e People's A s s e m b l y . T h e t r u s t y o u have placed in me belongs to our glorious P a r t y w h i c h b r o u g h t these h a p p y d a y s w e e n j o y t o d a y a n d w h i c h i s g u i d i n g us, w i t h a c l e a r m i n d a n d a s u r e h a n d , t o w a r d s a n even finer and more beautiful future. The P a r t y taught us, its sons a n d d a u g h t e r s , h o w t o f i g h t a n d h o w t o w o r k for the freedom and the independence of the H o m e l a n d . It w a s t h e P a r t y w h i c h m a d e u s conscious f i g h t e r s f o r t h e cause o f t h e w o r k i n g class, w h i c h g a v e u s t h e ideas a n d t h e s t r e n g t h to s e r v e t h e cause of t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of socialism in Albania. T h e r e f o r e , a t these s o l e m n m o m e n t s , w h e n w e a r e preparing to vote for the r e n e w a l of the People's Assembly, a s a t e v e r y other m o m e n t , o u r f i n e s t t h o u g h t s , o u r feelings
__________________________________ 1 D e l i v e r e d in the electoral zone No. 210 of T i r a n a .
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o f p r o f o u n d l o v e a n d g r a t i t u d e a r e f o r t h e P a r t y , f o r its c o r r e c t line, f o r its u n s h a k e n l o y a l t y t o M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . F o r a l m o s t f o u r decades w e h a v e b e e n l i v i n g a n d w o r k i n g a s f r e e people i n o u r H o m e l a n d . L o o k i n g b a c k o v e r the r o a d w e h a v e t r a v e r s e d , a l l o f u s f e e l g r e a t j o y o v e r t h e successes a c h i e v e d a n d l e g i t i m a t e p r i d e i n t h e t o i l a n d e f f o r t s o f o u r people. T h i s p e r i o d w i l l g o d o w n i n history as the period w h e n the vitality and v i g o u r of our people, t h e i r m i l i t a n t s p i r i t a n d persistence i n w o r k , t h e i r great t h i r s t f o r l e a r n i n g a n d t h e i r p r o g r e s s i v e s p i r i t w e r e d i s p l a y e d i n a l l t h e i r s t r e n g t h . T h e s e w e r e the l o f t y v i r t u e s , w h i c h the P a r t y k n e w h o w to b r i n g to light and to transf o r m i n t o a great m o t i v e force, t h a t m a d e p o s s i b l e t h e r a p i d a n d s u c c e s s f u l a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f a l l those g r e a t socio-economic t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s w h i c h w e h a v e seen i n o u r lifetime. It was the freedom-loving and revolutionary character o f o u r people, t h e lessons t h e y h a d d r a w n f r o m t h e b i t t e r past, w h e n A l b a n i a w a s r u l e d a n d o p p r e s s e d b y foreigners, w h i c h impelled t h e m to unite f i r m l y a r o u n d the P a r t y a n d , u n d e r its l e a d e r s h i p , t o f i g h t a n d e m e r g e v i c t o r i o u s o v e r t h e plots a n d i n t e r f e r e n c e o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s , a n d the b e t r a y a l b y t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s Y u g o s l a v , Soviet and Chinese. T h e elections t o the P e o p l e ' s A s s e m b l y are a n o c c a s i o n f o r u s a l l , f o r t h e e n t i r e people, t o m e e t a n d t a l k , t o s u m up the w o r k accomplished and to examine the tasks awaiti n g us T h e n e w elections f i n d A l b a n i a c o n f i d e n t o f its d e s t i n y , a c o u n t r y w h i c h stands f i r m l y o n its o w n feet, w h i c h has a clear p e r s p e c t i v e a n d a g u a r a n t e e d f u t u r e . T h e A l b a n i a n people h a v e n e v e r b e e n s o u n i t e d i n t h e i r interests, i n t h e i r political and ideological views, their m o r a l norms and social b e h a v i o u r , a s t h e y are t o d a y . T h i s steel u n i t y , t e m p e r e d b y the P a r t y i n the h e r o i c battles f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e H o m e l a n d a n d f o r t h e great socialist t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s , i s
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the f i r m a n d u n b r e a k a b l e f o u n d a t i o n o n w h i c h the people's state p o w e r , the f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f the H o m e l a n d are based. T h i s u n i t y constitutes t h a t great m o n o l i t h i c f o r c e w h i c h has w i t h s t o o d savage e n e m i e s a n d defeated t h e i r i n t r i g u e s a n d plots. A g a i n s t t h i s u n i t y o f t h e P a r t y a n d people M e h m e t S h e h u , too, one o f t h e m o s t d a n g e r o u s t r a i t o r s a n d e n e m i e s o f socialist A l b a n i a , b r o k e h i s h e a d . H e h a d b e e n c r i t i c i z e d m a n y times by the P a r t y for his grave mistakes, but had managed to camouflage himself. The documents that have been d i s c o v e r e d a n d i n c o n t e s t i b l e e v i d e n c e p r o v e t h a t since b e f o r e t h e W a r h e h a d been w o r k i n g f o r the A m e r i c a n secret service. D u r i n g t h e W a r a n d a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n M e h met Shehu fought and w o r k e d in A l b a n i a as a mercenary i n the p a y o f f o r e i g n e r s a n d u n d e r t h e i r orders. W h e n h e w a s i n t h e 1st B r i g a d e h e w a s r e c r u i t e d b y the Y u g o s l a v secret s e r v i c e ( O Z N A , t o d a y t h e U D B ) a n d t h e n , b y t h e Soviet K G B , a n d he served t h e m a l l zealously. A c t i n g on the o r d e r s a n d i n s t r u c t i o n s o f f o r e i g n espionage centres, e s p e c i a l l y t h e C I A a n d the U D B , h e a n d the g r o u p o f p l o t ters l i n k e d w i t h h i m , w h o a r e n o w i n the h a n d s o f t h e authorities for f u l l investigation, w o r k e d to destroy the P a r t y a n d the people's state p o w e r a n d t o p u t A l b a n i a under foreign rule. I n o r d e r t o c a r r y t h r o u g h t h e s u b v e r s i v e , gangster plans w o r k e d out by their patrons in Washington, Belgrade a n d e l s e w h e r e , M e h m e t S h e h u a n d h i s associates w e r e prepared to commit grave crimes. M e h m e t Shehu had r e c e i v e d o r d e r s f r o m t h e Y u g o s l a v U D B t o k i l l the F i r s t S e c r e t a r y o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a n d other leaders o f t h e P a r t y a n d state, as w e l l as to use t e r r o r i s t m e a n s to c r u s h a l l those w h o w o u l d r i s e against t h i s great t r e a c h e r y . I f t h e y w e r e u n a b l e t o act t o c a r r y out t h e i r c r i m i n a l i n t e n tions, t h i s w a s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e i r g r e a t f e a r o f the people a n d t h e P a r t y a n d t h e i r steel u n i t y , w h i c h does not a l l o w
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any enemy, however cunning and diabolical, to have his way. Mehmet Shehu was never able to alter or distort the l i n e of t h e P a r t y , because if he t r i e d to do so he w o u l d be immediately unmasked. Caught between which was driven to sova, a n d his fear o f Mehmet Shehu could course of s u i c i d e . t w o fires the order of the U D B , d e s p e r a t i o n a s i t lost g r o u n d i n K o t h e u n i t y o f the P a r t y a n d t h e people, see n o a l t e r n a t i v e b u t t h e s h a m e f u l
T h e great u n i t y o f o u r people has its source i n t h e correct l i n e o f t h e P a r t y w h i c h has a l w a y s e m b o d i e d a n d expressed the h i s t o r i c a l d e m a n d s o f t h e masses. T h e people dreamed of l i v i n g free and independent in their o w n country, of e l i m i n a t i n g exploitation and social oppression, o f o v e r c o m i n g the a g e - o l d b a c k w a r d n e s s . T h e y d e m a n d e d t h e a l l - r o u n d e m a n c i p a t i o n o f A l b a n i a n society, t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f a l l t h e c r e a t i v e forces, the free d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e capacities a n d t a l e n t s suppressed b y t h e r e g i m e s o f t h e past. T h e y w a n t e d t o b e m a s t e r s o f t h e i r o w n c o u n t r y a n d equal in their relations w i t h other nations. U n d e r the leadership of the Party, our people have r e a l i z e d these a s p i r a t i o n s c o m p l e t e l y . T h e y a r e a l i v i n g r e a l i t y , w h i c h w e see, t o u c h a n d e x p e r i e n c e e v e r y d a y . S o c i a l i s t A l b a n i a is a c o m p l e t e l y free a n d i n d e p e n d e n t c o u n t r y a n d state w h i c h i s i n d e b t e d t o n o b o d y f o r a n y t h i n g . T h e tutelage a n d dictate, i n t e r f e r e n c e a n d debts, f r o m w h i c h m a n y countries, not o n l y s m a l l ones, b u t also b i g ones s u f fer, are a l i e n a n d u n a c c e p t a b l e t o A l b a n i a . N e v e r b e f o r e has A l b a n i a enjoyed an international position stronger than it has t o d a y . W i t h i n a r e l a t i v e l y v e r y short t i m e , A l b a n i a has been t r a n s f o r m e d f r o m a p o o r a n d s t a r v i n g c o u n t r y i n t o one f u l l o f factories a n d combines, m i n e s a n d h y d r o - p o w e r stations, w i t h d r a i n e d a n d i r r i g a t e d fields, w i t h schools a n d s c i e n t i f i c i n s t i t u t i o n s . O u r people are e n l i g h t e n e d p o l i t i c a l l y
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a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l y , e d u c a t e d a n d c u l t u r e d , able t o a c c o m p l i s h a n y w o r k w h i c h i s n e e d e d f o r the progress a n d t h e defence o f t h e H o m e l a n d w i t h t h e i r o w n forces. I n o u r c o u n t r y a revolutionary and patriotic younger generation is growing up, an a l l - r o u n d educated generation w h i c h w i l l certainly c a r r y t h e t o r c h o f the r e v o l u t i o n e v e r f u r t h e r f o r w a r d a n d r a i s e t h e g l o r y o f o u r socialist H o m e l a n d h i g h e r a n d higher. O u r people h a v e b e e n a b l e t o a c h i e v e these b r i l l i a n t results, h a v e a d v a n c e d a n d are a d v a n c i n g , because b o t h i n t h e i r e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t a n d i n a l l other f i e l d s t h e y h a v e r e l i e d e n t i r e l y o n t h e i r o w n forces, because o u r P a r t y , i n a l l its a c t i v i t y , has a p p l i e d t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m faithfully and in a creative manner. I n A l b a n i a M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m has g i v e n a great p r o o f o f its p o w e r t o r e v o l u t i o n i z e a n d t r a n s f o r m , w h e n i t i s implemented correctly a n d consistently. T o d a y o l d a n d y o u n g a m o n g u s see w i t h t h e i r o w n eyes a n d f e e l i n t h e i r h e a r t s t h e j u s t i c e o f t h e people's state p o w e r , t h e i n d i s p u t a b l e s u p e r i o r i t y a n d the v i t a l i t y of o u r socialist s o c i a l o r d e r . W i t h t h e t o i l , sweat a n d c r e a t i v e t a l e n t o f o u r people, r e l y i n g o n o u r o w n n a t u r a l a n d f i n a n c i a l resources, a n entirely new, powerful multi-branched modern industry has b e e n c r e a t e d o v e r the w h o l e t e r r i t o r y o f the c o u n t r y . I t i s w i t h l e g i t i m a t e p r i d e t h a t w e see s u c h g i g a n t i c w o r k s a s the m e t a l l u r g i c a l c o m b i n e a n d the u n i f i e d p o w e r s y s t e m w i t h t h e h y d r o - p o w e r stations o n t h e D r i n R i v e r , the o i l w e l l s a n d t h e p l a n t s f o r t h e deep p r o c e s s i n g o f o i l , the c h e m i c a l p l a n t s a n d t e x t i l e c o m b i n e s , t h e tens o f m i n e s , c o m b i n e s a n d f a c t o r i e s f o r p r o c e s s i n g metals a n d m a n y other m a j e s t i c p r o j e c t s . W i t h o u r i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t s w e n o w f u l f i l t h e essential needs of the p e o p l e f o r a c o n s u m p t i o n w h i c h is ceaselessly e x p a n d i n g , the needs o f t h e e c o n o m y w h i c h i s d e v e l o p i n g
602
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v i g o r o u s l y , a n d the r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r s t r e n g t h e n i n g the defence c a p a c i t y o f t h e H o m e l a n d . I n d u s t r y has n o w b e c o m e t h e m a i n source o f socialist a c c u m u l a t i o n a n d e x p o r t i n c o m e . It is a f a c t o r of p r i m e i m p o r t a n c e in o u r c o m p l e t e self-reliance. It is a m e r i t of o u r P a r t y t h a t it l i n k e d t h e s e t t i n g up a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n d u s t r y closely w i t h t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d the a d v a n c e o f t h e c o u n t r y s i d e o n t h e road of socialism. A d h e r i n g to the line defined by the P a r t y , o u r socialist a g r i c u l t u r e has been ceaselessly s t r e n g thened and is advancing resolutely on the road of intensification and securing high yields. The drained, flood-protected a n d i r r i g a t e d p l a i n s , the h i l l s a n d m o u n t a i n sides t u r n e d i n t o g r a i n p r o d u c i n g l a n d a n d p l a n t a t i o n s o f f r u i t trees, the c r e a t i o n of a c o m p l e x i r r i g a t i o n s y s t e m , t h e i n c r e a s e in livestock numbers and the modernization of a n i m a l husb a n d r y , the s e t t i n g u p o f a n e x t e n s i v e p a r k o f a g r i c u l t u r a l m a c h i n e r y these a r e some o f t h e a c h i e v e m e n t s w h i c h h a v e r a d i c a l l y c h a n g e d the p i c t u r e o f o u r a g r i c u l t u r e . F u r t h e r e v i d e n c e o f t h e s t r e n g t h o f o u r socialist a g r i c u l t u r e a n d its a d v a n c e i s the fact that, despite t h e e x c e p t i o n a l l y severe d r o u g h t o f t h i s y e a r , m o r e w h e a t a n d maize was produced than in any other year of the postL i b e r a t i o n p e r i o d . O u r a g r i c u l t u r e has n o w m a d e t h e people's f o o d s u p p l i e s i n d e p e n d e n t o f i m p o r t s , e n s u r e s t h e r a w m a t e r i a l s f o r the l i g h t a n d f o o d i n d u s t r y a n d p r o v i d e s i m p o r t a n t sources o f a c c u m u l a t i o n a n d f o r e i g n c u r r e n c y . O u r socialist c o u n t r y s i d e i s p o p u l a t e d a n d f l o u r i s h i n g , its w a y o f l i f e i s b e c o m i n g m o r e a n d m o r e l i k e t h a t o f the c i t y . A n e x t e n s i v e t r a n s p o r t s y s t e m h a s been set u p w i t h hundreds of kilometres of r a i l w a y , w i t h a large p a r k of m o t o r - v e h i c l e s a n d w i t h a m e r c h a n t fleet w h i c h i s s t e a d i l y g r o w i n g stronger. T h i s s y s t e m has s t r e n g t h e n e d t h e u n i f i e d c h a r a c t e r o f the e c o n o m y a n d g r e a t l y i n v i g o r a t e d the e c o n o m i c a n d social l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y .
WORK AND VIGILANCE
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T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e e c o n o m y , t h e progress i n m a t e r i a l , i n t e l l e c t u a l a n d s p i r i t u a l life, h a v e been a c c o m p a n i e d a n d s u p p o r t e d b y a r e a l r e v o l u t i o n i n the f i e l d o f e d u c a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e , t h e t r a i n i n g o f cadres, a n d science a n d t e c h n i q u e . O u r people, g u i d e d b y t h e P a r t y , h a v e n e v e r s e p a r a t e d t h e i r w o r k a n d a c t i v i t y f r o m the great q u e s t i o n o f m a k i n g t h e socialist v i c t o r i e s secure a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g the defence capacity of our beloved Homeland. F o u r y e a r s ago, o n t h e e v e o f elections f o r t h e last legislature we publicly denounced the betrayal of the C h i nese r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r a n t i - A l b a n i a n a c t i v i t y . T h e e n e m i e s h o p e d t h a t socialist A l b a n i a w o u l d b e f o r c e d t o its k n e e s a n d a p p e a l f o r f o r e i g n a i d . B u t t h e y w e r e p r o v e n w r o n g i n t h e i r c a l c u l a t i o n s . S o m e n e u t r a l people also t h o u g h t t h a t w e c o u l d not m a n a g e w i t h o u t f o r e i g n a i d a n d credits. T i m e p r o v e d t h a t A l b a n i a n e i t h e r b o w e d its h e a d n o r f e l l o n its knees, b u t f o r g e d a h e a d p r o u d l y , r e l y i n g o n its o w n forces, w i t h o u t a i d f r o m a n y o n e , a n d m o r e o v e r , a d v a n c e d m o r e r a p i d l y a n d f u r t h e r . B u t t h e facts speak m o r e e l o q u e n t l y a b o u t this. D u r i n g the past f o u r y e a r s tens o f i n d u s t r i a l , a g r i cultural, transport a n d socio-cultural projects w e r e c o m pleted and began to function. T h e coming into production of the Light of the P a r t y h y d r o - p o w e r station at Fierza, t h e second blast f u r n a c e , t h e c o k i n g b a t t e r y a n d t h e r e f r a c t o r y m a t e r i a l s p l a n t a t the S t e e l o f t h e P a r t y m e t a l l u r g i c a l combine, the ferro-chrome plant in B u r r e l , the copper smelting plant at La, the L a - S h k o d r a railway, the d o u b l i n g of the c a p a c i t y of the sugar c o m b i n e at M a l i q , the b u i l d i n g o f e i g h t l a r g e i r r i g a t i o n r e s e r v o i r s s u c h a s those a t G j a n i n K o r a , T a p i z a i n T i r a n a , I z v o r i n T e p e l e n a , etc., t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e M u s e u m o f N a t i o n a l H i s t o r y a n d m o r e t h a n 5 3 t h o u s a n d a p a r t m e n t s a n d houses,
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a c c o m m o d a t i n g o v e r 250 t h o u s a n d people i n t o w n s a n d v i l l a g e s , b e l o n g to t h e p e r i o d of the last l e g i s l a t u r e . D u r i n g the past f o u r y e a r s alone, a b o u t 160 t h o u s a n d people e n t e r e d e m p l o y m e n t , m a i n l y i n p r o d u c t i o n , t h u s a l l the n e w w o r k f o r c e w a s a c t i v i z e d . T h e s t a b i l i t y o f o u r finances has b e e n s t r e n g t h e n e d , e n a b l i n g n e a r l y 40 p e r cent of the f u n d s of the state b u d g e t to be u t i l i z e d f o r t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f the l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e w o r k i n g people, f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f e d u c a t i o n a n d t h e h e a l t h service, f o r t h e e x t e n s i o n o f the s y s t e m o f s o c i a l s e c u r i t y a n d pensions, a n d f o r other needs of t h e c o m m u n i t y . In socialist A l b a n i a there is no unemployment, no inflation, no taxes or levies o n the p o p u l a t i o n . H o u s e r e n t s a r e v e r y l o w . T h e n e w r e d u c t i o n in prices ( 2 ) f o r a series of c o n s u m e r goods a n d f o r c o m m u n a l services i s a n o t h e r m a n i f e s t a t i o n of the care of the P a r t y f o r t h e w e l l - b e i n g of the people, of t h e s t r e n g t h of t h e e c o n o m y a n d the d e v e l o p m e n t of the e c o n o m i c a n d social processes i n o u r socialist c o u n t r y o n the r i g h t r o a d . T h e results w e h a v e a c h i e v e d are e v e n m o r e i n g i f w e b e a r i n m i n d that i n a l l the c a p i t a l i s t sionist c o u n t r i e s t h e r e is a great d e p r e s s i o n in the d e c l i n i n g p r o d u c t i o n , u n e m p l o y m e n t , p r i c e rises, flation and falling standard of living. the and the that outstandand revieconomy, great i n -
I n essence, t h e present w o r l d e c o n o m i c c r i s i s i s l i k e a l l other p r e v i o u s e c o n o m i c crises. A s M a r x has e x p l a i n e d history confirmed, they are unavoidable phenomena of capitalist s y s t e m . W h a t i s n e w i n t h e present c r i s i s i s it has d e m o n s t r a t e d t h e b a n k r u p t c y of t h e b o u r g e o i s
____________________________________ 2 Reference here is to the reduction of prices for some retail goods of mass consumption w i t h an a n n u a l profit of 75 m i l l i o n leks and 135 different tariffs on repairs and services as against 8-15 per cent in J u n e 1982. As a result of the successive reductions of prices for goods and services, the population in A l b a n i a profited about 4 b i l l i o n leks a year.
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a n d r e v i s i o n i s t theories a n d p r a c t i c e s d e s i g n e d t o a v o i d t h e m . I t has b e e n c o n f i r m e d i n p r a c t i c e t h a t the s t i m u l a t i o n o f p r o d u c t i o n t h r o u g h t h e a r t i f i c i a l increase o f i n t e r n a l c o n s u m p t i o n , b y t u r n i n g a l l t h e people i n t o d e b t o r s t o m o n o p o l i e s , i s f r a u g h t w i t h c a t a s t r o p h i c consequences f o r t h e e n t i r e c o u n t r y . T h e v a i n g l o r i o u s boasts a b o u t r a i s i n g the s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g t h r o u g h loans, a s i n Y u g o s l a v i a , w h e r e people are o b l i g e d t o s p e n d t h i s w i n t e r w i t h o u t h e a t i n g a n d w i t h great shortages o f c o n s u m e r goods o f p r i m e necessity, h a v e f a l l e n flat. Likewise, basing economic development on foreign loans, w h i c h w a s t r u m p e t e d f o r a t i m e , b o t h i n t h e W e s t a n d i n t h e East, a s the r o a d t o the s a l v a t i o n o f m a n k i n d , has t u r n e d out to be a s t r a t e g y f o r the e n s l a v e m e n t of t h e p o o r a n d w e a k c o u n t r i e s b y i m p e r i a l i s m a n d the b i g i n dustrialized powers. G r e a t progress has b e e n m a d e i n the f i e l d o f e d u c a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e , t e c h n i q u e a n d science. T h e great c a r e w h i c h the P a r t y has d i s p l a y e d f o r these sectors a n d t h e e f f o r t s w h i c h the people's p o w e r has m a d e f o r t h e i r d e v e l o p m e n t h a v e y i e l d e d s p l e n d i d results. O u r e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m i s one of the most p r o g r e s s i v e , one of t h e most d e m o c r a t i c a n d p o p u l a r i n t h e w o r l d . W h e r e v e r t h e y are. o u r c h i l d r e n h a v e b e e n p r o v i d e d w i t h t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t o a t t e n d the 8-year schools. S e c o n d a r y schools h a v e b e e n e x t e n d e d to the countryside where they attract more and more an e x t r e m e l y large and ever increasing n u m b e r of pupils. M a n y possibilities have been created everywhere for people t o a t t e n d s e c o n d a r y a n d h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , p a r t t i m e . C r e a t i v e l i t e r a r y a n d a r t i s t i c w o r k , s o u n d i n content a n d v a r i e d i n f o r m , e n r i c h e s the s p i r i t u a l l i f e o f o u r people. L i t e r a t u r e , m u s i c , f i g u r a t i v e arts, f i l m s , the theatre, t e l e v i sion, etc., g u i d e d b y t h e P a r t y , c a r r y out great p o l i t i c a l , ideological and educational w o r k and play an important r o l e i n t h e f o r m a t i o n o f the socialist t r a i t s i n the c h a r a c t e r
606 o f o u r people, morality. in
ENVER HOXHA implanting the norms of communist
T h e P a r t y has g i v e n s p e c i a l care t o t h e a s s i m i l a t i o n a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f science a n d t e c h n i q u e i n o u r c o u n t r y . D e s p i t e t h e l i m i t e d t r a d i t i o n i n these sectors, t h i s care o f t h e P a r t y has e n a b l e d o u r people, t a l e n t e d a n d t h i r s t i n g for knowledge, to learn and competently apply the c o m plicated techniques w h i c h the r a p i d development of the m o d e r n e c o n o m y a n d other sectors r e q u i r e s . T h e s e t t i n g u p of a c o n s i d e r a b l e n u m b e r of s p e c i a l i z e d i n s t i t u t e s f o r s c i e n t i f i c studies, t h e c r e a t i o n o f t e c h n o l o g i c a l b u r e a u s , m a n y s t u d y groups, etc., t e s t i f y t o t h e e x p a n s i o n w h i c h s c i e n t i f i c w o r k has a s s u m e d i n o u r c o u n t r y , a s w e l l a s t o t h e need t h e e c o n o m y a n d t h e e n t i r e society h a v e f o r it. A t the same t i m e , the P a r t y has a l w a y s w o r k e d t o e n s u r e t h a t s c i e n t i f i c studies a n d m e t h o d s i n p r o d u c t i o n , o r g a n i z a t i o n , m a n a g e m e n t a n d e v e r y w h e r e else become a n i n t e g r a l p a r t of the d a i l y p r a c t i c e of o u r people. V i v i d e v i d e n c e o f t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e people's state p o w e r a n d t h e v i t a l i t y o f o u r s o c i a l o r d e r c a n b e seen i n the great changes i n t h e c a p i t a l o f o u r d e a r H o m e l a n d . D u r i n g these y e a r s T i r a n a has b e e n c o m p l e t e l y t r a n s f o r m e d . Its p o p u l a t i o n is o v e r 8 t i m e s g r e a t e r t h a n t h a t of the p e r i o d b e f o r e L i b e r a t i o n , a n d m o r e t h a n 8 0 p e r cent o f t h i s p o p u l ation lives in new dwellings. T h e secondary school pupils alone o u t n u m b e r t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e c i t y o f T i r a n a before t h e w a r . T o d a y the 7 0 t h o u s a n d w o r k e r s w h o w o r k a n d create i n t h e c a p i t a l e n s u r e one f i f t h o f t h e i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y . A l l o u r cities a n d v i l l a g e s h a v e been t r a n s f o r m e d i n t h e s a m e w a y a s T i r a n a . W i t h the perspectives that the 8th Congress of the P a r t y has opened, a s t i l l h a p p i e r a n d m o r e p r o s p e r o u s f u t u r e a w a i t s o u r people. T h e n e w l e g i s l a t u r e o f t h e P e o p l e ' s A s s e m b l y coincides i n t i m e w i t h t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of the 7th F i v e - y e a r P l a n . We have a l l the h u m a n , material
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a n d f i n a n c i a l resources t o f o r g e r e s o l u t e l y a h e a d a n d t o achieve still greater results in all fields d u r i n g this period. A n d w i t h o u t doubt, t h r o u g h o u r w o r k a n d efforts, w e s h a l l succeed i n h a v i n g m o r e o i l a n d m i n e r a l s , m o r e steel, electric power, bread grain, and other agricultural and livestock p r o d u c t s , m o r e a n d b e t t e r q u a l i t y i n d u s t r i a l goods f o r mass c o n s u m p t i o n . O u r e c o n o m y w i l l g r o w s t i l l stronger, t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f the p r o d u c t i v e forces w i l l b e c a r r i e d f u r t h e r f o r w a r d . H u n d r e d s o f i m p o r t a n t e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i o - c u l t u r a l projects w i l l b e b u i l t . S u c h m a j o r p r o j e c t s a s the K o m a n h y d r o p o w e r s t a t i o n , the p l a n t f o r l u b r i c a t i n g oils a n d t h e p l a n t f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f n i c k e l a n d m e t a l l i c cobalt w i l l b e added to industry. T h e production of the ferro-chrome m e t a l l u r g i c a l plant w i l l be doubled, a n u m b e r of factories f o r t h e e n r i c h m e n t o f m i n e r a l s a n d the p r o c e s s i n g o f a g r i c u l t u r a l and livestock products w i l l be built, the textile combines and k n i t w e a r plants w i l l be extended and rec o n s t r u c t e d , etc. W o r k w i l l b e g i n also o n the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f m a n y i m portant projects of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, h y d r o - p o w e r , b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s , etc. I n t h i s w a y , i n d u s t r y w i l l b e f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d p l a y its d e c i s i v e r o l e i n the a l l - r o u n d a d v a n c e o f t h e c o u n t r y e v e n better. T h e course o f t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e , p l a c i n g i t o n a m o r e s c i e n t i f i c basis, w i l l b e a d o p t e d m o r e e x t e n s i v e l y , o p e n i n g u p great prospects f o r t h e increase o f a g r i c u l t u r a l and livestock production, for the further developm e n t o f socialist l i f e i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e a n d f o r s t r e n g t h ening the independence of the country. P r i o r i t y w i l l be given to intensification of production in an extensive lowl a n d zone. B i g i n v e s t m e n t s w i l l b e m a d e f o r l a n d d e v e l o p m e n t , i r r i g a t i o n , m e c h a n i z a t i o n , the i n c r e a s e a n d i m p r o v e m e n t o f p l a n t a t i o n s o f p i p , stone a n d c i t r u s f r u i t a n d o l i v e trees.
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A s y o u k n o w , o n t h e basis o f the 7th F i v e - y e a r P l a n a n d t h e last P l e n u m o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y , an entire p r o g r a m w i l l be implemented for the further strengthening of our transport, g i v i n g p r i o r i t y to r a i l w a y t r a n s p o r t w h i c h has a l r e a d y been e x t e n d e d i n the m a i n d i r e c t i o n s of the m o v e m e n t of goods a n d passengers. T h e a t t a i n m e n t o f the objectives f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t of production w i l l guarantee and raise still higher the w e l l b e i n g o f the people, b o t h i n t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e . T h e s u p p l y o f the m a r k e t w i t h i n d u s t r i a l goods a n d f o o d s t u f f s w i l l b e i m p r o v e d ceaselessly, the s t r u c t u r e o f t h e f o o d c o n s u m e d b y the people w i l l b e i m p r o v e d , i m p o r t a n t i n v e s t ments w i l l b e m a d e f o r h o u s i n g , a n d a n u m b e r o f other measures, i n t e n d e d f o r t h e f u r t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t o f t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f the people i n a l l aspects o f life, w i l l b e t a k e n . T h e e d u c a t i o n a l a n d c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f the w o r k i n g people a n d the p r o t e c t i o n a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e i r h e a l t h w i l l , as a l w a y s , be in the c e n t r e of t h e a t t e n t i o n of o u r P a r t y a n d socialist state. N e w steps w i l l also b e t a k e n i n the v a r i o u s sectors o f c u l t u r e , t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e i r w o r k i s e x t e n d e d deep a m o n g t h e masses a n d serves t h e i r a l l r o u n d e d u c a t i o n better. A t a l l t i m e s a n d i n e v e r y s i t u a t i o n the P a r t y a n d the people's state p o w e r h a v e d e v o t e d the greatest a t t e n t i o n t o the defence o f t h e H o m e l a n d . T o d a y o u r c o u n t r y has a p o w e r f u l defence c a p a c i t y w h i c h g u a r a n t e e s the f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e w o n a t t h e cost o f s o m u c h b l o o d a n d sacrifices, a n d t h e p e a c e f u l w o r k o f o u r people. I t i s o u r d u t y t o steel this defence m o r e a n d m o r e s o t h a t w e are a l w a y s in a state of c o m p l e t e r e a d i n e s s to defeat a n y e n e m y who m a y attempt to violate our territorial integrity and national sovereignty. T h e u n i t y o f o u r people i s a s s t r o n g a s steel. O u r i n ternal situation is healthy. The Decree of the P r e s i d i u m
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of the People's Assembly, w h i c h w i l l be proclaimed tomorrow, under w h i c h m a n y prisoners convicted of various offences are p a r d o n e d o r t h e i r sentences r e d u c e d , c o n f i r m s this. T h e elections t o the P e o p l e ' s A s s e m b l y h a v e a l w a y s been a m a n i f e s t a t i o n of o u r socialist d e m o c r a c y , of the p o p u l a r c h a r a c t e r o f o u r state. A l l o u r people h a v e gone t o the p o l l s e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y e v e r y t i m e a n d a l l o f t h e m h a v e v o t e d f o r t h e c a n d i d a t e s o f the D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t , because t h e y h a v e b e e n conscious a n d c o n v i n c e d t h a t i n t h i s w a y t h e y e x p r e s s t h e i r l o v e f o r the P a r t y a n d l o y a l t y to its line, t h e i r u n a n i m o u s s u p p o r t f o r the people's state p o w e r , t h e i r c o n d e m n a t i o n o f t h e enemies, e x t e r n a l a n d internal, their determination to march boldly and proudly o n the b r i l l i a n t r o a d o f s o c i a l i s m . T h i s i s w h a t has h a p p e n e d i n the past. T h i s i s w h a t w i l l h a p p e n i n these elections. P a r t i c i p a t i o n i n the elections a n d v o t i n g f o r the c a n d i d a t e s o f the D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t i s a n e x p r e s s i o n o f p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l m a t u r i t y , o f class a n d p a t r i o t i c consciousness, of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r the fate of the c o u n t r y .
Dear
comrades,
W e are l i v i n g i n a v e r y tense i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n , f u l l o f great t h r e a t s a n d d a n g e r s t o the f r e e d o m a n d i n d e pendence of t h e peoples, peace a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y . T h i s s i t u a t i o n is the r e s u l t of t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of the a g g r e s s i v e p o l i c y a n d a c t i v i t i e s o f the i m p e r i a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r s a n d t h e r e v i v a l o f v a r i o u s r e a c t i o n a r y , fascist a n d w a r m o n g e r i n g forces. B o t h i n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d i n the S o v i e t U n i o n , a n a d v e n t u r o u s m i l i t a r i s t course i s b e c o m i n g p r e d o m i n a n t i n t h e i r f o r e i g n p o l i c y , a strategy o f d i r e c t m i l i t -
610
ENVER HOXHA
a r y i n t e r v e n t i o n as a m e a n s to secure e x p a n s i o n a n d t h e i r political and economic hegemony in the w o r l d is being implemented. N o w the superpowers have made not only the peoples a n d countries, w h i c h h a v e b e e n outside t h e zones of t h e i r d o m i n a t i o n , b u t also t h e i r closest p a r t n e r s i n the m i l i t a r y a l l i a n c e s a n d e c o n o m i c blocs, the objectives of this g e n e r a l o f f e n s i v e . In these situations, the peoples, of course, are not s i t t i n g i d l e . T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y , p a t r i o t i c , d e m o c r a t i c a n d peacel o v i n g forces e v e r y w h e r e i n the w o r l d are p u t t i n g u p o p e n a n d d e t e r m i n e d resistance t o the i n h u m a n aggressive p o l i c y of A m e r i c a n imperialism and Soviet social-imperialism. In A f g h a n i s t a n , i n the M i d d l e East, i n S a l v a d o r , etc., a r m e d s t r u g g l e i s b e i n g w a g e d t o r e g a i n the v i o l a t e d f r e e d o m a n d the lost i n d e p e n d e n c e . T h e I r a n i a n people are m a k i n g great e f f o r t s t o d e f e n d t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n f r o m the t h r e a t s a n d b l a c k m a i l o f the t w o s u p e r p o w e r s . I n a l l t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n t h e r e s i s t a n c e o f the w o r k i n g class t o d e f e n d t h e i r d e m o c r a t i c r i g h t s a n d t h e i r r i g h t t o w o r k w o n i n l o n g class battles has e x t e n d e d g r e a t l y . T h e struggle of m a n y countries for national sovereignty over their r a w materials and for independent development is being waged at a higher level a n d in broader proportions. T h e s e struggles a n d e f f o r t s also c o n s t i t u t e those m a i n factors w h i c h h i t the w o r l d c a p i t a l i s t a n d i m p e r i a l i s t syst e m , w h i c h cause t h e crises i n the c a p i t a l i s t a l l i a n c e s a n d e x a c e r b a t e the i n t e r i m p e r i a l i s t c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , w h i c h r e s t r a i n a n d h i n d e r i m p e r i a l i s m i n the r e a l i z a t i o n o f its e n s l a v ing and war-mongering plans. O u r Party and Government, as always, attentively f o l l o w t h e v a r i o u s processes w h i c h t a k e place i n t h e w o r l d a n d d r a w the r e s p e c t i v e c o n c l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e s t a n d s t h e y s h o u l d adopt t o w a r d s t h e m , stands w h i c h m u s t r e s p o n d t o the needs o f the defence a n d s e c u r i t y o f o u r state a n d c o u n t r y . W e are a w a r e t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n s i n t h e w o r l d
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n e v e r s t a n d s t i l l a n d i m m o v a b l e . T h e y are a l w a y s c h a n g i n g a n d e v o l v i n g f o r b e t t e r o r f o r w o r s e , a c c o r d i n g t o the r a t i o o f t h e class forces i n t h e w o r l d , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f the v a r i o u s c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , crises, etc. N o w we see that, as a r e s u l t of t h e h e g e m o n i c p o l i c y a n d b r u t a l i n t e r v e n t i o n o f the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , n e w t e n s i o n s a n d c o n f l i c t s are b e i n g c r e a t e d i n E u r o p e , t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n , t h e M i d d l e East, a n d t h e B a l k a n s , d i r e c t l y t h r e a t e n i n g t h e peace a n d s e c u r i t y o f m a n y c o u n t r i e s o f these regions. T h e countries of Western and Eastern Europe are in t h e i r o n g r i p o f t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s w h i c h n o w not o n l y w a n t t o g r a b t h e i r w e a l t h , b u t also t o squeeze t h e l i f e out o f t h e m . Q u i t e r i g h t l y , t h e b r o a d p o p u l a r masses i n m a n y c o u n t r i e s h a v e r i s e n i n protests a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s against the stationing of A m e r i c a n and Soviet atomic weapons and are i n s i s t e n t l y d e m a n d i n g t h e i r r e m o v a l f r o m o u r o l d c o n t i n e n t . T h e masses a r e a w a r e t h a t b y p u t t i n g these countries under their atomic umbrellas, the superpowers want to keep them in perpetual political and economic s u b j e c t i o n a n d t o m a k e the w h o l e o f E u r o p e c a n n o n f o d d e r for the A m e r i c a n s and the Soviets. Regardless of w h a t justifications m a y be put up, the d i s p a t c h o f m i l i t a r y u n i t s f r o m some E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s t o L e b a n o n , a l o n g w i t h those o f t h e U n i t e d States, constitutes a v e r y dangerous precedent for direct m i l i t a r y intervention i n the i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f i n d e p e n d e n t c o u n t r i e s . I n a w a y , t h i s a c t i o n is a r e t u r n to t h e o l d p o l i c y of the E u r o p e a n Great Powers w h i c h , under the pretext of putting d o w n u n r e s t a n d r e s t o r i n g order, sent t h e i r troops t o v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s i n o r d e r t o e s t a b l i s h t h e i r d o m i n a t i o n there. T h e opinion of our P a r t y is that the strengthening of peace a n d s e c u r i t y i n E u r o p e , i n t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n o r i n the M i d d l e East, t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o s p e r i t y o f t h e E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s , the p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e i r c u l t u r e , t r a d i -
612
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tions a n d c i v i l i z a t i o n are a c h i e v e d a n d c o n s o l i d a t e d b y opposing the hegemonic policy of A m e r i c a n imperialism and Soviet social-imperialism, by giving them no possibility w h a t s o e v e r o f e x p l o i t i n g t h e i r p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d other l i n k s w i t h these c o u n t r i e s i n o r d e r t o a t t a c k o t h e r countries, to j e o p a r d i z e the f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e of t h e peoples, peace a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y . N e i t h e r the A t l a n t i c P a c t , t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y , t h e m i l i t a r y bases e s t a b l i s h e d i n v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s , n o r t h e s u p e r p o w e r s ' a t o m i c w e a p o n s g u a r a n t e e t h e defence o f t h e E u r o p e a n countries, t h e i r free a n d i n d e p e n d e n t d e v e l o p ment, t h e i r s o v e r e i g n t y a n d t e r r i t o r i a l i n t e g r i t y . T h e y a r e secured b y b r e a k i n g u p these pacts a n d b y s e n d i n g the A m e r i c a n a n d S o v i e t soldiers b a c k t o t h e i r homes, b y b r e a k i n g a n d s m a s h i n g the p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y chains, w i t h w h i c h Washington and Moscow have bound Europe. S u c h a t h i n g s h o u l d be done in the B a l k a n s , too, w h e r e , t a k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f the d i f f i c u l t s i t u a t i o n s c r e a t e d i n some c o u n t r y , the s u p e r p o w e r s h a v e b e g u n to m o v e , to e x e r t v a r i o u s pressures a n d d e m a n d n e w concessions i n t h e i r f a v o u r . T h e p r o v i s i o n o f m i l i t a r y bases a n d d i f f e r e n t f a cilities f o r t h e U n i t e d States a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n t h r e a t e n s the peace a n d s e c u r i t y o f the B a l k a n s a n d s o does s i n k i n g deep i n t o debt t o the s u p e r p o w e r s , w h i c h e n t a i l s m a n y dangers, not o n l y f o r t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e of the d e b t o r c o u n t r y , b u t also f o r its n e i g h b o u r s . I t i s k n o w n that, w h e n y o u h a v e m o r t g a g e d y o u r t i t l e deeds a n d c a n n o t p a y u p , the d a y comes w h e n t h e c r e d i t o r seizes not o n l y y o u r h o m e , but also the g r o u n d o n w h i c h i t i s b u i l t . T h e B a l k a n peoples h a v e s u f f e r e d e n o u g h i n the past a n d d o not w a n t the m a p o f t h e i r p e n i n s u l a t o b e c h a n g e d in favour of this or that superpower. Therefore, the B a l k a n states s h o u l d not p e r m i t the i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s t o e n t e r t h e B a l k a n s o n a n y occasion o r i n a n y w a y , t o d i s t u r b the peace a n d s e c u r i t y of t h e i r c o u n t r i e s .
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T h e present s i t u a t i o n i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t has become v e r y d i s t u r b i n g . T h e n e w I s r a e l i aggression against L e banon, organized, financed and incited by the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , has c r e a t e d d i r e c t t h r e a t s a n d dangers, not o n l y f o r t h e peoples of t h e s u r r o u n d i n g zone, b u t also f o r those of a m u c h w i d e r area. T a k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f the great A m e r i c a n a i d a n d t h e d i v i s i o n s a m o n g s t t h e A r a b peoples, I s r a e l has e x t e n d e d its r a n g e of p r o v o c a t i o n s a n d w a n t s to destroy, one after the other, a l l those c o u n t r i e s w h i c h d o not accept the g r a b b i n g o f A r a b t e r r i t o r i e s a n d genocide i m p o s e d o n t h e l o n g s u f f e r i n g P a l e s t i n i a n people. T h e e x p a n s i o n i s t p o l i c y a n d a c t i v i t y o f I s r a e l a t the e x p e n s e o f the A r a b s i s also i n c i t e d a n d f a v o u r e d b y the p o l i c y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , its b e h i n d - t h e - s c e n e s deals a n d p l o t s t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f the A r a b peoples. A f t e r C a m p D a v i d , Israel attacked Lebanon. N o w it is demanding the submission of J o r d a n and is threatening S y r i a w i t h w a r . W h o s e t u r n w i l l i t b e t o m o r r o w Iraq's, S a u d i A r a b i a ' s o r I r a n ' s ? T h e A m e r i c a n a n d I s r a e l i staffs are t h i n k i n g a b o u t a n d w o r k i n g f o r this. B u t w i l l the b r a v e A r a b peoples a l l o w I s r a e l a n d its A m e r i c a n bosses t o d o w h a t e v e r t h e y please t o t h e i r d e t r i m e n t ? W i l l t h e y r e m a i n divided as they are so that Israel and A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m defeat a n d c r u s h t h e m one b y one, a s t h e y are d o i n g ? W e b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s w i l l not h a p p e n . T h e A r a b peoples a r e f r e e d o m - l o v i n g peoples w i t h v e r y a n c i e n t f i g h t i n g t r a d i t i o n s , peoples t h a t h a v e g i v e n m a n k i n d a w h o l e c i v i l i z a t i o n . T h e y w i l l c e r t a i n l y f i n d the s t r e n g t h t o u n i t e a n d stop t h e Z i o n i s t aggressors f r o m g r a b b i n g t h e A r a b l a n d s a n d e x t e r m i n a t i n g t h e people w h o i n h a b i t t h e m . H o w e v e r p r o t r a c t e d t h e struggle, h o w e v e r great the d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d h o w e v e r m a n y the sacrifices r e q u i r e d o f t h e m , v i c t o r y w i l l b e t h e i r s . R i g h t i s o n t h e i r side, t h e w h o l e
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o f p r o g r e s s i v e m a n k i n d i s w i t h t h e m . O u r people h a v e a l w a y s stood beside t h e f r a t e r n a l A r a b peoples, the h e r o i c P a l e s t i n i a n people a n d s u p p o r t e d t h e i r j u s t cause. I n t h e f u t u r e , too, t h e j u s t s t r u g g l e o f the A r a b s a n d P a l e s t i n i a n s w i l l h a v e the f u l l a n d u n r e s e r v e d s u p p o r t o f t h e A l b a n i a n people. R e c e n t l y , e s p e c i a l l y since R e a g a n c a m e i n t o office, t h e r e has been a n o t i c e a b l e increase b o t h o f A m e r i c a n i n terference a n d S o v i e t i n t r i g u e s i n L a t i n A m e r i c a . T h e peoples o f L a t i n A m e r i c a are r e s p o n d i n g t o t h i s a t t a c k b y i n c r e a s i n g t h e i r resistance t o e n s l a v i n g i m p e r i a l i s t p l a n s . T h e A l b a n i a n people h a v e s u p p o r t e d a n d c o n t i n u e t o s u p p o r t t h i s s t r u g gle o f the L a t i n - A m e r i c a n peoples, a n d t h i s w a s e x p r e s s e d i n t h e case o f t h e c o n f l i c t o v e r t h e M a l v i n a s , i n w h i c h w e s u p p o r t e d the u n d e n i a b l e r i g h t s o f t h e A r g e n t i n i a n people. T h e s t r u g g l e o f o u r people f o r the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f soc i a l i s m , f o r the d e f e n c e o f f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e i s i n f a v o u r o f a n d a n a c t i v e s u p p o r t f o r the s t r u g g l e t h e peoples are w a g i n g against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d r e a c t i o n . A t the same t i m e , we consider the s t r u g g l e of t h e peoples f o r f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e as o u r o w n struggle, as a great s u p p o r t f o r o u r cause.
Comrades, At the 8th Congress of the P a r t y the principles f r o m w h i c h the f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f o u r c o u n t r y proceeds, a n d o u r stand towards the major current international problems, as w e l l as towards i n d i v i d u a l countries and the different p o l i t i c a l forces a n d m o v e m e n t s i n t h e w o r l d w e r e c l e a r l y d e f i n e d a n d e x p r e s s e d . T o d a y , a s i n t h e past, t h i s p o l i c y has t h e c o m p l e t e b a c k i n g o f o u r people, because i t e x p r e s ses t h e i r t h o u g h t s a n d desires, because i t d e f e n d s t h e s u p r e m e interests o f t h e H o m e l a n d .
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O u r people s u p p o r t t h i s p o l i c y because i t i s a n e n t i r e l y i n d e p e n d e n t p o l i c y w h i c h i s not i n h i b i t e d b y a n y e x t e r n a l i n f l u e n c e o f w h a t e v e r n a t u r e . T h e voice o f A l b a n i a i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s i s h e r v o i c e alone. A n d t h i s i s a n a d d i t i o n a l r e a s o n w h y i t i s l i s t e n e d to, respected a n d t a k e n i n t o account. O u r stands are k n o w n . W e h a v e s a i d a n d c o n t i n u e t o say that w e w i l l h a v e n o r a p p r o c h e m e n t o r r e c o n c i l i a t i o n w i t h either A m e r i c a n imperialism or Soviet social-imperi a l i s m w h i c h t o u s a n d a l l the peoples a r e t h e greatest enemies. W e w i l l r e s o l u t e l y oppose t h e i r a i m s o f h e g e m o n y a n d r e l e n t l e s s l y expose t h e i r aggressive p l a n s . O u r o p i n i o n i s a n d l i f e has p r o v e d t h a t o u r s t r u g g l e a n d i r r e c o n c i l a b l e s t a n d against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d S o v i e t s o c i a l i m p e r i a l i s m constitute an essential condition for the preservation of the freedom and independence of the H o m e l a n d , f o r p r o g r e s s o n o u r socialist r o a d . W i t h t h e other c o u n t r i e s , s u c h a s F r a n c e , the S c a n d i n a v i a n countries, S w i t z e r l a n d , B e l g i u m , the Netherlands, etc., r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e i r s o c i a l systems, w e a r e f o r n o r m a l r e l a t i o n s o n t h e basis o f n o n - i n t e r f e r e n c e , e q u a l i t y a n d m u t u a l interest. W e w a n t these r e l a t i o n s t o serve t h e economic, c u l t u r a l a n d s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f b o t h sides, the s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f f r i e n d s h i p b e t w e e n peoples a n d s o v e r e i g n states a n d , at t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e i n t e r e s t s of the p r e s e r v a t i o n a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f peace i n t h e w o r l d . O u r c o u n t r y has b e e n a n d i s f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e , w h i c h i t c o n s i d e r s a u s e f u l a n d necessary means for every country. However, we demand f r o m a l l o u r p a r t n e r s i n t r a d e t h a t i t s h o u l d b e based only on m u t u a l benefit a n d complete equality, that it s h o u l d b e free o f a n y p r e s s u r e a n d d i s c r i m i n a t i o n . M o r e over, we do not p e r m i t t r a d e r e l a t i o n s to be u t i l i z e d as a means to interfere in our internal affairs or to impose alien p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l concepts o n us. T o u s t r a d e m e a n s
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t r a d e , that is, t h e f r e e a n d b a l a n c e d e x c h a n g e of goods, a n d w e n e v e r confuse i t w i t h the acceptance o f credits, w h i c h is quite another matter. S o c i a l i s t A l b a n i a , o u r people, v e r y h i g h l y esteem t h e progressive achievements of every country in culture, scienc e a n d technology, a l l v a l u e s w h i c h serve the d e v e l o p m e n t and advance of m a n k i n d . Hence, we are for n o r m a l c u l t u r a l e x c h a n g e s w i t h other countries, f o r m u t u a l r e c o g n i t i o n of progressive and democratic achievements in this field, without discrimination or prejudice. A s i s n a t u r a l , o u r c o u n t r y devotes p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n t o its r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n t r i e s . W h a t has i n s p i r e d a n d i n s p i r e s its s t a n d i s t h e d e s i r e t o l i v e t o g e t h e r a s good n e i g h b o u r s , a l w a y s t o h a v e u s e f u l r e l a t i o n s a n d t o b u i l d n o r m a l c o l l a b o r a t i o n o n the basis o f the p r i n c i p l e s of complete equality and non-interference in the internal a f f a i r s o f others, respect f o r n a t i o n a l s o v e r e i g n t y a n d n o n v i o l a t i o n o f t e r r i t o r i a l i n t e g r i t y , a n d e x c h a n g e s o n the basis of m u t u a l interest. W e h a v e good r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e I t a l i a n people a n d w e d o not c o n f u s e t h e m w i t h M u s s o l i n i ' s fascists w h o s p r e a d d e a t h a n d d e s t r u c t i o n i n o u r c o u n t r y . I n m y w a r t i m e notes I r e a d w i t h p l e a s u r e the w o r d s t h a t G e n e r a l A z z i , w h o , after t h e c a p i t u l a t i o n o f M u s s o l i n i ' s a r m y , c o n f i d e n t l y s u r r e n d e r e d his w h o l e a r m y t o t h e G e n e r a l S t a f f o f o u r p a r t i s a n a r m y a n d the A l b a n i a n people, s a i d t o m e w h e n w e m e t i n t h e v i l l a g e o f A r b a n a , i n the v i c i n i t y o f T i r a n a , W e are g r a t e f u l t o t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e a n d p a r t i s a n s w h o s a v e d a n d s h e l t e r e d t h o u s a n d s o f m y soldiers, sons o f t h e I t a l i a n people. I p e r s o n a l l y a n d t h e I t a l i a n people w i l l not forget t h i s generosity. I w i l l be a f r i e n d of t h e A l b a n i a n people t i l l I die, c o n t i n u e d G e n e r a l A z z i . A n d h e r e m a i n e d a f r i e n d u n t i l he d i e d . T h e r e g i m e s o f o u r c o u n t r i e s are opposed t o each other, we have our laws and w a y of life, and the Italians have
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theirs. Nevertheless, we have n o r m a l trade and cultural r e l a t i o n s w i t h Italy, w h i c h w e a r e r e a d y t o e x t e n d o n t h e basis o f m u t u a l b e n e f i t a n d w i t h o u t i n t e r f e r i n g i n each other's i n t e r n a l affairs. If any Italian government c o n s i d e r s these r e l a t i o n s o f n o interest, i t m a y d o w h a t e v e r it likes, this w i l l not affect us m u c h . Nevertheless, we t h i n k d i f f e r e n t l y t h a t these r e l a t i o n s are u s e f u l to b o t h sides. O u r s i s n o t a n i s o l a t e d a n d closed c o u n t r y , w e have things to sell to Italy and things to buy f r o m it f o r h a r d cash, a s w e h a v e w i t h m a n y other c o u n t r i e s . A g l o r i o u s A r b r e s h i c o m m u n i t y also l i n k s u s w i t h the I t a l i a n people. N e i t h e r w e n o r t h e I t a l i a n s s h o u l d forget G a r i b a l d i ' s f i n e w o r d s a n d h i g h esteem f o r the A l b a n i a n s and the A r b r e s h i . F o r f i v e centuries the A r b r e s h i have been l i v i n g in C a l a b r i a a n d S i c i l y . T h i s c o m m u n i t y has g i v e n I t a l y a n d A l b a n i a o u t s t a n d i n g people. W h i l e l i v i n g i n f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e I t a l i a n people, t h e A r b r e s h i h a v e p r e s e r v e d t h e i r A l b a n i a n c u s t o m s a n d l a n g u a g e t h r o u g h the centuries. T h i s c o m m u n i t y , w h i c h d r a w s u s closer t o t h e I t a l i a n people, is a f a c t o r f o r f r i e n d s h i p . T h e A l b a n i a n people a n d t h e T u r k i s h people h a v e a great l o v e f o r e a c h other. W e m a k e d i p l o m a t i c love w i t h n o b o d y . T h i s i s not t h e c u s t o m o f the A l b a n i a n but, w h e n w e p l e d g e o u r w o r d , w e k e e p i t a n d d o not t u r n w h i c h e v e r w a y t h e w i n d b l o w s . W e c o n d e m n those w h o v i o l a t e o u r f r i e n d s h i p o r m i s u s e o u r t r u s t . T h e great a n d sincere f r i e n d s h i p t h a t l i n k s u s w i t h the f r a t e r n a l T u r k i s h people has n e v e r b e e n s h a k e n . T h e d i f f e r e n t f o r m s o f r e g i m e h a v e n e v e r s h a k e n t h i s f r i e n d s h i p , because i t i s based o n the f i n e s e n t i m e n t s of o u r peoples, it is based on those l i n k s of fraternity and blood relations w i t h hundreds of thousands of Albanians w h o live, work, are married and h a v e c h i l d r e n , w h o d i e a n d are b u r i e d i n a c o m m o n soil w i t h the T u r k s .
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W e h o n o u r a n d respect the great l e a d e r o f the T u r k i s h people, M u s t a f a K e m a l A t a t r k , w h o , a s a n o u t s t a n d i n g democrat, d e s t r o y e d t h e O t t o m a n E m p i r e a n d the C a l i p h a t e a n d set u p the n e w d e m o c r a t i c T u r k e y . L e t a l l t h e p s e u d o d e m o c r a t s a n d pseudo-socialists w h o oppress the peoples, w h o trample on their rights and keep colonialism alive, sugar-coated w i t h p o m p o u s w o r d s , f o l l o w the e x a m p l e o f K e m a l A t a t r k w h o cut the G o r d i a n k n o t o f the O t t o m a n E m p i r e w i t h h i s s w o r d . I t i s o u r desire t h a t o u r f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e f r a t e r n a l T u r k i s h people s h o u l d b e c o n t i n u o u s l y strengthened and developed further in every field. W e l o v e a n d respect t h e G r e e k people, because t h e y n u r t u r e the same feelings o f f r i e n d s h i p t o w a r d s t h e A l b a n i a n people. W e are sincere w i t h each other. N e i t h e r w i s h e s t h e other i l l , b u t o n l y w e l l . T h e s e are h i s t o r i c a l l i n k s c e m e n t e d w i t h the b l o o d s h e d together against t h e same occupiers. W e d o not c o n f u s e t h e feelings o f t h e G r e e k people w i t h those o f the c h a u v i n i s t s . W e s h a l l d e v e l o p o u r r e l a t i o n s o f f r i e n d s h i p w i t h the G r e e k people f u r t h e r . T h e G r e e k people c a l l t h e A l b a n i a n heroes of t h e G r e e k r e v o l u t i o n of 1821 w h o f o u g h t u n d e r the c o m m a n d of Y p s i l a n t i s , Arvanites penemeni a n d palicaria Arvanites*. C a p o d'Istria a n d the R u s s i a n czars, t h e S e r b i a n k r a l j s a n d the M o l d a v i a n v o i v o d e s b e t r a y e d the G r e e k r e v o l u t i o n , but t h e A l b a n i a n s , w i t h M a r k o B o a r i a t t h e head, w i t h A l i P a s h a T e p e l e n a a n d t h e a p a r a j s , remained loyal to it to the death. T h e G o v e r n m e n t o f the P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a and the Greek governments right-wing, new d e m o c r a t i c o r socialist, h a v e a l w a y s c o n s i d e r e d the f r i e n d ship b e t w e e n t h e A l b a n i a n people a n d t h e G r e e k people as a p r e s s i n g p o l i t i c a l necessity. R e g r e t t a b l y , h o w e v e r , f o r
_______________________________________ * Famous original). A l b a n i a n s and brave A l b a n i a n s (Greek in the
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the past 40 y e a r s , w i t h o u t a n y reason, the s o - c a l l e d l a w o n t h e state o f w a r w i t h A l b a n i a , a n a b s u r d l a w w i t h o u t a n y basis, w h i c h i s c o n d e m n e d b o t h b y the A l b a n i a n a n d t h e G r e e k peoples, a s w e l l a s b y w o r l d o p i n i o n , has been m a i n t a i n e d i n G r e e c e . E v e r y r e a s o n a b l e a n d r e a l i s t i c person i n G r e e c e u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t s u c h a l a w h a m p e r s the s h o r t ening of w a y s for an even more f r i e n d l y development i n the d i r e c t i o n o f A r t a , P r e v e z a , a n d I o a n n i n a a s w e l l a s the w h o l e o f G r e e c e . I t w a s not i n m y i n t e n t i o n t o speak t o d a y a b o u t o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a , because w e h a v e e x p r e s s e d t h e s t a n d of o u r state t o w a r d s t h a t c o u n t r y a t h o u s a n d times and we stand by w h a t we have said. However, I am obliged to speak a b o u t t h e m , because the B e l g r a d e chiefs not o n l y h a v e t u r n e d a deaf ear t o w h a t o u r P a r t y a n d G o v e r n m e n t h a v e p o i n t e d out, but h a v e b u i l t u p a w h o l e c a m p a i g n o f s l a n d e r s a n d a t t a c k s against socialist A l b a n i a a n d its p o l i c y w h i c h i s a s c l e a r a s the l i g h t o f day, w i t h a l l t h e i r p r o p a g a n d a a n d d i p l o m a t i c means. F o r at least 40 y e a r s o n e n d , n o t t o g o f u r t h e r b a c k , the B e l g r a d e chiefs h a v e i n c i t e d the s o u t h e r n S l a v s , a n d e s p e c i a l l y the Serbs, t o l i v e i n constant e n m i t y w i t h the A l b a n i a n s i n h a b i t i n g t h e i r o w n territories in Yugoslavia, as w e l l as w i t h independent socialist A l b a n i a . T h i s h o s t i l i t y t o w a r d s the A l b a n i a n s , this savage c h a u v i n i s m a n d c o n t e m p t t o w a r d s t h e m , t h i s u n r e s trained tendency a n d appetite to annex A l b a n i a is something a t a v i s t i c i n t h e m . W h a t m a k e s the issue s t i l l m o r e d a n g e r o u s i s t h a t the other s o u t h e r n S l a v peoples l a c k the courage to stop t h i s w a v e of s a v a g e r y . In the time of the N a t i o n a l Liberation W a r we sincerely l o v e d the Y u g o s l a v s , a n d respected a n d h o n o u r e d T i t o m o r e t h a n h e d e s e r v e d . W e sent l a r g e p a r t i s a n u n i t s w h i c h f o u g h t side b y side w i t h the Y u g o s l a v a n d K o s o v a A l b a n i a n partisan units in Southern and Central Yugoslavia. H u n d reds a n d h u n d r e d s of h e r o i c sons a n d d a u g h t e r s of
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A l b a n i a w e r e k i l l e d o r w o u n d e d f o r the l i b e r a t i o n o f Yugoslavia, but now a Serbian dog called S i n a n Hasani, comes out a n d d a r e s t o i n s u l t t h e b l o o d t h e y shed. H e e v e n goes to s u c h l e n g t h s as to c l a i m t h a t t h e Y u g o s l a v s f o r m e d o u r P a r t y , t h e y o r g a n i z e d the A l b a n i a n N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r a n d g a v e A l b a n i a e v e r y t h i n g . B u t let the d o g b a r k , t h a t i s w h a t h e i s p a i d for. B o t h i n t h e past a n d r i g h t u p t o t h i s m o m e n t w h e n I am speaking to you, Tito and company have always r e j e c t e d o u r h a n d o f f r i e n d s h i p a n d done e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e i r p o w e r t o cut i t off. O p e n l y o r t h r o u g h t h e i r secret agents, f o r f o r t y y e a r s o n e n d T i t o a n d h i s successors h a v e c o n s t a n t l y h a t c h e d u p plots t o d e s t r o y socialist A l b a n i a , t o w r e c k o u r P a r t y , t o p h y s i c a l l y l i q u i d a t e some o f its m a i n leaders. T h i s t h e y t r i e d t o d o t h r o u g h t h e i r l o n g s t a n d i n g agent, the t r a i t o r M e h m e t S h e h u , too. B u t a l l t h e i r plots f a i l e d a n d t h e y w i l l a l w a y s f a i l . I n t h e past the S e r b i a n K r a l j . K a r a d j o r d j e v i , together w i t h W r a n g e l ' s G r e a t - R u s s i a n bands, b r o u g h t t o A l b a n i a h i s agent t h e b a n d i t A h m e t Z o g , w h o , as a great t r a i t o r t o t h e H o m e l a n d , gave Y u g o s l a v i a S h n - N a u m o f P o g r a d e c a n d V e r m o s h a s a g i f t i n r e t u r n f o r t h i s assistance. T h e B e l g r a d e chiefs w a n t t o d o t h e s a m e t h i n g t o d a y w i t h t h e c r i m i n a l t e r r o r i s t gangs o f a c e r t a i n h o o l i g a n a n d t r a f f i c k e r i n a r m s , d r u g s a n d w h i t e slaves, L e k a Z o g u , ( 3 ) t o w h o m , a s t o u n d i n g t h o u g h i t m a y seem, a c o u n t r y f r i e n d l y t o u s gives shelter a n d a l l o w s h i m t o g i v e i n t e r v i e w s t o t h e p r e s s a n d t o c a l l f o r t h e o v e r t h r o w o f the people's p o w e r i n A l b a n i a . W e h a v e facts t o p r o v e t h a t i t w a s t h e Y u g o s l a v T i t o i t e s w h o sent t o o u r coast X h e v d e t M u s t a f a ' s g r o u p o f gangsters, w h o m w e w i p e d out m e r c i l e s s l y w i t h o u t g i v i n g t h e m t i m e t o d r a w b r e a t h o r see t h e s u n o f A l b a n i a . A t t h e a p p r o p r i a t e m o m e n t t h e w o r l d w i l l b e t o l d the d e t a i l s o f
________________________________________ 3 Son of the former k i n g A h m e t Zog.
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t h i s a f f a i r a n d w h a t i t w a s i n t e n d e d for. H o w e v e r , the dangerous t h i n g about it is that the Yugoslavs, violating the sovereignty of t w o countries f r i e n d l y to us and without t h e i r k n o w l e d g e , t r a i n e d these c r i m i n a l s a n d l a n d e d t h e m i n o u r c o u n t r y . T o t r a i n t e r r o r i s t gangs a n d send t h e m i n t o a n o t h e r c o u n t r y is a g r a v e c r i m i n a l act c o n d e m n e d in the practice of international relations. N o w w e h a v e o n l y this t o s a y t o the Y u g o s l a v T i t o i t e s : don't p l a y w i t h f i r e , because i f a c o n f l a g r a t i o n b r e a k s out, y o u w i l l get y o u r s e l v e s b u r n t i n it. F o r o u r p a r t , w e d e f e n d ourselves a n d w e k n o w h o w t o d o so, w e k n o w h o w t o f i g h t a n d t r i u m p h o v e r a n y e n e m y . B u t w e d o not l i k e t h i s o m i n o u s course, f u l l o f dangers, w h i c h y o u are f o l l o w i n g . N e v e r t h e l e s s , i f y o u force o u r h a n d w e s h a l l g i v e y o u the r e p l y y o u deserve. B u t w e t e l l the Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s n o t t o t a k e t h i s hopeless course w h i c h i s f r a u g h t w i t h m a n y d a n g e r s f o r o u r t w o c o u n t r i e s , f o r the B a l k a n s a n d p e r h a p s e v e n f o r E u r o p e . Y o u , the s o u t h e r n S l a v peoples, a r e r e s p o n s i b l e because, i n s t e a d o f m a k i n g the G r e a t S e r b s see r e a s o n a n d f o r c i n g t h e m t o c h a n g e course, t o a d h e r e t o t h e p r i n c i p l e s a n d p r a c t i c e o f good n e i g h b o u r liness w i t h socialist A l b a n i a a n d t o e s t a b l i s h n o r m a l , peacef u l r e l a t i o n s w i t h the A l b a n i a n s l i v i n g i n Y u g o s l a v i a , y o u a l l o w t h e m t o f a n u p the f l a m e s . W e a r e c o n v i n c e d that t h e r e a r e p r o g r e s s i v e e l e m e n t s a m o n g the other s o u t h e r n S l a v peoples, a s w e l l a s a m o n g t h e S e r b s . T h e r e i s n o other w a y t o solve the p r o b l e m s a p a r t f r o m a change i n the p o l i t i c a l s t a n d t o w a r d s A l b a n i a and the A l b a n i a n s l i v i n g in Yugoslavia. We shall continue o n t h e course set b y the 8th C o n g r e s s o f the P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a , the m a i n r e p o r t o f w h i c h t h e Y u g o s l a v leaders have read upside d o w n . O u r proposals were as wise as t h e y w e r e c o n c i l i a t o r y , w h e r e a s y o u r course i s f r a u g h t w i t h m a n y dangers for Yugoslavia, w h i c h we want to remain a s i t is. Y o u d o n o t p a y serious a t t e n t i o n t o o u r w o r d s
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w h i c h are a n e x p r e s s i o n o f the sincere f e e l i n g s o f the A l b a n i a n people. S o m u c h t h e w o r s e f o r y o u . T h e w o r l d w i l l charge y o u w i t h grave responsibility. S o m e g o v e r n m e n t s o f E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s a n d the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a are t r i f l i n g w i t h o u r f e e l i n g s a n d interests. W e say t o t h e m t h a t n o b o d y i s a l l o w e d t o t r i f l e w i t h A l b a n i a a n d its interests, a s w a s done i n t h e past. T h e o l d t i m e s w h e n the fate o f o u r c o u n t r y c o u l d e a s i l y be trampled underfoot and A l b a n i a could be attacked and p a r t i t i o n e d h a v e gone b y f o r good. We shall continue, as always, to defend our A l b a n i a n brothers l i v i n g on their o w n territories in Yugoslavia, w i t h a l l the s t r e n g t h o f o u r hearts, i n t h e i r r i g h t s w h i c h the C o n s t i t u t i o n recognizes t o t h e m . L e t the Y u g o s l a v s a n d w o r l d o p i n i o n h a v e n o d o u b t s a b o u t this. T h i s i s r e c o g n i z e d b y i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w a n d t h i s i s h o w a l l those states w h i c h h a v e n a t i o n a l m i n o r i t i e s outside t h e i r b o r d e r s act. A t the 8th C o n g r e s s o f t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a w e m a d e o u r s t a n d t o w a r d s Y u g o s l a v i a clear a n d w e r e m a i n unshakeable in this stand. T h e destruction and d i s i n t e g r a t i o n o f Y u g o s l a v i a w i l l n e v e r come f r o m us. W e are f o r t h e s t a b i l i t y o f the F e d e r a t i o n . B u t w i t h t h e G r e a t Serb, Macedonian and M o n t e n e g r i n chauvinists our conc i l i a t o r y w o r d s g o i n one ear a n d out t h e other. T h e i r eyes h a v e been b l i n d e d b y t h e i r c h a u v i n i s m a n d m e g a l o m a n i a . W h e n w e a p p e a l e d f o r r e a s o n a n d c o m m o n sense, t h e y pressed o n w i t h e v e n m o r e savage t e r r o r against the Albanians living on their territories in Yugoslavia. T h e y have t h r o w n into j a i l thousands of heroic young men and women of Kosova w h o m they torture barbarously and to w h o m t h e y a p p l y a t h o u s a n d i n s u l t i n g epithets. W e t e l l the Y u g o s l a v s t o f r e e the y o u n g people f r o m p r i s o n , f o r the A l b a n i a n c a n n o t t o l e r a t e f o r l o n g s u c h v i o l a t i o n s o f the honour and rights of his y o u n g m e n and w o m e n . Let them
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not f i l l t h e cup, because the response m a y h a v e v e r y d a n g e r o u s consequences. A l l K o s o v a a n d the A l b a n i a n r e g i o n s o f Y u g o s l a v i a h a v e b e e n p l a c e d u n d e r savage c h a u v i n i s t m i l i t a r y p r e s sure. N o w the d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n , w h i c h m e a n s m a k i n g A l b a n i a n s s p y o n A l b a n i a n s i n f a v o u r o f sinister S e r b i a n forces, is g o i n g on on a l a r g e scale. B u t t h e people of K o s o v a c a n n o t accept t h i s s h a m e f u l course, because i t leads t o f r a t r i c i d e ; w h i l e the G r e a t S e r b s w i l l r u b t h e i r h a n d s i n glee. T h e S e r b s are i n c i t i n g b l o o d f e u d s a m o n g A l b a n i a n s . K o s o v a is being plunged in poverty and covered with g r a v e s . P e o p l e d o not k n o w w h e r e t h e i r sons a n d d a u g h t e r s are. T h e A l b a n i a n i n t e l l e c t u a l s are b e i n g d e c i m a t e d , i n s u l t e d , h u m i l i a t e d a n d t h r o w n out i n t h e street. O n l y i n the t i m e o f the I n q u i s i t i o n h a v e s u c h p e r s e c u t i o n s o c c u r r e d . N o , the A l b a n i a n people l i v i n g i n Y u g o s l a v i a w i l l not a l l o w a n y t h i n g o f t h e i r sacred n a t i o n a l h e r i t a g e t o b e suppressed. N e v e r a t a n y t i m e o r i n a n y p l a c e has t h e A l b a n i a n bowed in submission to or fled f r o m the enemy w h e n his f r e e d o m a n d l e g i t i m a t e r i g h t s h a v e been v i o l a t e d . Y o u , g e n t l e m e n of B e l g r a d e , h a v e sent 60 t h o u s a n d S e r b i a n s o l d i e r s t o K o s o v a t o suppress a n d k i l l the people o f K o s o v a a n d t o i n t i m i d a t e socialist A l b a n i a . B u t w e are not i n t i m i d a t e d , w e are r e a d y , v i g i l a n t t o a m a n . Y o u speak w i t h the l a n g u a g e o f force, w h i l e w e t r y t o speak w i t h the l a n g u a g e o f reason. B u t w e k n o w h o w t o speak i n the l a n g u a g e of force, too. A l b a n i a i s a s e n s i t i v e strategic k e y point. E u r o p e m u s t k e e p t h i s i n m i n d . S o m e sneer a t o u r f o r t i f i c a t i o n s , w h i l e a r m i n g themselves to the teeth w i t h every k i n d of weapons, and others underrate our strength. So m u c h the worse for t h e m . C e r t a i n j o u r n a l i s t s w h o s e pens are f o r h i r e , c e r t a i n c a f p o l i t i c i a n s w i t h t h e i r analyses o f strategic plans, a n d t h e G r e a t S e r b s i n t h e f i r s t place, s p r e a d the i d e a a n d
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i n s i n u a t e t h a t i n these o r those c i r c u m s t a n c e s , i n d e e d i n a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s , A l b a n i a w i l l b e g o b b l e d u p b y the R u s s i a n s , w i l l l e a n t o t h e S o v i e t s , etc. W e t e l l the G r e a t S e r b s , the secret f i r m f r i e n d s o f the Russians, t h a t t h e r e are t w o w a y s f o r t h e R u s s o - B u l g a r i a n revisionists to attack A l b a n i a in order to reach our part o f the A d r i a t i c coast. T h e one w a y i s t h r o u g h the V a r d a r a n d K o s o v a a n d t h e other t h r o u g h t h e S t r a i t s o f O t r a n t o . I n the f i r s t case, w i t h o u t t h e slightest doubt, t h e w h o l e A l b a n i a n people l i v i n g i n K o s o v a a n d o t h e r r e g i o n s o f Yugoslavia in Skoplje and Kaanik, in Tetova and Gostiv a r , i n L l a p a n d P l a v a - G u c i a , w i l l m e e t the aggressors w i t h guns. T h e w h o l e o f Y u g o s l a v i a w i l l b e a b l a z e a n d the R u s s o - B u l g a r i a n r e v i s i o n i s t i n v a d e r s , i f t h e y e v e r succeed i n r e a c h i n g o u r A l p s , w i l l b e i n the s a m e s h a p e a s the G e r m a n nazis after the battle of Stalingrad. I n the second case, w e A l b a n i a n s h o l d the k e y t o the S t r a i t s o f O t r a n t o . S a z a n I s l a n d a n d the K a r a b u r u n P e n i n s u l a a n d do not f e a r t h a t I am r e v e a l i n g a n y secret, are r o c k s c l a d i n i r o n a n d concrete w h i c h t h e S o v i e t n a v a l fleet cannot pass. If our R u s s o - B u l g a r i a n enemies a n d others w a n t to embark on such adventures they ought to k n o w that the A l b a n i a n s are n o t a state of t h r e e m i l l i o n , b u t a n a t i o n of s i x m i l l i o n people. O u r s w a s a s m a l l people i n the t i m e o f t h e S e c o n d W o r l d W a r , b u t a l t h o u g h alone a n d u n a r m e d , t h e y defeated a n d l i q u i d a t e d a c o n s i d e r a b l e n u m b e r of I t a l i a n fascist a n d G e r m a n n a z i d i v i s i o n s . N o w the t i m e s h a v e c h a n g e d i n f a v o u r o f socialist A l b a n i a , h e n c e : H a n d s off A l b a n i a ! A l b a n i a threatens nobody, it wants to live in f r i e n d ship w i t h the others but, i f a n y o n e v i o l a t e s its r i g h t s a n d borders, i t w i l l r e t a l i a t e i n k i n d . L i k e w i s e , i t w i l l r e p l y i n the sternest m a n n e r t o the i n j u s t i c e s o r i n s u l t s a n y b o d y m i g h t e m p l o y against it.
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I am speaking openly and this is the f i r m opinion of a l l o u r people. W e s a y w h a t w e t h i n k ; others h a v e not f a i l e d t o speak against u s a n d m o r e o v e r t o s l a n d e r us. W e m a k e n o u n f o u n d e d statements a n d d o not i n d u l g e i n slanders. H e r e i n lies o u r s t r e n g t h , a n d t h a t i s w h y t h e p r o g r e s s i v e peoples respect socialist A l b a n i a j u s t a s w e h a v e great respect f o r t h e m . F o r t h i s j u s t a n d b e n e v o l e n t stand w e offer t h e m our heart-felt thanks. Messrs the Y u g o s l a v leaders arrogate to themselves the r i g h t t o r a i s e t h e i r v o i c e a b o u t t h e injustices t h e Bulgarians, the Greeks or the A l b a n i a n s allegedly commit against t h e M a c e d o n i a n s o f P i r i n a n d A e g e u s o r t h e t i n y Macedonian minorities in A l b a n i a , w h i l e we, according to t h e m , h a v e n o s u c h r i g h t . T h e y accuse u s o f i n t e r f e r i n g i n t h e i r i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s w h e n w e d e f e n d the r i g h t s , u n d e r the l a w s o f t h e F e d e r a t i o n , o f o u r b r o t h e r s , w h o m t h e y not only deny their rights, but w h o m they k i l l , imprison, and force into emigration, w h i l e Serbian and M o n t e n g r i n colon ists are b r o u g h t i n t o t h e i r b i r t h p l a c e t o r e p l a c e t h e m . I t w a s M r S t a m b o l i w h o l a u n c h e d the slogan o f a n ethnically pure Kosova w h i c h the A l b a n i a n nationalists a l l e g e d l y d e m a n d e d . T h i s is not a slogan of the A l b a n i a n s , but of the G r e a t Serbs, launched in order to d r o w n K o s o v a in blood. The Serbs and Montenegrins were rightly fright ened b y t h i s p o l i c y o f t e r r o r a n d b e g a n t o flee f r o m fear a n d because o f t h e p o v e r t y t h a t p r e v a i l s i n K o s o v a . T h e G r e a t Serbs are n o w t r y i n g to saddle the A l b a n i a n s w i t h t h i s c r i m e , a l t h o u g h t h e y t h e m s e l v e s are r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the exodus of Serbs and Montenegrins. R e c e n t l y the Y u g o s l a v s , assisted b y t h e i r f r i e n d R u s sia, h a v e b e e n g a t h e r i n g u p M a c e d o n i a n s o f t h e A e g e u s f r o m all over the place in order to have t h e m as a v a n g u a r d for Greece. One fine m o r n i n g we shall hear that A l e x a n d e r t h e G r e a t w a s a S l a v , too. W h y s h o u l d n ' t t h e y d o e v e n t h i s ? T h e y h a v e a p r e c e d e n t i n the G r e a t - R u s s i a n h i s t o r -
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ian o f the 19th c e n t u r y , V a s i l y e v s k y . I n his b o o k o n B y z a n t i u m h e goes t o s u c h l e n g t h s a s t o w r i t e t h e r e i n b l a c k a n d w h i t e that since the m o d e r n G r e e k s are O r t h o d o x c h r i s t i a n s , t h e y a r e S l a v s , hence t h e y d o not o r i g i n a t e f r o m the a n c i e n t G r e e k s w h o g a v e m a n k i n d one o f the most b r i l l i a n t c i v i l i z ations i n t h e w o r l d . W i t h the f u l l c o n v i c t i o n o f a G r e a t R u s s i a n c h a u v i n i s t , V a s i l y e v s k y states q u i t e b o l d l y i n his b o o k : T h e m o d e r n G r e e k s are o f S l a v o r i g i n . The chauvinists of Northern Epirus and certain Greek bishops d o the same t h i n g w h e n , b a s i n g t h e m s e l v e s o n the statistics o f P h a n a r i o f the t i m e o f S u l t a n H a m i d II, t h e y describe a l l the O r t h o d o x c h r i s t i a n s i n A l b a n i a a s G r e e k s . A n d these so-called G r e e k s , w h o w e r e s u p p o s e d t o n u m b e r 400 000 at that t i m e , h a v e r e m a i n e d 400 000 to this v e r y d a y . a l t h o u g h a l m o s t 80 y e a r s h a v e gone b y . A c c o r d i n g to t h e m , the so-called G r e e k s o f N o r t h e r n E p i r u s h a v e n e i t h e r i n c r e a s e d n o r decreased, h a v e h a d n e i t h e r b i r t h s n o r deaths. L i k e w i s e , t h e y say, 28 000 G r e e k s of the N o r t h e r n E p i r u s languish in A l b a n i a n prisons at a l l times a n d a l l seasons. U n f o r t u n a t e l y f o r those G r e e k bishops, w h o h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h the G r e e k people, I c a n t e l l the G r e e k people a n d g o v e r n m e n t o n m y f u l l a u t h o r i t y that i n the w h o l e of A l b a n i a there are o n l y 33 persons of the G r e e k m i n o r i t y s e r v i n g short sentences o f i m p r i s o n m e n t f o r v a r i o u s offences, a n d o n l y 4 o f t h e m f o r p o l i t i c a l offences. W h y i s this s o w i t h t h e G r e e k m i n o r i t y o f o u r c o u n t r y ? T h i s i s so because o u r people of the G r e e k m i n o r i t y are good, honest people, l i k e the G r e e k people themselves, because t h e y e n j o y a l l the r i g h t s w h i c h e v e r y A l b a n i a n c i t i z e n enjoys, because e v e r y w h e r e a m o n g the G r e e k m i n o r i t y e v e r y t h i n g i s i n t h e i r o w n h a n d s . T h e r e the cadres o f the P a r t y a n d state a r e o n l y people f r o m the G r e e k minority. In every village of the G r e e k m i n o r i t y there are p r i m a r y a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l s e c o n d a r y schools a n d i n G j i r o k a s t r a t h e r e is a teachers t r a i n i n g s c h o o l in G r e e k .
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A l l the other cadres, s u c h a s doctors, a g r o n o m i s t s , v e t e r i n a r i a n s , economists, teachers a n d professors, a r e people o f t h e G r e e k m i n o r i t y , a n d t h e r e are houses o f c u l t u r e e v e r y w h e r e . T h e i n c o m e s o f the people o f the G r e e k m i n o r i t y a r e a m o n g t h e highest i n o u r c o u n t r y . W e A l b a n i a n s l i v e l i k e b r o t h e r s w i t h t h e p e o p l e o f the G r e e k m i n o r i t y i n o u r c o m m o n H o m e l a n d . T h e G r e e k m i n o r i t y i n A l b a n i a i s not g r o a n i n g , M e s s r s the c h a u v i n i s t s o f the N o r t h e r n E p i r u s , but s i n g i n g a n d p r o s p e r i n g . A s f o r r e l i g i o n , y o u n e e d not w o r r y a b o u t it. T o b e l i e v e or not to b e l i e v e is a p e r s o n a l r i g h t , a q u e s t i o n of conscience a n d not a n i n s t i t u t i o n a l q u e s t i o n : r e l i g i o n c a n n o t be i m p o s e d a c c o r d i n g to the desire or w i l l of the hodjas, t h e bishops or the Pope of Rome. I f o l l o w t h e G r e e k press a n d h a v e r e a d the questions t h a t some G r e e k o r W e s t - G e r m a n j o u r n a l i s t s h a v e put t o the people o f t h e G r e e k m i n o r i t y i n o u r c o u n t r y a n d t h e a n s w e r s t h e y h a v e r e c e i v e d f r o m t h e m . O n e o f these journalists asked an old w o m a n of our Greek minority this question: Where is y o u r church, where is your priest? S h e a n s w e r e d : N e i t h e r t h e c h u r c h n o r the priest d i d a n y t h i n g t o save m e f r o m t h e aghas a n d the beys. W h e n t h e y h e l d s w a y , t h e y g a v e m e n e i t h e r b r e a d t o eat n o r water to drink, neither electricity to light my home nor s c h o o l f o r m y sons a n d d a u g h t e r s . O n l y t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , o n l y m y P a r t y o f L a b o u r g a v e m e a l l these blessings. T h a t i s w h y I l o v e t h e P a r t y a n d not the priest. T h e n e w s p a p e r m a n w e n t o n w i t h his q u e s t i o n s t o the o l d w o m a n : W h a t a b o u t t h e sins y o u h a v e c o m m i t t e d , t o w h o m w i l l y o u confess? A g a i n the o l d w o m a n r e p l i e d w i t h s u b t l e h u m o r : M y son has t o l d me, ' L i v e w e l l i n t h i s w o r l d , m o t h e r , a n d a s f o r t h e 'other w o r l d ' , b l a m e m e a n d m y P a r t y f o r y o u r sins w h e n y o u get there'.
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T h e r e are h u n d r e d s a n d h u n d r e d s o f m i l l i o n s o f p e o p l e i n the w o r l d w h o d o n o t w a n t t o b e l i e v e i n r e l i g i o n . T h e n w h y a l l this a s t o n i s h m e n t a t socialist A l b a n i a ? O u r state i s a t h e i s t i c b y the w i l l o f its people a n d there i s n o m o r a l o r m a t e r i a l f o r c e w h i c h c a n i m p o s e o n i t a n y t h i n g d i f f e r e n t . O u r people a r e m a s t e r s o f t h e i r o w n fate a n d sentiments. T h e screams o f N o r t h e r n E p i r u s c h a u v inists d o not b o t h e r the G r e e k m i n o r i t y a n d socialist A l b a n i a i n the least, e v e n i f t h e c h a u v i n i s t s are s t i r r e d u p a n d p a i d u n d e r t h e l a p b y s o m e b o d y else, a n d t h a t s o m e b o d y i s not t h e f r a t e r n a l G r e e k people.
Comrades, T h e n e w elections f o r d e p u t i e s t o t h e P e o p l e ' s A s s e m b l y are b e i n g h e l d on t h e eve of a m a j o r event t h e c e l e b r a t i o n of the 70th a n n i v e r s a r y of N a t i o n a l I n d e p e n d e n c e . T h e A l b a n i a n people, a l l t h e A l b a n i a n s , w h e r e v e r t h e y are, h a v e a l w a y s c e l e b r a t e d w i t h great j u b i l a t i o n t h e great d a y of N o v e m b e r 28, 1912 w h e n t h a t w i s e o l d p a t r i o t Ismail Qemali, hoisted the national flag in V l o r a and p r o c l a i m e d the i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e c o u n t r y . In celebrating this glorious anniversary, we recall the l e g e n d a r y battles t h a t the A l b a n i a n people h a v e w a g e d f o r centuries on end for the freedom and independence of the Homeland, their titanic efforts to preserve and develop their language and culture, their ardent love for their l a n d and traditions. O u r g r a t i t u d e a n d t h a t o f t h e c o m i n g g e n e r a t i o n s goes t o those A l b a n i a n p a t r i o t s w h o , e v e n i n t h e m o s t d i f f i c u l t conditions, even at the gravest moments, kept ablaze the torch of patriotism, their unshakeable conviction that better d a y s w o u l d c e r t a i n l y c o m e f o r t h e i r people, too. T h e . deed of these p a t r i o t s r e m a i n s a p e r m a n e n t s o u r c e of i n s p i r a t i o n
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a n d m o b i l i z a t i o n f o r us. I t calls o n u s t o d e f e n d the f r e e d o m and independence of the H o m e l a n d w i t h self-denial, to a l w a y s s e r v e t h e people d e v o t e d l y t o t h e end, a n d t o w o r k t i r e l e s s l y for t h e good a n d h o n o u r o f o u r b e l o v e d A l b a n i a . A l l o w m e t o t a k e the o p p o r t u n i t y o f the c e l e b r a t i o n o f the 70th a n n i v e r s a r y of t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n of i n d e p e n d e n c e t o greet a l l o u r people, a s w e l l a s a l l t h e A l b a n i a n p a t r i o t s i n t h e w o r l d , a n d present m y best w i s h e s t o t h e m o n t h e occasion of t h i s d a y d e a r to o u r hearts. T h e elections t o t h e P e o p l e ' s A s s e m b l y f i n d w o r k g o i n g o n a t f u l l s w i n g a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y t o p u t the decisions o f t h e 8th C o n g r e s s o f t h e P a r t y i n p r a c t i c e , t o f u l f i l t h e important tasks of the 7lh F i v e - y e a r P l a n . Let them serve as an inspiration and impulse to further strengthening the steel u n i t y o f t h e people a r o u n d t h e P a r t y , t o g r e a t e r m o b i l i z a t i o n a n d zest a t w o r k , t o w o r k i n g w i t h d i s c i p l i n e a n d k n o w l e d g e , t o i m p l e m e n t i n g e v e r y w h e r e the m i l i t a n t s l o g a n o f t h e P a r t y , W o r k a n d V i g i l a n c e , t o m a k i n g t h e people's state p o w e r e v e r stronger, o u r socialist A l b a n i a e v e r m o r e beautiful, more prosperous and happier. L o n g live our people! L o n g live the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a ! L o n g l i v e o u r people's p o w e r ! On the People's State Power
THE TITOITES
Historical notes
(Excerpts)
T h e d e c i s i o n o f the A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s i n t h e s u m m e r of 1941 to e s t a b l i s h i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t r e l a t i o n s w i t h the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of Y u g o s l a v i a showed the m a t u r i t y w h i c h the c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t i n A l b a n i a h a d a c h i e v e d at that time. The worthiest representatives of the c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s h a d b e g u n t h e f i g h t against t h e fascist occupiers as e a r l y as 1939. J u s t as t h e y w e r e b o l d l y a n d resolutely overcoming the feuds and divisions amongst themselves, a n d h e a d i n g w i t h c o n v i c t i o n t o w a r d s t h e f o u n d ing of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a , w i t h similar courage a n d m a t u r i t y t h e y w e r e s u r m o u n t i n g t h e o l d a n i m o s i t i e s , feuds a n d t h e deep g u l f w h i c h h a d been c r e a t e d o v e r c e n t u r i e s i n the r e l a t i o n s o f o u r c o u n t r y w i t h its Yugoslav neighbours. It is an i n d i s p u t a b l e r e c o g n i z e d fact, accepted by a l l , t h a t t o describe t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n o u r t w o c o u n t r i e s b e f o r e 1941 as e m b i t t e r e d is p u t t i n g it m i l d l y . O v e r t h e i r w h o l e range, t h e y consist o f d r a m a s a n d t r a g e d i e s o f t h e gravest k i n d , p a c k e d w i t h aggressions, m u r d e r s a n d p l u n derings, r e e k i n g w i t h b l o o d y c r i m e s w h i c h w e r e c o m m i t ted o p e n l y i n m o d e r n E u r o p e o v e r t h e t e r r i t o r i e s a n d fate of a s m a l l , b u t b r a v e a n d i n v i n c i b l e people t h e A l b a n i a n people.
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This w h o l e grievous legacy w h i c h had been built up o v e r decades h a d been c r e a t e d t h r o u g h n o f a u l t o f the peoples, a n d the A l b a n i a n people i n p a r t i c u l a r h a v e n e v e r , o n a n y occasion, b e e n t o b l a m e f o r it. T h e b l a m e f o r t h i s rests o n t h e a n t i - A l b a n i a n p o l i c y o f t h e m o n a r c h s o f S e r bia and princes of Montenegro w h o wanted to gobble up A l b a n i a , on the policy of violence, expansion and genocide w h i c h they, a i d e d a n d abetted, o p e n l y o r secretly, b y t h e Great P o w e r s of that time, had pursued towards the A l b a n i a n people a n d the A l b a n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s . W i t h o u t going any further back in history, everybody k n o w s a b o u t t h e f r e s h great t r a g e d y w h i c h b e g a n t o b e p l a y e d t o the d e t r i m e n t o f t h e A l b a n i a n people, e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e second h a l f o f t h e last c e n t u r y . W h e n i t b e c a m e c l e a r t h a t t h e S i c k M a n o f the B o s p h o r u s w a s o n h i s d e a t h b e d , b o t h t h e hopes a n d p o s s i b i l i ties t h a t the A l b a n i a n people w o u l d w i n t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e w h i c h t h e y h a d been s e e k i n g b y f o r c e o f a r m s f o r c e n t u r i e s , a n d t h e i r s t r u g g l e a n d e f f o r t s t o b r i n g this d a y a s close a s possible, q u i c k l y m o u n t e d . B u t p r e c i s e l y w h e n t h e d a y w a s a p p r o a c h i n g f o r A l b a n i a t o t h r o w off t h e y o k e o f O t t o m a n r u l e , n e w f e r o c i o u s enemies, w i t h a i m s i d e n t i c a l w i t h those o f the O t t o m a n s , t h o u g h t t h a t t h e t i m e h a d come f o r t h e m t o get l i t t l e A l b a n i a i n t o t h e i r clutches. T h e m o n a r c h s o f Italy, A u s t r o - H u n g a r y , G r e e c e , S e r b i a , Montenegro and B u l g a r i a rushed to grab whatever they c o u l d f r o m w h a t t h e y c a l l e d the p e r i p h e r y o f t h e O t t o m a n Empire. This was an extremely grave and painful reward w h i c h the neighbours gave the brave and dauntless A l b a n i a n people, w h o h a d p o u r e d out t o r r e n t s o f b l o o d i n r a i s i n g a s t r o n g w a l l against t h e f u r t h e r a d v a n c e o f the O t t o m a n h o r d e s t o w a r d s E u r o p e . T h i s w a s t h e deepest ingratitude towards that nation w h i c h , whether in the battles o f the n e i g h b o u r i n g peoples f o r defence against t h e Ottoman onslaughts or in their movements and uprisings
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f o r l i b e r a t i o n , h a d n o t s p a r e d t h e i r o w n f i n e s t sons w h o g a v e t h e i r l i v e s p r e c i s e l y a s i f t h e y w e r e d e f e n d i n g the f r e e d o m o f t h e i r o w n peoples. I n p a r t i c u l a r , the S e r b i a n a n d M o n t e n e g r i n hordes, i n c i t e d b y the r e a c t i o n a r y cliques o f t h a t t i m e , assailed the A l b a n i a n territories, killing, plundering and destroying whatever they found in front of them. The chronicles of t h a t t i m e a r e f i l l e d w i t h t h e most b l o o d - c u r d l i n g events. U n d e r f i r e f r o m m a n y enemies, w h o f o u g h t s o m e t i m e s each o n t h e i r o w n account, s o m e t i m e s i n a g r e e m e n t t o d i v i d e t h e p r e y j o i n t l y , the A l b a n i a n p e o p l e r e s p o n d e d t o t h e n e w s i t u a t i o n w i t h endless w a r s . H o w e v e r , the r a t i o o f forces w a s s u c h that, a f t e r s h e d d i n g t o r r e n t s o f b l o o d , the A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n w a s f o r c e d , w i t h u n a l l a y a b l e grief, t o r e l i n q u i s h w h o l e pieces o f its H o m e l a n d o n t h e b o r d e r s w i t h Serbia and Montenegro. Besides the thousands w h o w e r e k i l l e d a n d b u r n e d out, tens o f t h o u s a n d s o f A l b a n i a n s w e r e e x p e l l e d f r o m t h e i r l a n d s a n d d r i v e n t o w a r d s the s o u t h , o r left t o r o a m a b o u t E u r o p e a n d A s i a a s refugees. S t a t i s t i c s s h o w t h a t at t h e e n d of t h e last c e n t u r y , as a r e s u l t of t h e o c c u p a t i o n of t h e o u t e r m o s t r e g i o n s of K o s o v a by Serbia, Montenegro and A u s t r o - H u n g a r y , about 300 000 A l b a n i a n s w h o h a d been v i o l e n t l y e x p e l l e d h a d settled i n the i n t e r n a l r e g i o n s o f t h e v i l a y e t s o f K o s o v a a n d S h k o d r a alone. N a t u r a l l y , this unprecedented genocide and developing danger w h i c h threatened the w h o l e of A l b a n i a was bound t o arouse t h e greatest h a t r e d a n d b r i n g t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y to its feet to resist b o t h t h e O t t o m a n T u r k a n d t h e shkja ( 1 ), a s c o u r g e w o r s e t h a n t h e O t t o m a n , a s t h e people d e s c r i b e d the S e r b i a n o c c u p i e r s a t t h a t p e r i o d . T h e A l b a _______________________________________ 1 T e r m used by the A l b a n i a n population of K o s o v a and of other regions in Y u g o s l a v i a about the Serb, M o n t e n e g r i n and other chauvinists to express their hatred against the policy of oppression and exploitation pursued towards them.
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n i a n L e a g u e o f P r i z r e n o f great f a m e w a s f o u n d e d a n d c a r r i e d out its u n f o r g e t t a b l e h i s t o r i c a c t i v i t y p r e c i s e l y a t t h i s g r a v e p e r i o d , s e t t i n g a s its o b j e c t i v e b o t h t h e s t r u g g l e for freedom and independence and the struggle in defence o f t h e i n t e g r i t y o f the n a t i o n a l t e r r i t o r y , i n defence of t h e l e g i t i m a t e r i g h t s of a people t h r e a t e n e d w i t h extermination. T h e A l b a n i a n p a t r i o t s a n d people left n o t h i n g u n d o n e to prevent the menace w h i c h came f r o m the n o r t h ! They w e r e r e a d y t o t u r n o v e r t h e p a g e m i a l l t h e past a n d t h e r e w a s n e v e r a n y l a c k o f messages s e e k i n g f r i e n d s h i p a n d good neighbourly relations w i t h the fraternal Serbian, M o n t e n e g r i n , M a c e d o n i a n a n d o t h e r peoples. B u t t h e fact i s t h a t t h e r e w a s n o l i m i t t o t h e greed o f the chauvinists, monarchs and princes of the neighbouring c o u n t r i e s , a n d as a result, t h e t h r e a t to A l b a n i a f r o m t h e n o r t h b e c a m e m o r e a n d m o r e serious. B e h i n d t h e m stood t h e b l a c k e s t E u r o p e a n r e a c t i o n . T h r o u g h the p o l i c y w h i c h i t p u r s u e d , S e r b i a became, i n t h e m i n d o f t h e f r e e d o m l o v i n g A l b a n i a n , the s y m b o l o f h i s s w o r n e n e m y . G a l l o n s o f b l o o d w e r e s h e d b y b o t h sides a n d t h o u s ands a n d t h o u s a n d s o f S e r b s , M o n t e n e g r i n s a n d o t h e r s left t h e i r bones i n o u r m o u n t a i n passes a n d o n o u r p l a i n s . Obviously, the f l o w e r of friendship could not sprout t h r o u g h these pools o f b l o o d , b u t t h e t h o r n o f h a t r e d a n d hostility w o u l d flourish and grow. However, the Albanians d i d n o t shed t h e i r b l o o d o n t h e s o i l o f S e r b i a a n d M o n t e negro, t h e A l b a n i a n s d i d n o t descend w i t h f i r e a n d steel u p o n the n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n t r i e s a n d peoples. T h e opposite occurred. T h e A l b a n i a n s defended their o w n lands, wives a n d c h i l d r e n , t h e i r h o m e s a n d possessions. T h i s s i t u a t i o n c o n t i n u e d u n t i l 1912, w h e n t h e g r e a t victory the independence of A l b a n i a was q u i c k l y f o l l o w e d b y one o f t h e greatest i n j u s t i c e s o f t h i s c e n t u r y i n E u r o p e : A l b a n i a w a s cut i n h a l f K o s o v a a n d o t h e r
634
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A l b a n i a n regions w e r e v i o l e n t l y a n n e x e d t o Y u g o s l a v i a . N a t u r a l l y , if y o u cut t h e b o d y of a c o u n t r y a n d a p e o p l e i n half, a n d a r t i f i c i a l l y a t t a c h one h a l f t o a n o t h e r c r e a t i o n , s u c h an act c a n n o t s e r v e as a b r i d g e to c o n c i l i a t i o n , friendship and fraternity. I f t h i s w e r e n o t e n o u g h , h o w e v e r , e v e n a f t e r 1912-1913 the a n t i - A l b a n i a n p o l i c y o f t h e K a r a d j o r d j e v i e s a n d a l l the u n s c r u p u l o u s g r e a t - S e r b r e a c t i o n w a s i n t e n s i f i e d i n all forms and directions. The policy of extermination, discrimination and denationalization of the A l b a n i a n po p u l a t i o n w h i c h h a d been p l a c e d u n d e r S e r b i a n o c c u p a t i o n w a s f o l l o w e d b y secret p l a n s f o r t h e a n n e x a t i o n o f other p a r t s of A l b a n i a . T h e secret T r e a t y of L o n d o n of 1915, w h i c h t w o years later the great L e n i n published to the w o r l d and denounced, is further evidence of the notor ious, u n r e l e n t i n g a n t i - A l b a n i a n p o l i c y , n o t o n l y o f t h e r e a c t i o n a r y G r e a t P o w e r s o f t h a t t i m e , b u t also o f t h e t h e n Y u g o s l a v state, a c r e a t i o n o f i m p e r i a l i s m . T h e p u b l i c denunciation of this predatory T r e a t y d i d not m a k e the face of G r e a t - S e r b c h a u v i n i s m b l u s h or go pale. A l i t t l e l a t e r Y u g o s l a v i a once a g a i n s a n c t i o n e d de jure its rights t o t h e o c c u p i e d A l b a n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s a n d set o u t w i t h g r e a t e r zest on t h e course of t h e d e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n of t h e A l b a n i a n population w h i c h it had placed under occupation. A t the s a m e t i m e i t t r i e d t o f i n d n e w w a y s t o r e a l i z e its o l d d r e a m o f g o b b l i n g u p t h e w h o l e o f A l b a n i a . I t was precisely the Serbian monarchs w h o came to the a i d o f Z o g , w h o h a d f l e d f r o m A l b a n i a i n J u n e 1924; i t w a s they w h o kept h i m , found h i m mercenaries, supplied h i m w i t h forces a n d w e a p o n s a n d c r e a t e d a l l the c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e f u t u r e despot t o c a r r y out t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n i n A l b a n i a i n D e c e m b e r 1924. I n r e t u r n , Z o g i n i t i a l l y g a v e t h e S e r b s other pieces o f A l b a n i a n t e r r i t o r y , s u c h a s V e r m o s h and S h n - N a u m , and, assuredly, in time w o u l d have given them the whole of A l b a n i a , if the great gamble
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of the G r e a t P o w e r s h a d not t h r o w n the puppet k i n g f i n a l l y i n t o t h e l a p o f fascist I t a l y a n d set t h e c o u n t r y o n t h e c o u r s e o f I t a l i a n fascist c o l o n i z a t i o n . B u t e v e n a f t e r this, t h e r e is a w h o l e b i t t e r h i s t o r y of o p e n a n d d i s g u i s e d acts c a r r i e d out b y the r e a c t i o n a r y g o v e r n m e n t s o f Y u g o s l a v i a , d o m i n a t e d b y S e r b i a , i n the d i r e c t i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n state. W h e n the reactionary S e r b i a n governments saw that o t h e r s h a d g a i n e d c o n t r o l o f the c a r d o f Z o g . t h e y set i n m o t i o n t h e i r secret a g e n c y w i t h i n o u r c o u n t r y a n d a m o n g the reactionary Albanian emigrants in Yugoslavia and m a d e a l l k i n d s o f e f f o r t s t o create a n e x p l o s i v e s i t u a t i o n w i t h i n the A l b a n i a n K i n g d o m . Later, u n d e r the cloak of a n u p r i s i n g against t h e Z o g i t e t y r a n n y , t h e S o r b secret agents w o u l d t u r n f o r a i d t o t h e same S e r b i a n circles t h a t had brought Z o g to p o w e r a few years earlier. T h e s e c h a u v i n i s t circles, a l w a y s r e a d y t o stage a n i n v a sion a s aid, t r a i n e d w h o l e r e g i m e n t s a n d k e p t t h e m i n readiness a r o u n d the borders of A l b a n i a . The v a n g u a r d of these m e r c e n a r y r e g i m e n t s consisted o f h a r d e n e d c r i m i nals, Y u g o s l a v a n d n o n - Y u g o s l a v , w h o . d e c k e d out i n a u t h e n t i c A l b a n i a n n a t i o n a l costumes, w o u l d b e t h e f i r s t t o p o u r o v e r the b o r d e r s at. t h e a p p r o p r i a t e m o m e n t . B u t t h e fact is that, despite a l l t h e i r stage props, these p l a n s r e m a i n e d o n l y o n p a p e r . T h i s o c c u r r e d not o n l y because fascist I t a l y a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e a c t i o n , w h i c h b a c k e d i t f o r its o w n interests, w o u l d n o t a n d d i d n o t a l l o w t h e A l b a n i a n a p p l e t o assuage t h e a p p e t i t e o f t h e G r e a t - S e r b s , h u t also because t h e S e r b i a n secret agency a n d p r o p a g a n d a in A l b a n i a was able to f i n d a f a v o u r a b l e terrain only among a f e w degenerate e l e m e n t s w i t h o u t a n y i n f l u e n c e , b u t n e v e r a m o n g b r o a d s t r a t a a n d . e v e n less, a m o n g t h e people. On account of the atrocities committed, Serbia h a d l o n g become synonymous w i t h evil in the m i n d of the Albanian.
636
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T h e denationalizing policy w h i c h the Great-Serbs p u r sued towards K o s o v a and towards the A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n M o n t e n e g r o a n d M a c e d o n i a d e e p e n e d the h a t r e d and made any sign of reconciliation more impossible. F r o m 1913 o n , t h e c h a u v i n i s t r e g i m e o f t h e G r e a t - S e r b b o u r geoisie e m p l o y e d t h e m o s t i n h u m a n p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c , i d e o logic and m i l i t a r y methods, and means to denationalize the annexed A l b a n i a n territories and populate them w i t h Slavs. D u r i n g the y e a r s 1913-1927 i n K o s o v a a n d t h e o t h e r A l b a n i a n regions i n Y u g o s l a v i a , b y m e a n s o f the s o - c a l l e d de nationalization through physical elimination, more than 200 t h o u s a n d A l b a n i a n s w e r e k i l l e d , tens o f t h o u s a n d s o f others were imprisoned a n d w h o l e A l b a n i a n villages w i p e d out. F a s c i s m , w h i c h w a s r i s i n g i n E u r o p e a t t h a t t i m e , w a s f i n d i n g a w o r t h y forerunner and fellow-traveller in the Great-Serbs. Stojadinovi of Serbia, together w i t h M u s s o l i n i , p r e p a r e d t h e p l a n f o r the d e v i s i o n o f A l b a n i a . ( 2 ) H o w e v e r , t h e b a r b a r o u s mass e x t e r m i n a t i o n , a c c o m p a n i e d w i t h o t h e r e q u a l l y b a r b a r o u s means, s u c h a s d e n a tionalization through the agrarian r e f o r m for coloniza tion. ( 3 ) d e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n t h r o u g h e x p u l s i o n ( 4 ), etc., etc.,
___________________________________ 2 T h i s refers to the negotiations of Ciano, foreign minister of fascist Italy, w i t h Stoiadinovi, p r i m e minister of the Y u g o s l a v K i n g d o m , w h o hatched up plans of the p a r t i t i o n i n g and occupation of A l b a n i a in the bilateral talks in the years 1937-1939. 3 On the basis of documents and incomplete statistics, in the years between the t w o w o r l d wars. 1919-1941, through colonization, more than 58 thousand Serbian and M o n t e n e g r i n colonists w e r e settled in K o s o v a and more than 370 villages of colonists w e r e created (according to the scientific magazine Prparimi, Nos. 4-5/1970 a n d 10/1971 a n d G j u r m i m e A l b a nologjike 1972, p u b l i s h e d in Prishtina). As w e l l as this, according to reports of the Y u g o s l a v H i g h Commission for the R e f o r m , d u r i n g the years 1920-1940, in only some regions of K o s o v a and M a c e d o n i a , 381245 hectares of l a n d were seized f r o m A l b a n i a n s and given to colonists, of ficials, gendarmes, etnici and others. 4 As a result of the Great-Serb r u l e of terror, d u r i n g 1913-
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w e r e n o t y i e l d i n g t h e r e s u l t s d e s i r e d b y the G r e a t - S e r b s . Unfortunately for the Great-Serbs, the A l b a n i a n national sentiments in K o s o v a and other regions were not w i p e d out. e i t h e r w i t h g u n p o w d e r o r w i t h f i r e , b u t o n the c o n t r a r y , t h e n u m b e r o f t h e A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n e n its o w n territories increased in relation to the Serbian and M o n t e n e g r i n e l e m e n t i n these t e r r i t o r i e s . I n s a t i a b l e i n t h e i r c r u e l t y a n d i n f u r i a t e d b y the m o t t o of the A l b a n i a n s . We m a y die but w e ' l l not give up our c o u n t r y , t h e G r e a t - S e r b s set i n m o t i o n t h e science o f extermination, the ideology and means of the pogrom. P r e c i s e l y t o t h i s p h a s e b e l o n g t h e i n h u m a n deeds o f notorious Great-Serbs of the type of V a s o Cubrilovi, A t a n a s i j e U r o e v i a n d o t h e r s u c h m o n s t e r s o f t h e so-called Serbian C u l t u r a l C l u b in Belgrade, the vicious creation o f t h e r e a c t i o n a r y S e r b i a n b o u r g e o i s i e i n t h e y e a r s 19371939. a n d . r e g r e t t a b l y , a s w e w e r e t o l e a r n m u c h l a t e r the forerunner of institutions w i t h the same platform in t h e Y u g o s l a v i a o f the y e a r s f r o m 1945 o n . T h i s i s n o t the place, n o r i s i t the p u r p o s e o f m y notes, t o d w e l l a t l e n g t h o n t h e p r o g r a m s a n d t h e o r i e s o f e x t e r m i n a t i o n o f these neo-Malthusians, w h o m the Tito regime was later to pre s e r v e a n d raise t o t h e h i g h e s t r a n k s o f t h e s c i e n t i f i c i n s t i t u t i o n s of socialist Y u g o s l a v i a . I w a n t to p o i n t out o n l y that, o n t h e basis o f w h a t t h e y t h e m s e l v e s w r o t e f u r t h e r incalculable damage was inflicted on the A l b a n i a n population, and the hatred and animosities w h i c h for decades h a d d i v i d e d t h e A l b a n i a n people, o n the one h a n d , f r o m t h e S e r b . M o n t e n e g r i n a n d o t h e r peoples, o n t h e other hand, became even more profound. T h e t r u t h i s that, a t t h a t t i m e w e k n e w n o t h i n g about
_____________________________________ 1941 about 500 000 A l b a n i a n s w e r e expelled by force f r o m K o s o v a and the other A l b a n i a n regions in Y u g o s l a v i a (most of them to T u r k e y and the remainder to A l b a n i a and other countries).
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these s c i e n t i f i c w o r k s a n d p l a t f o r m s , w o r k e d out a n d a p p r o v e d , a n d h e a r d n o t h i n g a b o u t the a u t h o r s o f t h e m , b u t w i t h g r i e f w e s a w a n d h e a r d a b o u t the r e s u l t s o f t h e i r p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n . M i l i t a t i n g i n the r a n k s o f o u r communist groups at that time w e r e a n u m b e r of c o m rades f r o m K o s o v a . T h e y w e r e e i t h e r t h e sons o f d i s p l a c e d families or individuals w h o had managed to leave K o s o v a secretly a n d h a d c o m e t o m o t h e r A l b a n i a t o escape p e r s e c u tion by the Great-Serbs, to continue their schooling or t o f i n d w o r k . O u r p i c t u r e o f the r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n o u r peoples i n g e n e r a l a n d a b o u t t h e s i t u a t i o n i n K o s o v a i n particular was made more complete w i t h the blood-curdli n g stories a n d facts w h i c h these c o m r a d e s t o l d us. T h i s w a s the s i t u a t i o n i n 1941, w h e n the r e s i s t a n c e o f o u r people t o the fascist o c c u p i e r s w a s c o n t i n u i n g a l l o v e r the c o u n t r y a n d w e w e r e f a c e d w i t h t h e u r g e n t necessity o f f o u n d i n g the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a . A s c a n b e i m a g i n e d , t o seek r e l a t i o n s w i t h the C o m munist P a r t y of Y u g o s l a v i a in such a situation was by no m e a n s easy a n d s i m p l e . T o u s c o m m u n i s t s , h o w e v e r , t h e p r o b l e m w a s clear. I n p r i n c i p l e , w e c o u l d n e v e r l i n k c o m m u n i s m w i t h c h a u v i n i s m , n o r the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a w i t h the reactionary and chauvinist policy of the Yugoslav government towards Albania. T h e fact i s t h a t V a s i l S h a n t o , Q e m a l S t a f a a n d I a n d , a f t e r a series of hesitations, K o o T a s h k o , too, w h o b e c a m e the i n i t i a t o r s f o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f r e l a t i o n s w i t h the C P Y . k n e w l i t t l e o r n o t h i n g a b o u t t h e l i f e , a c t i v ity and situation in that party. We had heard that it had been f o r m e d a f t e r t h e O c t o b e r S o c i a l i s t R e v o l u t i o n , t h a t i n the f i r s t 10-15 y e a r s o f its e x i s t e n c e i t h a d gone t h r o u g h a series of ups a n d d o w n s , f e u d s a n d f a c t i o n s , t h a t v a r i o u s o f its cadres h a d been c r i t i c i z e d a t d i f f e r e n t t i m e s b y t h e C o m i n t e r n f o r stands a n d l i n e s t h a t w e r e a n t i - M a r x i s t . T r o t s k y i t e , n a t i o n a l i s t , a n d s o on, t h a t i t h a d b e e n o r g a n -
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i z e d i n recent years, a n d w a s s a i d t o h a v e p l a c e d itself o n a c o r r e c t l i n e . W e k n e w n o n e o f its leaders, i n d e e d w e h a d not h e a r d w h o t h e y w e r e o r w h a t t h e y w e r e c a l l e d , b u t the fact t h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a w a s a m e m b e r o f t h e C o m i n t e r n , t h e fact t h a t i t h a d e x p r e s s e d itself i n f a v o u r o f o p e n s t r u g g l e against t h e fascist d a n g e r a n d , a f t e r A p r i l 1941, w h e n t h e Y u g o s l a v m o n a r c h y c a p i t u l a t e d , t h e fact t h a t i t h a d l a u n c h e d t h e s l o g a n o f r a i s i n g a l l the peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a a r o u n d itself i n t h e f i g h t against the nazi-fascist occupation, impelled us to l i n k o u r s e l v e s w i t h it, a s a sister p a r t y w h i c h w a s f i g h t i n g f o r t h a t g r e a t cause, w h i c h w a s o u r cause, too. A s c o m m u n i s t s , w e t h o u g h t a n d b e l i e v e d that, since the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a h a d r i s e n i n s t r u g g l e for a n e w Y u g o s l a v i a , it w o u l d f i n a l l y free itself f r o m a n d d e s t r o y a l l t h a t l e g a c y f r o m the o l d Y u g o s l a v i a , that is, its c h a u v i n i s m a n d its l o n g - s t a n d i n g s a v a g e a n d u n s c r u p u l o u s p o l i c i e s a g a i n s t t h e A l b a n i a n s . F o r these reasons, w e considered the establishment of relations w i t h the C P Y a c o r r e c t a n d m a t u r e act o n o u r p a r t . T h a t i s w h a t w e thought and we were quite right. A s I s a i d , h o w e v e r , t h i s w a s o u r v i e w , the c o m m u n i s t s ' v i e w . W o u l d the people u n d e r s t a n d t h i s i d e a a n d a i m o f o u r s ? W o u l d t h e y f o l l o w u s i n the steps w h i c h w e w e r e going to take? A whole b u r d e n of opinion built up over scores a n d scores of y e a r s h a d to be o v e r c o m e , a n d as I m e n t i o n e d above, t h i s w a s n o t a n o p i n i o n c r e a t e d s i m p l y b y w o r d s o r statements, b u t b y t o r r e n t s o f b l o o d , b y v i l l a ges a n d t o w n s d e s t r o y e d , b y b o y s a n d g i r l s cut off i n t h e f l o w e r o f t h e i r y o u t h , b y m o t h e r s left desolate, b y A l b a n ians whose deep-rooted, freedom-loving and patriotic spirit had been p r o f o u n d l y antagonized. N o w we were going to t e l l t h e m : W e , the A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s , are g o i n g t o create close f r a t e r n a l l i n k s w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a , w i t h that p a r t y in the ranks of w h i c h militate
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Serbs, Montenegrins, Macedonians, Croats, Slovenes, Bosn i a n s , etc. F r o m w h a t has b e e n s a i d above, i t i s u n d e r s t a n d a b l e w h y the A l b a n i a n has r e g a r d e d t h e S e r b w i t h d i f f i d e n c e . B u t w e w e r e d e t e r m i n e d t o t a k e t h i s step because w e c o n s i d e r e d i t t o b e t h e r i g h t t h i n g t o do. E v e n i f some o f o u r people d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d u s a t f i r s t , t h e y w o u l d soon b e c o n v i n c e d a n d u n d e r s t a n d u s . W e r e g a r d e d t h e l i n k s w i t h the C P Y a s s o m e t h i n g n a tural, as l i n k s between communists, between brothers of c o m m o n ideals. W e w o u l d e x c h a n g e e x p e r i e n c e a n d assist one a n o t h e r i n the sacred f i g h t f o r t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f o u r c o u n t r i e s , a n d b e t w e e n us, o n t h e b a s i s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , w e c o u l d settle j u s t l y a l l the u g l y t h i n g s w h i c h h i s t o r y h a d left i n the r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n o u r peoples. T h e peoples are e s s e n t i a l l y f r e e d o m - l o v i n g . O u r people, i n p a r t i c u l a r , h a v e n e v e r harassed the o t h e r s a n d h a v e respected t h e heroes a n d peoples w h o h a v e f o u g h t against i n v a d e r s . N o w the peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a w e r e a t w a r against the s a m e e n e m y t h e f o r e i g n n a z i - f a s c i s t s a n d the i n t e r n a l r e a c t i o n a r i e s , t h e r e f o r e , w e w e r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t o u r s p l e n d i d people w o u l d u n d e r s t a n d a n d s u p p o r t us. T h u s , w i t h t h i s act w h i c h w e u n d e r t o o k t o c a r r y out. w e w e r e t a k i n g the f i r s t step not o n l y t o e l i m i n a t e a n y e v e n t u a l obstacle to t h e m o b i l i z a t i o n of the peoples of the respective c o u n t r i e s i n the f i g h t f o r f r e e d o m , b u t also t o m a k e r e a l , great progress t o w a r d s e t t l i n g h i s t o r i c a l i n j u s tices a n d o v e r c o m i n g t h e l e g a c y o f h o s t i l i t i e s c r e a t e d i n the past. W e u n d e r t o o k t o e x p l a i n t o t h e A l b a n i a n people, t o t a l k t o the people o p e n l y a b o u t o u r ideas, a n d w e d i d so. O u r people, o u r m a r v e l l o u s people, w h o s e eyes h a v e n e v e r been b l i n d e d b y t h e diseased p r i n c i p l e s o f c h a u v i n i s m , u n d e r s t o o d us. W e b e l i e v e d , i n d e e d w e w e r e c o n v i n c e d , that the Y u g o s l a v c o m r a d e s t h o u g h t a n d j u d g e d m a t t e r s
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in the same way. Therefore, we decided to establish l i n k s w i t h them. T i m e w o u l d prove to w h a t extent they were truly Marxist-Leninists, whether they w o u l d put into pract i c e w h a t t h e y d e c l a r e d u n r e s e r v e d l y i n t h e i r statements. I n t h e step w h i c h w e took b y d e c i d i n g t o e s t a b l i s h c o n t a c t w i t h t h e C P Y a t those m o m e n t s , w e w e r e faced, a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , w i t h one v e r y great d i f f i c u l t y w h i c h was very h a r d to deal w i t h . W h a t was bombastically p r o c l a i m e d a s the l i b e r a t i o n o f A l b a n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s f r o m the S e r b i a n y o k e , the f o r m a t i o n o f G r e a t e r A l b a n i a h a d b e e n realized u n d e r t h e j a c k b o o t o f f a s c i s m a n d i n t h e i n t e r e s t s of f a s c i s m . It c a n n o t be concealed t h a t t h i s d e m a g o g y c o n f u s e d m a n y people i n K o s o v a a n d also d e c e i v e d some in A l b a n i a w h o called themselves nationalists. N a t u r a l l y , we w e r e not going to be and were not taken i n b y t h i s t r i c k o f f a s c i s m , t h e r e f o r e , w e t o l d t h e people c l e a r l y a n d p r e c i s e l y : W e m u s t n o t b e d e c e i v e d b y the l i b e r a t i o n a n d p r o p a g a n d a o f t h i s o c c u p i e r w h i c h poses a s a liberator(!), b u t w h i c h i n fact has e n s l a v e d t h e w h o l e o f A l b a n i a . W e c a n n e v e r e x p e c t n a z i - f a s c i s m , the m o s t ferocious enemy of the freedom and independence of the peoples, t o s o l v e o u r p r o b l e m s , b i g o r s m a l l , c a n n e v e r e x p e c t a n y b e n e f i t s f r o m f a s c i s m w h i c h has p l a c e d u s i n the m o s t h i d e o u s b o n d a g e , w h i c h i s m a i m i n g a n d k i l l i n g t h e f i n e s t sons a n d d a u g h t e r s o f the people, t h e p l a g u e w h i c h h a s set itself t h e a i m o f d e s t r o y i n g m a n k i n d . I r r e c o n c i l a b l e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t it, e v e r y w h e r e , at e v e r y m o m e n t t h i s is our immediate duty. W e discussed a l l these t h i n g s a n d o t h e r s o f the same t y p e d u r i n g those d a y s o f s u m m e r 1941, w h e n w e dec i d e d t o e n t e r i n t o i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t r e l a t i o n s w i t h the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of Y u g o s l a v i a . We were convinced that in t h i s w a y w e w e r e m a k i n g t h e p r o p e r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o the g r e a t cause o f t h e w a r a g a i n s t f a s c i s m a n d f o r the acc o m p l i s h m e n t , a l o n g w i t h the l i b e r a t i o n w a r , o f t h e s o c i a l
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r e v o l u t i o n , too, the r e v o l u t i o n w h i c h w o u l d s o l v e e v e r y thing. This is how we considered the matter and this is what w e d e c i d e d t o do, i n t h i s w a y p e r f o r m i n g a n act w o r t h y of genuine, m a t u r e communists, communists w i t h clear minds and pure hearts. A h e a d of us lay practice, life, they prove to us? the war. W h a t w o u l d
T h e t r u t h i s t h a t the s t a r t o f o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h the Communist Party of Yugoslavia was a happy and promis i n g start. T h i s h a d t o d o w i t h a l l t h a t p e r i o d w h e n t h e internationalist communist. M i l a d i n Popovi, was amongst us, e s p e c i a l l y w i t h t h e p e r i o d b e f o r e t h e e m i s s a r i e s o f T i t o began t o come t o A l b a n i a . B e g i n n i n g f r o m M a r c h 1943, h o w e v e r , w h e n T i t o ' s f i r s t e m i s s a r y . B l a o J o v a n o v i , uttered the first absurd a n t i - M a r x i s t claim against our P a r t y , a n d o v e r t h e n e x t f i v e o r s i x y e a r s , step b y step we were to enter into conflict w i t h Tito's men. were to c l a s h w i t h t h e m a n d oppose t h e m , a n d t h e y w e r e t o oppose us. T h e s e w e r e f i v e o r s i x y e a r s o f the process o f g e t t i n g to k n o w each other, a process of s t e r n , e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t a n d c o m p l i c a t e d struggle, a s t r u g g l e against t r a p s a n d plots hatched up by the Y u g o s l a v leadership in order to subju gate u s a n d t u r n u s i n t o t h e i r o b e d i e n t tools. A l l t h e d o c u m e n t s a n d facts p r o v e t h a t t h e l e a d e r s o f the C P Y . h e a d e d b y T i t o , h a d m a d e p l a n s t o s u b j u g a t e t h e Communist P a r t y of A l b a n i a , to put it under their direct leadership, and consequently m a k e our N a t i o n a l Liberation W a r an appendage of their war. T h e y h a d thought and planned to have their men placed everywhere by the t i m e A l b a n i a w a s l i b e r a t e d , s o t h e y c o u l d act w i t h A l b a n i a i n every direction politically, economically, militarily, org anizationally and in the international plane, as they wished. Naturally, all this activity was hidden under the
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cloak of the c o m m o n aims of the N a t i o n a l Liberation W a r against t h e o c c u p i e r s , u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t w o communist parties w h i c h had l i n k e d themselves l i k e flesh t o b o n e w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y a n d Stalin. T h e Y u g o s l a v s w e r e so conceited and h a d created such a megalomaniacal idea of themselves and their war, m a k i n g them underrate our war, that they had reached the point of t h i n k i n g that without t h e m there w o u l d be no communist party and no national liberation war in A l b a n i a . A s a r e s u l t o f t h i s conceit, the Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p m i n i m i z e d our w a r a n d took no interest in really i n f o r m i n g i t s e l f a b o u t a n d s t u d y i n g o u r o b j e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n s , social a n d e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n s , t h e class s t r u g g l e , t h e bases of t h e occupiers, o r t h e g l o r i o u s r e v o l u t i o n a r y past o f t h e A l b a n i a n people. It a v o i d e d s u c h a n a l y s i s also because of t h e a g e - o l d a n t i - A l b a n i a n s e n t i m e n t s a n d a i m s o f the S e r b s and of pan-Slav expansionism in general. The Yugoslav l e a d e r s h i p m a i n t a i n e d t h e s a m e s t a n d also t o w a r d s t h e A l b a n i a n s of K o s o v a , w h o m it not only d i d not help to take part f u l l y in the w a r against the occupier, but on t h e c o n t r a r y sabotaged t h e i r w a r , a l w a y s t e r r o r i z e d , k i l l e d and tortured them. A l l those w h o m T i t o a n d t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a sent t o us, a l l e g e d l y t o assist us and exchange experience, came w i t h plans prepared in advance, w i t h directives w h i c h they dictated to us and w e w e r e s u p p o s e d t o a p p l y , c a m e a s masters o f t h e revolution and national liberation w a r to their appren tices. B e g i n n i n g f r o m B l a o J o v a n o v i , V u k m a n o v i - T e m po, D u a n M u g o a , V e l i m i r S t o j n i , N i j a z D i z d a r e v i d o w n t o those w h o c a m e a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n , J o s i p D j e r d j a , S a v o Z l a t i , Sergej K r a j g e r , G e n e r a l K u p r e a n i n , a n d others, their megalomania and arrogance k n e w no bounds. W e w e r e i n o p p o s i t i o n t o a n d q u a r r e l l e d w i t h a l l thes
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people o v e r m a n y issues o f p r i n c i p l e , f r o m t h e f i r s t contacts we had w i t h them. O b v i o u s l y , for o u r part, this w a s done over problems of the w o r k and in a comradely w a y , because w e c o n s i d e r e d m a n y o f t h e i r ideas a n d assessments, w h e t h e r i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the s i t u a t i o n i n t h e a r m y , the o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y , o r t h e p o l i c y o f t h e P a r t y , the F r o n t , a n d so o n , to be i n c o r r e c t a n d out of p l a c e f o r us. F o r t h e i r p a r t t h e y h a t e d u s a n d , a s e m e r g e d c l e a r l y f r o m their activity, they studied amongst us the elements most s u i t a b l e t o serve t h e m f o r t h e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f t h e i r aims. Hence, the Y u g o s l a v leadership h a d been at w o r k for a long time and had decided to purge f r o m the ranks o f o u r l e a d e r s h i p a n y o n e w h o opposed t h e i r p l a n s s o t h a t t h e w a y w o u l d b e open t o t h e m . Especially f o l l o w i n g the 2nd P l e n u m of the CC of the C P A i n B e r a t , i n N o v e m b e r 1944. a n d t h r o u g h o u t t h e w h o l e period f r o m L i b e r a t i o n on, their a n t i - M a r x i s t and antiA l b a n i a n struggle and attempts became more open and more ferocious. I t i s d i f f i c u l t f o r those w h o h a v e n o t l i v e d e s p e c i a l l y t h r o u g h the p e r i o d u p t o 1948 t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d f o r m a n accurate i m a g e o f t h a t e x t r e m e l y c o m p l i c a t e d s t r u g g l e w h i c h w e h a d t o w a g e i n those y e a r s a g a i n s t t h e T i t o i t e s . W e h a d t o u n c o v e r t h e s u b v e r s i v e s t r u g g l e w h i c h those w h o posed a n d a d v e r t i z e d t h e m s e l v e s a s f r i e n d s w e r e w a g i n g against us, t o expose t h e savage s w o r n enemies, not o n l y o f o u r P a r t y a n d people, b u t also o f M a r x i s m Leninism, of the theory and practice of the revolution. W e h a d j u s t set out o n t h e n e w c o u r s e o f t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e socialist society a n d , u n d e r s t a n d a b l y , e x p e r i e n c e was l a c k i n g in this direction. F r o m ignorance mistakes c o u l d e a s i l y b e m a d e , a n d g r a s p i n g a t this, o u r f r i e n d s , deliberately, for ulterior motives, strove w i t h all their m i g h t to c o n f u s e us, to p u t us on a f a t a l l y w r o n g course b y o f f e r i n g u s t h e i r aid a n d experience. W e w e r e t o
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cope w i t h t h i s e v i l , a n d w e d i d cope w i t h it, b u t o n l y a t t h e cost o f g r e a t t o i l , e f f o r t a n d s a c r i f i c e . This was our first clash w i t h m o d e r n revisionism. B u t here, too, w e l a c k e d e x p e r i e n c e . T h e fact t h a t w e h a d these e n e m i e s r i g h t i n s i d e t h e house, a s y o u m i g h t say, m a d e t h e s t r u g g l e e v e n m o r e c o m p l i c a t e d . W e h a d been g r a v e l y b e t r a y e d i n the t r u s t t h a t w e h a d p l a c e d i n t h e m , in o u r communist honesty, and in the proletarian sincerity t h a t w e h a d s h o w n t o w a r d s t h e m . I n d e e d , the T i t o i t e s p i d e r - w e b h a d been s p u n e v e n w i t h i n o u r o w n r a n k s . W h a t T i t o and his henchmen were unable to achieve f r o m outside w a s m a d e u p f o r b y t h e i r agents w h o h a d l o n g been p r e p a r e d b y D u a n M u g o a , V u k m a n o v i - T e m p o a n d V e l i m i r S t o j n i , a n d h a d gone o n the o f f e n s i v e w i t h i n the r a n k s of our top leadership, inside our P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u . T h u s , w e h a d t o u n c o v e r , d e f i n e a c c u r a t e l y a n d defeat the Titoite plot in conditions not just of the lack of u n i t y in o u r l e a d e r s h i p , but of a f i e r c e s t r u g g l e w h i c h w a s l a u n c h e d f r o m outside and f r o m inside the sound body of our P a r t y . H o w e v e r , w e w a g e d t h i s s t r u g g l e , too, a n d c r o w n e d i t w i t h success. F o r t u n a t e l y f o r the f u t u r e o f the P a r t y , t h e H o m e l a n d and socialism in A l b a n i a , precisely at the moment w h e n it seemed t h a t t h e T i t o i t e p l o t h a d g a i n e d c o n t r o l o f e v e r y thing, it was exposed and crushed. The relations between us and the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y and the F e d e r a l People's R e p u b l i c o f Y u g o s l a v i a h a d r e a c h e d t h e p o i n t o f open h o s t i l i t y . S t a l i n ' s letters sent t o t h e C P o f Y u g o s l a v i a t h r e w l i g h t o n the a n t i - M a r x i s t r e v i s i o n i s t l i n e a n d a c t i v i t y o f t h e Tito clique. M a n y things w h i c h Tito and company had d o n e o r w e r e d o i n g against o u r P a r t y a n d c o u n t r y , n o w b e c a m e q u i t e c l e a r t o us. T h e s t r i v i n g s , e f f o r t s , m i s t a k e s a n d successes o f t h a t s t r u g g l e w o u l d b e t u r n e d , a s t h e y w e r e , i n t o a g r e a t s c h o o l to r a i s e t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l e v e l of o u r c o m m u n i s t s a n d people, i n t o a colossal
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e x p e r i e n c e w h i c h w a s t o s e r v e us, a s i t d i d , i n t h e n e w battles w h i c h w o u l d b e i m p o s e d o n u s i n t h e f u t u r e , r i g h t d o w n t o the present day, d e s t r o y i n g e v e n t h e last c a r d s w h i c h the Y u g o s l a v a g e n c y k e p t u p its sleeve f o r better o r w o r s e d a y s t h a t m i g h t present t h e m s e l v e s i n the f u t u r e . T h e w a y i n w h i c h o u r P a r t y w a g e d t h i s great a n d s t e r n s t r u g g l e to detect a n d attack T i t o i t e r e v i s i o n i s m is a w h o l e h i s t o r y i n itself. T h e w h o l e d i a l e c t i c a l process, f r o m t h e f i r s t contacts u p t o t h e m o m e n t w h e n w e b r o k e off a l l contacts o r r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a once a n d f o r a l l , has been a n a l y s e d a n d s u m m e d u p in many m a i n documents and materials of our Party, w h i c h belong to that t i m e and the whole of the subsequent p e r i o d . I p e r s o n a l l y , as a d i r e c t p a r t i c i p a n t in t h i s s t r u g g l e f r o m its f i r s t m o m e n t s , h a v e gone b a c k o v e r t h a t p e r i o d a g a i n a n d a g a i n . T h e lessons w h i c h w e h a v e d r a w n f r o m t h a t p e r i o d o f clashes a n d s t r u g g l e o v e r p r i n c i p l e s i n t h e ideological, political, economic, organizational and m i l i t a r y planes are i n e x h a u s t i b l e a n d w i l l r e m a i n p e r m a n e n t l y v a l i d . T h e past a l w a y s serves t h e p r e s e n t a n d the f u t u r e . T h a t i s w h y w e are g o i n g b a c k o v e r t h e 6-7 y e a r p e r i o d w h e n b e h i n d the o u t s t a n d i n g l e a d e r T i t o w e d i s c o v e r e d t h e i n v e t e r a t e renegade T i t o , w h e n b e h i n d t h e i n t e r n a tionalism of Tito and his henchmen we discovered nationalism and chauvinism, w h e n behind their friendship we discovered the bonds of a n e w enslavement, w h e n behind their communism we discovered the revision of M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m in theory and practice. Subsequently we developed and carried the struggle w h i c h we had begun l o n g before against the Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t s f u r t h e r a n d f u r t h e r f o r w a d a n d w e w e r e not n o n p l u s s e d a n d d i d n o t r e t r e a t e i t h e r i n t h e 50's, w h e n K h r u s h c h e v a n d c o m p a n y took t h e r o a d o f b e t r a y a l a n d e m b r a c e d T i t o , o r i n t h e 70's, w h e n M a o Z e d o n g f e l l o n h i s knees b e f o r e the o l d renegade o f B e l g r a d e . W e d i d n o t
THE TITOITES
(EXCERPTS)
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r e t r e a t a n d w e r e not n o n p l u s s e d , i n 1981, e i t h e r , f o l l o w i n g t h e e v e n t s i n K o s o v a caused b y t h e savage G r e a t - S e r b c h a u v i n i s t o p p r e s s i o n , w h e n i n o r d e r t o cope w i t h the situation in Yugoslavia and among w o r l d opinion, Tito's successors h a t c h e d u p t h e most m o n s t r o u s plot t o d i s t u r b the situation in A l b a n i a and to overthrow the sound leaders h i p o f o u r P a r t y , j u s t a s the T i t o i t e s h a d w a n t e d t o d o i n B e r a t , o n the eve o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y , i n N o v e m b e r 1944. F o r a b o u t f o r t y y e a r s the Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e been w r o n g a n d h a v e f a i l e d i n t h e i r o p e n p l a n s a n d secret plots against A l b a n i a , a n d s t i l l t h e y r e f u s e t o accept that the c i t a d e l o f t h e P a r t y a n d socialist A l b a n i a c a n n o t b e t a k e n e i t h e r f r o m outside, w i t h a r m i e s , pressures a n d p r o v o c a t i o n s o f a n y k i n d , o r f r o m i n s i d e , t h r o u g h t h e i r agents o f a n y c a l i b r e w h o m t h e y h a v e t r a i n e d a n d h e l d i n reserve f o r m o r e t h a n f o r t y y e a r s , o r h a v e b o r r o w e d f r o m the C I A , the K G B , the Intelligence Service, or any other agency. O u r P a r t y has w a g e d a n d w i l l a l w a y s w a g e t h e i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t s consistentl y , because i t i s t h o r o u g h l y a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e i r r e a l f e a t u r e s a s a n t i - M a r x i s t s , c h a u v i n i s t s , a n d i n v e t e r a t e agents of imperialism. The whole history of relations between o u r P a r t y a n d the Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p has been a n d s t i l l i s a h i s t o r y o f u n r e l e n t i n g plots b y the T i t o i t e c l i q u e f o r t h e s u b j u g a t i o n o f o u r P a r t y , f o r the l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e of o u r c o u n t r y , a h i s t o r y of t h e h e r o i c resist a n c e o f t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a a n d o u r people t o the d i a b o l i c a l p l a n s o f t h i s c l i q u e a n d its endless t h r e a t s and blackmail. T h e s e notes of m i n e are d e d i c a t e d p r e c i s e l y to t h i s h i s t o r y , e s p e c i a l l y t o its f i r s t p e r i o d . O u r f i r s t contacts w i t h t h e Y u g o s l a v c o m m u n i s t s in-
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d i c a t e d a p r o m i s i n g b e g i n n i n g . In the a u t u m n of 1941 t h e Montenegrin internationalist communist, M i l a d i n Popovi, w a s a m o n g us. H e h a d been elected s e c r e t a r y o f the n e w l y c r e a t e d P r o vincial Committee of the C P Y for K o s o v a and in the s u m m e r o f 1941, after a n a c t i o n i n M i t r o v i c a , h a d b e e n a r r e s t e d b y the fascists a n d sent t o a n i n t e r n m e n t c a m p i n A l b a n i a . Those were the moments w h e n we, the representatives of t h r e e m a i n c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s i n A l b a n i a (of K o r a , S h k o d r a a n d t h e Y o u t h ) , h a d r e a c h e d agreement, i n p r i n c i p l e , o n f o u n d i n g the C P o f A l b a n i a , a n d one o f t h e f i r s t j o i n t actions w h i c h w e u n d e r t o o k i n t h a t p e r i o d t o s t r e n g t h e n the l i n k s b e t w e e n t h e g r o u p s w a s t h a t t o f r e e M i l a d i n P o p o v i ( 5 ) f r o m the clutches o f t h e fascists. A s I h a v e d e s c r i b e d in d e t a i l in t h e book of m e m o i r s When the Party Was Born, t h e a c t i o n w a s c a r r i e d out s u c c e s s f u l l y , a n d f r o m o u r f i r s t a c q u a i n t a n c e w i t h M i l a d i n on, w e s a w i n h i m a developed communist, w i t h a vigorous militant spirit, a t r u e f r i e n d o f o u r P a r t y a n d people, r e a d y t o s a c r i f i c e e v e n h i s l i f e f o r the a d v a n c e m e n t o f o u r cause. M i l a d i n P o p o v i l a c k e d e x p e r i e n c e of a t o p - l e v e l leader, b u t he l a c k e d n e i t h e r the d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o l e a r n , n o r the readiness t o express h i s o p i n i o n w i t h tact a n d m a t u r i t y , w i t h o u t a n y sign of megalomania or tendency to interfere and impose
_______________________________________ 5 As soon as the A l b a n i a n communists w e r e i n f o r m e d that M i l a d i n P o p o v i was i n a n internment camp i n A l b a n i a , o n the proposal of Comrade E n v e r H o x h a himself they decided to free h i m . T o free a communist or cadre of another communist party f r o m an internment camp, I told the comrades, is an internationalist duty w h i c h we cannot a n d must not shirk, writes Comrade E n v e r H o x h a . A f t e r his release. C o m r a d e Enver H o x h a writes, M i l a d i n w a s glad to f i n d himself amidst his A l b a n i a n communist c o m r a d e s . . . He expressed his love and a d m i r a t i o n for the fraternal A l b a n i a n p e o p l e . . . H e w a s a Montenegrin, but he judged and v a l u e d the virtues of our people as a communist. (Enver H o x h a . W h e n the P a r t y Was B o r n (Memoirs), T i r a n a 1982, pp. 118, 124, 2nd A l b . ed.)
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h i m s e l f u p o n us. W h e n w e b e c a m e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h these a n d o t h e r q u a l i t i e s o f M i l a d i n , o f course, o u r respect f o r h i m i n c r e a s e d a n d t h i s a u t o m a t i c a l l y i n c r e a s e d o u r respect for the Communist P a r t y of Yugoslavia as well. True, u n t i l t h e e n d o f 1942 w e h a d n o t k n o w n o r h a d a n y k i n d of d i r e c t or i n d i r e c t contact w i t h a n y of the leaders of t h e C P Y , but as I said, k n o w i n g M i l a d i n , sometimes we said t o one a n o t h e r : W h a t d e v e l o p e d a n d e x p e r i e n c e d cadres t h e r e m u s t b e i n t h i s p a r t y w h e n i t has a c o m m u n i s t l i k e M i l a d i n P o p o v i m i l i t a t i n g i n its r a n k s ! A l s o w i t h us at this period was D u a n Mugoa, w h o m w e got t o k n o w a l i t t l e a n d a b o u t w h o m o u r f i r s t i m p r e s sions w e r e f a v o u r a b l e . I t w a s i n d i s p u t a b l e t h a t D u a n could not be compared w i t h M i l a d i n either for his ex p e r i e n c e o r f o r h i s m a t u r i t y a n d a b i l i t y , a n d e v e n less f o r a n y q u a l i t i e s a s a n o r g a n i z e r o r l e a d e r . H o w e v e r , n o one c o u l d b l a m e D u a n f o r t h i s . H e seemed a resolute, a c t i v e t y p e a n d l i k e d t o g o out t o t h e r a n k a n d f i l e o f the P a r t y i n the d i f f e r e n t regions o f the c o u n t r y . A s soon a s h e h e a r d t h a t one o f o u r c o m r a d e s o f t h e P r o v i s i o n a l C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e w a s t o g o t o some r e g i o n , D u a n w o u l d ask t o g o w i t h h i m i n o r d e r t o get t o k n o w the people a t the base a n d w a g m y t o n g u e a bit,, a s h e p u t it. A t t h a t t i m e w e s a w n o t h i n g a m i s s i n t h i s eagerness b u t , o n the c o n t r a r y , w e r e pleased t o f u l f i l h i s desire. S o m e t i m e s the c o m r a d e s r e p o r t e d to us t h a t in the place he v i s i t e d he h a d a m a n i a w i t h h i m i n o r d e r t o get t o k n o w t h e people a t the base e v e n w h e n h e s h o u l d n ' t h a v e opened h i s m o u t h a t a l l ; i n V l o r a he confused the national liberation councils w i t h t h e Soviets, ( 6 ) b u t these t h i n g s d i d n o t a r o u s e o u r suspicions. H e k n o w s n o better, b u t h e doesn't m e a n a n y h a r m , w e
____________________________________ 6 At a time w h e n reaction w a s accusing the N a t i o n a l L i b e ration M o v e m e n t of being sold out to the Reds, D u a n Mugoa, enthusiastically supported by M e h m e t Shehu, d e m a n ded that the national liberation councils be called Soviets, as
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t h o u g h t , p r o c e e d i n g f r o m t h e good i m p r e s s i o n w e h a d o f h i m , a n d t a c t f u l l y t r i e d t o correct w h a t h e d a m a g e d w i t h h i s haste, rashness a n d s e c t a r i a n i s m . As I s a i d , h o w e v e r , he stayed w i t h u s v e r y l i t t l e , s o o u r m a i n w o r r y w a s t o k e e p h i m f r o m f a l l i n g i n t o the h a n d s o f t h e e n e m y t h r o u g h carelessness r a t h e r t h a n t o c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e r e w a s a n y t h i n g else h i d d e n b e h i n d h i s o f t e n s u r p r i s i n g ac tions. In brief, up t i l l t h e e n d of 1942 we h a d t h e best of impressions and opinions, both about the t w o Y u g o s l a v c o m r a d e s t h a t w e h a d a m o n g s t us, e s p e c i a l l y M i l a d i n . a n d a b o u t the C P o f Y u g o s l a v i a . P r e c i s e l y a t these m o m e n t s the n e w s r e a c h e d u s t h a t an emissary of the CC of the CP of Y u g o s l a v i a had entered A l b a n i a a n d w o u l d soon r e a c h us. H i s n a m e w e d i d n o t k n o w . W e h a d been t o l d o n l y t h a t h e w a s a c a d r e w h o came d i r e c t l y f r o m the m a i n staff o f t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p a n d was bringing important i n f o r m a t i o n for our P a r t y . This n e w s pleased us, because, as I w i l l r e l a t e l a t e r , we h a d been w a i t i n g f o r 7 to 8 m o n t h s f o r an a n s w e r , if not t h r o u g h an e m i s s a r y , a t least i n a n y o t h e r p o s s i b l e w a y , t o t h e request w e h a d m a d e t h r o u g h the Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p t o t h e Comintern for recognition of our new Communist Party. W e took a l l m e a s u r e s t o e n s u r e o u r guest a t r i p w i t h t h e least possible d a n g e r a n d i n the last d a y s o f D e c e m b e r 1942 the e m i s s a r y o f t h e C C o f t h e C P Y a r r i v e d f i t a n d well in Labinot of Elbasan. He was Blao Jovanovi. T h e c o m i n g o f t h i s delegate t o A l b a n i a m a r k e d the f i r s t o f f i c i a l contact o f t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f o u r P a r t y a n d of M i l a d i n Popovi personally w i t h the leadership of the Communist P a r t y of Yugoslavia. Regrettably, this first contact also m a r k e d the b e g i n n i n g o f f r i c t i o n s a n d clashes b e t w e e n o u r t w o parties.
__________________________________________ in the Soviet U n i o n . T h e CC of the C P A rejected this demand and issued the order that this t e r m should by no means be used, otherwise, this w o u l d help the propaganda of the enemy.
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Then, w h o was Tito's first emissary Blao Jovanovi and w h a t did he b r i n g us? A t the 1st C o n s u l t a t i v e M e e t i n g o f A c t i v i s t s o f the C P A h e l d i n A p r i l 1942 w e h a d d e c i d e d t o i n f o r m t h e C o m i n t e r n about the f o u n d i n g of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a , about the first results in the organization and s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f its r a n k s a n d its l i f e , a n d a b o u t the g e n e r a l l i n e s o f its m i l i t a n t p r o g r a m . O n t h i s occasion w e p r e s e n t e d t o the l e a d e r s h i p o f the C o m i n t e r n o u r a p p l i c a tion for admission of the C P A as a m e m b e r of the C o m munist International and the idea that we w o u l d organize the 1st N a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o f t h e C P A i n the n e a r f u t u r e . W e c o n s i d e r e d t h a t t h e best w a y t o c o m m u n i c a t e these decisions and proposals to the C o m i n t e r n w a s t h r o u g h the l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C P o f Y u g o s l a v i a a n d w e c h a r g e d t h e c o m r a d e s V a s i l S h a n t o a n d D u a n M u g o a w i t h t h e task o f c a r r y i n g t h e m t o t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p . A t the s a m e t i m e w e e x p r e s s e d t h e d e s i r e that, i f possible, t h e C C o f t h e C P Y s h o u l d send us a delegate to t a k e p a r t as a guest i n t h e 1st N a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o f o u r P a r t y . . . A n d s o , a f t e r m o n t h s o f w a i t i n g , t h e f i r s t delegate o f the Yugoslav leadership, Blao Jovanovi. arrived, and true enough, he brought us really important and the d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e E x e c u t i v e Committee of the joyous Inter
t i d i n g s : the r e c o g n i t i o n o f o u r P a r t y b y the C o m i n t e r n a n d n a t i o n a l o n o u r N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r . H e also b r o u g h t a letter f r o m T i t o f o r the C C o f o u r P a r t y a n d h i s a u t h o r i z a t i o n a s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f the C C o f the C P Y a t the 1st National Conference mistaken, M u g o a , too. W e r e c e i v e d the guest w i t h a l l the h o n o u r s possible i n the d i f f i c u l t c o n d i t i o n s of i l l e g a l i t y , a n d moreover, of a of the C P A . as w e l l as, if I am n o t of course, Duan one o r t w o p a m p h l e t s a n d ,
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p o o r t h a t c h e d cottage a t S h m i l ( 7 ) . W e t o l d h i m i n a c o m r a d e l y w a y a b o u t the state o f o u r w o r k i n g e n e r a l a n d h e t o l d u s about the s i t u a t i o n o f the p a r t y a n d the w a r i n Y u g o s l a v i a , e s p e c i a l l y a b o u t the d i f f i c u l t s i t u a t i o n i n Montenegro. N a t u r a l l y , o n t h i s occasion w e t h a n k e d h i m w h o l e heartedly for u n d e r t a k i n g the wearisome and difficult j o u r n e y t o r e a c h u s i n o r d e r t o c a r r y out t h i s i n t e r n a t i o n a l ist d u t y . I n c o n v e r s a t i o n h e seemed a t t e n t i v e a n d r e a s o n a b l e , a n d w i t h the e x c e p t i o n o f one m i n o r f r i c t i o n w e h a d i n the f i r s t days, e v e r y t h i n g p r o c e e d e d s m o o t h l y . T h e f r i c t i o n h a d t o d o w i t h w h a t T i t o h a d w r i t t e n a n d the a d v i c e h e g a v e us in h i s letter. C o m r a d e T i t o ' s letter, s a i d B l a o t w o o r t h r e e d a y s after his arrival, contains instructions and advice w h i c h are necessary a n d i m p o r t a n t f o r y o u . I a m a w a r e o f w h a t t h e y are a n d w e c a n discuss them. Yes, I r e p l i e d , we h a v e r e a d the letter a n d c a r e f u l l y s t u d i e d the a d v i c e o f C o m r a d e T i t o a n d w e t h a n k h i m f o r this. H o w e v e r , C o m r a d e B l a o , y o u w i l l b e s t a y i n g h e r e t i l l w e h o l d the C o n f e r e n c e o f o u r P a r t y . D u r i n g this t i m e y o u w i l l see f o r y o u r s e l f a n d b e c o m e a c q u a i n t e d b e t t e r w i t h the state o f the w o r k here, a n d I assure y o u t h a t y o u w i l l b e left u n c l e a r a b o u t n o t h i n g . V e r y good, persisted B l a o , but w e are t a l k i n g a b o u t the i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d a d v i c e f r o m C o m r a d e T i t o . D o y o u agree w i t h t h e m o r n o t ? ! h e a s k e d i n a tone a s i f t a l k i n g to cadres s u b o r d i n a t e to h i m . (He w a s a c o m m i s s a r or c o m m a n d e r of a p a r t i s a n u n i t in M o n t e n e g r o . ) I h a d no desire to s p o i l the f r i e n d l y a t m o s p h e r e , so I passed o v e r t h e b a d effect of h i s q u e s t i o n w i t h a l a u g h , and replied quietly:
_________________________________ 7 V i l l a g e in the E l b a s a n district.
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N o t o n l y n o w t h a t o u r P a r t y i s s t i l l y o u n g , b u t i n the f u t u r e , too, w e w i l l a l w a y s l i s t e n c a r e f u l l y a n d c o n s i d e r a t e ly to the comradely opinions and the advice of friends. I n d u b i t a b l y , t h i s i s t r u e o f C o m r a d e T i t o ' s letter, too. B u t , C o m r a d e B l a o , w e u n d e r s t a n d the c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d conditions in w h i c h this letter was written. As you yourself are a w a r e , i t w a s w r i t t e n a t t h e e n d o f S e p t e m b e r , b r o u g h t to us in December, and refers to problems w h i c h were r e l e v a n t t o o u r P a r t y b e f o r e A p r i l 1942. A t t h e s a m e t i m e , i t r e f e r s t o those p r o b l e m s w h i c h w e o u r s e l v e s r a i s e d a t t h e 1st C o n s u l t a t i v e M e e t i n g o f t h e A c t i v i s t s o f t h e P a r t y i n A p r i l , about w h i c h w e i n f o r m e d y o u r party leadership t h r o u g h Duan. T h e n , a c c o r d i n g t o y o u , C o m r a d e T i t o has m e r e l y repeated w h a t y o u have already raised! said Blao, piqued. T h a t ' s not w h a t I s a i d . In the m a t e r i a l s we sent to the C o m i n t e r n , w e r e l a t e d h o w m a t t e r s stood w i t h us. J u d g i n g o n t h i s basis, T i t o gives u s c e r t a i n a d v i c e . W e t h a n k h i m f o r h i s c o n c e r n a n d interest. Is i t o n l y f o r t h i s y o u v a l u e the letter? a s k e d B l a o i n the s a m e tone. Please, d o n ' t m i s u n d e r s t a n d us, I s a i d . N o w it is J a n u a r y 1943, a n d o b v i o u s l y w e h a v e n o t been m a r k i n g t i m e since A p r i l 1942. O n the c o n t r a r y w e h a v e t r i e d t o solve correctly, not only the problems of that period, but also those w h i c h h a v e a r i s e n since, a n d n o w , c o m p a r i n g o u r actions w i t h t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f the C o m i n t e r n w h i c h y o u h a v e j u s t b r o u g h t us, w e c a n o n l y r e j o i c e w h e n w e see t h a t w e h a v e t r u l y acted a s w e s h o u l d h a v e done. C o n t i n u i n g the t a l k , I d w e l t c o n c r e t e l y o n w h a t T i t o h a d w r i t t e n i n h i s letter, e x p l a i n e d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f events and the t r u t h is that Blao listened to us and was c o n v i n c e d a b o u t w h a t w e t o l d h i m . T h a t closed the m a t t e r , a n d f o r y e a r s o n e n d T i t o ' s f i r s t letter w a s n e v e r m e n t i o n e d a g a i n . P e r h a p s , i t w o u l d n o t h a v e been w o r t h m e n -
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t i o n i n g t h i s l e t t e r here, either, but the f a c t t h a t l a t e r t h e Y u g o s l a v propaganda built it up and published it as a message w h i c h s a v e d t h e s i t u a t i o n , a s a n o u t s t a n d i n g c o n t r i b u t i o n b y T i t o i n f a v o u r o f the A l b a n i a n P a r t y a n d the A l b a n i a n N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , etc., etc., i m p e l s m e t o d w e l l a l i t t l e o n t h i s so-called o u t s t a n d i n g d o c u m e n t once a g a i n . I m u s t s a y t h a t the best assessment t h a t c a n be p u t on T i t o ' s f i r s t letter ( 8 ) is t h a t it a m o u n t e d to a l e t t e r of a d v i c e t h a t came too late. C o n c r e t e l y : i n D e c e m b e r 1942 ( w h e n the letter r e a c h e d us), T i t o advised o u r P a r t y t o p u r g e its r a n k s o f the g r o u p i s t a n d f a c t i o n a l i s t elements w h o h a d m a n a g e d t o p e n e t r a t e its r a n k s a n d t o settle accounts w i t h t h e m ! A s e v e r y o n e k n o w s , a t the C o n s u l t a t i v e M e e t i n g o f the P a r t y i n A p r i l a n d l a t e r a t t h e S p e c i a l C o n f e r e n c e o f the P a r t y i n J u n e 1942 ( w h e n q u i t e l i k e l y T i t o d i d n o t k n o w that the C P A h a d been f o r m e d ) w e h a d c a r r i e d t h a t task r i g h t t h r o u g h t o the e n d . T r y t o e s t a b l i s h l i n k s w i t h the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f d i f f e r ent u r b a n g r o u p s a n d t r e n d s a n d together w i t h t h e m f o r m the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t ! w a s T i t o ' s f u r t h e r a d v i c e . H o w e v e r , b o t h i n D e c e m b e r 1942, w h e n T i t o ' s letter reached us, a n d on S e p t e m b e r 22, 1942, w h e n he sat down a n d w r o t e it, h i s advice c o u l d o n l y m a k e u s s m i l e . W e h a d l a u n c h e d the s l o g a n a b o u t t h e u n i t y o f the people o n A p r i l . 1939 a n d the people a n d t h e y o u t h h a d r i s e n i n d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a n d protests; i n N o v e m b e r 1941 t h e n e w l y f o r m e d P a r t y h a d issued its f i r s t o f f i c i a l a p p e a l f o r the u n i t y o f the people i n the A n t i - f a s c i s t W a r , a n d a f t e r it,
__________________________________________ 8 T h i s letter is preserved in the C e n t r a l A r c h i v e s of the Party. In its unrestrained a n t i - A l b a n i a n propaganda, the Y u g o slav leadership itself published this letter, amongst others, in the so-called W h i t e B o o k on Y u g o s l a v - A l b a n i a n Relations. Doc. No. 83, Belgrade 1961.
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h a d i s s u e d precise d i r e c t i v e s a n d i m p o r t a n t successes h a d b e e n a c h i e v e d in t h i s d i r e c t i o n . It is a k n o w n h i s t o r i c a l fact, also, t h a t on S e p t e m b e r 16, 1942 we h a d o r g a n i z e d the C o n f e r e n c e o f P e z a w h e r e the p o l i t i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t a n d the f u t u r e people's state p o w e r w e r e l a i d , h a d elected the A n t i - f a s c i s t N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n C o u n c i l , a n d the o r ganization of the F r o n t was g r o w i n g bigger and stronger from day to day! N a t u r a l l y , we d i d not blame T i t o for this lack of k n o w ledge o f o u r s i t u a t i o n , b u t n e i t h e r w e r e w e t o b e b l a m e d f o r n o t a w a i t i n g his a d v i c e a n d t h e n c a r r y i n g out t h e w o r k . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , i f w e h a d s i m p l y w a i t e d f o r guidance f r o m abroad, this w o u l d have been an unpardonable sin. H o w e v e r , w h i l e t h e i n s t r u c t i o n o n the q u e s t i o n o f the F r o n t a n d , i d e n t i c a l w i t h it, t h a t o n t h e q u e s t i o n o f national liberation councils made us smile, something w h i c h f o l l o w e d m a d e us. c o m r a d e s o f the l e a d e r s h i p , l a u g h , a n d M i l a d i n a l o n g w i t h us. I n S e p t e m b e r 1942 T i t o , w r i t i n g f r o m G l a m o , i n s t r u c t e d us, Y o u m u s t expose the T r o t s k y i t e Z a i F u n d o b e f o r e t h e m e m b e r s o f the C P A a n d i n f o r m its m e m b e r s that he is an open enemy of the International and the Party! T h i s w a s a case o f t r y i n g t o l e a c h y o u r g r a n d m o t h e r to s u c k eggs! We h a d e x p o s e d F u n d o as a T r o t s k y i t e as e a r l y a s i n 1939, w h e n h e a r r i v e d b a c k i n A l b a n i a , a n d s i n c e t h a t t i m e w e h a d f i n a l l y settled accounts w i t h h i m . ( 9 ) P r o b a b l y T i t o hasn't k n o w n about this and he has w r i t t e n in this w a y f r o m lack of information, we thought at f i r s t . B u t t h e n w e r e m e m b e r e d : W e h a d sent T i t o the R e s o l u _______________________________________ 9 See E n v e r H o x h a , T h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n Threat to A l b a n i a (Memoirs), 8 N n t o r i P u b l i s h i n g House. T i r a n a 1982, pp. 313-334, E n g . ed.
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t i o n o f the F o u n d i n g M e e t i n g o f the P a r t y i n w h i c h Z a i F u n d o w a s d e s c r i b e d o p e n l y a n d c l e a r l y as a d e c l a r e d class enemy. ( 1 0 ) I n h i s l e t t e r T i t o t o l d u s t h a t h e h a d r e a d the R e s o l u t i o n . H o w c o u l d this be? H a d h e n o t r e a d that p a r a g r a p h ? O r since h e h a d t o w r i t e s o m e t h i n g , h a d h e w r i t t e n the f i r s t t h i n g t h a t came t o m i n d ? ! V e r y s u r p r i s i n g ! H o w e v e r , w e w e r e t o b e e v e n m o r e a s t o n i s h e d o v e r the T i t o - F u n d o p r o b l e m i n S e p t e m b e r 1944. O u r forces o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n A r m y w h i c h w e r e f i g h t i n g f o r the liberation of N o r t h e r n A l b a n i a captured Z a i F u n d o in a gang of bandits headed by G a n i K r y e z i u and a B r i t i s h officer. W e g a v e the o r d e r t h a t F u n d o s h o u l d r e c e i v e t h e sentence h e d e s e r v e d . Q u i t e u n e x p e c t e d l y t h a t s a m e T i t o a n d his h e n c h m e n w h o , i n 1942 g a v e u s a d v i c e w h i c h c a m e too late t h a t w e s h o u l d settle accounts w i t h F u n d o , n o w came out i n his d e f e n c e a n d e v e n d e m a n d e d t h a t w e h a n d e d h i m over to them. H o w w e acted o n this occasion I h a v e d e s c r i b e d elsewhere, i n c l u d i n g the b o o k The Anglo-American Threat to Albania, so there's no n e e d to d w e l l on it. H e r e we a r e c o n s i d e r i n g the letter of 1942. It w a s l i k e this f r o m b e g i n n i n g to end a l e t t e r of a d v i c e t h a t c a m e too late. R i g h t at the end, h o w e v e r , a l m o s t i n p a s s i n g , a s a n a f t e r t h o u g h t , Tito made this request: The resolution w h i c h y o u w i l l c o m p i l e at the C o n f e r e n c e s h o u l d be as s h o r t as p o s s i b l e . . . L i k e w i s e , send us the biographies of t h e n e w m e m b e r s of the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e i r names, because w e h a v e t o send t h e m t o the C o m i n t e r n . ( ? ! ) T h i s request m a d e a n i m p r e s s i o n o n us. W e a s k e d one a n o t h e r w h e t h e r the C o m i n t e r n c o u l d r e a l l y need the b i o g r a p h i e s of the m e m b e r s of t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e of the C P A ( ? ! ) , but since w e d i d n o t k n o w h o w t o e x p l a i n t h i s ,
________________________________________ 10 P r i n c i p a l Documents of the P L A , v o l . p. 20, 2nd A l b . ed. 1, T i r a n a 1971,
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w e f o u n d t h e reason: T i t o k n o w s a b o u t s u c h t h i n g s ! P e r h a p s h e has i n s t r u c t i o n s t o t h i s e f f e c t ! T h i s , t h e n , i s a l l t h e r e w a s t o T i t o ' s letter w h i c h the Yugoslav propaganda builds up as an important contribut i o n t o o u r P a r t y ' s p u r s u i n g a correct l i n e ! T h i s t h e y present as an argument in support of their claim that the g r o w t h of the C P A was allegedly due to t h e m ! B u t their blindness and irrestrainable chauvinist instincts lead them to self-exposure. H a d they been more cool-headed, even s i m p l y in regard to their hostile claim, they w o u l d n e v e r h a v e m e n t i o n e d t h i s letter. It is i n c o n t e s t a b l e e v i d e n c e of t h e fact that, at least u n t i l t h e e n d o f 1942, w h e n t h e l e t t e r r e a c h e d us, t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a h a d n o t h a d a n y assistance, a n y instruction o r any directive f r o m the C C o f the C P Y . A t t h e same t i m e , i t s h o w s t h a t e v e n t h e advice a n d i n s t r u c tions at t h e e n d of 1942 a r r i v e d in A l b a n i a too late to a f f e c t t h e issues a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y , w e r e n o l o n g e r o f a n y value. B u t let us r e t u r n to t h e b e g i n n i n g of 1943, to the d a y s w h e n w e h a d B l a o J o v a n o v i a m o n g s t us, a n d e x a m i n e his contribution to our w o r k . A f t e r he transmitted to us w h a t t h e y h a d t o l d h i m t o say, t h e fact i s t h a t h e d i s p l a y e d d i s c r e t i o n a n d sat o n t h e sidelines, y o u m i g h t say, w a i t i n g t o c a r r y out t h e last task f o r w h i c h h e h a d b e e n sent: to b r i n g greetings on behalf of the CC of the C P Y to the 1st N a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o f o u r P a r t y . H e s a w f o r himself that we were engaged in the w a r and in w o r k day and night, saw the trips that we made back and forth b e t w e e n E l b a s a n a n d T i r a n a , w i t h o u r heads a t stake, t h e m e e t i n g s a n d contacts t h a t w e o r g a n i z e d , a n d t h e fact i s h e never showed any sign of dissatisfaction. N a t u r a l l y , there w e r e occasions w h e n he. too. b e c a m e i n v o l v e d i n t h e t a l k s w e h e l d o n one p r o b l e m o r t h e other, w h e n w e a s k e d h i m s o m e t h i n g about one o f the p r o b l e m s w e w e r e g o i n g t o d e a l
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w i t h i n the r e p o r t s t o t h e C o n f e r e n c e , a n d h e e x p r e s s e d h i s opinion f r a n k l y . The things he said were not p a r t i c u l a r l y b r i l l i a n t a n d I w a s soon c o n v i n c e d that, a b o u t the p r o b l e m s o f o r g a n i z a t i o n , i n p a r t i c u l a r , a n d the l e a d e r s h i p a n d l i f e of the p a r t y as a whole, he d i d not k n o w m u c h . Perhaps t h e fact that h e h a d b e e n engaged m a i n l y i n m i l i t a r y p r o b lems e x p l a i n s this. H o w e v e r , d u r i n g the w h o l e p e r i o d u p t o t h e C o n f e r e n c e B l a o n e v e r e x c e e d e d his a u t h o r i t y , d i d n o t t r y t o i m p o s e a n y t h i n g o n us, j u s t a s h e h a d n o t h i n g t o c o n t r i b u t e w h e n w e a s k e d h i m . I n b r i e f , h e spent 2-3 months w i t h us in n o r m a l relations, often w i t h o u t m a k i n g h i s presence felt at a l l , b u t n e v e r t h e l e s s in a f r i e n d l y atmosphere. A n d this same B l a o J o v a n o v i gets u p a t the 1st N a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e , ( 1 1 ) a m o n g s t t h e delegates f r o m a l l p a r t s of A l b a n i a , a n d . q u i t e u n e x p e c t e d l y , d r o p s a g e m : Two Y u g o s l a v communists created C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a ! He was referring to M i l a d i n Popovi and Duan Mugoa. M i l a d i n P o p o v i d i d not. a l l o w t h e v e r y serious i m p r e s s i o n that t h i s c r a z y s t a t e m e n t m a d e t o last l o n g . A s soon a s B l a o f i n i s h e d s p e a k i n g , M i l a d i n P o p o v i stood u p a n d addressed b o t h h i m a n d u s : N o one s h o u l d e v e r i m a g i n e , stressed M i l a d i n a m o n g s t other things, that w e t w o m e m b e r s o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of Y u g o s l a v i a created the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a . N o , the t r u t h i s t h a t y o u y o u r s e l v e s , the A l b a n i a n
_____________________________________________ 11 It was held on M a r c h 17-22, 1943 at L a b i n o t in the v i c i nity of Elbasan and was the 1st Conference of the P a r t y . T h e question of the preparation of the people for the general armed uprising and its organization occupied the m a i n place in its proceedings. It decided on the creation of the A l b a n i a n N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n A r m y and elected the C e n t r a l Committee of the C P A , its P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u and its. G e n e r a l Secretary, Comrade E n v e r H o x h a (See T h e H i s t o r y of the P L A , 8 N n t o r i P u b l i shing House, T i r a n a 1982, pp. 102-114, Eng. ed.).
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c o m m u n i s t s , created t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r l y o f A l b a n i a , a n d i f t h e r e has t o b e a n y m e n t i o n o f m y role, o r t h e r o l e o f a n y o n e else f r o m outside, t h a t i s n o t h i n g b u t w h a t i n the r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n sister p a r t i e s i s c a l l e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t f r a t e r n a l aid and support. Y o u w o u l d have created y o u r C o m m u n i s t P a r t y i n a n y case, a s y o u d i d , e v e n i f w e h a d n o t been here. ( 12 ) A t this f i r m declaration Blao J o v a n o v i went pale a n d p u r s e d his lips, b u t h e n e v e r o p e n e d h i s m o u t h , e i t h e r at that moment or d u r i n g the few days he stayed after we ended the Conference. Despite our surprise and the very bad impression w h i c h h e a r o u s e d w i t h h i s a l l e g a t i o n , w e o u r s e l v e s d i d not g i v e i m p o r t a n c e to s u c h a statement, w h i c h seemed to us. as the communists we were and in the w a y we conceived matters, m e r e l y a c h a n c e a b e r r a t i o n , t h e r e f o r e we d i d not see a n y sense i n d e l v i n g a n y f u r t h e r i n t o h o w a n d w h y s u c h a statement slipped f r o m Blao's m o u t h . By this time we k n e w both his capacity and his nature and we thought that t h i s a b s u r d i t y c o u l d be r e g a r d e d s i m p l y as one of those p r e posterous t h i n g s a n d theses h e p u t f o r w a r d f r o m t i m e t o time. N e v e r t h e l e s s , a series of d o u b t s arose in o u r m i n d s . B l a o h a d spent m o r e t h a n t w o m o n t h s a m o n g s t us, w e h a d t a l k e d w i t h h i m t i m e a n d a g a i n , a n d a s I said, w e h a d h a d one f r i c t i o n w i t h h i m . H o w d i d i t come a b o u t t h a t t h i s g a f f e d i d n o t escape h i m d u r i n g these t w o m o n t h s o r so, b u t p r e c i s e l y a t the 1st C o n f e r e n c e o f the P a r t y ? ! H a d i t been s i m p l y a n e x p r e s s i o n o r idea t h a t h a d s u d d e n l y o c c u r r e d t o h i m , t h e n i t w o u l d h a v e been m o r e n a t u r a l f o r it to h a v e a r i s e n in a chance c o n v e r s a t i o n or a r g u m e n t . Whereas he said it precisely, not w h e n he was speaking
____________________________________ 12 F r o m the minutes of the C P A i n the C A P . the 1st National Conference of
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or arguing in his o w n name, but w h e n he was delivering a greeting on behalf of the CC of the CP of Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e n , w a s it j u s t a slip, or w a s B l a o i n s t r u c t e d to let it d r o p , a s t h o u g h b y accident, i n t h e m a i n f o r u m o f o u r Party? H o w e v e r , these w e r e o n l y d o u b t s w h i c h arose i n o u r m i n d s those d a y s a n d w e h a d n o o t h e r r e a s o n o r fact w h i c h w o u l d m a k e u s t h i n k t h a t the a l l e g a t i o n w a s n o t B l a o ' s own. In the letter w h i c h I mentioned, Tito d i d not m a k e e v e n t h e remotest a l l u s i o n i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , w h i l e B l a o h i m s e l f , after M i l a d i n ' s i m m e d i a t e r e p l y , closed h i s m o u t h tight, a n d w e l e f t i t a t t h a t i n t h e b e l i e f t h a t i t w a s s i m p l y a n a b e r r a t i o n o f t h e delegate. M a t t e r s w e r e t o d e v e l o p a n d t h e d a y w o u l d come w h e n we w o u l d be convinced that both the bad impres s i o n a n d o u r d o u b t s o f M a r c h 1943 a r o u s e d b y B l a o Jovanovi's allegation were not w i t h o u t f u n d a t i o n . Thus, the d a y w o u l d come w h e n T i t o a n d h i s h e n c h m e n , i n t h e course of a l l sorts of s a v a g e a c c u s a t i o n s a n d s l a n d e r s against us, w o u l d o p e n l y p u b l i c i z e one o f t h e i r m o s t a b s u r d a n d u n s c r u p u l o u s c l a i m s t h e c l a i m t h a t t h e y , the Yugoslavs, had allegedly formed the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of Albania! F r o m the moment w h e n this claim was first made o p e n l y d o w n t o t h i s d a y w e h a v e rejected t h i s f a b r i c a t i o n of the T i t o i t e s , n o t o n l y w i t h i n d i g n a t i o n , as s u c h a c r a z y c l a i m deserves, b u t also w i t h c a l m a r g u m e n t s w e h a v e explained the w h y s and wherefores of things, and in particular, we have uncovered and denounced the sinister m e g a l o m a n i a c a l a n d h e g e m o n i c a i m s l u r k i n g b e h i n d it. A l l the d o c u m e n t s o f o u r P a r t y w h i c h r e f e r t o t h i s c l a i m are p r o o f of t h i s . I p e r s o n a l l y , in a series of speeches, reports, articles a n d i n m y notes, h a v e d e a l t e x t e n s i v e l y w i t h t h e t r u t h a b o u t it. H o w e v e r , since o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h the T i t o i t e s are t h e m a i n subject o f these notes a n d
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r e m i n i s c e n c e s , I c o n s i d e r it r e a s o n a b l e to d w e l l once a g a i n o n t h e t r u t h a b o u t t h i s c l a i m . T h e fact t h a t t h i s c l a i m has s e r v e d t h e T i t o i t e s as t h e basis, as t h e c e n t r a l p i l l a r u p o n w h i c h a l l t h e i r a n t i - A l b a n i a n a c t i v i t y a n d p r o p a g a n d a has been b u i l t u p , m a k e s t h i s e v e n m o r e necessary. I n t h e f i r s t place, t h e T i t o i t e ' s c l a i m t h a t t h e y a l l e g e d l y c r e a t e d the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a c a n n o t s t a n d f r o m the viewpoint of theory and of principle . In t h i s respect it is a b l a t a n t v i o l a t i o n of t h e l a w of d e v e l o p m e n t of communist parties in general, and the principles on w h i c h they are born, created and strengthened in particular. We k n o w that M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m always regards the i n t e r n a l cause, t h e i n t e r n a l factor, a s t h e m a i n d e t e r m i n i n g factor in the b i r t h and evolution of every phenomenon. The process of t h e b i r t h a n d f o r m a t i o n of a c o m m u n i s t p a r t y c a n n e v e r b e a n e x c e p t i o n t o t h i s l a w , hence, t h e process of the f o u n d i n g of our C o m m u n i s t P a r t y cannot be an e x c e p t i o n t o it, e i t h e r . H a d t h e i n t e r n a l f a c t o r , t h e A l b a n i a n factor, n o t e x i s t e d , h a d t h e i n t e r n a l c o n d i t i o n s n o t e x i s t e d a n d been r i p e f o r it, a c o m m u n i s t p a r t y c o u l d not h a v e been c r e a t e d here, e i t h e r w i t h t w o o r t e n Y u g o s l a v c o m munists, or even if the w h o l e Y u g o s l a v leadership had c o m e t o A l b a n i a . H e n c e , t h e C P A w a s n o t c r e a t e d because of the w h i m or demand of a certain Tito f r o m Yugoslavia, but i t w a s c r e a t e d because t h e A l b a n i a n people, t h e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t , w h i c h h a d been s t r i v i n g f o r this r e s u l t f o r m o r e t h a n a decade, d e m a n d e d its b i r t h as something indispensable, the historical moment through w h i c h t h e c o u n t r y w a s p a s s i n g , t h e past, t h e present a n d the f u t u r e o f A l b a n i a i t s e l f d e m a n d e d it. ( 1 3 ) A n o t h e r fact w h i c h testifies t o t h i s : w h e n T i t o a n d c o m p a n y w e r e a l l e g e d l y s o strong a n d capable t h a t
______________________________________ 13 T h e H i s t o r y of the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a , 8 N n tori P u b l i s h i n g House, T i r a n a 1982, pp. 48-74, E n g . ed.
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t h e y c o u l d create a c o m m u n i s t p a r t y i n A l b a n i a f r o m outside, w h y d i d t h e y n o t do this, let us say, in 1935, 1937, 1939, or in 1940?! W a s it o n l y in 1941 t h a t t h e y discovered that o n the b o r d e r s o f Y u g o s l a v i a t h e r e w a s A l b a n i a w h i c h w a s w a i t i n g f o r t h e creator T i t o t o say, L e t t h e r e b e t h e p a r t y , j u s t as, a c c o r d i n g t o the B i b l e , the w o r l d w a i t e d f o r t h e great c r e a t o r to say, L e t t h e r e be l i g h t ? ! I f t h e r e i s a n y t h i n g f u r t h e r t o b e s a i d o n t h i s aspect of t h e p r o b l e m , t h e n it is no f a u l t of o u r s t h a t t h e r e is o n l y r o o m f o r i r o n y . T h e a b s u r d i t y o f s u c h creators deserves n o t h i n g else. In t h e concrete case, t h e T i t o i t e s ' c l a i m collapses not o n l y f r o m the t h e o r e t i c a l v i e w p o i n t . T h e v e r y p r a c t i c e o f the founding of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a is another a r g u m e n t w h i c h is a s l a p in t h e face f o r t h e m . It is t r u l y r i d i c u l o u s t h a t o n t h e one h a n d , the T i t o i t e s b u i l d u p t h e gigantic c l a i m t h a t t h e y created the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a , w h i l e , o n the o t h e r h a n d , i n p r o o f o f this, they b r i n g out a l i l l i p u t i a n a r g u m e n t : the fact t h a t t h e Y u g o slav communist, M i l a d i n Popovi, and, as his interpreter a n d associate, D u a n M u g o a a t t e n d e d a n d took p a r t i n the F o u n d i n g M e e t i n g o f o u r P a r t y . O u r P a r t y has n e v e r c o n c e a l e d o r d e n i e d t h e presence o f these t w o c o m r a d e s a t t h e F o u n d i n g M e e t i n g a n d s u b s e q u e n t l y , j u s t a s i t has n e v e r h i d d e n o r d e n i e d a n y t h i n g else a b o u t t h e i r stay a n d w o r k i n A l b a n i a . I t i s T i t o a n d company w h o have deliberately h i d d e n and denied the most i m p o r t a n t aspects o f t h i s p r o b l e m . C o n c r e t e l y : F r i s t , the Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p has a l w a y s passed o v e r i n silence t h e f u n d a m e n t a l fact t h a t M i l a d i n P o p o v i was not sent to Albania either by Tito, or by the leadership of the CP of Yugoslavia . He e m e r g e d f r o m t h e r a n k s of M o n t e n e g r i n s - A l b a n i a n s a n d h a d gone u n d e r g r o u n d i n K o sova. In the s u m m e r of 1941 he w a s a r r e s t e d by t h e I t a l i a n fascists a n d sent to A l b a n i a , to the i n t e r n m e n t c a m p at
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P e q i n . W e c a r r i e d o u t a n o p e r a t i o n t o release h i m f r o m i n t e r n m e n t , a n d t h i s o c c u r r e d p r e c i s e l y a t those m o m e n t s w h e n we, the representatives of the three m a i n communist groups, h a d reached agreement to hold a meeting to found the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a . As I have described in d e t a i l in t h e b o o k of m e m o i r s When the Party Was Born, a t t h a t p e r i o d w e h a d t a k e n t h e i n i t i a t i v e t o m a k e contact w i t h the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of Y u g o s l a v i a and expressed t h e desire t h a t i t s h o u l d s e n d u s a c o m r a d e t o a t t e n d a n d t o assist u s i n t h e great e v e n t w e h a d b e f o r e us. S i n c e i t chanced that we liberated M i l a d i n Popovi and he was in A l b a n i a , we a s k e d h i m to s t a y f o r a t i m e as a t h i r d , n e u t r a l p a r t y a m o n g s t us. A f t e r w e r e a c h e d a g r e e m e n t w i t h h i m , w e also s o u g h t a u t h o r i z a t i o n f r o m t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C P o f Y u g o s l a v i a . A b o u t t h e e n d o f O c t o b e r 1941 D u a n M u g o a b r o u g h t its a u t h o r i z a t i o n a n d , a f t e r t h i s , M i l a d i n P o p o v i l i n k e d himself more closely w i t h us in our w o r k , a n d i n t h i s c o n t e x t also t o o k p a r t i n t h e F o u n d i n g M e e t i n g . S e c o n d , n o t o n l y w a s M i l a d i n P o p o v i n o t sent t o u s f r o m T i t o ' s staff, b u t h e t o o k p a r t i n o u r F o u n d i n g M e e t i n g without having any orientation, directive, instruction, etc. f r o m t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p a b o u t a n y special role i n t h i s event. I t w a s w e ourselves, t h e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s , p a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h e M e e t i n g , w h o g u i d e d a n d r a n its p r o ceedings f r o m s t a r t t o f i n i s h a s M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m t a u g h t us. T h e r e w e h a d n o o r i e n t a t i o n s o r i n s t r u c t i o n s o f a n y k i n d f r o m outside, e i t h e r f r o m t h e Y u g o s l a v p a r t y , o r even f r o m the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of the Soviet U n i o n , or a n y o t h e r p a r t y . U p t i l l n o w a t least, e v e n t h e a n t i - A l b a n i a n propaganda of the Titoites has never fabricated a n y d o c u m e n t t o prove t h e opposite. Then, h o w could a c o m m u n i s t p a r t y have been created by a member of another party, moreover, w h e n he had not been directly delegated by this p a r t y and had no direc tions of instructions f r o m i t ? !
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O n l y the logic of Titoites can u n r a v e l this. T h i r d , as I m e n t i o n e d above, a n d as he p r o v e d t h r o u g h o u t h i s e n t i r e s t a y i n A l b a n i a , M i l a d i n h i m s e l f never assumed merits which did not and could not belong to him . O n the c o n t r a r y , w i t h i n d i g n a t i o n a n d d e t e r m i n a t i o n h e rejected a n y a l l u s i o n o r c u n n i n g f l a t t e r y w h i c h T i t o ' s delegates t r i e d t o m a k e i n o r d e r t o a t t r i b u t e t o h i m a r o l e w h i c h , n o t e v e n a w h o l e p a r t y , let a l o n e o n e p e r s o n , c o u l d p e r f o r m f r o m outside. I n short, o n l y those w h o c o u l d a n d w h o s e d u t y i t w a s , the A l b a n i a n communists, founded the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of Albania. The Yugoslavs' claim on this problem, then, is nothing but the assumption of undeserved merits. However, the permanent persistance of the Belgrade r e v i s i o n i s t s t o a s s u m e a r o l e w h i c h does n o t b e l o n g t o t h e m s h o u l d n o t b e seen s i m p l y a s t h e i r m a n i a t o boast, t o w i n f a m e , t o use t h i s a s a n o t h e r s h i n y m e d a l o n t h e i r chests c o v e r e d w i t h d e c o r a t i o n s f o r great h e r o i c deeds. N o , a s a w h o l e h i s t o r y has p r o v e d , t h e y a s s u m e d t h e r o l e o f t h e creators o f t h e C P A w i t h t h e a i m t h a t t h e i r creation s h o u l d b e h a v e t o w a r d s t h e m l i k e a n i n f a n t t o its p a r e n t , b e e d u c a t e d a n d r a i s e d i n t h e i r s p i r i t a n d , hence, b e c o m e a b l i n d and obedient tool in the service of the mother party the CP of Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e w h o l e history of the relations o f the C P A w i t h the C P Y , especially beginning f r o m t h e s u m m e r o f 1943 u p t o t h e b e g i n n i n g o f 1948 a n d l a t e r , is a h i s t o r y of t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e a i m s , a t t e m p t s a n d plots o f the C P Y a n d t h e Y u g o s l a v state t o s u b j u g a t e a n d e n s l a v e o u r P a r t y a n d t h e n e w A l b a n i a n people's state, a h i s t o r y of t h e h e r o i c resistance of t h e l e a d e r s h i p of o u r P a r t y a n d state, n o t o n l y t o a v o i d s u b j u g a t i o n , b u t also t o a t t a c k t h e b e t r a y a l o p e n l y , ceaselessly a n d w i t h o u t a n y hesitation. This we shall examine later. H e r e i t i s i n o r d e r t o p o i n t out that, j u s t a s t h e
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Yugoslavs' pretension about w h o created the C P A is absurd and w i t h o u t any foundation, their other pretension, that our P a r t y is allegedly indebted to the CP of Y u g o s l a v i a f o r its g r o w t h , s t r e n g t h e n i n g a n d l i n e d u r i n g t h e y e a r s o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , is equally absurd and w i t h o u t f o u n d a t i o n . T h i s p r e t e n s i o n , too, t h e y base o n t h e r o l e of their emissaries in A l b a n i a . A s I h a v e stated, u p t i l l t h e e n d o f 1942 n e i t h e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C P A , M i l a d i n , n o r a n y o n e else a m o n g s t u s h a d h a d a n y k i n d o f contact, h a d r e c e i v e d a n y k i n d o f l e t t e r o r m a t e r i a l f r o m t h e C P Y , i n fact, w e h a d n ' t e v e n a n y i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t w h a t t h e c o m r a d e s o f t h e sister p a r t y w e r e doing, and h o w matters stood w i t h them. W i t h this I do not w a n t to i m p l y in any w a y that w e w e r e a n n o y e d because f o r a y e a r o r s o t h e y s h o w e d n o signs o f l i f e a n d g a v e u s n o k i n d o f h e l p . N o , w e c o u l d imagine the difficult conditions in w h i c h they had to fight, and it was our heartfelt desire and w i s h that things w o u l d g o a s w e l l a s p o s s i b l e w i t h t h e m f o r t h e good o f t h e f r a t e r n a l Y u g o s l a v peoples, f o r t h e g o o d o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of Y u g o s l a v i a , and for the good of the liberation w a r of the w o r l d anti-fascist coalition. Naturally, I do not w a n t to i m p l y , either, that we d i d not feel the need f o r an exchange of experience w i t h comrades of the same ideal, especially in the conditions w h e n our P a r t y was young, the comrades w i t h o u t any experience, and the conditions in w h i c h we fought extremely difficult. B u t to do nothing and to pretend that y o u have done e v e r y t h i n g , a s i s t h e c o n c r e t e case w i t h t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C P Y , t h i s w e h a v e n o t accepted a n d n e v e r w i l l accept. T h e 3 5 y e a r s t h a t h a v e passed f r o m t h e t i m e w h e n t h e T i t o i t e b e t r a y a l w a s p u b l i c l y d e n o u n c e d a n d u n m a s k e d are witness to the fact that although the links between our P a r t y a n d t h e C P Y w e r e b r o k e n off once a n d f o r a l l i n
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1948, since t h e n t h e s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n us has n e v e r ceased a n d has n o t been i n t e r r u p t e d f o r one m o m e n t . A m o n g s t o t h e r causes a n d f a c t o r s t h e r e are t w o m a i n ones w h i c h m a d e this s t r u g g l e v i t a l l y n e c e s s a r y f o r u s : First , o u r P a r t y r e g a r d s T i t o i s m a s one o f t h e m o s t dangerous variants of m o d e r n revisionism, and for this reason we consider and w i l l consider our involvement in t h e s t r u g g l e f o r its p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l e x p o s u r e a n d defeat a r i g h t a n d d u t y of t h e f i r s t o r d e r . Second , d u r i n g t h i s w h o l e p e r i o d t h e a n t i - A l b a n i a n a c t i v i t y o f t h e B e l g r a d e l e a d e r s h i p has n e v e r ceased a n d f o r t h i s r e a s o n o u r P a r t y a n d state h a v e h a d t o w a g e a s t e r n , t o o t h - a n d - n a i l s t r u g g l e against i t i n o r d e r t o u n cover, a t t a c k a n d s m a s h t h e a i m s a n d c o n t i n u o u s c o n spiratorial activities of Belgrade. A l t h o u g h t h e r e i s n o n e e d t o g o i n t o concrete d e t a i l s a b o u t h o w t h i s s t r u g g l e has b e e n w a g e d (it h a s b e e n analysed in detail in all the theoretical documents of the P a r t y ) , I w a n t t o p o i n t out some o f its m o s t i m p o r t a n t aspects a n d m o m e n t s . Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s m , the f i r s t c u r r e n t w h i c h r e p r e s e n t s revisionism in power, emerged at a k e y m o m e n t in the struggle between socialism and imperialism. R i g h t f r o m t h e outset, A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d t h e w h o l e o f w o r l d r e a c t i o n s a w i n T i t o i s m t h e course, t h e i d e o l o g y a n d t h e policy w h i c h led to the degeneration of the communist parties o f socialist c o u n t r i e s , t o t h e s p l i t t i n g a n d d e s t r u c t i o n of the unity of the international communist movement a n d t o sabotage o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n wars. F o r this reason imperialism and reaction supported t h e renegades o f B e l g r a d e w i t h a l l t h e i r m i g h t a n d m e a n s , kept t h e m alive and gave t h e m the directive that, w h i l e m a i n t a i n i n g c e r t a i n socialist a p p e a r a n c e s , t h e y s h o u l d serve as a m e a n s of d i v e r s i o n f o r t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of o t h e r s .
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T i t o a n d c o m p a n y accepted t h i s m i s s i o n i n f u l l c o n sciousness a n d t u r n e d t h e Y u g o s l a v p a r t y a n d state i n t o a n agency of imperialism. Faced w i t h this evil, our communist parties could not and should never remain i n different. In particular, it w a s u r g e n t l y necessary that t h e p a r t i e s o f t h e t h e n socialist c o u n t r i e s s h o u l d n o t rest on t h e i r laurels a n d t h i n k foolishly, that, since they w e r e in p o w e r and since the Y u g o s l a v leadership h a d been denounced and remained isolated, it no longer presented a n y d a n g e r . N o , t h e relentless class s t r u g g l e , t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e a p p l i c a t i o n a n d defence o f t h e p u r i t y o f M a r x i s m Leninism, for the tempering of every communist and the entire P a r t y w i t h the revolutionary ideology, was a necessity sine qua non f o r e v e r y p a r t y in o r d e r to p r e v e n t w h a t h a d happened i n Y u g o s l a v i a f r o m being repeated a n y w h e r e else. C o n s c i o u s o f a l l these t h i n g s , i n 1948 o u r P a r t y ( a l though relatively y o u n g and w i t h o u t the necessary experience in the field of theory) was a m o n g the first to a r r a y itself in the open political and ideological struggle against Y u g o s l a v revisionism. A l o n g w i t h other communist parties, members or non-members of the I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u , o u r P a r t y m a d e its c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e u n c o v e r i n g and further u n m a s k i n g of this revisionist current, of the s o c i a l class roots a n d causes w h i c h m a d e its b i r t h p o s s i b l e and of the damage w h i c h it brought, both to the party, state a n d p e o p l e o f Y u g o s l a v i a a n d t o t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l communist and workers' movement. F o r their part, Tito and company, enraged by the defeat w h i c h t h e y h a d s u f f e r e d a n d b y t h e e x p o s u r e w h i c h w a s c o n t i n u a l l y b r i n g i n g t h e m o u t i n t h e i r t r u e colours, launched, together w i t h the struggle for the disseminat i o n o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t theories, a n u n s c r u p u l o u s c a m p a i g n of slanders a n d accusations against the CP of the Soviet U n i o n and J . V . Stalin, against the I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u and
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also against o u r P a r t y . D r i v e n w i t h t h e i r b a c k s t o t h e w a l l b y t h e courageous a n d w e l l - p r o v e d w o r d s o f o u r P a r t y , they could only scream that the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a had allegedly broken w i t h them and was attacking t h e m , since it p r e f e r r e d to s u b j u g a t e i t s e l f to a b i g g e r party(!), the C P S U , a n d that allegedly we w e r e acting as M o s c o w a n d t h e C o m i n f o r m told u s a n d d i c t a t e d t o u s ! A w a r e t h a t w e c o u l d e x p e c t n o t h i n g else f r o m t h e t r a i tors in Belgrade, we p a i d no heed to this f i l t h y accusation. Hence we continued our w o r k and, understandably, we c o n s i d e r e d i t o u r great g o o d f o r t u n e t h a t i n t h i s f i e r c e clash between M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and m o d e r n revisionism w e stood s h o u l d e r t o s h o u l d e r w i t h t h e C P S U , l e d b y t h e glorious Stalin, and w i t h the other communist parties of t h e t h e n socialist c o u n t r i e s a n d t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . T h e general solidarity in the struggle against the r e n egades of B e l g r a d e (at t h a t p e r i o d , in a p p e a r a n c e at least, t h i s s o l i d a r i t y s e e m e d complete) g a v e u s h e a r t a n d courage, a n d i n t h e course o f t h i s s t r u g g l e w e p r e p a r e d o u r s e l v e s better and tempered ourselves f u r t h e r f o r the f u t u r e battles. B u t only a few years later our P a r t y was to be faced w i t h a r e a l test i n r e g a r d t o t h e a c c u s a t i o n t r u m p e t e d s o l o u d l y b y t h e chiefs i n B e l g r a d e a b o u t t h e m o t i v e s f r o m w h i c h we proceeded in the struggle against them. T h i s w a s a g r a v e a n d b i t t e r test w h i c h w e , f o r o u r p a r t , h a d n o t a n d n e v e r w o u l d h a v e w a n t e d . T h e fact is. h o w e v e r , t h a t w e were faced w i t h it: after the death of J . V . S t a l i n , the K h r u s h c h e v i t e t e a m , w h i c h seized p o w e r , i n i t i a l l y t o n e d d o w n a n d v e r y soon c o m p l e t e l y e x t i n g u i s h e d its s t r u g g l e against Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s m . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e l o g i c o f t h e T i t o i t e a c c u s a t i o n , w e , too, s h o u l d a u t o m a t i c a l l y h a v e c h a n g e d o u r t u n e , s i n c e this i s w h a t M o s c o w d i d . B u t t o t h e a s t o n i s h m e n t of T i t o (and of course of K h r u s h c h e v , too) w e c o n t i n u e d o u r f o r m e r c o u r s e : n o concessions t o ,
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no sign of conciliation w i t h , the Y u g o s l a v revisionists. W e a c t e d i n t h i s w a y because w e w e r e m o r e t h a n convinced about the betrayal of the Y u g o s l a v leadership, because w e s a w t h a t i t w a s c o m p l e t e l y c o m m i t t e d t o t h e course of revising the w h o l e theory and practice of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . M o r e o v e r , i n t h e p e r i o d f r o m 1948 t o 1954, T i t o , K a r d e l j a n d others had p r o c l a i m e d and were consistently a p p l y i n g theories a n d forms of organization in the Y u g o s l a v p a r t y a n d state w h i c h q u i t e o p e n l y t e s t i f i e d t o t h e i r complete abandonment and distortion of the principles o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m (to t h i s p e r i o d b e l o n g s u c h acts o f the Titoites as changing the name of the p a r t y f r o m C o m munist Party to League of Communists; the transformat i o n of t h i s L e a g u e i n t o a k i n d of e d u c a t i o n a l - p r o p a g a n d a Association; their adoption of A m e r i c a n democracy as the model for the structure of the political system in Y u g o s l a v i a ; the proclamation of the so-called self-adm i n i s t r a t i v e socialism w h i c h is n o t h i n g but a disguise for the capitalist order; their preaching of the w i t h e r i n g a w a y o f t h e state i n s o c i a l i s m , t h e i r d e n i a l o f t h e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t thesis a b o u t t h e n e e d of t h e existence of t h e dictatorship of the proletariat during the whole period of t r a n s i t i o n f r o m c a p i t a l i s m t o c o m m u n i s m , etc., etc.) P r e c i s e l y a t t h e t i m e t h a t these t h i n g s w e r e o c c u r r i n g , t h a t is, w h e n w i t h h i s a c t i o n s T i t o w a s o p e n l y p r o c l a i m i n g that he w a s a dyed-in-the-wool renegade and revisionist, K h r u s h c h e v s t r o v e t o m a k e c l e a r t o us t h a t T i t o w a s allegedly a Marxist, indeed an outstanding Marxist, that socialism w a s being built in Y u g o s l a v i a , and that t h e b l a m e f o r w h a t h a d o c c u r r e d i n 1948 s h o u l d n o t b e laid on Tito and company, but on the C o m i n f o r m and Stalin! W e d i d n o t agree w i t h s u c h a v i e w a n d assessment of things and, therefore, we acted not in the w a y that M o s c o w t r a n s m i t t e d , b u t a s M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m t a u g h t us.
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In his e v i l w o r k in regard to the stand towards the Belgrade clique, as in every other field, however, K h r u s h chev d i d not concentrate solely on setting a personal e x a m p l e . S o o n t h e m o m e n t came w h e n , t h r o u g h c a t e g o r i c a l o r d e r s a n d dictate, M o s c o w d e m a n d e d t h a t w e s h o u l d cease o u r p r i n c i p l e d s t r u g g l e a n d b e n d t h e k n e e t o a n d k i s s T i t o . W e i n d i g n a n t l y r e j e c t e d these o r d e r s a n d dictates, a n d r e f u s e d t o act a g a i n s t t h e t r u t h i n a n y i n s t a n c e . Indeed, a s I h a v e e x p l a i n e d i n d e t a i l i n m y b o o k o f m e m o i r s The Khrushchevites, f o r us t h e s t a n d t o w a r d s t h e renegades of B e l g r a d e b e c a m e one of t h e t o u c h s t o n e s to see w h a t w e r e t h e n e w l e a d e r s w h o t o o k p o w e r i n t h e Soviet U n i o n after the death of Stalin, and w h a t were the leaders of other parties w h o changed course i m m e d iately after the emergence of K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s m (14). E v e n t s d e v e l o p e d s w i f t l y a n d t h e t w o sides, t h e K h r u s h chevites and the Titoites, in collaboration a n d unity, concocted p l a n s a n d b e g a n t h e i r a c t i v i t y t o a l t e r t h e s i t u ation in the international communist and workers' movem e n t , a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e c o u n t r i e s o f people's d e m o c r a c y , in f a v o u r of the revisionist aims of K h r u s h c h e v and the agent o f i m p e r i a l i s m , T i t o . R e g r e t t a b l y , t h i s f e v e r i s h a n t i M a r x i s t a c t i v i t y y i e l d e d its b i t t e r f r u i t s i n t h e p a r t i e s o f other countries. It was proved that not we, but the other parties, h a d c l i m b e d o n t h e b a n d - w a g o n w h e n t h e y , too, l a u n c h e d the a t t a c k a g a i n s t T i t o a n d c o m p a n y i n 1948, along w i t h the B o l s h e v i k C o m m u n i s t P a r t y . T h a t same Dej w h o a t one t i m e h a d boasted o f h i s v a l i a n t deeds w i t h a p i s t o l i n h i s belt a g a i n s t a k i n g f a l l e n f r o m p o w e r , t h a t same D e j w h o d e l i v e r e d r e p o r t s i n t h e C o m i n f o r m o n t h e u n m a s k i n g o f t h e Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s h i p , w a s one of the first to rush to T i t o to beg his forgiveness. T h e
_____________________________________ 14 See E n v e r H o x h a . T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s (Memoirs), 8 N n t o r i P u b l i s h i n g House, T i r a n a 1982, p. 103, 2nd E n g . ed.
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same t h i n g w a s done by the Poles, w h o amongst other things, took the old Titoite, the notorious W l a d y s l a w G o m u l k a o u t o f p r i s o n a n d p l a c e d h i m d i r e c t l y i n t h e post of G e n e r a l Secretary of the U W P of P o l a n d in order to set P o l a n d a s q u i c k l y a s p o s s i b l e o n t h e t r a g i c c o u r s e o f c o m p l e t e c h a o s ; t h e H u n g a r i a n s , t h e B u l g a r i a n s , o f course, and a l l the others in t u r n d i d the same t h i n g . Thus, the conclusion of our P a r t y was v e r y q u i c k l y confirmed that, if revisionism is not combated relentlessly and w i t h f u l l force, the Y u g o s l a v p h e n o m e n o n w o u l d occur w i t h the others, j u s t a s i t d i d . H o w e v e r , I a m s p e a k i n g a b o u t o u r course. W e c o n t i n u e d t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e renegades i n B e l g r a d e , mercilessly attacked their hostile v i e w s a n d stands on e v e r y occasion, p u b l i c l y e x p o s e d t h e m a n d n e v e r h e s i t a t e d , f r o m fear of anyone. M e a n w h i l e , we w e r e subjected to the u n r e l e n t i n g pressures a n d machinations of Tito and K h r u s h c h e v . Just as they h a d done in P o l a n d , H u n g a r y , B u l g a r i a , C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , R u m a n i a , etc., t h e y t r i e d t o r e h a b i l i t a t e t h e i r g r o u p o f agents, K o i X o x e a n d c o m p a n y i n A l b a n i a , too. B o t h t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p a n d t h e Soviet leadership (officially t h r o u g h Suslov) demanded the r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f K o i X o x e , t h a t is, t h a t w e s h o u l d r e t u r n to the B e r a t P l e n u m of the CC of the C P A , admit the so-called mistakes of our P a r t y in line and in our r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e Y u g o s l a v s , a d e m a n d w h i c h , as I p o i n t e d o u t e a r l i e r , c a n n o t b e c l a i m e d t o h a v e b e e n m a d e i n 1944 w i t h o u t the knowledge of the chief of the Soviet mission i n A l b a n i a M a j o r I v a n o v , t h e close f r i e n d o f t h e n o t o r i o u s C o l o n e l V e l i m i r S t o j n i . H o w e v e r , a l l these e f f o r t s f a i l e d . O u r P a r t y o f L a b o u r r e m a i n e d u n s h a k e n i n its e a r l i e r v i e w that the Titoite group h a d been and still was a group of t r a i t o r s , renegades, T r o t s k y i t e s , s u b v e r s i o n i s t s a n d a secret a g e n c y o f t h e A m e r i c a n s , a n d t h a t n e i t h e r o u r P a r t y , t h e C o m i n f o r m , n o r S t a l i n h a d been w r o n g a b o u t t h e m .
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We repeated this v i e w to K h r u s h c h e v and his lackeys m a n y t i m e s : t h r o u g h letters a n d i n o f f i c i a l m e e t i n g s w e p r e s e n t e d endless a r g u m e n t s f r o m the t h e o r e t i c a l w o r k s a n d p r a c t i c a l deeds o f t h e Y u g o s l a v renegades, b u t t h e t r u t h f e l l o n deaf ears. T h u s , w e w e r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e revisionist gangrene had spread t h r o u g h the head and body o f t h e C C o f the C P S U a n d t h e l e a d e r s h i p s o f o t h e r p a r t i e s . E v e n though we saw we were alone in this struggle, still we d i d not retreat. O n c e t h e phase o f t h e touchstone w a s o v e r , t h a t is, once w e w e r e c o n v i n c e d w h e r e K h r u s h c h e v a n d the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s stood i n r e g a r d t o t h e T i t o i t e s , w e d e c i d e d t o t a k e a n o t h e r m a j o r step i n t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m . T h e fact is t h a t o v e r a p e r i o d of s e v e r a l y e a r s , e s p e c i a l l y f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g o f 1956 t o t h e m i d d l e o f 1960, w e u s e d t h e o p e n d o o r o f t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t the Titoite traitors to attack the n e w betrayal w h i c h had e m e r g e d i n the a r e n a a n d w a s g r o w i n g s t r o n g e r f r o m d a y t o day, K h r u s h c h e v i t e b e t r a y a l . As I h a v e h a d occasion to stress at o t h e r t i m e s , t h i s was a clever and far-sighted tactic of our P a r t y w h i c h w e e m p l o y e d w i t h great success. A n y o n e w h o c a r e f u l l y examines all the documents of our P a r t y d u r i n g this period w i l l u n d e r s t a n d t h a t as e a r l y as 1954, 1955, a n d e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r 1955, w e w e r e e n g a g e d i n s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e b e t r a y a l w h i c h w a s d e v e l o p i n g a t t o p speed alongside t h e T i t o i t e b e t r a y a l , a n d n o t j u s t i n 1960 a n d 1961 w h e n w e c a m e out o p e n l y a n d p u b l i c l y a g a i n s t t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s . H o w e v e r , s i n c e the c o n d i t i o n s h a d n o t m a t u r e d and the m o m e n t h a d not a r r i v e d to come out o p e n l y a n d p u b l i c l y against K h r u s h c h e v a n d t h e K h r u s h chevites by name, at that period, we attacked and exposed t h e i r r e v i s i o n i s t v i e w s a n d stands b y l i n k i n g t h e m i n t h e press a n d i n p u b l i c w i t h t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s o f B e l g r a d e a n d t h e a n t i - M a r x i s t a c t i v i t y o f T i t o , K a r d e l j , etc. T h i s does
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not mean that we were attacking Tito and his henchmen over something for w h i c h they were not responsible. Tito w a s as m u c h a K h r u s h c h e v i t e as K h r u s h c h e v , j u s t as K h r u s h c h e v was as m u c h a Titoite as Tito. The two v a r i ants w e r e branches of the one t r u n k m o d e r n revisionism, they were both dangerous, hostile currents and deserved exposure and the p o w e r f u l attack. As I said, h o w e v e r , besides g e t t i n g w h a t h e d e s e r v e d , T i t o w a s used b y u s also i n t h e r o l e o f the T u r k ' s head, o r m o r e precisely, K h r u s h c h e v ' s head. T h e t w o sides s a w w h e r e o u r a t t a c k w a s a i m e d , s o t h e y further strengthened their collaboration and what K h r u s h c h e v c o u l d n o t s a y a g a i n s t u s f o r t a c t i c a l reasons a n d because o f p u b l i c o p i n i o n T i t o p r o c l a i m e d v e r y w e l l . A m o n g s t others, T i t o ' s n o t o r i o u s speech a t P u l a i n N o v e m b e r 1956 i s w e l l k n o w n . T h e r e T i t o n o t o n l y m a d e a n unrestrained a n t i - M a r x i s t attack on the theory and pract i c e o f t h e socialist o r d e r , b u t also d i r e c t l y c o n d e m n e d the cult of E n v e r H o x h a a n d called f o r the o v e r t h r o w o f t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f o u r P a r t y . U n d o u b t e d l y , w i t h this a n t i - A l b a n i a n a t t a c k a n d t h e open c a l l f o r t h e o v e r t h r o w o f o u r l e a d e r s h i p T i t o e x p r e s s e d n o t o n l y h i s o w n desire, b u t also t h e d e s i r e of t h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p . It is n o t a c c i d e n t a l t h a t j u s t a f e w d a y s a f t e r t h i s n o t o r i o u s speech, K r y l o v , the Soviet ambassador in T i r a n a , came to me and demanded insistently, on the instructions of the Soviet l e a d e r s h i p , t h a t w e do n o t r e p l y h a r s h l y t o T i t o , because tempers w i l l become heated a n d our w o r k w i l l be ruined. We gave K h r u s h c h e v and Tito our answer immediately: we denounced and condemned Tito's ultra-revisionist speech w i t h all o u r batteries, unconcerned w h e t h e r T i t o w o u l d lose h i s t e m p e r o r K h r u s h c h e v ' s w o r k w o u l d b e r u i n e d . I n f a c t o u r c l e a r - c u t p r i n c i p l e d stands w e r e r u i n i n g K h r u s h c h e v ' s w o r k . W h e n the Soviet revisionists saw that they had failed in H u n g a r y and elsewhere and that
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t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d t h e socialist camp was slipping f r o m their control, they retreated a little f r o m their subversive struggle and collaboration w i t h Tito, because t h r o u g h h i s a c t i o n a n d theories h e w a s n o t o n l y e x p o s i n g the r e v i s i o n i s t m i r e i n w h i c h t h e y w e r e w a l l o w i n g , but w a s also t r y i n g t o t a k e t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e c u r r e n t under his w i n g and to manoeuvre it in accord w i t h his o w n interests a n d those o f h i s i m p e r i a l i s t p a t r o n s . A t those m o m e n t s K h r u s h c h e v w a s t e m p o r a r i l y o b l i g e d t o s u p p o r t t h e stands o f t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a , p u b l i s h e d o u r a r t i c l e s i n t h e S o v i e t press, w a s o b l i g e d t o accept o u r r e s o l u t e s t a n d against T i t o i s m a s a n a g e n c y o f i m p e r i a l i s m i n t h e 1957 M e e t i n g o f t h e C o m m u n i s t a n d Workers' Parties, and this was included in the D e c l a r a t i o n of t h e M e e t i n g , etc. B u t , as I h a v e s a i d at o t h e r t i m e s , this was only a temporary retreat by K h r u s h c h e v . In essence h e w a s opposed t o t h e p r i n c i p l e d s t r u g g l e w h i c h w e w a g e d a g a i n s t T i t o i s m t o t h e e x t e n t that, i n one o f t h e confrontations w h i c h I had w i t h h i m and Suslov over the stand towards Yugoslav revisionism, K h r u s h c h e v was so irritated that he said to me angrily: Where do you want to l e a d us. to S t a l i n ' s r o a d ? ! S t e p b y step, o u r p r i n c i p l e d c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h t h e Soviet leadership were b u i l d i n g up, heading for the c o n frontation at Bucharest. A s i s k n o w n , i n 1960 w e c a m e out o p e n l y against t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e b e t r a y a l , too, a n d a f t e r t h i s w e i n t e n s i f i e d o u r p r i n c i p l e d s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t it, j u s t a s w e h a d d o n e against t h e T i t o i t e c u r r e n t f r o m 1948 o n w a r d s . A t t h i s p e r i o d i t seemed a s t h o u g h t h e C P o f C h i n a w a s e n g a g e d shoulder to shoulder w i t h us in this struggle against both o f these c u r r e n t s o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m . I n t h i s p e r i o d , too, t h e r e w e r e p e o p l e w h o s a i d t h a t w e h a d e n t e r e d i n t o t h i s s t r u g g l e because t h i s i s w h a t B e i j i n g w a s d o i n g ( ! ) , this was dictated to us by M a o Zedong, and this t i m e
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v o i c e s c a m e n o t o n l y f r o m B e l g r a d e , b u t also f r o m M o s c o w ! S u c h bace a c c u s a t i o n s m e r e l y m a d e u s s m i l e a n d w e went on w i t h our work. We were already well aware t h a t s u c h t h i n g s w e r e n o t s a i d because t h e accusers d i d n o t k n o w t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a w e l l . N o , these were the howls of a wolf w h i c h , even mortally wounded, t r i e s t o t h r e a t e n a n d f r i g h t e n its p r e y . T h e T i t o i t e a n d K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s w e r e t r y i n g t o o b s c u r e the t r u t h w i t h smoke and fog, to inflict w h a t damage they could on the image of our P a r t y . T i m e w a s soon t o p r o v e once a g a i n t h a t w e h a d c o m m i t t e d o u r s e l v e s t o t h e s t r u g g l e against r e v i s i o n i s m p r o c e e d i n g not f r o m the dictate of B e i j i n g or M a o Zedong, but as always, f r o m the supreme dictate of M a r x i s m - L e n i n ism. On the orders and in f a v o u r of our guiding ideology, t h a t is, i n d e f e n c e o f t h e t h e o r y a n d p r a c t i c e o f the r e v o l u t i o n f r o m the attacks w h i c h the m o d e r n revisionists were m a k i n g o n it, o u r h e r o i c P a r t y h a d w a g e d , w a s w a g i n g a n d w o u l d c o n t i n u e t o w a g e its o w n p r i n c i p l e d s t r u g g l e . T h e d a y c a m e w h e n M a o Z e d o n g ceased t h e s t r u g g l e against Y u g o s l a v revisionism, but we continued it as b e f o r e . I t m u s t b e s a i d t h a t t h i s t i m e , too, t h r o u g h t h e open door of the struggle against Y u g o s l a v and Soviet r e v i s i o n i s m w e h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o a t t a c k the v i e w s and distortions w h i c h the Communist P a r t y of C h i n a a n d its d e r a n g e d l e a d e r M a o Z e d o n g w e r e m a k i n g o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . H o w e v e r , as I have proved at length in a series of m a t e r i a l s , e s p e c i a l l y in Reflections on China, t h e cause o f t h e b e t r a y a l o f t h e C P o f C h i n a does n o t l i e e i t h e r i n M a o ' s d o t a g e i n h i s o l d age o r t h e s e n i l i t y of other old m e n in B e i j i n g . N o , they h a d been revisionists, i n d e e d p u r e r e v i s i o n i s t s , since t h e i r y o u t h , b u t h a d adopted t h e i r allegedly principled, M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t phrases at p a r t i c u l a r p e r i o d s (especially so in 1960) in o r d e r to conceal behind t h e m their long-range, counter-revolutionary,
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a n t i - M a r x i s t aims and plans. W h e n f i n a l l y they w e r e convinced that their Marxist manoeuvres were not l e a d i n g t h e m w h e r e t h e y i n t e n d e d , t h e y t h r e w off t h e mantle of Marxist-Leninists and emerged as they were in reality inveterate Titoites, Eurocommunists and K h r u s h chevites. E v e n t s d e v e l o p e d r a p i d l y a n d w h e n t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f B e i j i n g f e l l o n its k n e e s b e f o r e t h e r e n e g a d e o f B e l g rade, w e not o n l y d i d n o t d o a s M a o a n d Z h o u E n l a i d i d a n d a s t h e y d i c t a t e d t o us, b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y w e d i d n o t hesitate t o r i s e i m m e d i a t e l y t o a t t a c k t h i s o t h e r v a r i ant o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m t h e C h i n e s e v a r i a n t , M a o Zedong thought! T h e s e a n d other a r g u m e n t s p r o v e c o m p l e t e l y t h a t i n the s t r u g g l e against t h e renegades of B e l g r a d e , j u s t as against a l l o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t c u r r e n t s , w e d i d n o t p r o c e e d f r o m a n y e x t e r n a l factor, t h a t w e n e v e r acted b l i n d l y o r f o l l o w i n g the band-wagon, and that we w e r e not i n f l u enced b y a n y o n e . So, c o n v i n c e d f r o m t h e outset t h a t w e w a g e d a correct struggle, conscious t h a t w e w e r e p e r f o r m i n g o u r d u t y as a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , we pressed on w i t h t h i s s t r u g g l e , a l w a y s t u r n i n g t h i s w h o l e process n o t o n l y i n t o one o f t h e m o s t g l o r i o u s c h a p t e r s i n t h e h i s t o r y o f o u r P a r t y , b u t also i n t o a g r e a t s c h o o l o f revolutionary training and tempering, into an unprecedented u n i v e r s i t y for t h o r o u g h k n o w l e d g e and assimiliation of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . T h e r e w a s one m o m e n t w h e n K h r u s h c h e v , u n a b l e t o shut our mouths in the open a n d p r i n c i p l e d struggle w e w e r e w a g i n g against Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s m , m a d e t h e a c c u s a t i o n t h a t w e w e r e a c t i n g i n t h i s w a y , because a l l e g e d l y w e w a n t e d t o a p p e a r a s the s t a n d a r d - b e a r e r s o f t h e s t r u g g l e against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , t h a t is, a l l e g e d l y t o e m e r g e a s b e t t e r t h a n t h e others. I n essence, t h i s d i r t y a c c u s a t i o n also c l e a r l y e x p r e s s e d t h e w h o l e b u r d e n o f hostile, m e g a l o m a n i a c a l , a n t i - M a r x i s t v i e w s o f t h e
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accuser h i m s e l f . I t h a d n e v e r b e e n o u r i n t e n t i o n a n d w e h a d not i n v o l v e d ourselves in this struggle in order to s h o w off, t o e m e r g e a s b e t t e r t h a n t h e others, o r t o put the others under c o m m a n d or dictate. No, w i t h the struggle against Yugoslav revisionism we were s i m p l y doing our duty, a duty w h i c h was equally incumbent on a n y genuine M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t party. A n d w h e n the others abandoned this sacred d u t y w e r e we supposed to abandon it, too, a n d k e e p s i l e n t t o a v o i d g i v i n g t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o o t h e r s t o accuse u s o f w a n t i n g t o b e t h e s t a n d a r d b e a r e r s a n d o f m e g a l o m a n i a ? ! H a d o u r P a r t y acted i n that w a y this w o u l d have been an unpardonable sin. At n o t i m e d i d w e f a l l i n t o t h a t abyss i n t o w h i c h t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s a n d , l a t e r , t h e M a o i s t s w a n t e d t o p u s h us. T h u s , we continued the struggle against T i t o i s m f r o m no motive o t h e r t h a n t o p e r f o r m one o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l t a s k s w h i c h f a c e d a n d faces e v e r y p a r t y . Here, however, there is an indisputable t r u t h w h i c h m u s t b e b r o u g h t out u n h e s i t a t i n g l y : i n r e g a r d t o t h e t h i n g s that have occurred in the international communist and w o r k e r s ' m o v e m e n t i n t h e last t h r e e o r f o u r decades (especially a f t e r t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e b e t r a y a l ) t h e g r e a t historic m e r i t belongs to the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a t h a t o f a l l t h e p a r t i e s i n p o w e r i t i s t h e o n l y one w h i c h not only was not deceived and never at any moment ceased t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s m , b u t also m a d e a p r o f o u n d a n d a l l - r o u n d a n a l y s i s o f T i t o i s m or, m o r e a c c u r a t e l y , c a r r i e d out a t h o r o u g h a u t o p s y o n i t . P r o u d of the contribution w h i c h we have made to the exposure of this variant of revisionism, and convinced a n d conscious o f the n e c e s s i t y f o r i n t e n s i f y i n g t h e s t r u g gle a g a i n s t it, w e s h a l l c o n t i n u e o n t h i s course i n t h e f u t u r e , too, s h o u l d e r t o s h o u l d e r w i t h t h e o t h e r M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t parties. We have not reconciled ourselves and never w i l l reconcile ourselves to Titoism and all the
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o t h e r v a r i a n t s o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m . O u r o n l y contact w i t h t h e m is through the political and ideological struggle w h i c h we w i l l continue u n t i l they are completely and finally routed and destroyed. A l r e a d y i n M a y - J u n e 1948 w e w e r e m o r e t h a n a w a r e that Tito and the Titoites, as traitors to M a r x i s m - L e n i n ism, were and w o u l d remain inimical and dangerous to a l l t h e c o m m u n i s t parties, t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e ments and national liberation struggles everywhere in t h e w o r l d , b u t f o r us, t h e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s a n d people, besides this, t h e y w e r e a n d w o u l d r e m a i n d i r e c t , savage, s w o r n a n t i - A l b a n i a n e n e m i e s . W e w e r e c o n v i n c e d that they w o u l d never give up their plans and aims to gobble up A l b a n i a , a n d to this end w o u l d not lay d o w n their arms of subversion, interference and plots against o u r P a r t y a n d c o u n t r y . We w o u l d be vigilant and w i t h our fist clenched at e v e r y m o m e n t , because, a l t h o u g h i t h a d s u f f e r e d h e a v y b l o w s , t h e T i t o i t e a g e n c y i n A l b a n i a w o u l d n o t cease w o r k i n g for the future and for long-term plans and v a r i a n t s . I n t h i s c o n t e x t , i n a t h o u s a n d a n d one w a y s , Tito and company w o u l d do everything in their power t o r e g a i n t h e i r lost p o s i t i o n s , t o create c o n d i t i o n s a n d the terrain in order to penetrate amongst us and destroy us. T h e y c o u l d n e v e r r e c o n c i l e t h e m s e l v e s t o t h e fact t h a t A l b a n i a h a d escaped f r o m t h e i r h a n d s , c o u l d n e v e r sleep e a s i l y w h e n t h e y s a w t h a t a p a r t y , w h i c h t h e y h a d wanted to t u r n into a blind tool, but w h i c h to their regret h a d c o n s t a n t l y a t t a c k e d t h e m a n d t h e i r o l d p a n Slav dreams and in the end had smashed them, was w o r k i n g and leading in A l b a n i a . Hence, as long as they remained in power, the Titoites w o u l d be real and d a n gerous enemies o f o u r P a r t y a n d c o u n t r y . It d i d not take months or years for the Titoites
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themselves to prove the t r u t h of this. On the contrary, w h e n we still h a d not denounced t h e m publicly, in order to forestall the evil they launched a whole c a m paign of slanders a n d accusations against our P a r t y and its l e a d e r s h i p , a n d i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e 1st C o n g r e s s o f our Party, Belgrade's a n t i - A l b a n i a n campaign assumed unprecedented proportions and intensity. The newspapers, r a d i o stations, p a m p h l e t s a n d p u b l i s h i n g houses, a l l t h e means of Titoite propaganda were activized in this dirty c a m p a i g n , p o u r i n g out m o n s t r o s i t i e s a g a i n s t us. A m o n g s t o t h e r t h i n g s , a t t h a t t i m e t h e y accused u s o f b e i n g v i o l a t o r s o f d e m o c r a c y i n t h e p a r t y a n d a m o n g t h e people(!), o f k i l l i n g c o m m u n i s t s a n d honest patriots(!), a n d l a t e r went on to the accusation that we were t u r n i n g A l b a n i a into a barracks surrounded by barbed wire where everything w a s t r a m p l e d u n d e r t h e m i l i t a r y j a c k b o o t , etc., etc. A c c o r d i n g to this alarm for propaganda w h i c h thund e r e d f r o m B e l g r a d e one w o u l d h a v e t h o u g h t t h a t h a v o c was being wrought in A l b a n i a , but w h e n it came to prov i d i n g f a c t s a n d a r g u m e n t s the d e f e n d e r s o f d e m o c r a c y in Belgrade f o u n d themselves in a deplorable position: t h e y w e r e a b l e t o m e n t i o n o n l y one n a m e , t h a t o f Koi Xoxe! B u t w h o , w e r e these i d e a l d e f e n d e r s o f p u r e d e m o c r a c y w h o , s i m p l y because o u r o r g a n s o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p h a d c o n d e m n e d t o d e a t h o n l y one s w o r n e n e m y a n d agent, K o i X o x e , a r r i v e d a t t h e h o r r i f i e d c o n c l u s i o n that we were murderers and violators of democracy?! H e r e I s h a l l n o t m e n t i o n t h e mass m u r d e r s , e l i m i n a tions and exterminations w h i c h the Titoite a r m y and the o r g a n s o f t h e U D B p e r p e t r a t e d d u r i n g the p e r i o d 19451948 o n t h e o r d e r s o f T i t o - R a n k o v i a n d c o m p a n y , u n d e r t h e p r e t e x t o f t h e s t r u g g l e t o c l e a n u p ustae a n d e t n i c i elements, c r i m i n a l bands, r e m n a n t s o f t h e o l d r e g i m e etc., n o r s h a l l I m e n t i o n t h e b l a c k t e r r o r w h i c h
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t h e y u n l e a s h e d a t t h i s p e r i o d (especially f r o m t h e e n d of 1944 r i g h t t h r o u g h 1945) u p o n t h e p e o p l e of K o s o v a a n d the A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n l i v i n g o n t h e i r o w n t e r r i t o r ies i n M o n t e n e g r o a n d M a c e d o n i a , u n d e r t h e p r e t e x t o f t h e s t r u g g l e against B a l l i s t gangs, n a t i o n a l i s t s , great A l b a n i a n s , etc. F o r c o m p a r i s o n , h o w e v e r , I s h a l l d w e l l a l i t t l e o n h o w the T i t o i t e d e m o c r a c y acted a n d h o w o u r d e m o c r a c y acted i n 1948 t o w a r d s t h e r e s p e c t i v e o p ponents a n d enemies. T h e whole picture of the treacherous w o r k of the gang o f K o i X o x e , P a n d i K r i s t o a n d o t h e r s a s agents i n t h e service o f t h e Y u g o s l a v s b e c a m e m o r e t h a n c l e a r t o u s e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e e a r l y m o n t h s o f 1948. H o w e v e r , a l t h o u g h t h e y w e r e not accused s i m p l y o f h a v i n g a l i e n v i e w s , b u t especially of h i g h treason towards the P a r t y and the country, we allowed K o i X o x e , P a n d i K r i s t o and compan y t o t a k e p a r t i n a l l t h e m e e t i n g s o f the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u , i n t h e 9th, 10th a n d 11th P l e n u m s o f t h e C C of the Party, in the meetings of party activists w h i c h w e r e h e l d l a t e r a n d e v e n i n t h e 1st C o n g r e s s o f t h e C P A . N o t o n l y d i d w e a l l o w t h e m t o t a k e p a r t , b u t w e also g a v e t h e m t h e r i g h t to speak as o f t e n as t h e y c o n s i d e r e d necessary. W h a t special t y p e o f d e m o c r a c y d i d T i t o a n d R a n k o v i c i n Y u g o s l a v i a o f f e r a l l those t h o u s a n d s o f elem e n t s o f the C P Y w h o e x p r e s s e d s o l i d a r i t y w i t h t h e letters o f t h e C C o f t h e C P S U a n d t h e R e s o l u t i o n o f t h e C o m i n f o r m ? ! T h e y w e r e c l a p p e d i n h a n d c u f f s a s soon a s they began to open their m o u t h s ! A n d w h e n hundreds of others s i m p l y demanded that w h a t w a s w r i t t e n in the letters o f the C C o f t h e C P S U s h o u l d b e d i s c u s s e d i n t h e p a r t y , t h a t is, w h e n t h e y h a d n o t y e t e x p r e s s e d t h e m selves e i t h e r f o r o r against, t h e T i t o i t e d e m o c r a c y arrested them, threw them into prison and k i l l e d t h e m i n secret. So, w h i l e w e a n a l y s e d t h e c r i m i n a l w o r k o f
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the K o i X o x e gang for five to six months on end in t h e P a r t y ( w h e r e t h e t r a i t o r s t h e m s e l v e s w e r e present), the Titoites d i d not allow their opponents to speak even in a single meeting of the organization of w h i c h they w e r e members! Out of the w h o l e n e t w o r k of anti-state agents t h a t w e d i s c o v e r e d w e h a n d e d o v e r t o the c o u r t o n l y 4-5 persons, w h i l e t h e T i t o c l i q u e f i l l e d t h e p r i s o n s w i t h t h o u s a n d s a n d t h o u s a n d s o f people w h o w e r e s i m p l y ideological opponents! A n d after all this T i t o and company h a d t h e t e m e r i t y t o accuse u s o f b e i n g v i o l a t o r s o f democracy! Of the f o u r or f i v e elements w h o m we handed over t o t h e c o u r t s f o r p u n i s h m e n t a t t h e e n d o f 1948, i n fact, o n l y one, K o i X o x e , w a s sentenced t o d e a t h a s a n a v o w e d t r a i t o r t o t h e P a r t y a n d state, a s c h i e f o f t h e g a n g w h i c h h a d d o n e e v e r y t h i n g i n its p o w e r t o p u t A l b a n i a i n t h r a l l to Y u g o s l a v i a ! T h e 3 or 4 o t h e r s w e r e s e n t e n c e d to 5-20 y e a r s i m p r i s o n m e n t a c c o r d i n g to t h e degree of their culpability and the stand they adopted w h e n they w e r e c a u g h t r e d - h a n d e d i n t h e plot. I n Y u g o s l a v i a , h o w e v e r , the T i t o i t e s k i l l e d t h e b u l k o f those t h o u s a n d s o f Yugoslav communists w h o were t h r o w n into prison as s u p p o r t e r s o f the C o m i n f o r m o r t h e y s i m p l y d i s a p p e a r e d leaving no trace. Nevertheless, they h a d the temerity to accuse us of b e i n g m u r d e r e r s ! The notorious concentration camps like G o l i Otok, a k i n d of M a t h a u s e n in the conditions of Yugoslav sociali s m , w e r e set u p n o t i n A l b a n i a , b u t i n Y u g o s l a v i a . I t w a s not our communists and patriots w h o w e r e incarcerated, m a i m e d , a n d w i p e d o u t i n t h e m , b u t Y u g o s l a v s , i n cluding hundreds of thousands of Albanians f r o m K o s o v a a n d others w h o l i v e d o n t h e i r o w n l a n d s i n M o n t e n e g r o a n d M a c e d o n i a . T h a t is, w e d i d n o t f i l l A l b a n i a w i t h G o l i Otoks, but the Belgrade leadership filled Yugoslavia w i t h s u c h n o t o r i o u s c a m p s . A n d t h e y h a d the t e m e r i t y
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t o accuse u s o f t u r n i n g A l b a n i a i n t o a b a r r a c k s d o m i n a t e d b y the m i l i t a r y j a c k b o o t ! That, then, is w h a t the Titoite democracy was, that i s w h a t t h e advocates o f C h r i s t i a n c h a r i t y , T i t o a n d Rankovi, were, w h o perpetrated the most monstrous c r i mes against t h e p a r t y a n d peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a w i t h o u t a t r e m o r , w h i l e t h e y w e r e h o r r i f i e d , because w e h a d c o n d e m n e d t o d e a t h one s w o r n e n e m y o f o u r s a n d t h e i r obedient a g e n t ! I t i s t h e s a m e R a n k o v i d e m o c r a c y w h i c h has b e e n w r e a k i n g h a v o c i n Y u g o s l a v i a f o r 3 5 years on end, the same Titoite democracy w h i c h recent ly unleashed the black hundreds and thousands of R a n kovies, Lubiies, Stambolies, a n d Herlevies against the peaceful demonstrations of the people of K o s o v a d e m a n d i n g respect f o r a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e i r c o n s t i t u t i o n a l rights. S i n c e 1948 T i t o , h o w e v e r , a s t h e r a b i d a n t i - A l b a n i a n he was, could not and d i d not content himself s i m p l y w i t h p r o p a g a n d a a t t a c k s a g a i n s t us. J u s t l i k e the r e a c t i o n a r y g o v e r n m e n t s o f W e s t e r n c o u n t r i e s , t h e T i t o i t e l e a d e r s h i p set u p o n Y u g o s l a v t e r r i t o r y w h o l e c a m p s i n w h i c h c r i m i n a l s a n d o t h e r agents, e n e m i e s o f t h e n e w socialist o r d e r i n A l b a n i a , w e r e assembled, t r a i n e d a n d p r e p a r e d t o i n f i l t r a t e i n t o o u r t e r r i t o r y f o r sabotage a n d s u b v e r s i o n . T h u s , t h e t i m e c a m e w h e n i n s t e a d o f t h e e a r l i e r p a r t y a n d state e m i s s a r i e s , T i t o a n d h i s h e n c h m e n b e g a n t o s e n d u s dozens o f b a n d its, c r i m i n a l s , t h i e v e s a n d o t h e r r e p r o b a t e s w h o h a d f l e d f r o m A l b a n i a t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e o c c u p i e r s i n 1944 o r afterwards, on account of the crimes they h a d committed and the hostility they n u r t u r e d towards the new order o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . I n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e f o r e i g n i m p e r i a l i s t a n d c h a u v i n i s t agencies, e s p e c i a l l y those o f t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n t r i e s , t h e renegades o f B e l g r a d e collected u p t h e a n t i - A l b a n i a n s c u m o f agents,
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political and ordinary criminals and fugitives wherever they were and brought them to Yugoslavia to prepare t h e m as mercenary forces against the P a r t y of L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a a n d t h e A l b a n i a n s o c i a l i s t state. N a t u r a l l y , w e w e r e t o r e c e i v e these b a n d i t guests f r o m Y u g o s l a v i a a s b a n d i t s a n d c r i m i n a l s a r e r e c e i v e d w i t h t h e t r a p set. T h e s e s i n i s t e r forces c o n s t i t u t e d , y o u m i g h t say, t h e external echelon w h i c h the Y u g o s l a v leadership w a s to t h r o w i n a g a i n s t us, a s i t d i d . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , the Y u g o s l a v s d i d n o t o v e r l o o k t h e i n t e r n a l echelon, e i t h e r . I n t h i s w e r e i n c l u d e d n o t o n l y those e l e m e n t s l o n g r e cruited b y the U D B , w h o m w e h a d still not discovered, but all the remnants of the old order w h i c h we h a d o v e r t h r o w n . A l l these e l e m e n t s w e r e p r e d i s p o s e d t o p r i c k u p t h e i r ears a n d accept t h e o r i e n t a t i o n s a n d s i g n a l s w h i c h came f r o m Belgrade. T h i s is understandable: the overt h r o w n classes, t h e t r a i t o r s , t h e d i s c o n t e n t e d elements, e n e m i e s o f t h e people's state p o w e r , a l l those w h o c o u l d n o t e n d u r e t h e j u s t i c e o f t h e P a r t y a n d o u r people's state p o w e r h a d p i n n e d a l l their hopes on e x t e r n a l support. A n d i f u p t i l l 1948 t h e y h a d p i n n e d t h e i r hopes o n t h e Americans and the British, now it was no trouble to add another ally and new patron. T h e y were bound to try, just as they d i d , to activize themselves, to enter into contact w i t h a n d o p e r a t e i n t h e T i t o i t e ' s n e t w o r k , too. I n t i m e , h o w e v e r , t h e y , too, w e r e u n c o v e r e d a n d attacked. T h e hopes of T i t o a n d c o m p a n y about arousing discontent, panic, despair, confusion and disorder in A l b a n i a w e r e n o t j u s t i f y i n g t h e m s e l v e s . O n e a f t e r t h e other, a l l t h e gangsters a n d w r e c k e r s a n d t h e secret agents w h o were t h r o w n into action in our country during this period fell into our hands, l i k e rats in a trap. (15)
_______________________________________ into 15 F r o m 1948 to 1955 the Y u g o s l a v secret agency i n f i l t r a t e d a n d organized in A l b a n i a 307 gangs of secret agents,
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S t i l l w e d i d n o t g o t o sleep. T i m e w a s t o s h o w t h a t t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p , e i t h e r w i t h its o w n forces o r i n secret a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e i m p e r i a l i s t secret agencies, k e p t o t h e r p a w n s i n reserve t o b r i n g i n t o a c t i o n a t t h e m o ments w h i c h appeared most opportune and w h e n their interests r e q u i r e d . A s t o w h o these p a w n s i n r e s e r v e were, this w o u l d be brought to light by the progress of our revolution. The m a i n thing is that we remained permanently vigilant, aware that we w o u l d not be left t o p u r s u e o u r c o u r s e i n peace, because, a p a r t f r o m a n y t h i n g else, o u r m a n y e n e m i e s w o u l d n e v e r a l l o w u s t o w o r k a n d l i v e i n peace. In this w a y the i n i t i a l phase of Tito's effors to change t h e s i t u a t i o n i n A l b a n i a t h r o u g h w r e c k e r s a n d secret agents c a m e t o a n e n d . N o t h i n g s h o o k o u r s o c i a l i s t fortress, its f o u n d a t i o n s w e r e u n s h a k e a b l e . S t e p b y step, along w i t h the advance in all fields of life, along w i t h t h e c l e a n i n g out o f i m p e r i a l i s t , T i t o i t e a n d i m p e r i a l i s t T i t o i t e gangs a n d n e t w o r k s o f secret agents, w e b e c a m e s t r o n g e r a n d m o r e d e t e r m i n e d o n o u r course. A b o u t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e 50's i t w a s seen c l e a r l y t h a t T i t o c o u l d a c h i e v e n o t h i n g against u s t h r o u g h t h e m e t h o d s o f w r e c k e r s , secret agents a n d t h e o l d a n t i A l b a n i a n and anti-socialist scum. However, precisely w h e n h i s hopes o f o v e r t u r n i n g t h e s i t u a t i o n i n A l b a n i a w e r e f a d i n g , a n o t h e r renegade, N i k i t a K h r u s h c h e v , c a m e t o t h e a i d o f T i t o , l i k e a gift f r o m G o d . T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e b e t r a y a l , one o f t h e greatest t r a u mas the international communist and w o r k e r ' s m o v e m e n t has e v e r s u f f e r e d , g a v e T i t o n e w p o s s i b i l i t i e s a n d
__________________________________ wreckers and c r i m i n a l s w h o w e r e a l l captured or w i p e d out. D u r i n g the same period groups and secret organizations of agents set up a n d guided by the Y u g o s l a v secret service in collaboration w i t h Western secret services w e r e discovered and w i p e d out in our country.
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m e a n s a n d , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e m , great hopes o f c h a n g i n g the situation i n A l b a n i a . N o w his old chauvinist greed to gobble up A l b a n i a was to be combined w i t h t w o other f u n d a m e n t a l f a c t o r s : w i t h t h e h a t r e d o f t h e renegades of Belgrade for socialism w h i c h was being built in A l b a n i a , a n d second, w i t h t h e d e s i r e t o a v e n g e t h e m s e l v e s f o r the repeated blows and exposures w h i c h our P a r t y and people h a d b e e n i n f l i c t i n g o n t h e m f o r y e a r s o n e n d . The Titoites did not w a i t long before they launched their first attack on us through T u k J a k o v a . It was by no means an accident that precisely w h e n T i t o and K h r u s h chev w e r e p u t t i n g their fiddles in tune, a m o n t h or t w o before K h r u s h c h e v went to Belgrade to kiss Tito, T u k J a k o v a got u p a n d r e p e a t e d t h e h o s t i l e thesis o f the Yugoslavs that allegedly they h a d created the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a (!) a n d t h a t t h e m e r i t f o r a l l the victories achieved d u r i n g the Anti-fascist National Liberation W a r belonged to t h e m ( ! ) . I h a v e a l r e a d y d e a l t i n d e t a i l w i t h w h a t t h i s thesis i s a n d w h y i t w a s r a i s e d . H e r e I w a n t t o p o i n t out s o m e t h i n g else: T u k J a k o v a w a s o n e o f t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h e F o u n d i n g M e e t i n g o f t h e C P A i n N o v e m b e r 1941 a n d , d u r i n g t h e y e a r s o f t h e w a r u p t i l l 1955, l i k e a l l o f us, he, too, h a d h e a r d t h i s thesis m a n y t i m e s a n d h a d n o t accepted it, b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y h a d opposed i t s t r o n g l y . Then, h o w d i d it come about that he changed his m i n d a n d s p a t i n h i s o w n face i n A p r i l 1955?! U n d o u b t e d l y , a l a m a n i (Duan Mugoa) who, according to the codew o r d o f t h e U D B , r e m e m b e r e d a n d d i d n o t forget h i s recruits, signalled T u k to go into action. Tuk's other theses w e r e a l l those w h i c h t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e t e a m w e r e peddling wholesale in their preparation of the terr a i n f o r t h e 20th C o n g r e s s o f t h e C P S U : t h e d y i n g out o f t h e class s t r u g g l e , r e - e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e l i n e p u r s u e d
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by the Party, especially the rehabilitation o f those e n e m i e s w h o h a d been c o n d e m n e d f o r o p p o r t u n i s m a n d T r o t s k y i s m ; the c h a n g i n g o f t h e c o m p o s i t i o n o f t h e C C of the P a r t y and the bringing of condemned elements i n t o t h e l e a d e r s h i p , etc., etc. O u r P a r t y i m m e d i a t e l y dealt p o w e r f u l , merciless b l o w s a t t h e theses a n d a i m s o f T u k a n d those w h o h a d d i s h e d t h e m u p t o h i m . O n l y one p e r s o n , B e d r i S p a h i u , l o n g k n o w n as an o p p o r t u n i s t , a m e g a l o m a n i a c , a n d a p a r t i s a n of the thesis of the d y i n g out of t h e class s t r u g gle, etc., associated h i m s e l f w i t h T u k J a k o v a . I n c o n d e m n i n g these t w o c a p i t u l a t i o n i s t a n d a n t i - p a r t y e l e m e n t s , t h e P l e n u m o f t h e C C o f t h e P L A h e l d i n J u n e 1955, n o t o n l y expressed the determination of the P L A not to f a l l into t h a t m i r e i n w h i c h t h e o t h e r p a r t i e s o f t h e t h e n socialist c o u n t r i e s h a d b e g u n t o s i n k , but, a t t h e s a m e t i m e , g a v e T i t o a n d c o m p a n y a g o o d lesson. T h e T i t o i t e s ' f i r s t attempt against us in the period w h e n the K h r u s h c h e v i t e epidemic had broken out w a s foiled. Despite this bitter o u t c o m e , h o w e v e r , t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p d i d n o t lose h o p e a n d d i d n o t spare its e f f o r t s t o m a k e n e w a t t e m p t s at interference and subversion in A l b a n i a . T h e s e w e r e p r e c i s e l y t h e m o m e n t s w h e n t h e sensational and disgraceful reconciliation of Tito and K h r u s h c h e v w a s b e i n g b r o u g h t t o f r u i t i o n i n B e l g r a d e a t the e n d o f M a y a n d t h e b e g i n n i n g o f J u n e 1955. O u r c l e a r - c u t opposition to this notorious action is w e l l k n o w n . A s soon a s K h r u s h c h e v i n f o r m e d u s a t t h e last m i n u t e t h a t h e w a s g o i n g t o B e l g r a d e i n p e r s o n t o m a k e peace w i t h T i t o , t o b e g h i s p a r d o n f o r the m i s t a k e s c o m m i t t e d against h i m i n 1948-and i n 1949(!) a n d t o p u b l i s h i n t h e press t h e decision ( w h i c h K h r u s h c h e v h i m s e l f h a d taken) about a n n u l l i n g t h e r e s o l u t i o n s o f t h e C o m i n form, we wrote a strong letter to K h r u s h c h e v in w h i c h w e e x p r e s s e d o u r d i s a p r o v a l o f these actions a n d e s p e c i a l l y
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of his annulling the resolutions of the C o m i n f o r m . (16) In s e v e r a l m e e t i n g s w h i c h I h a d those d a y s w i t h t h e S o v i e t ambassador in T i r a n a , L e v i c h k i n , I presented the Soviet leadership w i t h a w i d e range of powerful arguments in support of our correct stand on this question. However, the T i t o - K h r u s h c h e v accord came about. A f e w days after t h i s act of t r e a c h e r y , on J u n e 17, 1955 w i t h t h e m e a s u r e s w h i c h our P l e n u m of the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e took against T u k J a k o v a and B e d r i Spahiu, w e gave Tito and K r u s h chev direct and indirect w a r n i n g that we w o u l d not reconcile ourselves to their plans, but on the contrary w o u l d mercilessly attack any attempt of theirs or their agents t o s u b j u g a t e us. H o w e v e r , i t m u s t b e s a i d that, a l t h o u g h w e n e v e r o n a n y o c c a s i o n accepted t h e l i n e w h i c h M o s c o w d i c t a t e d t o us, b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y o p p o s e d it, w e c o u l d n o t r e m a i n u n a f f e c t e d , a s y o u m i g h t say, o u t s i d e the waves w h i c h it stirred up. B o t h K h r u s h c h e v and Tito w e r e to w o r k , sometimes in unity, sometimes separately, in o r d e r t o g i v e i t t h e m a x i m u m s t r i k i n g force, t h a t is, t o create a situation w h i c h w o u l d lead towards the submission of A l b a n i a . A m o n g t h e m o r e s e r i o u s events d u r i n g t h i s process,
____________________________________ 16 T h e d a i l y experience of our P a r t y in relation to the Yugoslavs, we w r o t e to K r u s h c h e v among other things both before the breach w i t h the Y u g o s l a v s in 1948 a n d later, to this day, proves clearly a n d completely w i t h m a n y incontestable facts, that the p r i n c i p l e d content of a l l the resolutions of the C o m i n f o r m in regard to the Y u g o s l a v question has been c o m pletely c o r r e c t . . . In our o p i n i o n such a hasty (and i l l - c o n s i d s red) decision on an issue of great importance a n d of principle, w i t h o u t f i r s t m a k i n g a p r o f o u n d analysis together w i t h a l l the parties interested in this issue, a n d w h a t is more, the p u b l i cation of it in the press a n d p r o c l a m a t i o n of it in the talks in Belgrade; w o u l d not o n l y be premature, but w o u l d also cause serious h a r m i n the general o r i e n t a t i o n . . . W e are convinced that this general l i n e of our P a r t y in its relations w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a is c o r r e c t . . . ( F r o m the letter of the CC of the P L A to the CC of the C P S U , M a y 25, 1955. C A P . )
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t h e P a r t y C o n f e r e n c e o f T i r a n a i n A p r i l 1956 m u s t b e mentioned. In the context of the first phase of the open emergence of K h r u s h c e v i t e revisionism it u n d o u b t e d l y constitutes t h e m a i n a t t e m p t o f T i t o a n d K h r u s h c h e v t o overturn the situation in A l b a n i a . H e l d v e r y shortly after t h e i l l - f a m e d 20th C o n g r e s s o f t h e C P S U , t h e T i r a n a C o n f e r e n c e o f A p r i l 1956, f r o m t h e i d e o l o g i c a l s t a n d - p o i n t , w a s a r e f l e c t i o n of t h a t congress a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t platform w h i c h it codified, while f r o m the organizational stand-point it was simply a plot hatched up by the Titoite leadership through the Y u g o s l a v embassy and, as it turned out l a t e r , i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e S o v i e t e m b a s s y , too. It is a r e c o g n i z e d fact t h a t e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r t h e 20th C o n g r e s s o f F e b r u a r y 1956, K h r u s h c h e v , i n c o l l u s i o n w i t h Tito, did everything in his power to overturn the situat i o n i n a l l t h e c o u n t r i e s o f people's d e m o c r a c y . A s I w r o t e above, one o f t h e f i r s t m e a s u r e s w h i c h K h r u s h c h e v took w a s t h e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f those c o n d e m n e d i n t h e time of the C o m i n f o r m , b r i n g i n g t h e m into the leaders h i p o f t h e p a r t i e s a n d c o u n t r i e s o f people's d e m o c r a c y . Rajk in Hungary, Gomulka in Poland and Kostov in B u l g a r i a w e r e a l l r e h a b i l i t a t e d one a f t e r t h e other, t h e s o - c a l l e d m o v e m e n t f o r d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n , f o r the r e e x a m i n a t i o n o f decisions t a k e n u n d e r t h e i n f l u e n c e o f S t a l i n a n d t h e C o m i n f o r m , etc., w a s l a u n c h e d . I n m a n y countries the new line of reconciliation w i t h the f o r m e r enemies, p e a c e f u l coexistence w i t h i m p e r i a l i s m , etc., w e r e m a d e l a w . N o n e o f t h e o t h e r e r s t w h i l e people's d e m ocracies o f E u r o p e , n o r M a o Z e d o n g ' s C h i n a , l a g g e d b e h i n d in this headlong gallop. T i t o w a t c h e d t h i s process w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n a n d d i d e v e r y t h i n g possible t o g i v e i t n e w i m p u l s e s a n d d e v e l o p i t i n h i s o w n interest. H o p i n g t h a t t h e t i m e h a d c o m e for h i m to take up the banner, he declared more t h a n once t h a t t h e b l a m e f o r a l l t h a t h a d o c c u r r e d l a y i n
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t h e socialist o r d e r i t s e l f a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e d o g m a t i c , Stalinist socialism must be overturned and the Y u g o slav order of vital, h u m a n self-administration must be established. M a n y w e r e deceived by or enthusiastically welcomed all this betrayal w h i c h was n o w codified and became an official ideology. O n l y our P a r t y and country remained u n s h a k e n on the f o r m e r line. This could not f a i l to i n f u riate the preachers of m o d e r n revisionism, T i t o and Khrushchev. W h e n they saw that what was happening in t h e o t h e r c o u n t r i e s w a s n o t h a p p e n i n g here, t h e y d e c i d e d to pursue their old course that of plots. In this direction T i t o was a master. T h e T i r a n a Conference was precisely a part of the T i t o - K h r u s h c h e v plot to o v e r t u r n the situation in our c o u n t r y . I s a y a p a r t , because t h e i r p l a n , or t h e i r p l o t , was m u c h more wide-ranging and of m u c h greater proport i o n s . A t t h e T i r a n a C o n f e r e n c e o n l y t h e f i r s t step w a s t o b e t a k e n , t h e f e e l i n g o f t h e pulse, t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e terrain, and later it w o u l d be carried further, especially at the 3rd Congress of the P L A w h i c h was to be held and d i d t a k e place a little after the T i r a n a Conference. (17) I n fact, w h a t o c c u r r e d a t t h e T i r a n a C o n f e r e n c e ? Initially, in T i r a n a and throughout the w h o l e country the m e e t i n g s o f t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a d b e e n h e l d . These meetings were characterized by the political, ideological and organizational maturity of the whole Party, by the love w h i c h the communists n u r t u r e d for the P a r t y , f o r its l e a d e r s h i p a n d its l i n e , b y t h e i r d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o c a r r y f o r w a r d a n d d e f e n d t h i s l i n e r e s o l u t e l y , etc. A t these m e e t i n g s t h e delegates t o t h e P a r t y C o n f e r e n c e o f T i r a n a w e r e elected, too. Up to t h i s p o i n t , t h e n , as I s a i d e v e r y t h i n g proceeded quite n o r m a l l y . The organization of the P a r _________________________________ 17 T h e 3rd Congress of the P L A was h e l d in T i r a n a f r o m M a y 25 to J u n e 3, 1956.
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ty in Tirana, as the organizations of the P a r t y throughout t h e c o u n t r y , once a g a i n c o n f i r m e d its m a t u r i t y a n d t h e correctness o f t h e g e n e r a l l i n e o f t h e P a r t y . P r e c i s e l y w h e n t h e delegates h a d been elected a n d w e r e p r e p a r i n g t h e m selves f o r t h e C o n f e r e n c e , t h e Y u g o s l a v e m b a s s y i n T i r a n a w a s o r d e r e d t o l a u n c h i n t o u r g e n t a c t i o n t h e secret agents p r e p a r e d l o n g b e f o r e , d i s c o n t e n t e d elements, etc. T h e r e a s o n f o r t h i s haste o f B e l g r a d e i s e a s i l y u n d e r s t o o d : t h e r e v i s i o n i s t theses a n d decisions of t h e 20th C o n g r e s s of the C P S U h a d just been published a n d the Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p j u d g e d t h a t t i m e m u s t n o t b e lost. I n t h e i r v i e w , a r a p i d , secret a n d i n t e n s i v e a c t i o n i n A l b a n i a might disturb and completely confuse the situation, otherw i s e the S t a l i n i s t l e a d e r s h i p o f E n v e r H o x h a c o u l d not be shaken. T h e y started to spin the threads of the plot. U n d e r the pretext of acquainting people w i t h and p o p u l a r i z i n g t h e d e c i s i o n s a n d theses o f t h e 20th C o n gress o f the C P S U , w h i c h t h e w h o l e w o r l d w a s p r o p a g a t i n g n o i s i l y , t h e agents o f t h e Y u g o s l a v s a n d o t h e r e l e ments condemned by the Party, instructed by the Y u g o s l a v embassy, b e g a n s e c r e t l y t o i n d o c t r i n a t e t h e delegates elected to t h e C o n f e r e n c e . I n d e e d , a legal c o u r s e w a s followed: taking advantage of the love w h i c h our P a r t y h a d c u l t i v a t e d f o r t h e C P S U , m a n y delegates w e r e i n structed to d e m a n d f r o m the organizations w h i c h h a d elected t h e m t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d be a f u r t h e r discussion, f o l l o w i n g t h e e x a m p l e o f t h e S o v i e t sister p a r t y , t o ensure that complaints a n d criticism, w h i c h w o u l d be i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the n e w s p i r i t , w e r e m a d e a g a i n s t the leadership of our P a r t y ; that the communists w e r e called on to tell everything about the present a n d the p a s t ; t h a t e f f o r t s w e r e m a d e a l l e g e d l y t o correct t h e mistakes and distortions under the disguise of d e m o c r a c y , l i s t e n i n g t o t h e v o i c e o f t h e masses, b r i n g -
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i n g t h e v o i c e of t h e base to t h e C o n f e r e n c e , etc., etc. F r o m the first day of the Conference, and especially i n t h e f i r s t sessions o f t h e s e c o n d d a y , t h i s s p i r i t o f criticism w a s v e r y obvious, indeed the accusations v e r y q u i c k l y advanced so f a r that the situation was becoming g r a v e a n d d i s t u r b i n g e v e n t o t h e secret o r g a n i z e r s o f t h e plot. Precisely in the m i d d l e of the second day of the Conference, quite unexpectedly N e x h m i j e [Hoxha] arrived in V l o r a . I h a d been about a week in V l o r a on holiday, although in fact I was w o r k i n g , p r e p a r i n g the report for the 3rd Congress of the P a r t y w h i c h was to be held in M a y that year. N e x h m i j e told me that that day (I rem e m b e r c l e a r l y i t w a s S u n d a y , A p r i l 15) M e h m e t S h e h u and B e q i r B a l l u k u h a d s u m m o n e d her, a n d M e h m e t Shehu h a d told her that the situation in the Conference i s serious, t h e y a r e d e m a n d i n g t h e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f K o i X o x e , T u k J a k o v a and B e d r i Spahiu, calling for l i n k s w i t h T i t o a n d t h e Y u g o s l a v p a r t y , etc. I a m t e l l i n g y o u these things, M e h m e t S h e h u h a d c o n c l u d e d , so t h a t y o u g o t o V l o r a t o i n f o r m C o m r a d e E n v e r a n d we t h i n k that it is necessary that he personally should come to the Conference. I w a n t to point out that even w i t h o u t M e h m e t S h e h u ' s request, a f t e r w h a t N e x h m i j e t o l d me, I c o u l d not have stayed a m o m e n t longer in V l o r a . I ordered my car and t w o hours later was back in T i r a n a . . . S o , i n t h e a f t e r n o o n o f A p r i l 15, I w e n t t o t h e T i r a na C o n f e r e n c e . I m u s t s a y t h a t as soon as I e n t e r e d t h e Conference h a l l I was surrounded by an atmosphere w h i c h gave me even greater confindence and strength: a s soon a s t h e y s a w m e t h e delegates rose t o t h e i r feet a n d b u r s t i n t o a p p l a u s e a n d cheers f o r t h e P a r t y a n d its Central Committee. Excitement and joy began to appear i n t h e i r faces. I t w a s clear, t h e c o m r a d e s w e r e b e i n g
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freed f r o m an anxiety w h i c h had disturbed and worried t h e m for nearly t w o days on end. I was even more c o n v i n c e d of t h e t r u t h of t h i s as soon as I b e g a n to speak. T h e e x p l a n a t i o n i n a c o m r a d e l y s p i r i t w h i c h I began to m a k e of the problems, the arguments w h i c h I r a i s e d to p r o v e t h e correctness of t h e g e n e r a l l i n e p u r s u e d by the Party, v e r y q u i c k l y electrified the hall. T i m e a f t e r t i m e t h e delegates s h o u t e d f r o m t h e b o d y o f t h e hall: That is the t r u t h ! L o n g live the P a r t y ! O n l y a few i n d i v i d u a l s w e r e out of tune w i t h this g e n e r a l s p i r i t : w h e n a l l t h e delegates rose t o t h e i r feet they were obliged to stand up w i t h the majority, but they d i d n o t a p p l a u d o r cheer. O f course, w e d i d n o t w a n t t h e i r a p p l a u s e , e v e n i f i t cost u s n o t h i n g . T h e y h a d t o be gripped f i r m l y in the vice, to admit t h r o u g h their o w n mouths that in all the things they had raised they proceeded f r o m hostile a n t i - A l b a n i a n and anti-party positions, t h a t t h e y h a d c a r r i e d out t h e o r d e r s a n d d i r e c tives of the Trotskyite Y u g o s l a v leadership, and for a l l t h i s e v i l w o r k t h e y w o u l d h a v e t o r e n d e r account. O n t h e f o l l o w i n g day, A p r i l 16, i n p a r t i c u l a r , I h a d t o d e a l e s p e c i a l l y w i t h these elements. A s I s a i d , t h e phase of quietly clearing up the problems in principle h a d e n d e d w i t h success. N o w i t w a s t h e t i m e f o r t h e d e v a s t a t i n g a t t a c k o n t h e p l o t t e r s a n d t h e i r tools a t t h e C o n f e r e n c e . I c a l l e d o n one o f t h e m b y n a m e a n d d e m a n ded t h a t h e e x p l a i n t o u s t h e r e a n d t h e n w h a t h a d i m p e l l e d h i m i n t h e accusations w h i c h h e m a d e ! A t f i r s t h e b e g a n w i t h a s h o w o f boldness, b u t then began to m u m b l e that he h a d brought f o r w a r d the opinion of his basic organization. Leave y o u r basic organization out of t h i s ! I told h i m . First of all, explain to us w h a t y o u were doing i n the c a r o f t h e Y u g o s l a v e m b a s s y o n s u c h a n d s u c h
693
a date, w h e r e y o u w e n t and what instructions you received?! A n e x c i t e d r i p p l e r a n t h r o u g h the h a l l . It w a s a m i s t a k e , t h e t o o l of t h e Y u g o s l a v s d a r e d t o d e f e n d h i m s e l f . I t h o u g h t i t w a s a n A l b a n i a n car. Let us assume that at first y o u made a mistake, I c o n t i n u e d w i t h h i s logic, but w h e n y o u got i n a n d heard them speaking Serbian, did Serbian sound to you like Albanian?! T h e w h o l e o f t h e h a l l b u r s t i n t o l a u g h t e r . T h e agent of the Y u g o s l a v s was deathly pale. He d i d not k n o w w h a t s t r a w t o c l i n g t o a n d w h a t t o say. W e c o n t i n u e d i n this w a y w i t h t w o or three others w h o , up t i l l yesterday, h a d s h o w n t h e m s e l v e s u n r e s t r a i n e d a n d v e r y bold but w e r e n o w left completely isolated and discredited. A f t e r this there was v i r t u a l l y no further need for m e t o i n t e r v e n e . T h e delegates b e g a n t o speak a n d , w i t h t h e m a t u r i t y , c o u r a g e a n d the s p i r i t o f c r i t i c i s m a n d self-criticism w h i c h have always characterized our communists, ensured that the proceedings of the P a r t y Conference of T i r a n a were carried through to the end w i t h c o m p l e t e success. T h e attempt to t u r n it into the first action to overthrow the sound leadership of the P L A a n d change the situation i n A l b a n i a was n i p p e d i n the bud. D u r i n g t h e C o n f e r e n c e , a n d e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r it, w e m a d e a d i s p a s s i o n a t e a n a l y s i s of w h a t h a d o c c u r r e d a n d , as I s a i d , on t h e basis of an endless series of facts we a r r i v e d at the conclusion that e v e r y t h i n g h a d been organized by the Titoite leadership through the Yugoslav embassy in T i r a n a . L i k e w i s e , a s e a r l y a s those d a y s w e a r r i v e d a t the correct conclusion that it was the revisionist p l a t f o r m o f t h e 20th C o n g r e s s o f t h e C P S U w h i c h h a d i n s p i r e d a n d e n c o u r a g e d b o t h t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p a n d its agents w i t h i n our ranks to undertake this hostile attempt.
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A f t e r the group of conspirators at the T i r a n a C o n f e r e n c e w a s r o u t e d , s o m e o f its p a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e e x p e l l e d f r o m t h e P a r t y a n d some others, those w h o t u r n e d o u t t o b e i n contact w i t h the Y u g o s l a v e m b a s s y (because a t t h a t t i m e w e h a d n o facts a b o u t t h e S o v i e t e m b a s s y ) w e r e handed over to the court. A t t h a t t i m e , h o w e v e r , because o f t h e l e v e l o f o u r knowledge, we d i d not manage to discover and attack t h e most p o w e r f u l i m p l e m e n t o f f o r e i g n agencies w h o , o n t h i s occasion, set i n a c t i o n b y t h e Y u g o s l a v U D B , secretly played the m a i n role in the plot hatched up. T h i s was M e h m e t S h e h u . T h e facts w h i c h h a d t o d o w i t h his stand at the Conference d i d not p e r m i t us to a r r i v e a t a n y c o n c l u s i o n o t h e r t h a n t h e ones w e d i d . N o w , f r o m a n a l y s i s o f e a r l i e r a n d l a t e r events, e s p e c i a l l y o f t h e facts w h i c h w e d i s c o v e r e d a f t e r h i s s u i c i d e o n D e c e m b e r 18, 1981, t h e P a r t y has a r r i v e d at precise a n d c o m p l e t e l y proven conclusions. Hence in general outline, the history of our relations w i t h t h e C P Y a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t Y u g o s l a v state i s l i k e this: on their part, it is a history of intereference and t r a p s , o f ceaseless plots t o d a m a g e o u r P a r t y a n d s o c i a l i s t state, w h i l e , o n o u r p a r t , i t i s a h i s t o r y o f j u s t a n d c o n s i s tent s t r u g g l e b y o u r P a r t y a n d people, d e t e r m i n e d n e v e r t o f a l l f o r a n y o f t h e i r t r a p s a n d plots, t o u n c o v e r a n d f o i l t h e m b e f o r e t h e y cause u s serious d a m a g e . F o r socialist A l b a n i a t o d e v e l o p a n d m a r c h f o r w a r d we defined and consistently followed the road w h i c h seemed to us to be t h e m o s t c o r r e c t one t h e r o a d w h i c h is based on the teachings of M a r x , Engels, L e n i n and S t a l i n , a n d w h i c h has a l w a y s f u l f i l l e d t h e l o f t i e s t a s p i r ations a n d desires o f o u r v a l i a n t , h a r d - w o r k i n g a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y people. T h i s has b e e n a n d i s t h e r o a d o f t h e constant c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e P a r t y a n d
695
o f t h e a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e masses i n t h e w h o l e l i f e of t h e c o u n t r y , of t h e defence of t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e of the H o m e l a n d , o f the d e e p e n i n g o f t h e a l l - r o u n d r e v o l u t i o n i n a l l f i e l d s , o f t h e g r a d u a l a n d constant i m p r o v e m e n t o f t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e masses, etc. A l l a l o n g t h i s t i m e , o u r n u m e r o u s enemies, a n d t h e Y u g o s l a v T i t o i t e s i n p a r t i c u l a r , resorted to all means of pressure to m a k e us swerve f r o m t h i s course, s o m e t i m e s t h r o u g h threats, s o m e t i m e s p i t y i n g us or a c c u s i n g us of b e i n g on a w r o n g , d o g m a t i c , S t a l i n i s t road, etc., etc. W e n e v e r heeded t h i s advice o r a d m o n i s h m e n t s o f t h e enemies, b u t f o l l o w e d c o n s i s t e n t l y the r o a d w e h a d m a p p e d out, conscious of its correctness. T i m e alone w a s to p r o v e a n d o u r p e o p l e w e r e t o j u d g e w h e t h e r w e h a d gone i n t h e r i g h t o r w r o n g d i r e c t i o n . A n d t i m e , t h e r e a l i t y , has l o n g p r o v e d a n d c o n t i n u e s t o p r o v e w i t h the u t m o s t c l a r i t y w h o was right and w h o was w r o n g . T h e so m u c h a d v e r t i s e d c r e a t i o n of T i t o t h e selfa d m i n i s t r a t i v e Y u g o s l a v i a o f s p e c i f i c s o c i a l i s m , has been t o t a l l y e n g u l f e d b y t h e g r a v e s t c r i s i s i n its h i s t o r y a n d i s n o w i n a v e r y g r a v e s i t u a t i o n w i t h n o w a y out. T h e Y u g o s l a v s y s t e m has been r e d u c e d t o b a d shape, t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f events has t o r n d o w n a l l m a s k s a n d d i s p e l l e d a l l i l l u s i o n s . T h e e x t e r n a l p o m p o u s appearances, the m i s l e a d i n g a d v e r t i s e m e n t s of a w e l l - b e i n g s u c h as c a n be f o u n d in no o t h e r place(!), of a Y u g o s l a v i a of f r e e d o m a n d abundance(!) h a v e been r e p l a c e d b y a l l r o u n d crisis, p o v e r t y a n d g r o w i n g u n e m p l o y m e n t , g a l l o p i n g i n f l a t i o n , i n c r e a s i n g shortages o f e v e n most essential goods a n d a r t i c l e s of b r o a d c o n s u m p t i o n , etc. J u s t a s t h e y d i d w i t h T i t o a t h i s last b r e a t h , t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s are d o i n g t h e i r u t m o s t to g i v e t h e Y u g o s l a v s y s t e m a n e w lease of l i f e , to k e e p it alive, although this system is w h o l l y gangrened. No blood transfusion, either f r o m Washington, Moscow or
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w h a t e v e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l b a n k o r f u n d , c a n save it. T h i s is. the logical end of all revisionist theory and practice. The imperialist and social-imperialist creditors take the money f r o m t h e i r safes, not because t h e y ache t o h e l p t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a out o f t h e i r m i s e r y , b u t because t h e y w a n t t o protect t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c i n t e r e s t i n Y u g o s l a v i a , t o e x p a n d o r c o n s o l i d a t e the d o m a i n s T i t o has l o n g ago sold t h e m i n r e t u r n f o r t h e c r e d i t s h e has r e c e i v e d f r o m t h e m . B u t if f o r a p e r i o d of t i m e it seemed as if Y u g o s l a v i a w a s t o g a i n i n t h i s d a n g e r o u s game, n o w t h e t i m e has c o m e f o r Y u g o s l a v i a t o p u t itself u p f o r a u c t i o n to the i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s . A d e b t o r o f t h e f i r s t o r d e r s h a k e n t o its v e r y f o u n d a t i o n s i n a l l respects, w i t h n o c l e a r p e r s p e c t i v e , w i t h o u t t h e necessary m e a n s a n d forces to f i n d the r o a d of s a l v a t i o n s u c h i s the p r e s e n t - d a y T i t o i t e s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i v e Y u g o s l a v i a . We cannot but be concerned about this extremely grave situation, w h i c h is dangerous not only for the f r a t e r n a l peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a , b u t also f o r peace a n d s e c u r i t y i n the B a l k a n s a n d b e y o n d t h e B a l k a n s . W e h a v e n e v e r w i s h e d those peoples i l l , o n t h e c o n t r a r y w e h a v e a l w a y s been f o r good n e i g h b o u r l y r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e m . I t i s i n v a i n f o r T i t o a n d c o m p a n y t o accuse u s a n d his p r e s e n t - d a y successors f o l l o w h i m in t h i s of c r e a t i n g turbulent situations and interfering in their internal a f f a i r s . N o , t h e e v i l seed i s i n t h e i r m i d s t , t h e y h a v e p l a n t e d a n d fostered i t t o g r o w w i t h t h e i r o w n h a n d s , s o let t h e m f i n d i t a n d f i g h t i t t h e r e w h e r e t h e y h a v e it. Q u i t e the opposite i s the case w i t h o u r c o u n t r y , w i t h o u r course o f the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m . B y c o n s i s t e n t l y a p p l y i n g the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d l e a d e r s h i p o f the e n t i r e l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y , s o c i a l ist A l b a n i a has a d v a n c e d w i t h s u r e steps, w i t h o u t h o l d i n g out a b e g g i n g h a n d to a n y o n e . We h a v e e n c o u n t e r e d m a n y d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d obstacles, h a v e g r a p p l e d w i t h t h e m
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f e a r l e s s l y , w i t h f u l l consciousness o f p r i v a t i o n s a n d s a c r i fices, w h i l e a l w a y s , l i k e a t h r i f t y f a m i l y , g o i n g b y t h e principle of b u i l d i n g and e n j o y i n g w h a t we b u i l d , not only for ourselves and just for today, but going about it in such a w a y that our life and that of the n e w generations b e c o m e e v e r b e t t e r a n d a t t h e same t i m e , the f u t u r e , the life of the coming generations, be ever happier, more p r o s p e r o u s a n d m o r e secure. O u r w o n d e r f u l people h a v e u n d e r s t o o d the r o a d the P a r t y has s h o w n t h e m , a n d a w a r e o f it, h a v e m o b i l i z e d a l l t h e i r m e n t a l a n d p h y s i c a l e n e r gies t o t u r n t h e t e a c h i n g s a n d d i r e c t i v e s o f the P a r t y into reality. Each generation in our country is fighting and w o r k i n g so as to bequeathe to the f u t u r e generations an ever stronger A l b a n i a , an A l b a n i a free and independ e n t f o r ever, w i t h a b e a u t i f u l present a n d w i t h c l e a r a n d b r i l l i a n t perspectives. So, w i t h t h e P a r t y a t t h e head, h a v i n g its M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t l i n e a s o u r g u i d i n g compass, w e w i l l a l w a y s g o on w o r k i n g vigilantly, further tempering unity, marching a h e a d , w i t h t h e P a r t y a n d p e o p l e u n i t e d a s one, s o a s t o keep the name of our heroic P a r t y always honoured, t o raise t h e p r e s t i g e o f socialist A l b a n i a e v e r h i g h e r , t o k e e p t h e sacred i n d e p e n d e n c e o f o u r H o m e l a n d i n v i o l a b l e . T h i s has been a n d r e m a i n s t h e l o f t y m i s s i o n o f o u r P a r t y o f L a b o u r . T o t h i s m i s s i o n I h a v e d e v o t e d a n d w i l l devote a l l m y l i f e , a l l m y forces a n d energies a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e to do so f o r t h e good of t h e people a n d s o c i a l i s m .
Taken f r o m The Titoites A l b . ed., Tirana 1982
WE MUST INVOLVE THE WOMAN MORE ACTIVELY IN THE PROBLEMS OF SOCIETY
From a conversation at the daily meeting with the secretaries of the CC of the PLA
J a n u a r y 21, 1983
T h e P a r t y m u s t a l w a y s c a r r y out a n i n t e n s i v e i d e o p o l i t i c a l a n d social a c t i v i t y e v e r y w h e r e , e s p e c i a l l y i n the r e m o t e zones o f t h e H i g h l a n d s , i n w h i c h p a t r i a r c h a l l e f t overs, w h i c h e x p r e s s t h e m s e l v e s i n d i v e r s e f o r m s s u c h a s clannishness, a t t a c h m e n t t o p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y , f e e l i n g o f k i n s h i p a n d p r e s e r v a t i o n o f t h e p a t r i a r c h a l f a m i l y , etc., s t i l l exist. T h e r e f o r e , t h e P a r t y c o m r a d e s o f these d i s t r i c t s s h o u l d l o o k a t these p r o b l e m s v e r y c a r e f u l l y , because t h e y are a m o n g t h e m a i n causes o f b a c k w a r d n e s s o f t h e c o u n t r y side in t h e e c o n o m i c f i e l d , too. I say t h i s because m o s t of the m e n o f these zones w o r k i n the e c o n o m i c e n t e r p r i s e s o r the m i n e s o f t h e i r districts, w h i l e t h e m a i n w o r k f o r c e i n t h e cooperatives i s m a d e u p o f w o m e n . A n d f o r t h e c o o p e r atives t o a d v a n c e , w o m e n m u s t a f f i r m t h e i r p e r s o n a l i t y e v e r y w h e r e , a t w o r k , i n society a n d i n t h e f a m i l y . I n t h e f i r s t place, w o m e n s h o u l d b e c o m e conscious o f t h e i r social v a l u e a n d t h e i r l e a d i n g a n d p r o d u c t i v e c a p a c i t y i n t h e economy, because t h i s i s h o w t h e i r a u t h o r i t y i s enhanced and strengthened. In this manner they w i l l be able t o j o i n t h e i r e c o n o m i c s t r e n g t h w i t h t h e i r h u s b a n d s '
WE MUST INVOLVE THE WOMAN MORE ACTIVELY
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a n d n o l o n g e r r e m a i n u n d e r t h e i r chains. I t i s t r u e that i f t h e h u s b a n d w o r k s i n the m i n e h e i s a l i t t l e b i t m o r e a d v a n c e d , b u t s t i l l h e r e t a i n s p a t r i a r c h a l concepts a n d l e f t o v e r s w h i c h h e m a n i f e s t s , i n one w a y o r another, i n f a m i l y r e l a t i o n s . T h e s e l e f t o v e r s a r e r e t a i n e d to a g r e a t e r e x t e n t b y those w h o w o r k i n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e . In some a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s , in g e n e r a l , t h e r e is a s p i r i t of c o n s e r v a t i s m a b o u t t h e r e p l a c e m e n t of the w o r k force w i t h f a r m i n g machines. This conservatism w i l l be r o o t e d out i f w o m e n , w h o are t h e m a i n w o r k force, r a i s e t h e i r v o i c e m o r e r e s o l u t e l y a n d insist o n u s i n g c u l t i v a t o r s , w h i c h w o u l d f a c i l i t a t e t h e i r w o r k e n o r m o u s l y . So, i n the r e m o t e m o u n t a i n o u s zones, too, s t i l l m o r e w o r k m u s t b e done to r a i s e w o m a n to a l e v e l at w h i c h she c a n speak out courageously, boldly demand the introduction of the prog r e s s i v e n e w i n t o l i f e a n d p r o d u c t i o n a n d c a n decide a b o u t t h e l a t t e r . H o w e v e r , i f w o m e n h a v e not yet u n d e r s t o o d t h a t the u t i l i z a t i o n of these m e a n s is to t h e i r a d v a n t a g e , t h i s speaks also o f w e a k n e s s e s i n the p o l i t i c a l w o r k o f t h e P a r t y i n t h a t d i s t r i c t . P r o d u c t i o n , too. has its specific p o l i c y . A n d f o r the p r o g r e s s i v e t o b e i n t r o d u c e d i n t o p r o d u c t i o n a good e x p l a n a t o r y w o r k m u s t b e c a r r i e d out. T h i s is one aspect of the m a t t e r . T h e other aspect i s t h a t t h e s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n o f o u r people a n d the degree of t h e i r t e c h n i c a l k n o w l e d g e must be t a k e n i n t o account, because t h i s i s the o n l y possible w a y t o do f r u i t f u l w o r k and achieve an all-round political, moral, c u l t u r a l a n d t e c h n i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f the w o r k i n g people, I n o t h e r w o r d s , i n a l l its c o m p l e x w o r k t h e P a r t y m u s t carefully look at problems in their interconnection. A n y state p r o b l e m s s h o u l d b e t a c k l e d b y a n i n t e l l i g e n t p o l i c y o f t h e P a r t y , a n d not i n a c u t - a n d - d r y m a n n e r , b u t i n conformity w i t h the situation, w i t h the terrain in w h i c h it c a r r i e s out its p o l i t i c a l w o r k . T r e a t m e n t o f w o m e n a n d c h i l d r e n i n t h e H i g h l a n d s a n d i n the l o w l a n d zones poses
700
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g r e a t l y d i f f e r i n g p r o b l e m s . P e o p l e i n the l o w l a n d s a r e m o r e a d v a n c e d i n this d i r e c t i o n . W h y has i t c o m e a b o u t t h a t t h e y are m o r e a d v a n c e d i n the l o w l a n d z o n e ? B e c a u s e people t h e r e h a v e a p p l i e d the P a r t y l i n e f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of the c o o p e r a t i v i s t e c o n o m y better, a n d , as a result, have created greater income, w h i c h they have k n o w n h o w to utilize properly to improve their well-being. T h a t i s w h y i n t h e n o r t h e r n d i s t r i c t s , i n w h i c h these weaknesses are m a n i f e s t e d , p o l i t i c a l w o r k s h o u l d b e d i f f e r e n t i a t e d . F o r t h i s purpose, the P a r t y i n these d i s t r i c t s m u s t h a n d l e the p o l i c y o f cadres w i t h t h e greatest s e r i o u s ness. L e t u s t a k e t h e p r o b l e m o f a d m i s s i o n s t o the P a r t y . T h e c r i t e r i o n f o r a d m i s s i o n s , o f course, m u s t b e a p p l i e d on the basis of a t h o r o u g h k n o w l e d g e of t h e s o c i o - e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n of the district, the v i e w s w h i c h e x i s t there, etc. P e r h a p s , these m a y b e d i f f e r e n t f o r d i f f e r e n t districts, f o r d i f f e r e n t zones, b u t t h e m a i n t h i n g o n w h i c h t h e P a r t y m u s t insist i s t h a t o n l y t h e m o s t a d v a n c e d s h o u l d b e a d m i t t e d t o the P a r t y a n d t h i s q u e s t i o n s h o u l d not b e left to spontaneity, but should always be solved properly. If i n a d i s t r i c t this p r o b l e m has not been h a n d l e d i n t h i s m a n n e r h i t h e r t o , t h i s m e a n s t h a t t h e P a r t y t h e r e has not been i n c o m m a n d i n t h i s w o r k . T h e p a r t i c u l a r m a k e s u p the g e n e r a l , a n d this enables y o u t o c o m p a r e one d i s t r i c t w i t h a n o t h e r s o a s t o m a k e t h e m a l l a d v a n c e i n the s a m e direction. I n g e n e r a l , the d i s t r i c t s h a v e m a d e progress i n t h e i r e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e r e is a g e n e r a l progress, b u t t h e r e i s also p a r t i a l p r o g r e s s ; some d i s t r i c t s a r e m o r e a d v a n c e d . A n d t h e n , t h e r e are also zones w h i c h s t i l l d o not k e e p u p w i t h the d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e w h o l e d i s t r i c t . H e n c e , t h e r e a r e nuances, w h i c h the P a r t y m u s t p i c k u p a n d study, because o n l y i n t h i s w a y c a n i t l e a d , a d v i s e , a p p r o v e o r d i s a p p r o v e t h e decisions t a k e n b y the b a s i c o r -
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g a n i z a t i o n s . T h i s enables t h e a p p a r a t u s o f the p a r t y c o m m i t t e e t o e x e r c i s e r e a l i s t i c c o n t r o l o n the a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f the p l a n n e d t a s k s i n v a r i o u s r e g i o n s o f the d i s t r i c t . It w a s s a i d h e r e t h a t a b r i g a d e of t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e o f M a q e l l a r a took i n h i g h y i e l d s i n m a i z e , b e cause t h e b r i g a d e leader, besides h i s l e a d i n g a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l capacities, c o n s t a n t l y l e a r n e d f r o m a d v a n c e d e x p e r i e n c e . I n t h i s case w e s h o u l d not o n l y b e g l a d t h a t t h i s b r i g a d e l e a d e r took i n h i g h y i e l d s i n m a i z e , b u t also r e a c h t h e p r o p e r c o n c l u s i o n s a b o u t h o w h e took i n t h a t m u c h , w h i l e t h e o t h e r s t o o k i n less. T h i s fact constitutes a n o b j e c t i v e f o r t h e w o r k o f t h e P a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n there. I t seems t o m e t h a t t h e P a r t y cadres a n d w o r k e r s m u s t b e t a u g h t t o f o l l o w u p t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f the c o u n t r y s i m u l t a n e o u s l y i n its p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l , m o r a l a n d social aspects, i n o r d e r t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e f e e l i n g o f collectiveness and socialism, and the new moral-political norms of our society. T h i s w i l l create p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r studies t o b e c a r r i e d out not o n l y b y teams, b u t also b y i n s t r u c t i n g a l l t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y t o observe a n d detect those moral, political, or patriarchal elements w h i c h inhibit economic development. If we k n o w the s i t u a t i o n in a district, r e g i o n , or cooperative, etc., t h o r o u g h l y a n d w o r k s e r i o u s l y t o i m p r o v e it, w o r k i n g not o n l y i n a n i n d i v i d u a l m a n n e r b u t also i n a n o r g a n i z e d m a n n e r , b y m e a n s o f reports, b y m e a n s o f serious m e e t i n g s a n d not p h r a s e - m o n g e r i n g , b y p u t t i n g t h e f i n g e r to t h e w o u n d or m a k i n g a c l e a n breast of it, t h e n we s h a l l c e r t a i n l y h a v e results. T h a t w o u l d m e a n l i v e l y P a r t y w o r k for the political, ideological and m o r a l education of our people, a n d o n l y t h e n s h a l l w e see h o w t h e i r consciousness w i l l rise, a n d h o w the v a n g u a r d e x a m p l e o f the c o m m u n i s t s w i l l become f u l l y e v i d e n t . F u l f i l m e n t o f t h e p l a n r e q u i r e s that a l l people, i n d i s c r i m i n a t e l y , p a r t y m e m b e r s o r not, s h o u l d b e r a i s e d t o t h e
702
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p o l i t i c a l l e v e l r e q u i r e d b y the t i m e a n d the p r o b l e m s w h i c h emerge, so t h a t they u n d e r s t a n d the i m p o r t a n c e of t h e new methods of work, advanced technology in production, etc., etc. O n l y i n this w a y s h a l l w e m a k e p e r c e p t i b l e progress in the a c c o m p l i s h m e n t of e c o n o m i c tasks. If the s e c r e t a r y of the p a r t y c o m m i t t e e of a d i s t r i c t keeps to h i s desk t h e w h o l e d a y a n d f r o m t h e r e d e m a n d s i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t the results a c h i e v e d b y one o r a n o t h e r b r i g a d e , a b o u t the f u l f i l m e n t o f t h e p l a n b y this o r that sector, h e w i l l n o t b e i n a p o s i t i o n t o d o t h e w o r k o f the P a r t y . T h i s m u s t b e t a k e n i n t o account. I n m y o p i n i o n , d u p l i c a t i o n o f the duties o f t h e c h a i r m a n o f the e x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e b y t h e p a r t y secretary o f the d i s t r i c t creates t h e i m p r e s s i o n a s i f the l a t t e r i s d o i n g s o m e t h i n g , w h i l e i n fact h e i s e n g a g i n g i n a w o r k w h i c h belongs t o someone else. T h e s e c r e t a r y i s supposed t o engage i n other i m p o r t a n t w o r k a n d a c t i v ities, w i t h o u t p e r f o r m i n g w h i c h the p l a n c a n n o t b e f u l filled. Cultivators cannot be put to w o r k if we fail to c a r r y out constant w o r k t o c o n v i n c e w o m e n p o l i t i c a l l y o f t h e i r usefulness, i f the w o m e n a r e not e n c o u r a g e d a n d p r o m p t e d b y the P a r l y s o a s t o b e a w a r e o f t h e i r capacities i n t h i n k i n g , w o r k i n g a n d m a n a g i n g , b o t h a t h o m e a n d outside home. T h i s is P a r t y w o r k . W h e n I was in P u k a a f e w y e a r s ago, I w a s s u r p r i s e d at the progress w o m e n h a d made. W e e n t e r e d the h a l l i n w h i c h w e w e r e t o d i n e , a n d I w a s e x t r e m e l y i m p r e s s e d b y the l i v e l y m a n n e r w o m e n a n d g i r l s came i n t o meet m e a n d t a l k w i t h me. A n d t h e y really talked better than m e n d i d , they h a d no inhibition at a l l . I n t h e i r w o r k the P a r t y w o r k e r s m u s t r e v i e w a l l those measures a n d a c h i e v e m e n t s w h i c h h a v e g i v e n a n i m p u l s e f o r w a r d t o o u r c o u n t r y , a s is, f o r e x a m p l e , the e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n , i n o r d e r t o see the great changes w h i c h h a v e been m a d e i n the e p o c h o f t h e P a r t y , t h e e v o l u t i o n o f customs, etc., so as to be in a p o s i t i o n to s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r
703
ideo-political, propaganda and organizational w o r k and c a r r y i t out m o r e c o r r e c t l y . T h e P a r t y b e g a n its w o r k f o r t h e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f the w o m e n f r o m the t i m e o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r . R i g h t t h e n i t p u t t h e stress o n the d e c i s i v e r o l e o f w o m e n , b o t h i n the s t r u g g l e f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y a n d , later, f o r the b u i l d i n g o f socialist society. S i n c e t h a t t i m e a great step a h e a d has been t a k e n i n t h e i r e m a n c i p a t i o n , a n d a great e v o l u t i o n or, b e t t e r say, a r e v o l u t i o n in the l i f e a n d t h e a c t i v i t y of w o m e n has t a k e n place i n o u r c o u n t r y . N o w t h e s i t u a t i o n a n d the m e a n i n g o f e m a n c i p a t i o n i s not w h a t i t w a s m a n y y e a r s ago. A l b a n i a n w o m e n , i n g e n e r a l , a r e e m a n c i p a t e d . B r o a d sections o f w o m e n are i n w o r k i n g relations, e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e cities. N o w y o u c a n n o l o n g e r speak t o t h e m i n the same terms as to h i g h l a n d women, although the latter h a v e a d v a n c e d , too. H o w e v e r , t o w n s w o m e n are m o r e a v d a n c e d , because t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n on a l a r g e scale in p r o d u c t i o n , i n v a r i o u s sectors o f t h e c o u n t r y ' s e c o n o m y , has d e v e l o p e d t h e i r p e r s o n a l i t y m o r e . T h e y l i v e t h e i r lives in an independent manner, love their life companions, l i s t e n t o t h e m a n d respect t h e m , b u t w i t h t h e a u t h o r i t y and personality t h e y h a v e c r e a t e d i n society, i n f a m i l y a n d e v e r y w h e r e else, t h e y k n o w h o w t o t e l l t h e i r h u s b a n d s t h a t t h e y m u s t b e respected a n d h e e d e d , too. E m a n c i p a t i o n in cities has r i s e n to a h i g h e r l e v e l , t h e r e f o r e , the w o r k o f t h e P a r t y a m o n g w o m e n h e r e i s a i m e d at f u r t h e r objectives, is i n t e n d e d to h e l p t h e m raise t h e i r p e r s o n a l i t y s t i l l h i g h e r . B y w o r k i n g e v e r better, w o m e n w i l l be able to express their opinions more freely, e i t h e r i n d i v i d u a l l y or, w h e n t h e occasion presents itself, collectively, and to uphold them more forcibly, especially i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e . T h e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n has not b e e n a c h i e v e d i n t h e s a m e degree f o r a l l the v i l l a g e s o r f o r a l l t h e d i s t r i c t s . E a c h d i s t r i c t has p e c u l i a r i t i e s o f its o w n . I n t h e d i s t r i c t o f D i b r a , f o r instance, t h e w o r k o f the
704
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P a r t y f o r the e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n s h o u l d c o n t i n u e t o b e done w i t h g r e a t e r p e r s i s t e n c y t h a n i n some o t h e r districts, because c l a n n i s h n e s s a n d m a n ' s f e e l i n g o f h i s s u p e r i o r i t y exists i n a l a t e n t m a n n e r w i t h i n t h e f a m i l y there. W h a t o n the face o f i t m a y seem a n a c h i e v e m e n t i n the f i e l d of e m a n c i p a t i o n , m a y be o n l y a f o r m of disguise. T h e peasant is s h r e w d , he t r i e s n o t to expose h i m s e l f to attack b y p u b l i c o p i n i o n a n d t o m a i n t a i n h i s a u t h o r i t y o v e r t h e w o m a n . H e says t o h i s w i f e , o f course, n o t i n p u b l i c : O u t of h o m e I w i l l do l i k e the rest, b u t at h o m e I'll m a k e y o u behave. Those w h o still have not properly understood the ideological and political importance of women's strength and role exert a negative influence. Therefore, in this d i r e c t i o n the P a r t y m u s t b r i n g its i n f l u e n c e t o b e a r o n a n d s t r e n g t h e n its p o l i t i c a l w o r k w i t h t h e masses. S o m e progress has a l r e a d y been m a d e i n the correct u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f this p r o b l e m , b u t m u c h w o r k r e m a i n s t o b e done. I t i s t r u e t h a t w o m e n n o w are e n g a g e d i n p r o d u c t i o n , b u t t h e y w o r k e d before, too. W e m u s t not f o r g e t that, i n general, peasant w o m e n h a v e w o r k e d i n a l l times, b u t t h e y w o r k e d l i k e slaves. N o w , a f t e r a l l t h i s r e v o l u t i o n , i n t h e emancipation of w o m e n we have reached such a situation t h a t w o m e n feel m e n ' s e q u a l s a t w o r k a n d i n society. However, at home submission to man's authority still exists i n the f o r m o f respect s h o w n t o h i m . A n y w a y , i t m u s t b e u n d e r s t o o d c o r r e c t l y t h a t respect does n o t m e a n t h a t the w o m a n s h o u l d n o t t e l l h e r h u s b a n d w h a t she t h i n k s a n d b e s u b s e r v i e n t t o h i m . S h e m u s t respect h e r h u s b a n d f o r h i s correct o p i n i o n s , b u t s h o u l d also h a v e the courage t o t e l l h i m w h e r e his o p i n i o n s are not right. T h e r e f o r e , w e m u s t not get stuck u p w i t h o l d f o r m u l a e a n d w i t h concepts o f w o r k i n t h e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f the w o m e n . T o each p r o b l e m w e m u s t f i n d n e w s o l u t i o n s
WE MUST INVOLVE THE WOMAN M O R E A C T I V E L Y
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and more advanced forms of ideological and political work, i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the m o r e a d v a n c e d c i r c u m s t a n c e s w h i c h w e h a v e r e a c h e d i n t h e s o l u t i o n o f t h i s q u e s t i o n . I n the H i g h l a n d s , too, w e h a v e t o d o n o w w i t h a n e l e m e n t o f social relations w h i c h is a far cry not only f r o m the time o f t h e C a n o n o f L e k D u k a g j i n i , b u t also f r o m 1939, a n d e v e n m o r e recent t i m e s . T h i s i s true, l i f e has a d v a n c e d there, too. B u t the q u e s t i o n i s h o w e m a n c i p a t i o n s h o u l d b e u n d e r s t o o d . T h e r e f o r e , h e r e w e m u s t s t r e n g t h e n the w o r k o f the P a r t y . Emancipation means a high political, ideological, moral and social level, the achievement of w h i c h requires i n t e l l i g e n t P a r t y w o r k i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e degree o f consciousness w o m e n h a v e a l r e a d y a t t a i n e d . T a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t the degree of consciousness of o u r w o m e n t o d a y , w e c a n n o l o n g e r address t h e m w i t h c l i c h e s ; o u r a p p r o a c h s h o u l d be r e a l i s t i c , on t h e basis of the degree of d e v e l o p ment reached by that group of w o m e n w i t h w h o m we i n t e n d t o w o r k . T h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s t o m a k e the w o m e n m o r e a c t i v e i n c o p i n g w i t h the p r o b l e m s e m e r g i n g b e f o r e o u r society, t o m a k e t h e m m o r e c a p a b l e o f w e i g h i n g w i t h t h e i r o w n heads t h e pros a n d cons o f t h e actions t h e y t a k e a b o u t a p r o b l e m t h a t faces t h e m a n d the society. It seems to me t h a t this is h o w we m u s t u n d e r s t a n d the q u e s t i o n o f the e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n . T h e t i m e i s gone w h e n t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n m e a n t , i n the f i r s t place, t h e w o r k t h a t h a d t o b e d o n e w i t h the w o m e n t o c o n v i n c e t h e m t o a b a n d o n the y a s h m a k , o r t o e r a d i c a t e r e l i g i o u s p r e j u d i c e s , etc. O f course, n o w . too, the s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t r e l i g i o u s r e m n a n t s a n d b a c k w a r d custmos should not be overlooked, but the m a i n t h i n g in this direction is the political and ideological elevation of a l l people, n o t o n l y the h i g h l a n d e r s , n o t o n l y t h e peasants, b u t also the t o w n s p e o p l e a n d the c o m m u n i s t s , a t h i n g w h i c h leads t o t h e c r e a t i o n o f correct concepts a b o u t
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society, a b o u t the v a r i o u s sections of t h e y o u t h , a b o u t the relations between boys and girls, husband and wife, a n d about a l l other p r o b l e m s .
THE SCIENCES WHICH STUDY OUR NATIONAL HISTORY, L A N G U A G E AND CULTURE MUST BE RAISED TO A HIGHER L E V E L
From the contribution at the meeting of the Secretariat of the CC of the PLA (1)
M a y 9, 1983
A l l o w m e t o discuss some p r o b l e m s w h i c h the c o m rades of the A c a d e m y of Sciences p r e s e n t e d . I agree in general w i t h the report w h i c h was given to us, b u t , on t h i s occasion, I w i l l e x p r e s s some o p i n i o n s a n d w i l l g i v e some a n s w e r s t o the d e m a n d s w h i c h are m a d e i n it. W e m u s t a d m i t t h a t i n t h e f i e l d o f studies o n the h i s t o r y o f l i n g u i s t i c s , people's h i s t o r y a n d c u l t u r e , etc., good r e s u l t s h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d . S t u d i e s o f the m a i n p r o b l e m s a n d o f t h e m o r e i m p o r t a n t stages o f the h i s t o r i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r people, a n d t h e i r c u l t u r e a n d l a n g u a g e h a v e been c a r r i e d out. C o n c l u s i o n s o f s c i e n t i f i c a n d p o l i t i c a l v a l u e h a v e also been r e a c h e d a n d t h e A l b a n i a n M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t school of o u r historical, linguistic, c u l t u r a l and o t h e r sciences has been c r e a t e d a n d i s b e i n g c o n s o l i d a t e d . L i k e a l l t h e c o m r a d e s of t h e l e a d e r s h i p , I, too, h a v e
__________________________________________ 1 T h e meeting discussed the report presented by the A c a demy of Sciences of the P S R A , O n the situation of our A l b a nological sciences and the tasks to strengthen their r o l e
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a t t e n t i v e l y f o l l o w e d the n a t i o n a l s c i e n t i f i c a c t i v i t i e s o r g a n i z e d b y the A c a d e m y o f Sciences a n d its i n s t i t u t e s . O u r o p i n i o n is t h a t t h e y h a v e been p r e p a r e d at a g o o d l e v e l . I h a v e r e a d some of the m a t e r i a l s of t h e conferences and have noticed that they m a k e a dignified exposition of our. a c h i e v e m e n t s i n t h e f i e l d o f h i s t o r i c a l , l i n g u i s t i c and a r c h a e o l o g i c a l sciences, a n d in t h a t of p o p u l a r c u l t u r e . I h a v e also seen t h a t v a l u a b l e p u b l i c a t i o n s are b e i n g m a d e in these f i e l d s . I cannot say t h a t I h a v e r e a d a l l y o u r p u b l i c a t i o n s , but I h a v e g l a n c e d t h r o u g h t h e m a n d h a v e seen t h a t t h e y d e a l w i t h s e r i o u s p r o b l e m s w h i c h t h r o w l i g h t o n i m p o r t a n t stages o f o u r d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e y i n f o r m t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n a n d t h e w o r k i n g people w i t h t h e h i s t o r i c a l past a n d the r i c h c u l t u r e o f o u r people a n d , o f course, t h e y serve t h e y o u n g s c h o l a r s i n t h e i r studies. A n a c t i o n o f great i m p o r t a n c e w a s t h e s e t t i n g u p o f the M u s e u m of N a t i o n a l History, (2) to w h i c h y o u made a valuable contribution w i t h y o u r research in the field of history, archaeology and popular culture. A n o t h e r v a l u a b l e a c h i e v e m e n t is t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of the Dictionary of Modern Albanian Language, as w e l l as s p e c i f i c studies in the f i e l d of l i n g u i s t i c s a n d s p e l l i n g of t h e A l b a n i a n language. W i t h these p u b l i c a t i o n s , w i t h the a r t i c l e s p u b l i s h e d i n the press organs a n d w i t h the p r o g r a m s p r e p a r e d and broadcast by the Radio-television, y o u comrades have m a d e a v a l u a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n to the u n i f i c a t i o n of t h e l i t e r a r y A l b a n i a n l a n g u a g e , w h i c h has a n e x t r e m e l y great importance. T h a n k s to this w o r k the A l b a n i a n s of K o s o v a , too, accepted t h i s u n i f i c a t i o n . A r i c h a n d v a l u a b l e a r c h a e o l o g i c a l m a t e r i a l has b e e n
__________________________________________ 2 One of the major socio-cultural objects of the country. It was inaugurated on 28 October 1981, on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the f o u n d i n g of the P a r t y and its 8th Congress. Comrade E n v e r H o x h a participated in the ceremony organized on that occasion.
THE SCIENCES MUST BE RAISED TO A HIGHER LEVEL
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d i s c o v e r e d , w h i c h testifies t o t h e I l l y r i a n o r i g i n o f o u r people. The encyclopaedic dictionary w h i c h is being prepared under the guidance of the A c a d e m y of Sciences should be c o n s i d e r e d a v e r y serious u n d e r t a k i n g a n d a w o r k of great s c i e n t i f i c v a l u e . M y o p i n i o n i s that, i n t h e course o f t h e p r e p a r a t o r y w o r k , t h e e n t r i e s o r articles, w h e t h e r o n h i s t o r y o f o t h e r sciences, s h o u l d b e dealt w i t h a n d c o n s i d e r e d o b j e c t i v e l y . T h e y m u s t b e concise a n d based o n d o c u m e n t s . W i t h t h i s I m e a n t h a t each s i n g l e e n t r y or a r t i c l e s h o u l d be easily c o m p r e h e n s i v e , so as to h e l p a n d g u i d e a l l those w h o w a n t t o k n o w a n d s t u d y the problems in greater depth. I often consult different F r e n c h e n c y c l o p a e d i a s a n d n o t i c e that, i n g e n e r a l , t h e i r e n t r i e s a n d articles, e v e n those w h i c h are r e l a t i v e l y b r i e f , are n o t t h e w o r k o f one i n d i v i d u a l , b u t u s u a l l y t h e c o l l e c t i v e w o r k of two or more authors. O u r h i s t o r y w i t h its stages constitutes one w h o l e . Its s t u d y r e q u i r e s assessment of each stage a n d the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f correct r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e m . G r e a t e r a t t e n t i o n m u s t b e a t t a c h e d t o t h e s t u d y o f t h e m o d e r n h i s t o r y , the p e r i o d o f the a n t i - p o p u l a r r e g i m e o f Z o g a n d , e s p e c i a l l y , t h e p e r i o d o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n i n o u r c o u n t r y . W e m u s t not w a i t f o r the p r o b l e m s o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n t o b e t r a n s f e r r e d t o h i s t o r y a n d t h e n m a k e t h e m the object o f o u r studies. W i t h t h i s I d o n o t m e a n t h a t n o studies are m a d e i n this f i e l d , b u t t h a t l i t t l e i s d o n e a n d progress i s s o m e w h a t s l o w . I am n o t i m p l y i n g t h a t no studies of the h i s t o r y o f t h e m o r e r e m o t e past s h o u l d b e m a d e . T h e sectors studying A n t i q u i t y and M i d d l e Ages w i l l and must go o n w i t h t h e i r a c t i v i t y o n the basis o f a p p r o v e d plans. T h e studies w h i c h h a v e been a n d those t h a t w i l l b e c a r r i e d o u t a b o u t t h e genesis a n d t h e f o r m a t i o n o f o u r people, a n d a b o u t t h e m o r e i m p o r t a n t stages o f t h e i r d e v e l o p m e n t
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are a c o n s t i t u e n t p a r t o f o u r h i s t o r y a n d o u r p o p u l a r culture. T h e s t u d y o f o u r h i s t o r i c a l past has b e e n c o n d i t i o n e d b y o t h e r factors, too. W e h a v e h a d t o d e a l w i t h t h e e l u c i d a t i o n o f some b a s i c p r o b l e m s o f t h e f o r m a t i o n o f o u r n a t i o n a n d o f o u r p o p u l a r resistance, because i n t h e past the i n f o r m a t i o n o f o u r s c i e n t i f i c forces w a s f r a g m e n t a r y a n d sporadic, w h e r e a s t h e a c h i e v e m e n t s o f f o r e i g n s c i e n t ists, e v e n t h e m o r e d i s t i n g u i s h e d A l b a n o l o g i s t s , h a v e n o t been based o n M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t m e t h o d o l o g y . T h e i r s t u d i e s h a v e consisted m a i n l y i n r e c o r d i n g o f h i s t o r i c a l f a c t s ; t h e y h a v e r e a c h e d some c o n c l u s i o n s , too, b u t these c o u l d not go beyond certain limits. Some foreign scholars have c o n d u c t e d t h e i r studies o n A l b a n i a i n s u c h a m a n n e r a n d according to such plans as suited the predatory ambitions o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t states, b e n t o n t h e p a r t i t i o n i n g a n d occupation of our country, or in order to throw m u d at the h i s t o r y o f o u r people. W i t h t h e t r i u m p h o f t h e p o p u l a r r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e people's state power, under the leadership of the P a r t y , possibilities w e r e created f o r t h e c e n t r e o f A l b a n i a n studies t o b e t r a n s f e r r e d t o o u r c o u n t r y , a n d thus, h i s t o r i c a l studies were taken in the hands of our study institutions. I m p o r t a n t t a s k s f a c e d o u r s c i e n t i f i c w o r k e r s . O n the one h a n d , t h e y h a d t o e l u c i d a t e t h e k e y p r o b l e m s o f t h e h i s t o r y a n d c u l t u r e o f o u r people i n t h e past, a n d t h i s had to be done competently and r e l y i n g p o w e r f u l l y on the r e q u i r e m e n t s o f o u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t science, w h i l e , on t h e other h a n d , as sons of t h i s people a n d of t h i s l a n d , t h e y h a d t o base t h e i r studies o n o u r n a t i o n a l s o i l a n d r e a l i t y . O u r scientists h a v e u n d e r t a k e n t h i s m i s s i o n i n t h e service o f o u r people a n d o u r socialist H o m e l a n d a n d are a c c o m p l i s h i n g it. T h e m a i n factors for the study of A l b a n i a n prob l e m s h a v e been a n d r e m a i n the i n t e r n a l f a c t o r a n d t h e
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i d e o l o g i c a l f a c t o r . T h a t i s w h y t h e studies m a d e b y o u r people are w i t h o u t doubt of a higher level and more t h o r o u g h t h a n those m a d e b y a n y f o r e i g n A l b a n o l o g i s t , h o w e v e r great his scientific authority m a y have been o r m a y still b e i n our days. W e h a v e b e e n o b l i g e d t o u n d e r t a k e studies o f t h e genesis of o u r people, etc., because these h a v e been a n d are n o t o n l y s c i e n t i f i c p r o b l e m s , b u t also m a j o r p o l i t i c a l p r o b l e m s . T h e c o n c l u s i o n s f r o m these studies h a v e s e r v e d u s t o oppose t h e f o r e i g n r e a c t i o n a r y a n d a g g r e s s i v e forces. A l b a n i a has always attracted the attention of m a n y foreign scholars, historians and politicians. In our days t h e r e a r e s c i e n t i f i c a n d e d u c a t i o n a l centres a b r o a d w h i c h d e a l w i t h A l b a n i a , b e g i n n i n g f r o m its l a n g u a g e , l i t e r a t u r e , a n d c u l t u r e t o its s o c i o - e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l s y s t e m . T h e a i m s a n d m o t i v e s o f these s c h o l a r s h a v e b e e n different. Some of t h e m have proceeded and proceed f r o m p u r e l y s c i e n t i f i c m o t i v e s , because i n t h e A l b a n i a n w o r l d , i n t h e h i s t o r y , l a n g u a g e a n d c u l t u r e o f o u r people, t h e r e is the explanation to m a n y B a l k a n and European phenomena. Some other Albanologists have been prompted t o t h e i r studies o n A l b a n i a b y t h e l o f t y p o l i t i c a l a n d m o r a l v i r t u e s o f o u r people. W e a p p r e c i a t e these studies. A l l t h e studies o f t h e f o r e i g n A l b a n o l o g i s t s m a y h a v e s c i e n t i f i c v a l u e i f t h e y are b a s e d o n o u r r e a l i t y , i f t h e y s t u d y it objectively and benevolently a n d take account of our studies. B u t t h e r e are, h o w e v e r , s o m e p s e u d o - s c i e n t i s t s w h o see o u r r e a l i t y t h r o u g h t h e glasses o f those w h o h a v e trained t h e m as contingents against our country. T h e i r analysis of facts and their conclusions stem f r o m hostile political a n d ideological positions, and they proceed f r o m denigrating aims and motives, in order to m i s i n f o r m the progressive opinion abroad.
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T h e A c a d e m y o f Sciences a n d its i n s t i t u t e s m u s t b e m u c h more active in opposing the anti-scientific, a n t i A l b a n i a n a n d c h a u v i n i s t concepts a n d v i e w s o f t h e b o u r geois a n d r e v i s i o n i s t pseudo-scientists. W e m u s t a l w a y s be on the offensive, just as we are in the field of i d e o l o g y , i n the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r e t i c a l t h i n k i n g . O u r sciences, r e l y i n g o n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r l d outlook and on the high scientific level they have reached, have every possibility to delve ever more deeply into the struggle for the exposure of the anti-scientific concepts a n d v i e w s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s c h o l a r s and to a f f i r m the historical t r u t h about the e p o c h - m a k i n g a c h i e v e m e n t s o f socialist A l b a n i a . F o r the f u r t h e r deepening of the achievements in our studies a n d o u r c o n f r o n t a t i o n w i t h f o r e i g n scholars, I a m n o t opposed to the A c a d e m y of Sciences' h a v i n g a p r o g r a m f o r t h e t r a i n i n g o f t h e n e c e s s a r y cadres, w h o s h o u l d engage t h e m s e l v e s i n a c h i e v i n g a m o r e c o m p r e h e n s i v e knowledge of our problems t h r o u g h the study of the history, language and popular culture of the neighbouring countries, o r t o o u r h a v i n g B a l k a n o l o g i s t s , S l a v i s t s , H e l l e n ists, T u r k o l o g i s t s , G e r m a n i s t s , etc. B u t h e r e I w a n t to a d d t h a t i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n w e m u s t b e realists, f o r t h i s p r o g r a m s h o u l d b e a l o n g - t e r m one a n d w e m u s t b e a r i n m i n d t h a t b e f o r e w e c a n meet t h e d e m a n d s y o u raise, t h e r e are m a n y o t h e r needs w h i c h c a l l f o r i m m e d i a t e f u l f i l m e n t . I n t h e m a t e r i a l w h i c h h a s b e e n p r e s e n t e d t o us, a n d f r o m the i n f o r m a t i o n I have, or in the plans of the i n s t i t u t e s o f t h e A c a d e m y o f Sciences, t h e r e i s n o c o m prehensive program, for example, of the study of the A l b a n i a n p e a s a n t r y i n v a r i o u s stages o f o u r h i s t o r y , a l t h o u g h i t c a n b e s a i d t h a t u n t i l a f e w decades ago, t h e history of the A l b a n i a n peasantry was v i r t u a l l y the history o f t h e A l b a n i a n people. We all k n o w that during the development of society
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in the M i d d l e Ages a n d later, the fate of the H o m e l a n d w a s c o n n e c t e d c l o s e l y w i t h t h e p e a s a n t r y , because i t constituted the o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y of the population, a n d it fought for the l a n d and the defence of the country. O u r p e a s a n t r y has a sameness o f c h a r a c t e r , i n g e n e r a l , but in the course of development it showed m a n y specific elements, w h i c h n o one h a s t a k e n p a i n s t o s t u d y i n d e t a i l a n d t o p o i n t out. W e k n o w t h a t t h e h i g h l a n d e r s i n N o r thern A l b a n i a have a specific development and characteristics w h i c h a r e d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h o s e o f t h e peasants o f C e n t r a l A l b a n i a , o r f r o m those o f S o u t h e r n A l b a n i a . T o i g n o r e o r t o o v e r l o o k these p e c u l i a r i t i e s i n a s t u d y o n the peasantry is a mistake. T h r o u g h the centuries o u r peasant n o t o n l y has f o u g h t , b u t has also l i v e d o n t h i s land. Therefore, we must study the life and struggle of t h e p e a s a n t o n t h i s l a n d , b o t h a t h o m e a n d outside i t . N o r c a n w e s t u d y t h e class s t r u g g l e a s s o m e t h i n g s e p a r a t e d f r o m the study of the peasantry. On the contrary, every t r u l y scientific study must reflect this struggle thoroughly. I n v a r i o u s stages o f t h e i r d e v e l o p m e n t t h e A l b a n i a n people a n d t h e p e a s a n t r y h a v e w a g e d t w o k i n d s o f s t r u g gle. T h e y h a v e f o u g h t a g a i n s t t h e o c c u p i e r s , against t h e O t t o m a n E m p i r e , a n d against the neighbours that sought t o p a r t i t i o n it, a n d against others. B u t t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e have fought not only this war, they have waged internal w a r s , too, against t h e f e u d a l class, against t h e c l a n c h i e f s , against t h e beys, a n d l a t e r a g a i n s t t h e c a p i t a l i s t b o u r g e o i s i e , too. B u t d o w e h a v e a f u l l s t u d y o r s p e c i f i c studies o f these q u e s t i o n o f o u r p e a s a n t r y ? N o , w e don't. F i r s t o f a l l , w e m u s t n o t o v e r l o o k t h e e c o n o m i c aspect of the development of our peasantry in such fields as p r o p e r t y , w o r k , t a x e s a n d o t h e r dues. W e t a l k a b o u t Tanzimat, for example, but the taxes of that system were n o t t h e o n l y ones t h e A l b a n i a n s h a d t o p a y a n d w h i c h
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t h e y r e f u s e d t o pay, o f t e n r e s i s t i n g w i t h a r m s . T h e r e w e r e o t h e r t a x e s a n d dues t h r o u g h w h i c h the p e o p l e w e r e r o b b e d . W h o r o b b e d t h e m ? T h e beys, t h e aghas, t h e c l a n c h i e f s , t h e usurers, a n d others. A l l t h i s constitutes t h e f i e l d i n w h i c h t h e m i d d l e a n d poor peasantry clashed w i t h the rulers of our country, the c l a n chiefs, t h e beys, t h e l a n d e d p r o p r i e t o r s . T h i s i s class s t r u g g l e . D u r i n g t h i s s t r u g g l e t h e d i f f e r e n t a t i o n o f the p e a s a n t r y t o o k place, p e r m a n e n t o r t e m p o r a r y a l l i a n c e s w e r e m a d e . B u t these t h i n g s c a n n o t b e e x p l a i n e d a w a y w i t h one w o r d , o r w i t h a s i n g l e p a r a g r a p h , t h e r e f o r e o u r s t u d e n t s m u s t d e l v e deep i n t o these p r o b l e m s , w r i t e s c i e n t i f i c m o n o g r a h p s , a n d n o t c o n t i n u o u s l y repeat some general considerations, beating about the bush w i t h o u t g i v i n g a c l e a r r e f l e c t i o n of t h i s p a r t of t h e h i s t o r y of o u r people, w i t h o u t d i s c o v e r i n g a n y t h i n g n e w a n d w i t h o u t d r a w i n g their conclusions. I n o r d e r t o p u t d o w n t h e class s t r u g g l e o f t h e p e a santry against the wealthy, against the clan chiefs a n d others, t h e r u l i n g classes i s s u e d t h e i r l a w s a n d c a n o n s . B u t do we k n o w them w e l l and have we analysed t h e m thoroughly? We have remained at the study of Shtjefn G j e o v ' s C a n o n , w h i c h has its i m p o r t a n c e , t h o u g h i t i s incomplete. Shtjefn Gjeov has great merits for its p u b l i c a t i o n , b u t . as f a r as I k n o w , a n d h e r e I m a y be m i s t a k e n , n o scientist has e v e r d e l v e d deep i n t o it, n o t o n l y t o c o m m e n t G j e o v ' s w o r k , b u t also t o f a t h o m t h e history of the laws, customs and canons w h i c h have been i n f o r c e f o r o u r people t h r o u g h t h e c e n t u r i e s . T h e r e are some w h o c o m p l a i n a b o u t t h e s u p p o s e d l a c k of documents. I t h i n k that documents exist. We have, a m o n g other t h i n g s , M a r i n B a r l e t i ' s w o r k w h i c h i s v a l u a b l e a s a n i m p o r t a n t source o f studies, too. W h e n o u r scientists read Barleti's w o r k they l e a r n of the events of the 15th c e n t u r y i n o u r c o u n t r y a n d see t h e d e v l o p m e n t o f t h e
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A l b a n i a n society, t h e p e a s a n t r y , i n p a r t i c u l a r , i n t h a t t i m e , n o t o n l y f r o m t h e h i s t o r i c a l aspect, b u t also f r o m t h e c u l t u r a l , e c o n o m i c a n d o t h e r aspects. A l l t h e s t r u g g l e s t h a t w e r e w a g e d later, after Skanderbeg's death, h a d certain causes. T h e s e causes m u s t b e s t u d i e d , t h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h i s or that struggle must be defined correctly, not t r y i n g t o squeeze t h i n g s i n t o s u c h f o r m u l a s as: t h i s s t r u g g l e m u s t b e d e c r i b e d a s s p o r a d i c because s u p p o s e d l y i t l a c k e d ideological leadership, or the other must be regarded as an uprising, not a revolution, and vice versa. W e m u s t w r i t e t h e h i s t o r y o f o u r people, e s p e c i a l l y our peasantry, objectively, according to a rigorously consistent s c i e n t i f i c s y s t e m based o n M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t m e t h o d ology, w h i c h i s t h e m o s t s c i e n t i f i c , o t h e r w i s e , w e c a n n o t properly explain either the profound transformations w h i c h have been made or the leftovers lingering in the p s y c h o l o g y o f peasants, w h i c h w e t a k e u p f o r d i s c u s s i o n f r o m t i m e to time. F o r the struggle against petty-bourgeois leftovers to be w a g e d correctly and for the correct orientations of the P a r t y to be properly applied, the p e o p l e e n g a g i n g i n s c i e n t i f i c w o r k m u s t s t u d y a l l these p r o b l e m s , size t h e m u p i n t h e i r e x t e n s i o n a n d e v o l u t i o n u p t o t h e p r e s e n t stage. I n t h i s m a n n e r w e s h a l l w a g e a s t i l l m o r e e f f e c t i v e s t r u g g l e against t h e l e f t o v e r s I m e n t i o n e d . A n o t h e r problem bearing on our historical developm e n t i s t h a t o f t h e p e a s a n t f a m i l y a n d its e v o l u t i o n . W e s p e a k a b o u t t h e p a t r i a r c h a l f a m i l y . B u t w h a t has i t b e e n like? H o w did this f a m i l y evolve and w h e n did it break u p ? W h a t i s t h e c l a n ? W h a t i s t h e bayrak? W h a t a r e t h e w a r r i o r k n i g h t s ? W h a t does t h e C y c l e o f t h e W a r r i o r K n i g h t s represent? T h e y w e r e b o r n here and lived here, they acted on this soil and that is w h y the people h a v e s u n g t o t h e i r deeds. T h e w a r r i o r k n i g h t s h a v e f o u g h t f o r the defence of the A l b a n i a n peasantry, f o r the solution o f its s o c i a l a n d e c o n o m i c p r o b l e m s , t h e y h a v e b e e n
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a t one w i t h t h e f e e l i n g s o f the p e a s a n t r y a n d h a v e b e e n c h i v a l r o u s . So, i f w e d o n o t s t u d y t h e base f r o m w h i c h t h e y h a v e e m e r g e d , b u t d w e l l o n l y o n t h e songs t h e people h a v e s u n g t o t h e m , o r j u s t r e a d a f e w l e c t u r e s a n d m a k e some l i t e r a r y c o m m e n t s w i t h o u t s t u d y i n g a n d e x p l a i n i n g t h e i r deep roots (because t h e y w e r e t h e p r o d u c t o f a d e f i n i t e society, w e r e c r e a t e d i n d e f i n i t e s i t u a t i o n s a n d circumstances), then w h a t e v e r w e w r i t e about t h e m w i l l h a n g in t h e air, w i t h o u t a basis. T h e peasant f a m i l y has v a r i o u s f e a t u r e s . Its s t u d y has t o c o n s i d e r m a n y aspects. T h e peasant f a m i l y i n t h e H i g h l a n d s i s n o t t h e s a m e a s i n t h e c e n t r a l zones o r i n t h e l o w l a n d s ; i n S h k o d r a i t i s n o t t h e same a s i n G j i r o kastra, in M y z e q e it is not the same as in D i b r a , or e l s e w h e r e . N e v e r t h e l e s s , as f a r as I c a n see, no studies are m a d e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . B e s i d e s t h i s , w i t h i n t h e f a m i l y t h e r e are customs, f e e l i n g s a n d tastes w h i c h m u s t b e k n o w n . T h a t is a l l I can say about the peasantry, but, comrades, t h e r e are o t h e r questions, too. L e t us take, for example, the period of Zog's regime. No study is envisaged to be made either of the economic and social situation, or the political oppression and the cultural backwardness of our people in the period before a n d after 1924. W i t h o u t a n e x t e n s i v e a n d t h o r o u g h s t u d y of this grave period in the history of A l b a n i a , the efforts our P a r t y had to m a k e d u r i n g the National Liberation W a r a n d a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n f o r t h e g r e a t socialist c h a n g e s w h i c h have been made cannot come out in t h e i r f u l l clarity and force. W h e n we deal w i t h the Bourgeois-Dem o c r a t i c R e v o l u t i o n , w e speak o n l y a b o u t its h i s t o r y , about F a n N o l i (3) and A v n i Rustemi, (4) but a thorough study
____________________________________________ 3 F a n S t i l i a n N o l i (1882-1965). A l b a n i a n patriot and d e m o crat, statesman, scholar, poet, translator and historian. 4 A v n i R u s t e m i (1895-1924). A l b a n i a n revolutionary patriot a n d democrat, People's Hero.
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of the political, economic and social conditions of our c o u n t r y a n d people, i n w h i c h t h i s r e v o l u t i o n w a s p r e p a r e d , a n d w h i c h could not have been the w o r k of outstanding m e n only, even i f they were F a n N o l i and A v n i R u s t e m i , has n o t been m a d e as yet. T h e y w e r e the p r o tagonists, those w h o felt the s u f f e r i n g s o f o u r p e o p l e w h o h a d r i s e n t o t h e i r feet a n d w e r e f i g h t i n g a s B a j r a m C u r r i ( 5 ) d i d , b u t i t w a s t h e concrete p o l i t i c a l a n d s o c i a l situations w h i c h placed h i m and the other revolutionaries a t t h e h e a d o f t h e people. T h i s i s w h a t a l l these r e v o l u tionary democrats did. They have played an important historic role, but we must not reduce the Bourgeois-Dem o c r a t i c R e v o l u t i o n o n l y t o some f i g u r e s , a n d i n p a s s i n g say the odd w o r d about the political, economic and social c o n d i t i o n o f o u r c o u n t r y . F i r s t , w e m u s t speak a b o u t t h i s c o n d i t i o n (and n o t o n l y its p o l i t i c a l aspect), a n d t h e n , come t o t h e o u t s t a n d i n g f i g u r e s . F i r s t w e m u s t s t u d y and t h e n w r i t e t h e b i o g r a p h y o f o u r p e o p l e a n d f r o m this b i o g r a p h y d r a w t h e b i o g r a p h i e s o f i n d i v i d u a l s . T h e masses m a k e history. Naim Frashri, A b d y l Frashri, Sami Frashri, Ismail Q e m a l i , eriz T o p u l l i , L u i g j G u r a k u q i and m a n y other distinguished figures of our people emerged in definite periods of the socio-economic development of our country. W e h a v e n o t y e t set a b o u t a t h o r o u g h s t u d y o f these p e riods and this background. This is a shortcoming w h i c h we m u s t o v e r c o m e a t a l l costs. W e m u s t n o t f o r g e t t h a t those w h o h a v e n o t l i v e d i n t h e past a n d t h e f o r e i g n e r s w h o v i s i t o u r c o u n t r y c a n n o t r e a l i z e t h a t i n o u r c o u n t r y , too, t h e r e has b e e n s t r o n g r e a c t i o n , w h i c h w a s r e p r e s e n t e d s o m e w h e r e b y the p o w e r o f t h e c l a n chiefs, s o m e w h e r e b y t h e p o w e r o f the beys,
________________________________________ 5 B a j r a m C u r r i (1862-1925). Outstanding A l b a n i a n r e v o l u t i o n a r y patriot and democrat, leader of the movement for the l i b e r a t i o n a n d national u n i o n of A l b a n i a , People's Hero.
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aghas, o r others. W e k n o w t h e r e a c t i o n a r y p o w e r o f r e l i g i o n a n d its i n s t i t u t i o n s , o f t h e c a n o n a n d t h e o l d c u s t o m a r y l a w , s u c h a s t h e v e n d e t t a , etc., o n o u r people. A n d o u r c o u n t r y h a d n o t o n l y one c a n o n , t h a t o f L e k D u k a g j i n i . I t w a s i n force, w e m a y say, i n N o r t h e r n A l b a n i a , and more precisely in some part of the N o r t h , but there were other s i m i l a r canons a l l over the country, for each region, indeed, for each village. U n t i l today we have remained w i t h an old study and just keep t a l k i n g about the canon laws. The canon l a w s w e r e not t h e s a m e f o r t h e N o r t h a n d C e n t r a l A l b a n i a , or for the South. There were m a r k e d differences in these laws, depending on the economic, social and c u l t u r a l development of each region. These differences surfaced i n t h e e v o l u t i o n o f t h e class s t r u g g l e a n d i n t h e p r o g r e s s of the peasantry. T h e peasantry d i d not j o i n as a w h o l e t h e p r o g r e s s i v e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d e v o l u t i o n a t once, a t one b l o w o f t h e w h i s t l e . T h e f r u i t r i p e n e d w h e n t h e t i m e came. So, w e h a v e t h e d u t y t o s t u d y a l l these p h e n o m e n a o f o u r society. W e c a n n o t o v e r l o o k t h e q u e s t i o n o f r e l i g i o u s beliefs, e i t h e r . T h i s t h e m e , too, m u s t b e dealt w i t h because w e c a n n o t s a y t h a t t h e people h a v e n o t b e e n b e l i e v e r s . T o pass t h i s q u e s t i o n o v e r w i t h a s i n g l e w o r d , s a y i n g t h a t they were not believers, that they have been irreligious, is not scientific. We must study this problem in such a w a y a s t o r e a l l y s h o w t h a t o u r peasants w e r e b o t h b e l i e v ers a n d d e c e i v e d , b u t t h a t t h e y h a v e also m a d e changes i n t h i s respect. W h a t I am d r i v i n g at here is that religious reaction has b e e n s t r o n g a n d t h a t i t c o n t i n u e s t o exist, t h o u g h , o f course, i n o t h e r f o r m s a n d w i t h w e a k e r i n t e n s i t y . R i g h t f r o m t h e f i r s t d a y s o f its f o u n d i n g t h e P a r t y has c o m e u p against t h i s p r o b l e m a n d i s s t i l l c o n f r o n t e d w i t h i t today.
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O n e of the m a i n centres of the collection and study of documents of the history of our people is the Institute o f P o p u l a r C u l t u r e . ( 6 ) T h e q u e s t i o n i s n o t o n l y a b o u t collect i n g a n d a r r a n g i n g these m a t e r i a l s a n d objects, b u t a l s o about keeping w r i t t e n records of each of them. In all the popular culture, in the village museums, in the ethnographic m u s e u m w e a r e n o w b u i l d i n g , t h e c o l l e c t i o n o f objects i s n o t t h e o n l y i m p o r t a n t t h i n g . T h e c o l l e c t i n g o f objects i n necessary, because c o l l e c t e d objects s e r v e a s m e a n s t o i l l u s t r a t e a n d s t u d y t h e stages o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f society, t h e stages o f i t s e c o n o m i c a n d s p i r i t u a l d e v e l o p ment and the socio-economic transformations of our people. T h i s s t u d y m u s t b e c a r r i e d o u t i n e v e r y d i r e c t i o n a n d i n e v e r y d e t a i l , u n t i l w e f i n d t h e reasons w h y e m b r o i d e ries on men's or women's costumes are different for d i f f e r e n t r e g i o n s , w h y one c o s t u m e h a s t h e m i n g o l d a n d a n o t h e r i n b l a c k p l a i t s . W h y t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f one r e g i o n w e a r tirq a n d those of a n o t h e r brekushe, those of t h e o t h e r f ustanella , a n d s o o n f o r o t h e r g a r m e n t s , customs, t h e w a y o f l i f e , h o u s i n g , r e l a t i o n s , etc. T h e r e w e r e some c o n crete e c o n o m i c , r e l i g i o u s , s p i r i t u a l s i t u a t i o n s w h i c h b r o u g h t a b o u t these p h e n o m e n a . A n o t h e r g r e a t w e a l t h i s o u r f o l k l o r e . F o l k l o r e i s one o f t h e m e a n s w e m u s t u s e t o c a r r y out v a l u a b l e s c i e n t i f i c studies. H o w e v e r , t h o s e w h o engage i n these studies s h o u l d h a v e t a l e n t a n d seriousness a n d w e m u s t a r o u s e t h e i r i n t e r e s t i n t h e m a n d m a k e t h e m conscious t h a t t h e y f a c e a g r e a t p a t r i o t i c d u t y , w h i c h does n o t consist m e r e l y i n reciting f o l k creations, o r m a k i n g the l i t e r a r y comment of some poem. T h e y must c a r r y out comprehensive studies i n t h e v a r i o u s genres o f f o l k l o r e , c o n s i d e r e d n o t o n l y a s l i t e r a t u r e , b u t also a s h i s t o r y . S t u d i e s d o n o t p r e s u p p o s e
_________________________________________ 6 T h i s institute w a s created in 1979, on the basis of the Institute of F o l k l o r e a n d the ethnographic sector of the I n s t i tute of H i s t o r y .
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j u s t c o m m e n t i n g this o r t h a t verse, t h i s o r t h a t w o r d , t h i s or that nuance. F i r s t of all, the student must f i n d out w h e n a n d w h y t h i s o r t h a t s o n g has e m e r g e d , w h a t a r e t h e reasons f o r its emergence, t o w h a t e x t e n t i t i s s p r e a d i n d i f f e r e n t regions. I n t h i s m a n n e r i t i s p o s s i b l e t o d r a w v a l u a b l e c o n c l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e h i s t o r y o f o u r people, a n d t h i s w o r k , I b e l i e v e , opens up a b r o a d h o r i z o n to o u r students. T h e n , w e m a y g o a step f u r t h e r , f r o m t h e s t u d y o f t h e d o c u m e n t s i n o u r possession t o t h e s t u d y o f t h e d o c u m e n t s a b r o a d , because, a s C o m r a d e A l e k s B u d a ( 7 ) o r s o m e o t h e r c o m r a d e s a i d here, o u r people, b e g i n n i n g f r o m t h e Illyrians, have not l i v e d in isolation. We have not been a n d are n o t a n i s o l a t e d people. D u r i n g t h e c e n t u r i e s , i n o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r n e i g h b o u r i n g peoples, w e h a v e borrowed f r o m their material and spiritual culture and they h a v e b o r r o w e d f r o m ours. T h i s m e a n s t h a t w e , too, h a v e i n f l u e n c e d t h e others t h r o u g h o u r s t r u g g l e a n d c u l t u r e , b u t the others h a v e also l e f t t h e i r i m p r i n t s o n t h e l i f e a n d c u l t u r e o f o u r people. W e s h o u l d n o t o b s c u r e a n d d e a l w i t h these p r o b l e m s i n a o n e - s i d e d m a n n e r , b u t i n a n objective and scientific manner. T h e q u e s t i o n h e r e i s t h a t i n these studies w h i c h w e p l a n t o m a k e w e m u s t n o t loose s i g h t o f o u r r e d t h r e a d i n o r d e r t o f i n d out t h e o r i g i n o f t h i s l e g a c y w h i c h i s n o t o u r s alone, w h e t h e r i t i s h e r e i n o u r c o u n t r y , o r i n a n o t h e r c o u n t r y , because i t m a y b e i n a n o t h e r c o u n t r y , b u t i t m a y also b e i n o u r c o u n t r y . I f t h e o r i g i n t u r n s o u t t o b e i n a n o t h e r c o u n t r y , w e m u s t see h o w w e h a v e a d o p t e d i t a n d i n w h a t c o n d i t i o n s i t has b e c o m e o u r s . T h e s a m e t h i n g i s h a p p e n i n g t o d a y i n t h e r e l a t i o n s a m o n g peoples. T h e r e are d o c u m e n t s also f o r t h e p e r i o d o f Z o g , a n d n o t less t h a n f o r the p e r i o d o f t h e N a t i o n a l R e n a i s s a n c e
_______________________________________ 7 C h a i r m a n of the A c a d e m y of Sciences of the P S R A .
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a n d n a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e , i n d e e d , I m a y s a y that, i f w e persist, w e s h a l l f i n d h i s t o r i c a l , c u l t u r a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c materials even for the period f u r t h e r back t h a n the N a t i o n a l Renaissance, for the M i d d l e Ages, or even more r e m o t e t i m e s . N o o n e c a n s a y t h a t s u c h m a t e r i a l s d o not e x i s t . T h e r e a r e n o t o n l y o f f i c i a l a g r e e m e n t s a n d acts o f t h e Z o g g o v e r n m e n t w i t h t h e f o r i g n e r s , b u t also a w e a l t h of documents on the i n t e r n a l socio-economic and cultural situation of our people in that period. If only court proceedings were taken up a n d studied, they w o u l d be v i v i d e v i d e n c e of a f i e r c e class s t r u g g l e , a t e s t i m o n y to the miserable plight of our country in that time, showing how t h e peasants w e r e e x p l o i t e d a n d r o b b e d , h o w w o m e n w e r e oppressed, h o w the progressive intelligentsia was persecuted, h o w any movement a n d revolt of the w o r k e r s was put d o w n w h e n t h e y rose t o f i g h t i n v a r i o u s f o r m s against the Zogite feudal-bourgeois order. O n l y to t h i n k that the c o u r t s o f j u s t i c e e x i s t e d a s t h e y d i d , t h a t elders' a s s e m b lies e x i s t e d a s t h e y d i d , w e c a n see t h a t t h e r e w a s a t t h e s a m e t i m e r e s i s t a n c e t o those w h o oppressed, m a s s a c r e d a n d r o b b e d t h e people. I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t i s b e i n g done w i t h these d o c u m e n t s , w h e t h e r t h e y are p r e s e r v e d i n good order, or lie covered w i t h the dust of oblivion and neglected. I am i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e f o u r v o l u m e s of the History of Albania a r e b e i n g p r e p a r e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n . T h i s is a good, c o m m e n d a b l e a n d v a l u a b l e w o r k f o r o u r school, a n d w i l l a c q u a i n t o u r w o r k i n g people w i t h the h i s t o r y o f o u r c o u n t r y . I a m also i n f o r m e d t h a t some m o n o g r a p h s , o n t h e h i s t o r y o f o u r school, o u r h e a l t h s e r v i c e a n d o t h e r s w h i c h y o u m a y s t i l l h a v e i n h a n d are b e i n g w r i t t e n , b u t t h i s is n o t e n o u g h . I h a v e t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t progress is v e r y s l o w . P r o g r a m s m u s t b e m o r e m o b i l i z i n g a n d the c o m m i t m e n t of the scientific w o r k e r s more active. A l l the questions, problems and requirements raised
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i n the material presented b y C o m r a d e A l e k s B u d a are correct, i n g e n e r a l . B u t o n w h a t s h a l l w e c o n c e n t r a t e o u r forces m o s t l y ? I n w h a t d i r e c t i o n s s h a l l w e engage o u r selves f o r the p r e p a r a t i o n of cadres so as to be a b l e to go o v e r t o t h e stage o f u n d e r t a k i n g t h e studies w h i c h a r e proposed here and w h i c h must be u n d e r t a k e n ? Here I have some suggestions. Studies of the history of A n t i q u i t y and the M i d d l e Ages, of archaeology, folklore and language m a y v e r y w e l l c o n t i n u e t o b e c a r r i e d out i n d e p t h i n t h e d i r e c t i o n s m e n tioned i n y o u r report. B u t w h a t attracts m y attention i n y o u r report is the fact that, w h e n speaking about the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , the w h o l e t h i n g is put in a few l i n e s a b o u t t h e l a c k o f cadres, t h e p o o r q u a l i t y o f s t u d i e s and difficulties in the study of the contemporary records i n o u r a r c h i v e s . I n a l l t h i s I d o n o t see w h a t y o u r o b j e c t i v e s are, w h a t p r o b l e m s o f t h i s g l o r i o u s p e r i o d o f o u r people y o u w i l l s t u d y . B o t h w e a n d y o u m u s t b e i n t r i g u e d b y t h e fact t h a t w h e r e a s s c i e n t i f i c a u t h o r i t i e s h a v e a f f i r m e d t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e s t u d y o f t h e past p e r i o d s , t h e situation is still w e a k as regards the study of the period o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n . T h e c a d r e s engaged in the study of the latter period are m o s t l y young and inexperienced. T h e t i m e has c o m e f o r t h e a f f i r m e d a u t h o r i t i e s i n t h e f i e l d o f h i s t o r y , c e r t a i n l y t h e r e l a t i v e l y y o u n g e r ones, t o engage i n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e m o d e r n t i m e , a s C o m r a d e R a m i z [Alia] s a i d , a n d d r a w t h e t a l e n t e d y o u n g e r s c i e n t i f i c w o r k e r s r o u n d t h e m s e l v e s . A b o u t these p r o b l e m s t h e r e s h o u l d b e c o n c e r n f r o m above, too, s o t h a t w e d o n o t allow things to take their spontaneous course and leave p r o m i s i n g y o u n g s c i e n t i f i c people i n v o l v e t h e m s e l v e s o n l y w i t h p r o b l e m s o f t h e past. A s i n t h e f i e l d o f h i s t o r y , i n t h e f i e l d o f studies o f o u r p o p u l a r c u l t u r e , too, w e m u s t t u r n o u r s e l v e s m o r e a n d
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more to the problems of current development. In the f i e l d o f o u r p o p u l a r c u l t u r e , a r i c h m a t e r i a l has b e e n c o l l e c t e d a n d r e c o r d e d . E f f o r t s are b e i n g m a d e also t o s u m it up, but in this direction it is necessary to proceed more boldly and rapidly. I have read Comrade A l f r e d Ui's r e p o r t o n p o p u l a r c u l t u r e p u b l i s h e d i n t h e r e v i e w Kultura Popullore, a n d I l i k e d it v e r y m u c h . In t h e f i e l d of p o p u l a r c u l t u r e , too, m o r e t h o r o u g h studies m u s t b e c a r ried out about the development of the m a t e r i a l a n d s p i r i t u a l c u l t u r e o f t h e p e r i o d o f socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n . W e v a l u e o u r p o p u l a r c u l t u r e a n d h a v e d o n e m u c h f o r its preservation and development. B u t the student should not be a mere recorder a n d preserver of the c u l t u r a l l e g a c y , as I stressed above. T h e r e f o r e , t h e p r o b l e m s of the development of our popular culture should be made t h e o b j e c t o f b o l d e r studies. T h e r e m n a n t s o f t h e o l d concepts o n e t h n o g r a p h y s h o u l d b e c o m p l e t e l y o v e r c o m e . E t h n o g r a p h i c a l studies s h o u l d b e c o m b i n e d b e t t e r w i t h s o c i o l o g i c a l studies, a n d changes i n t h e s p i r i t u a l c o n d i t i o n a n d t h e s o c i a l p s y c h o l o g y o f v a r i o u s categories o f w o r k i n g people in t o w n and countryside be observed and summed up. I t i s r i g h t t h a t w e d e v o t e s p e c i a l care t o t h e s t u d y o f t h e c o u r s e o f d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r p e o p l e i n t h e past, discovering, recording and preserving any document or a n y other m a t e r i a l and spiritual evidence. B u t we must b e j u s t a s a t t e n t i v e i n assessing a n y e v i d e n c e o f o u r d e velopment after the t r i u m p h of the socialist revolution. H o w are records i n enterprises, a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives, cultural and educational institutions preserved, arranged and utilized? To what extent and in what manner do we p r e s e r v e w o r k tools a n d i m p l e m e n t s w h i c h k e e p c o n s t a n t l y changing and improving? H o w do we record and study t h e i r e v o l u t i o n a n d d e v e l o p m e n t , changes i n t h e l e v e l o f
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culture, education and qualification of the w o r k i n g people i n e a c h c e l l o f o u r people's e c o n o m y ? I have heard that w h e n the M u s e u m of N a t i o n a l H i s t o r y was created there w a s m u c h d i f f i c u l t y i n f i n d i n g exhibits to show the level of development of the product i v e forces i n t h e f i r s t y e a r s a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n . I f i t w a s d i f f i c u l t t o e q u i p a m u s e u m w i t h some s y m b o l i c m e a n s , imagine w h a t difficulties the lack of t h e m w o u l d create f o r studies. W e a l l k n o w M a r x ' assessment o f t h e r o l e o f i m p l e m e n t s o f p r o d u c t i o n i n d e f i n i n g t h e epochs o f history. Scientists must devote greater attention to the u n d e r standing and the study of our current development. T h e r e f o r e , r e a l i z a t i o n o f t h e great o b j e c t i v e s w h i c h t h e P a r t y has set f o r o u r sciences r e q u i r e s s y s t e m a t i c and well-studied w o r k for the f u r t h e r qualification of t h e e x i s t i n g cadres a n d f o r t h e t r a i n i n g o f n e w specialists, e s p e c i a l l y i n those f i e l d s a n d sectors i n w h i c h w e p l a n t o f u r t h e r e x p a n d o u r studies i n t h e f u t u r e . W o r k f o r the t r a i n i n g o f cadres m u s t b e d o n e w i t h a c l e a r e r p e r s p e c t i v e , i n c o m p l e t e c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e o b j e c t i v e s o f studies and w i t h scientific plans. We have now every possibility t o t r a i n o u r cadres i n t h e e d u c a t i o n a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c i n s t i tutes o f o u r c o u n t r y . O u r U n i v e r s i t y a n d i n s t i t u t e s t r a i n h u n d r e d s o f cadres o f h i g h e r t r a i n i n g f o r v a r i o u s specialties a n d p r o f i l e s , among w h i c h , I have no doubt, there are m a n y y o u n g talents. It is our d u t y to discover and k n o w their i n c l i n a tions and w o r k w i t h t h e m systematically, according to w e l l - c o n s i d e r e d p r o g r a m s . T h e a c t i v i t y o f these cadres must be followed up more attentively, especially after t h e y f i n i s h t h e h i g h e r school, b y g i v i n g t h e m s o m e t a s k s now and then and preparing them for independent studies. W e w i l l send a b r o a d some o f o u r t a l e n t e d s t u d e n t s , b u t w e m u s t g u i d e t h e m . O u r m o r e r e n o w n e d scientists
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must k n o w that it is their duty, and this is an absolute necessity, t o assist t h e n e w s c i e n t i f i c w o r k e r s , t o e n c o u r a ge and inspire them, to open up horizons for them and to p r o g r a m their perspective. I a m n o t o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t w e h a v e n o specialists on ethnography, archaeology or folklore, on the contrary, o u r cadres a n d s p e c i a l i s t s i n these f i e l d s h a v e h o n o u r e d o u r c o u n t r y a n d o u r sciences a b r o a d , too. Y o u h a v e e v e n w o n p r i z e s f o r y o u r studies a n d p u b l i c a t i o n s . H e r e I w o u l d also l i k e t o e x p l a i n a n o t h e r aspect o f y o u r d e m a n d t o t r a i n c a d r e s i n these f i e l d s a b r o a d . I n t h i s d i r e c t i o n w e h a v e t o d o w i t h social sciences a n d , a s r e g a r d s these sciences, w e c a n n o t l e a r n a n y t h i n g f r o m f o r eigners, e i t h e r a b o u t t h e a n a l y s i s o f facts o r a b o u t t h e i r interpretation a n d s u m m i n g up. Of course we must be informed of their modern methods and the world's a d vanced experience, study t h e m in a critical m a n n e r and take f r o m t h e m w h a t e v e r is m o r e rational and responds t o o u r needs. B u t , i n t h e f i r s t place, t h e l e g a c y o f t h e classics o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , the experience of our P a r t y and the m e t h o d s t h e y h a v e u s e d i n t h e i r m a j o r studies m u s t b e studied carefully and persistently. M o d e r n methods of study, certainly, have their value and help in the q u a n t i t a t i v e a n a l y s i s o f p h e n o m e n a , speed u p processes a n d c u t d o w n on the time for the processing of factual material, but t h e y h a v e t h e i r l i m i t a t i o n s , too. T h e r e f o r e , t h e y s h o u l d not be taken up and applied in a mechanical manner. Concrete methods of study always r e m a i n a u x i l i a r y means, w h e r e a s c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n a l y s e s , syntheses a n d t h e o r e t i cal generalizations can be made only by r e l y i n g on the Marxist-Leninist w o r l d outlook and methodology. T h a t i s w h y o u r scientists m u s t continuously widen their knowledge and perfect their mastery of the M a r x i s t -
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Leninist methodology and the methods applied by the classics o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d b y o u r P a r t y . T h e s e h a v e been a n i n e x h a u s t i b l e source o f a n d a d e c i s i v e c o n d i t i o n f o r e f f e c t i v e studies a n d t h e y r e m a i n s o t o d a y .
About Science, vol. 2
THE PARTY HAS A L W A Y S BEEN THE ORGANIZED FORCE WHICH HAS SAVED THE COUNTRY AND SOCIALISM
From the closing speech at the 7th Plenum of the CC of the PLA
S eptember 21, 1983
Comrades, In the previous plenums of the C e n t r a l Committee of the P a r t y we have discussed the extremely dangerous and c o m p l i c a t e d a c t i v i t y o f t h e m u l t i p l e agent M e h m e t S h e h u and his group and have adopted the respective decisions... H e r e I d o n o t i n t e n d t o d w e l l once a g a i n o n t h e h i s t o r y o f a l l those events, because t h e P a r t y n o t o n l y w a s i n f o r m e d a b o u t t h e m , b u t also l a i d a l l t h e i n f o r m a t i o n o p e n l y b e f o r e t h e p u b l i c a b o u t h o w events o c c u r r e d , h o w t h e y d e v e l o p e d a n d a l l other details. A l s o , I am not going to d w e l l on the curiosities w h i c h emerged d u r i n g the court proceedings, but at this m e e t i n g o f t h e P l e n u m I w a n t t o p u t t h e stress o n some questions w h i c h must be understood better and taken into consideration properly. T h e sentences passed b y t h e r e s p e c t i v e c o u r t s a r e j u s t , based o n w r i t t e n sources a n d t h e a d m i s s i o n s o f defendants and the depositions of witnesses. We hear,
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h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e r e are people w h o are n o t s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h e c o u r t sentences, because t h e y w a n t e d a l l o f t h e m t o b e shot. S u c h people d o n o t t h i n k s o u n d l y . O u r P a r t y j u d g e s m i s t a k e s , offences a n d c r i m e s t a k i n g a c c o u n t o f a l l circumstances, aggravating or attenuating, a n d k n o w s h o w t o d i f f e r e n t i a t e b e t w e e n m i s t a k e s , offences a n d c r i m e s , a n d m u s t a l w a y s d o so. O t h e r w i s e , l a w w o u l d n o t b e respected. I n o u r people's state p o w e r c o u r t d e c i s i o n s h a v e n e v e r been t a k e n i n a s p i r i t o f r e v e n g e , b u t h a v e been t h e equanimous deduction of a strong logic based on M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t dialectics, w h i c h i n e a c h case i s a i m e d a t u n c o v e r ing the hostile activity, at exposing it politically and o r g a n i z a t i o n a l l y a n d , r e l y i n g o n facts, a t i n t e r p r e t i n g the P e n a l Code correctly and w i t h a cool head. E q u a n i m i t y a n d great correctness i n t h e i m p l e m e n t ation of the line of the P a r t y in various internal and external situations, sized up w i t h political acumen and based o n the p r i n c i p l e s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , h a v e v i t a l i m p o r t a n c e f o r t h e d e s t i n i e s o f o u r socialist H o m e l a n d . O n l y s u c h a n a n a l y s i s o f t h e facts a n d d e c i s i o n s t a k e n i n t h i s p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l s p i r i t a r e t h e m o s t correct and serve the strengthening of the dictatorship of the proletariat in our country and the strengthening of bonds a n d u n i t y b e t w e e n t h e P a r t y a n d t h e masses o f t h e p e o p l e . The uncovering, exposing and smashing of the group o f secret agents, p l o t t e r s a n d t e r r o r i s t s , h e a d e d b y M e h m e t S h e h u a n d K a d r i H a z b i u , i s a great v i c t o r y f o r o u r P a r t y , o u r people a n d o u r socialist H o m e l a n d . T h i s i s a m a j o r l e s son f o r e v e r y b o d y , t h e r e f o r e , as a P a r t y , as c o m m u n i s t s , a n d as a people, we s h o u l d r e f l e c t d e e p l y on these events, t h e a i m s a n d m e t h o d s t h e e n e m y has u s e d . E v e r y o n e m u s t b e a w a r e t h a t t h e P a r t y a n d the c o u n t r y once a g a i n coped s u c c e s s f u l l y w i t h a m a j o r t h r e a t t h a t c a m e f r o m outside a n d f r o m w i t h i n .
THE PARTY HAS SAVED THE COUNTRY AND SOCIALISM 729 T h e r e are p e o p l e w h o a r e s u r p r i s e d a n d s a y : W e ' v e h a d a n a r r o w escape! W e h a v e b e e n i n d a n g e r ! T h e d a n g e r w a s great, i n d e e d , b u t w e m u s t b e a w a r e t h a t w e d i d n o t escape f r o m it b y chance. With its constant struggle the Party has always been the organized force which has saved the country and socialism and defeated the great and many forces of external enemies, internal reaction and secret agencies which acted on their orders. W i t h o u t g o i n g f u r t h e r b a c k t h a n 1939, u n d e r t h e l e a dership of the P a r t y , our people have waged a continuous relentless s t r u g g l e o f t i t a n i c p r o p o r t i o n s w i t h a r m s , w i t h p o l i t i c s , w i t h i d e o l o g y f o r 4 2 y e a r s o n e n d . T h e enemies c o u l d n o t c o n q u e r us, n o r w i l l t h e y e v e r b r i n g u s t o o u r knees. T h e e x t e r n a l e n e m i e s a n d t h e i r secret agents w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y w a n t e d v e r y m u c h A l b a n i a t o c h a n g e its c o r r e c t course. B u t t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y has b e e n d e f e n d e d w i t h vigilance. T h e capitalist and revisionist propaganda h a s b l o w n t h e b i g b u g l e s against us, t h e U D B , t h e K G B a n d t h e C I A h a v e u r g e d t h e i r A l b a n i a n agents t o act. A n d these t r i e d i n f u l l consciousness a n d d i d act s e v e r a l t i m e s t o h a r m t h e P a r t y a n d t h e people's state p o w e r i n a n o r g a n i z e d m a n n e r , s o m e t i m e s i n separate g r o u p s , sometimes in c o l l u s i o n . . . It is an h i s t o r i c a l l y k n o w n f a c t t h a t our Party coped successfully with all the difficult situations it been faced with . W h y has t h i s o c c u r r e d ? T h i s is n o t m e r i t o f one o r f i v e i n d i v i d u a l s , b u t t h e m e r i t o f w h o l e P a r t y a n d people. has has the the
A l l t h e t r a i t o r g r o u p s h a v e h a d one c o m m o n d e n o m i n a t o r : t o d i v e r t t h e P a r t y f r o m its M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i n e a n d t o u s u r p t h e state p o w e r , t o m a k e it a state of t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d t h e c o u n t r y d e p e n d e n t on the capitalist and revisionist foreign powers. No one should befog or cast into oblivion this 42-year
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long period of struggle or fail to draw lessons and conclusions from it. T h e s t r u g g l e o f o u r P a r t y , f r o m t h e d a y i t w a s b o r n , has b e e n g l o r i o u s , d e s p i t e a l l d i f f i c u l t i e s . I t is not a t a l e b u t a g u i d e to p r o g r e s s . T h r o u g h o u t t h e i r h i s t o r y , o u r people h a v e h a d m a n y e n e m i e s . W h e n t h e A l b a n i a n people w e r e f i g h t i n g a r m s i n h a n d a g a i n s t t h e nazi-fascist occupiers and their collaborators, the A n g l o American imperialists were again scheming to partition our c o u n t r y . T h e s e schemes, w h i c h f i g u r e i n t h e o l d p l a n s a n d files of the imperialist powers, are mentioned in i n t e r n a t i o n a l records. T h e y k n e w t h a t t h e n e w people's state p o w e r w h i c h w a s b e i n g set u p i n t h e n e w A l b a n i a w o u l d r e d u c e t h e i r a m b i t i o n s t o d u s t a n d ashes, s o t h e y d i d h o t recognize our government a n d d i d their utmost to prevent u s f r o m o c c u p y i n g t h e place w e d e s e r v e d i n t h e i n t e r n a tional forums. O u r Democratic Government struggled for a n d w o n its r i g h t s i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a . T h i s s t r u g g l e was not accidental. A s M a r x i s t s w e differentiated between o u r allies i n t h e a n t i - f a s c i s t w a r . H o w e v e r , w e t r u s t e d o u r close f r i e n d s a n d allies, t h e Y u g o s l a v s a n d t h e Soviets, w h o , t a k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f t h e i r i n t i m a c y w i t h us, secretly f u r t h e r e d their o w n hostile aims w h i c h they eventually manifested w i t h b r u t a l actions against us. We must always bear in mind that the strategy of the capitalist, imperialist, social-imperialist and revisionist states has been constantly directed against Albania. So much more now and in the future it is and will be hostile to our country, as the only country in which scientific socialism is being faithfully built according to the great MarxistLeninist principles. W h e n i t comes t o t h e i r tactics, t h e n i t i s a d i f f e r e n t matter. O u r country pursues a foreign policy independent of any power or superpower. This is in the interest of m a n y states f o r v a r i o u s reasons a n d because o f t h e c h a n g ing political situations and the contradictions they h a v e
THE PARTY HAS SAVED THE COUNTRY AND SOCIALISM 731 w i t h o n e a n o t h e r , s o t h e y o f t e n s m i l e a t u s o r p r a i s e us. T h i s s h o u l d n o t d e c e i v e u s o r l u l l u s t o sleep f o r a n y m o m e n t o r a t a n y t i m e . W e , too, h a v e o u r s t r a t e g y a n d tactics. O u r s t r a t e g y , a t a n y t i m e a n d i n a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e s , i s u n c h a n g e a b l e : o n t h e i n t e r n a l p l a n e , w e are f o r t h e complete construction of socialism, for the defence of the H o m e l a n d and the gains of our r e v o l u t i o n ; on the external plane, we are f o r the o v e r t h r o w of the capitalist and i m p e r i a l i s t state, a n d f o r t h e t r i u m p h o f t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n a n d c o m m u n i s m . T h i s w e d o n o t conceal, but fight openly and resolutely, u n r e m i t t i n g l y exposing the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s o f a n y s h a p e a s secret agents a n d i d e o l o g i c a l s u p p o r t e r s o f i m p e r i a l i s m . A s f o r o u r tactics, it is constantly w o r k e d out in accordance w i t h the c h a n g i n g political circumstances in the international situations a n d relations, w h i l e never losing sight of our strategy, never violating the Marxist-Leninist principles of the revo l u t i o n a n d t h e class s t r u g g l e , n e v e r s w e r v i n g f r o m t h e line of our foreign policy w o r k e d out a n d decided on b y t h e C o n g r e s s e s o f t h e P a r t y . O n t h e basis o f t h e L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e o f coexistence, w e h a v e d i p l o m a t i c r e l ations a n d develop trade, c u l t u r a l a n d other exchanges w i t h m a n y countries. In this context and t a k i n g account of the old and new a m b i t i o n s o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t states t o w a r d s A l b a n i a , we have always followed and must continue to f o l l o w t h e i r secret a c t i v i t i e s a g a i n s t o u r c o u n t r y w i t h v i g i l a n c e , s o t h a t w e c a n a l w a y s cope w i t h t h e m a n d n i p them in the bud. T h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t states a n d t h e i r secret agencies h a v e acted s e p a r a t e l y o r j o i n t l y , a s t h e i r i n t e r e s t s r e q u i r e d , b u t a l w a y s w i t h t h e one a i m : t o a n n e x o u r t e r r i t o r i e s a n d t o t u r n t h e m i n t o t h e i r m i l i t a r y outposts, as w e l l as to liquidate true socialism w h i c h is being built in our country
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O u r P a r t y a n d people, a l o n g w i t h t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e i r c a p i t a l i s t o r r e v i s i o n i s t e x t e r n a l enemies, h a v e also w a g e d t h e s t r u g g l e t o e x p o s e a n d l i q u i d a t e t h e i r secret agents i n s i d e t h e c o u n t r y o r those w h o h a d p e n e t r a t e d i n t o the Party. The period of the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r was a key m o m e n t , i n w h i c h some c o n t i n g e n t s o f secret agents a n d spies w e r e s m a s h e d a n d dealt m o r t a l b l o w s , b u t , o n t h e other h a n d , other secret agencies w e r e r e v i v e d o r c r e a t e d anew, in conformity w i t h and in v i e w of the new situations that were being created i n the Second W o r l d W a r i n A l b a n i a and in other countries. T h e c o n t i n g e n t s o f spies i n t h e p a y o f I t a l y a n d G e r m a n y a n d p a r t o f t h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n secret agents were smashed d u r i n g the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r . T h e c o n t i n g e n t s o f secret agents i n t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e S e r b s a n d G r e e k s a n d t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e secret agents in the service of the A n g l o - A m e r i c a n s saved their skins by joining the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n Front. T h e y covered their tracks on orders f r o m their patrons. T h e T i t o i t e g r o u p i n h e r i t e d a l l t h e A l b a n i a n secret agents i n the s e r v i c e o f t h e S e r b s a n d , d u r i n g t h e N a t i o n a l Liberation War, increased their ranks w i t h n e w recruits. A l l the Y u g o s l a v T i t o i t e secret agents, f r o m K o i X o x e to Mehmet Shehu and K a d r i Hazbiu, were recruited d u r i n g a n d a f t e r t h e w a r . A l l t h i s secret a g e n c y w a s covered up by the Titoites under the cloak of M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t f r i e n d s h i p a n d the j o i n t a n t i - f a s c i s t w a r a n d t h e w o r k f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialism. B u t t h e i r t r u e a i m w a s t o a n n e x t h e n e w A l b a n i a n state, t o m a k e i t t h e s e v e n t h r e p u b l i c o f t h e Y u g o s l a v F e d e r a t i o n . So, t h e y wanted not only to keep K o s o v a and the other A l b a n i a n regions, b u t also t o g o b b l e u p t h e w h o l e o f A l b a n i a . T h e S o v i e t s , l i k e w i s e , b u i l t t h e i r secret n e t w o r k , m a i n l y i n the r a n k s o f t h e a r m y m e n , because t h e S o v i e t U n i o n
THE PARTY HAS SAVED THE COUNTRY AND SOCIALISM 733 and the K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionist leadership needed A l b a n i a m a i n l y a s a m i l i t a r y o u t p o s t i n t h i s n e u r a l g i c zone of t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n , etc. F o r a p e r i o d t h e r e w a s a m o t l e y of secret agencies, on t h e f a c e o f i t f r i e n d l y , b u t i n r e a l i t y h o s t i l e , t o one a n o t h e r . T h e Y u g o s l a v secret a g e n c y p r e d o m i n a t e d f o r some t i m e u n t i l 1948, w h e n K o i X o x e a n d h i s associates w e r e l i q u i d a t e d . T h e n , t h e S o v i e t secret a g e n c y s t r e n g t h e n e d its p o s i t i o n s . I f y o u s e l l y o u r c o u n t r y o n l y once, y o u are r e a d y t o s e l l i t m a n y t i m e s o v e r t o one e n e m y o r t h e other, o r t o a l l of t h e m at the same time. This is the impasse and the m e n t a l i t y o f secret agents a n d spies. M e h m e t S h e h u , a n agent i n t h e p a y o f t h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n s , b e c a m e t h e secret agent o f t h e Y u g o s l a v s . T h e n , h e a n d K a d r i H a z b i u a n d c o m p a n y f r o m agents o f t h e Y u g o s l a v s b e c a m e agents of t h e K G B . A l l these g r o u p s w e r e m a n i p u l a t e d b y t h e expert: h a n d s o f f o r e i g n secret agencies, w h i c h a c t e d i n c o - o r d i n a t i o n t o i m p l e m e n t t h e i r g e n e r a l s t r a t e g y against t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a a n d socialist A l b a n i a . B u t t h e y also acted s e p a r a t e l y a n d o f t e n i n c o n t r a d i c t i o n a n d r i v a l r y w i t h one a n o t h e r , a n d w i t h d i f f e r e n t t a c t i c s i n different political situations, and everyone for his o w n interests. W h i l e p r e s e r v i n g its c o n t i n g e n t s , t h e C I A passed some o f its secret agents t o t h e Y u g o s l a v s . T h e I n t e l l i g e n c e S e r v i c e d i d t h e same. O u r P a r t y has h a d t o cope w i t h t h i s g r e a t h o s t i l i t y , to f i g h t a g a i n s t i n t r i g u e s r a i s e d to a s y s t e m , to a v o i d the t r a p s set u p b y t h e p l o t t e r s , t o d e f e n d i t s e l f against putsches a n d f o i l attempts at a reoccupation of our H o m e l a n d . M o r e o v e r , i t h a s h a d t o c o n d u c t its s t r u g g l e also in the u n h e a l t h y atmosphere created in moments of d e c i s i v e changes, w h e n t h e f r i e n d o f y e s t e r d a y w a s o n l y a potential enemy.
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Our external enemies and their secret agencies within the country and within the Party undervalued the strength of the Party, its revolutionary skill and were dealt lethal blows in succession. T h i s h o s t i l e w o r k r e p r e s e n t e d a c h a i n of a c t i v i t i e s , w h i c h only the sword of the Party could sever one by one, as it did. But it would be an unpardonable mistake to think t h a t t h e class s t r u g g l e w i t h i n t h e P a r t y a n d o u t s i d e it, i n a n y f o r m i t a p p e a r s , i n t h e f o r m o f s t r u g g l e against g r o u p s , plots, sabotage o r e v e n i n t h e f o r m o f s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t a n y m a n i f e s t a t i o n a l i e n t o o u r s o c i e t y a n d people, w i l l come to an end w i t h this purge. It is o u r d u t y not t o f a l l asleep. C omrades, we must bear in mind that the situation in the world, and indeed, not very far from us, is very turbulent. T h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s are in a deep e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l crisis. T h e s i t u a t i o n i s n o t a n y better in the neighbouring countries, either. T h e situation in Yugoslavia is becoming more and more critical and poses a t h r e a t to o u r c o u n t r y a n d t h e B a l k a n s . Therefore, a high political, economic and military vigilance is required from us. A b i d i n g by the l i n e of the P a r t y in the foreign p o l i c y , a n d n e v e r f o r a m o m e n t d e p a r t i n g f r o m its s t r a t e gy, t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e G o v e r n m e n t c a r e f u l l y w o r k out t h e t a c t i c s a n d s t a n d s o f o u r state i n its r e l a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r states. W i t h a n a c t i v e policy and a propaganda based on undeniable truths, the a u t h o r i t y a n d p r e s t i g e o f o u r P a r t y a n d socialist state h a s g r o w n higher and higher not only in the broad progressive o p i n i o n , b u t also a m o n g m a n y o f f i c i a l p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c , cultural, scientific and other circles. W o r l d r e a c t i o n , w h e t h e r o r n o t i n p o w e r , hates o u r system of the dictatorship of the proletariat and the
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P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a w h i c h leads t h i s s m a l l c o u n t r y , a n d fights t h e m w i t h all possible means. O u r e n e m i e s accuse u s o f h a v i n g i s o l a t e d ourselves, b u t t h e i r a i m i s t h a t socialist A l b a n i a s h o u l d o p e n i t s e l f u p , t h a t is, s h o u l d b e a p r e y t o t h e n e i g h b o u r s a n d t o t h e i m p e r i a l i s t , c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t states. World reaction fears small Albania, not because of the number of its population, not because of the size of its territory, or because of its armaments, but because of its ideology and policy, which make our people vigorous, strong and unconquerable. World reaction fears socialist Albania also because it is determined to resist to any attacks; it is not so easily swallowed, and anyone who dares to carry the fire into our land will be burned in it, and we are convinced that we shall win. T h e o u t s i d e t h r e a t has a l w a y s e x i s t e d a n d secret a c t i v i t i e s against o u r c o u n t r y h a v e a l w a y s b e e n c a r r i e d out a n d we should never for a m o m e n t overlook t h e m in t h e f u t u r e . T h e e n e m y does n o t l a y d o w n its w e a p o n s , b u t w e d o n o t l a y d o w n o u r w e a p o n s , e i t h e r , W e are inflexible about this and will be so in the future, too. A l l these things that are happening around us, outside and inside our country, the crises of the capitalist and the revisionist world, the plots against our country, the pressure, blackmail, and blockades which may eventually be intensified against us should make our whole Party and people to be alert, ready and vigilant, fully mobilized at work and very watchful. Only with the fulfilment and overfulfilment of plans, only with savings and economy, with scientific organization and management shall we cope with the political and economic pressure of the capitalist and revisionist world, shall we guarantee and maintain a level of material wellbeing that will make socialist Albania and the Party-people
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unity stronger, the people happier and the future of the younger generations more secure. Everyone must reflect deeply, not superficially, and o p e n h i s eyes a n d e x e r c i s e v i g i l a n c e , b u t t h e v i g i l a n c e of a revolutionary party and not a m o r b i d vigilance. T h e correct u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e line of the P a r t y favours neither liberalism, nor sectarianism, both of w h i c h are dangerous tendencies at any t i m e a n d i n a n y s i t u a t i o n . W h e n w e speak a b o u t m a j o r p r o b l e m s o f p r i n c i p l e a n d a b o u t r e s p e c t i n g t h e P a r t y n o r m s , these are n o t slogans t o b e c h a n t e d , w h i l e a c t i n g d i f f e r e n t l y i n practice, w i t h o u t c o n t r o l l i n g o u r s e l v e s a t e v e r y m o m e n t and in every action, and w i t h o u t a l l o w i n g our comrades a n d r e l a t i v e s t o c o n t r o l us. T h i s has n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h safety control, o u r s i s c o n t r o l b y society, c o n t r o l b y l i f e , c o n f r o n t a t i o n w i t h t h e n o r m s o f o u r P a r t y a n d o u r socialist society. D e p a r t u r e of a n y communist or cadre f r o m the n o r m s o f t h e P a r t y a n d a v o i d a n c e o f s o c i a l c o n t r o l not o n l y d a m ages t h e r e p u t a t i o n of t h e P a r t y , b u t also h a s consequences t o t h e v i o l a t o r o f these n o r m s . T h e e n e m y b e g i n s t o c o m p r o m i s e o u r people b e g i n n i n g f r o m t r i f l e s , f r o m f i n a n c i a l transgressions to the breach of c o m m u n i s t m o r a l i t y a n d o t h e r offences. P e r s o n a l a n d s o c i a l v i g i l a n c e , b o t h b y t h e P a r t y a n d b y t h e masses, s h o u l d b e a c t i v e i n t h i s s i t u a t i o n . Vigilance should not be understood as a monopoly or the duty of a Party forum or state organism only, but as a problem for everyone, for every communist and citizen of the republic. R e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e , trust a n d check up, k e e p s t h e s i t u a t i o n h e a l t h y , m o r b i d v i g i l a n c e w e a k e n s it. T h e f o r m e r creates c o n f i d e n c e a n d c l a r i t y , t h e l a t t e r creates u n c e r t a i n t y a n d m i s t r u s t . T h e f o r m e r educates, t h e l a t t e r miseducates. We must always bear in mind that violations of
THE PARTY HAS SAVED THE COUNTRY AND SOCIALISM 737 P a r t y n o r m s , s m a l l w a v e r i n g s i n its l i n e , e v e n w h e n t h e y a p pear as m i n o r manifestations, m a y accumulate a n d actually become waverings in the line, and then, f r o m petty-bourgeois actions a n d w a y s o f t h i n k i n g d e v e l o p i n t o o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e P a r t y l i n e , t o t h e n o r m s o f society a n d t o s o c i a l i s m w h i c h w e are b u i l d i n g i n o u r c o u n t r y , i f t h e r e i s n o v i g i l a n c e a n d i f these v i o l a t i o n s a r e n o t t r e a t e d c o r r e c t l y a n d i n d u e t i m e , w i t h a l l t h e m e a n s a n d f o r m s w h i c h the P a r t y has c r e a t e d o n t h e basis o f a l o n g e x p e r i e n c e . T h e s e concessions a n d w a v e r i n g s l e a d t o t h e w e a k e n i n g o f t h e class s t r u g g l e , w h i c h i s a d e c i s i v e f a c t o r f o r t h e a d v a n c e o f o u r society. Hence, the ever more profound and broad understanding of the need to observe the norms of the Party and of its leading role everywhere, without excluding the organs of the dictatorship of the proletariat, comes even more to the fore. The Party should not permit anyone in any sector to misuse the powers or the functions he is invested with. Carelessness a n d i n d i f f e r e n c e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n are v e r y d a n g e r o u s t o t h e P a r t y , society a n d o u r socialist state.
Comrades. This major struggle over many decades has convinced our people that their strength in the confrontation with the enemies lies in the Marxist-Leninist line of the Party, in its unity, in the unity of the Party with the people, in the successes this line has made possible for the construction of a truly socialist society, u n i n t e r r u p t e d l y e n r i c h i n g t h e consciousness a n d n a t u r e o f people a n d i n c r e a s i n g t h e m a t e r i a l blessings o f t h e c o u n t r y . We must n o w carry this situation further ahead. This i s o u r d u t y a n d o n l y ours, i t i s t h e m i s s i o n o f the h i s t o r i c a l
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period through w h i c h we have lived and are l i v i n g , and this mission must be clear to the coming generations w h i c h must take it over f r o m us unstained. Therefore, we must always keep our P a r t y pure, defend it f r o m dangers and distortions, and strengthen it politically, ideologically and organizationally. L o n g live the P a r t y !
A l w a y s Vigilance, vol. 2
THIS WONDERFUL REALITY IS T H E WORK OF T H E PEOPLE, IS YOUR WORK, IS THE RESULT OF T H E CORRECT LINE OF THE PARTY
From a conversation with a group of workers from various sectors of the economy (1)
September 30, 1983
Welcome, dear comrades! T a k e y o u r seats, e v e r y b o d y , please. I k n o w s o m e o f y o u , those w h o a r e m o r e a d v a n c e d i n age, w i t h g r e a t e r e x p e r i e n c e a n d l o n g e r s e n i o r i t y a t w o r k , b u t m o s t o f y o u I d o n ' t k n o w , because y o u a r e y o u n g . H o w e v e r , it is a great pleasure for our P a r t y a n d for us t o see t h a t t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n o f o u r c o u n t r y has r i s e n s o h i g h a n d has m a d e t h e c o u n t r y l i k e a f l o w e r garden. Y o u are the flowers of A l b a n i a . H o w are y o u getting o n w i t h your w o r k ? EVERYBODY: Well, Comrade Enver. COMRADE ENVER HOXHA: Yes, we receive good n e w s c o n t i n u o u s l y f r o m a l l sectors o f t h e e c o n o m y , w h i c h
___________________________________________ 1 Comrades of the leadership of the P a r t y a n d State, also, attended this meeting w i t h w o r k e r s f r o m the h y d r o - p o w e r p l a n t o f K o m a n , the E n v e r H o x h a automobile a n d tractor combine, mines, oil-fields, a n d textile mills, w o r k i n g people o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d y o u n g volunteers f r o m r a i l w a y construction sites.
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d e l i g h t a n d enthuse us, a n d w h i c h m a k e u s f e e l y o u n g e r . F r o m the w o r k of the P a r t y and f r o m your w o r k we gain c o n f i d e n c e , b u t w e g a i n k n o w l e d g e , too, because, c o m r a d e s , i t i s clear t h a t t h i s w o n d e r f u l r e a l i t y w e h a v e c r e a t e d i n o u r c o u n t r y i s t h e w o r k o f t h e people, i s y o u r w o r k , i s t h e r e s u l t o f t h e correct l i n e a n d t h e w e l l - s t u d i e d p l a n s of t h e P a r t y . T h e r e f o r e , t h i s is a source of j o y n o t o n l y f o r us, b u t also f o r t h e w h o l e people a n d f o r a l l t h e f r i e n d s o f o u r c o u n t r y , w h e r e v e r t h e y are, w h i l e i t enrages o u r enemies. T h e enemies are b l i n d e d w i t h rage b y o u r successes.
Then, Comrade Enver Hoxha had a very cordial talk with the participants in the meeting, who, after wishing happy birthday to the beloved leader of the Party, reported to him about the work and the successes achieved. Starting to speak again, Comrade Enver Hoxha said:
I have followed you up in all your magnificent work, but w h e n I see y o u o n t e l e v i s i o n f r o m t i m e t o t i m e , a n d i t is a g o o d t h i n g t h a t s p e c i a l p r o g r a m s are o f t e n d e v o t e d to your work, w h i c h is an encouragement for all our people a n d increases t h e i r c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e i r m e n t a l a n d p h y s i c a l forces, I f e e l s p e c i a l respect f o r t h e w o r k e r s , f o r t h e engineers, f o r t h e t e c h n i c i a n s w h o are b u i l d i n g such p r o j e c t s a s the h y d r o - p o w e r p l a n t o f K o m a n , t h a t g i a n t of i r o n a n d concrete, one of t h e biggest in E u r o p e . I h a v e been t o l d t h a t t h e f o r e i g n e r s w h o h a v e c o m e t o see y o u r w o r k have been amazed by everything, y o u r order, y o u r d i s c i p l i n e , y o u r i n t e l l i g e n c e a n d y o u r s k i l l . I n a l l the sectors of o u r e c o n o m y n o w t h e r e is a n e w a p p r o a c h of o u r w o r k e r to his work, a different, more thoroughgoing k i n d of t h i n k i n g , because e v e n the c o m m o n w o r k e r i n o u r c o u n t r y has a h i g h p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l a n d t e c h n i c a l l e v e l . E v e n the w o r k e r w h o does t h e m o s t s i m p l e w o r k a t t h e h y d r o -
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p o w e r plant is politically mature, is qualified for his w o r k and thinks and w o r k s for the dam, thinks and w o r k s for the electric power, for the development o f the w h o l e economy of our country. T h e P a r t y has a l w a y s p l a c e d the p r o d u c t i o n o f e l e c t r i c p o w e r in t h e c e n t r e of its a t t e n t i o n , seeing it as one of t h e m a j o r issues, because w i t h o u t e l e c t r i c p o w e r n o p r o gress c a n b e m a d e . B e f o r e L i b e r a t i o n o u r people l i v e d i n w r e t c h e d misery, used pine torches for light, but now that we are b u i l d i n g socialism, that our country is developing w i t h b i g strides, n o t h i n g c a n b e done w i t h o u t e l e c t r i c p o w e r . T h e r e a r e d e m a n d s f o r o u r electric p o w e r not o n l y f r o m t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n t r i e s , b u t also f r o m other states o f t h e w o r l d w h i c h are a f f e c t e d b y t h e e n e r g y crisis. We have attached importance to the production of electric power and w i l l continue to do so in the future. That is w h y e v e n those w h o d o n ' t w i s h u s w e l l are c o m p e l l e d t o r e c o g n i z e o u r a c h i e v e m e n t s i n t h i s f i e l d . So, those teams o f y o u r s , f r o m designers t o s i m p l e b u i l d e r s , m u s t b e c l e a r a b o u t i t t h a t w e w i l l n o t r e m a i n w h e r e w e are i n this w o r k . M o r e hydro-power plants and thermal-power plants have been designed, and we w i l l design more, m u c h b i g g e r t h a n those w e h a v e b u i l t , i n t h e f u t u r e . That day to convey my I was moved. t o meet y o u . at the P l e n u m , (2) w h e n I asked your director r e g a r d s t o y o u , w h i c h h e has c e r t a i n l y done. T o d a y I am m o v e d a g a i n , b u t I am also g l a d I have noticed that emotions prolong my life.
T h a n k y o u f o r t h e h o n o u r y o u h a v e done m e b y c o m i n g here, t o m y h o m e , t o r e p o r t t o m e a b o u t y o u r w o r k a n d great a c h i e v e m e n t s a n d , a t t h e same t i m e , t o c o n g r a _____________________________________ 2 T h e 7th P l e n u m of the C e n t r a l Committee of the P L A , w h i c h held its proceedings f r o m 20-21 September 1983 a n d discussed the report of the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the C e n t r a l Committee O n the situation in constructions and the problems w h i c h emerge.
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tulate me on my birthday. On my behalf and on behalf of the Party, I thank y o u and congratulate y o u on a l l t h e successes y o u h a v e a c h i e v e d . F o r m y p a r t , I a s s u r e y o u , the P a r t y a n d t h e p e o p l e that, as l o n g as I l i v e , I w i l l spare n o t h i n g f o r a n d w i l l place e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e s e r v i c e o f o u r great cause, t h e f r e e d o m o f t h e H o m e l a n d a n d socialism. I t i s t h e w o r k o f the w h o l e people, t h e c o r r e c t o r i e n t a t i o n s a n d the f a r - s i g h t e d p l a n s o f t h e P a r t y t h a t h a v e created our brilliant, enthusing reality, this u n i n t e r r u p t e d improvement in well-being, this non-stop advance of socialist A l b a n i a . W e h a v e a c h i e v e d g o o d results i n a g r i c u l t u r e , e s p e c i a l l y t h i s year. F o r e i g n e r s v i s i t i n g o u r c o u n t r y are s u r p r i s e d t o see o u r t e r r a c e d h i l l s a n d m o u n t a i n s . A t D a j , a s t h e c o m r a d e s h a v e i n f o r m e d me, t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s h a v e s u c ceeded i n t a k i n g i n , i n i n d i v i d u a l plots, h i g h y i e l d s o f m a i z e , r e a c h i n g t o o v e r 120 q u i n t a l s p e r hectare. V e r y w e l l and w e l l done! A g r i c u l t u r e i n o u r c o u n t r y has m a d e e n o r m o u s s t r i d e s a n d w e a r e v e r y h a p p y a b o u t t h i s . Y o u , t h e e l d e r people, k n o w what the situation was l i k e before Liberation, because y o u w e r e b o r n o n t h a t s u n - s c o r c h e d a n d desolate land, but under the leadership of the P a r t y and w i t h the magnificent w o r k of your parents and your o w n work, a g r i c u l t u r e t o d a y has b e c o m e a p o w e r f u l e c o n o m i c f a c t o r f o r t h e P e o p l e ' s S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a . See w h a t fruit have yielded the directives of L e n i n and S t a l i n for the c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e c r e a t i v e l y a p p l i e d b y o u r P a r t y i n o u r c o u n t r y . T h e greatest a c h i e v e m e n t w a s t h a t t h e p e a s a n t r y succeeded i n u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t p u t t i n g together t h e i r l a n d s w a s a v i t a l necessity. I n t h i s d i r e c t i o n we have h a d difficulties, but the P a r t y has h a d great f a i t h i n t h e people. I t has c o n t i n u o u s l y t a k e n a c c o u n t o f
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Lenin's teaching that the people w i l l understand w h a t they w a n t t h r o u g h patient a n d persistent w o r k , so the P a r t y p r o c e e d e d p a t i e n t l y , a n d n o w o u r peasant has r e a c h e d s u c h a level that he cannot understand his life w i t h o u t the coop e r a t i v e , t h a t is, h e p l a c e s t h e g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t a b o v e t h e p e r s o n a l interest. O u r P a r t y c a r r i e d o u t a series o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t reforms for the development of agriculture. M a n y of t h e m d o not a p p e a r i n t h e w o r k s o f M a r x o r L e n i n , b u t b o t h M a r x a n d L e n i n h a v e g i v e n u s the p r i n c i p l e s , t h e y h a v e t a u g h t u s t h a t s o c i a l i s m s h o u l d also b e b u i l t o n the basis o f e x p e r i e n c e . W e i m p l e m e n t e d t h e p r i n c i p l e s i n a c o r r e c t m a n n e r a n d s o l v e d other p r o b l e m s w h i c h e m e r g e d o n o u r r o a d , too. S o , t h e P a r t y k n e w h o w t o b u i l d a socialist a g r i c u l t u r e , t o w a r d off t h e p o s s i b i l i t y f o r t h e e m e r g e n c e of c a p i t a l i s m or t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of a s p o n t a n e o u s e c o n o m y , a n d d i d i t w i t h s k i l l , w i t h a b i l i t y , b y m e a n s o f its p o l i c y a n d i d e o l o g y , b y a p p l y i n g a g r o t e c h n i c a l measures, etc. E v e r y sector o f o u r l i f e a n d a c t i v i t y , t h e i n d u s t r y a n d the mines, the power industry and the cooperativist a g r i culture, education and culture, develop every year and e v e r y f i v e - y e a r p l a n a t s a t i s f a c t o r y h i g h rates. Y o u comrade builders of hydro-power plants and a l l the other m a j o r projects have designed, have built a n d w i l l build in the future still greater hydro- and t h e r m a l p o w e r p l a n t s . Y o u c o m r a d e o i l - w o r k e r s not o n l y h a v e g i v e n t h e H o m e l a n d a g r e a t w e a l t h , b u t , also, b y i m p l e m e n t i n g the directives of the Central Committee of the Party, opened up n e w p r o m i s i n g horizons for o i l extraction. W o r k i n g in the different mines y o u comrade miners s n a t c h f r o m t h e s u b s o i l a great w e a l t h o f m i n e r a l s . Y o u c o m r a d e w o r k e r s a n d specialists o f a g r i c u l t u r e h a v e a c h i e v e d m a n y a n d steady successes. D e s p i t e t h e n e g a t i v e influence of weather conditions, y o u f u l f i l l e d and overfulfilled y o u r plans for a l l agricultural products. So-
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cialist A l b a n i a t h i s y e a r succeeded i n t a k i n g i n h i g h y i e l d s i n w h e a t , i n d e e d h i g h e r t h a n i n some c o u n t r i e s o f E u r o p e . ( 3 ) A g o o d m a i z e h a r v e s t is expected, too. A l l these successes h a v e been a c h i e v e d w i t h t h e w o r k a n d t h e e f f o r t s o f o u r w o r k i n g people, a n d o u r t e c h n i c a l cadres o f h i g h e r o r m e d i u m t r a i n i n g , w h o n o w n u m b e r tens o f t h o u s a n d s a n d w h o h a v e b e e n t r a i n e d a n d e d u c a t e d i n o u r people's e d u c a tional system and have a contemporary progressive culture of a h i g h l e v e l . I t i s n a t u r a l t h a t o u r people s h o u l d b e d e l i g h t e d w i t h these successes, b u t these s h o u l d not m a k e u s t h i n k t h a t w e h a v e a c h i e v e d e v e r y t h i n g a n d let o u r s e l v e s b e c a r r i e d away w i t h euphoria. On the contrary, everything should be consolidated, achievements should be m a i n t a i n e d a n d carried constantly ahead. E v e r y success has its source i n w o r k , i n d i s c i p l i n e a t w o r k , in the active creative and realizing w o r k of the masses. Y o u k n o w q u i t e w e l l t h a t o n o u r r o a d o f socialist construction we have come up against difficulties a n d obstacles, w h i c h w e h a v e a v o i d e d o r o v e r c o m e t h r o u g h s t r u g g l e a n d e f f o r t s . I n t h e f u t u r e , too, w h i c h w i l l b e m u c h b e t t e r t h a n t h e present, w e s h a l l h a v e t o cope w i t h m a n y difficulties and shortcomings, objective or subjective, but w e s h a l l o v e r c o m e t h e m w i t h success, a s w e h a v e d o n e Hitherto. We all have unshakeable confidence in our glorious P a r t y , i n its M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t l i n e , i n its correct, r e s o l u t e and far-sighted internal and external policy. In this line a n d i n t h i s p o l i c y lies t h e s t r e n g t h o f o u r p e o p l e w h o h a v e w o r k e d and continue to w o r k wonders. C a n w e say w i t h f u l l c o n v i c t i o n t h a t A l b a n i a has made enormous strides? Yes, we can. W h e n we come to
__________________________________ 3 In 1983 a number of a g r i c u l t u r a l economies took in 70 quintals of w h e a t per hectare or more. B e f o r e the l i b e r a t i o n of the country, the average yields w e r e 7-8 quintals per hectare.
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t h i n k o f w h a t w e h a v e b e e n a n d w h a t w e h a v e become, t h e n w e c a n see t h e great w o r k t h a t o u r P a r t y has done, a n d t h e g r e a t ideas i t h a s w o r k e d out. Its ideas, b a s e d o n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y , h a v e e n l i v e n e d people, e d u cated t h e m , m a d e t h e m courageous a n d bold in their t h o u g h t s a n d actions, t h a t i s w h y w e h a v e a c h i e v e d a l l those things we have and enjoy today. W e say, a n d w e c a n p r o v e it, t h a t w e a r e t h e o n l y country in the w o r l d w h i c h is b u i l d i n g socialism. There are n o o t h e r socialist c o u n t r i e s . W e a p p l y M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m i n o u r concrete c o n d i t i o n s . T h e p o l i c y o f o u r P a r t y i n a l l its d i r e c t i o n s i s b a s e d o n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y a n d h a s a s its a i m t h e b u i l d i n g o f s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e i n t e r e s t s o f o u r H o m e l a n d , its i n d e p e n d e n c e , s o v e r e i g n t y a n d f r e e d o m . W e h a v e b u i l t e v e r y t h i n g ourselves, w i t h the sweat of our brow, a n d w i t h the toil and knowledge o f o u r sons a n d d a u g h t e r s . O u r m a g n i f i c e n t r e a l i t y c o u l d not h a v e b e e n c r e a t e d b y some s o - c a l l e d socialist states, w h i c h , u n d e r t h e c o v e r o f a i d , r a t h e r t h a n h e l p us, r o b b e d us. B e s i d e s , w e h a v e p a i d t h e m b a c k t o t h e last cent e v e n f o r t h a t a i d w h i c h t h e y c l a i m t o h a v e g i v e n us. T h o s e w h o s e l l u s t h e i r t u r b i n e s , engines o r other machinery, w h i c h we have paid either in ready money, or with our p r i m a r y materials, cannot pretend that they have built our magnificent h y d r o - p o w e r plants, our r a i l ways, our combines, or developed the agriculture of our country, w h i c h has been transformed into a f l o w e r i n g garden. O u r h y d r o - p o w e r plants, railways, combines and p l a n t s , o u r s y s t e m a t i z e d f i e l d s a n d w o n d e r f u l terraces o f c i t r u s a n d o t h e r f r u i t - t r e e s a r e not t h e w o r k o f one o r t e n f o r e i g n engineers, a g r o n o m i s t s o r geologists, w h o h a v e c o m e t o o u r c o u n t r y f o r a t e r m o f t i m e u n d e r t h e disguise o f friends. T h e y could not do a n y t h i n g w i t h o u t the strength, without the w i l l power, without the knowledge and the t i r e l e s s w o r k o f o u r w o n d e r f u l people. B u t i n s t e a d o f h e l p i n g
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us, t h e y s a b o t a g e d u s b a d l y , i m p e d e d u s w h e n e v e r t h e y c o u l d , a n d w h e n w e got r i d o f t h e m , e v e r y t h i n g c a m e b a c k t o t h e r i g h t r o a d , t h e c o u n t r y a s s u m e d a n e w aspect, development a n d progress proceeded at great strides a n d w e ourselves b u i l t m a n y m o r e p r o j e c t s t h a n w e r e b u i l t before. W i t h t h e d e p a r t u r e o f t h e f o r e i g n specialists, t h e enemies thought that w e w o u l d capitulate, that w e w o u l d surrender. B u t they were greatly mistaken a n d deceived. They never k n e w the strength and vitality of our people and our Party. We w o u l d have lagged very m u c h behind h a d we not s h a k e n off a l l t h e p s e u d o - f r i e n d s , f r o m t h e Y u g o s l a v T i toites a n d t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s t o t h e C h i n e s e a n d o t h e r s . T h e y h a v e sabotaged us, h a v e r e s t r a i n e d o u r d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e r e f o r e , it is t h e y w h o o w e a debt to us, a n d n o t o n l y a p o l i t i c a l debt, b u t also a n e c o n o m i c debt. E v e r y discovery a n d progress in our country has been m a d e t h r o u g h t h e a b i l i t y o f o u r P a r t y a n d o u r p e o p l e . Let us take up the p r o b l e m of the oil, in w h i c h the f o r e i g n e r s c l a i m t o h a v e h e l p e d us. A c t u a l l y t h e y k e p t t h e d a t a a b o u t o u r o i l resources secret f r o m us, j u s t a s t h e y did w i t h our mines. W h a t the foreign specialists d i d in this field was equal to their abilities, a n d their abilities w e r e l i m i t e d because t h e y h a d o t h e r a i m s u p t h e i r sleeve, t h e y h a d c o m e t o d o s o m e t h i n g else a n d n o t t o h e l p us. N o w t h a t w e h a v e g r e a t e r e x p e r i e n c e , t h a t o u r miners a n d engineers have m o r e knowledge, we are able t o j u d g e v e r y r e a d i l y w h a t capacities those p e o p l e h a d a n d w h a t capacities w e h a v e . H e n c e , c o m r a d e s , t h e y d i d n o t come h e r e i n o r d e r t o h e l p A l b a n i a , b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y , t o e n s l a v e it, s o t h a t w e w o u l d d e p e n d o n t h e m . A l l the mines we have today, the iron-nickel, copper a n d other m i n e s , h a v e b e e n b u i l t b y o u r c o u r a g e o u s a n d valiant miners, under the leadership of the Party.
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I n t h e past w e u s e d t o s a y t h a t n a t u r e h a d g i v e n w e a l t h to the other countries, whereas it had given only m o u n t a i n s t o o u r c o u n t r y . N o w these m o u n t a i n s a r e a great a n d v e r y v a l u a b l e asset f o r us, n o t o n l y because t h e y c o n c e a l t r e a s u r e s i n t h e i r d e p t h s , b u t also because t h e y serve a s fastnesses t o d e f e n d o u r b e l o v e d A l b a n i a , w h i c h w e h a v e built and have made so beautiful and w i l l make still more beautiful in the future. W e a l l r e m e m b e r t h a t decades ago t h e w o r l d s a w socialist A l b a n i a as a s m a l l s a t e l l i t e of t h e Y u g o s l a v s , t h e n of the Soviets, a n d later of the Chinese. H o w e v e r , w i t h t h e passage o f t i m e those w h o s a w a n d c o n s i d e r e d u s a s such w e r e convinced that A l b a n i a had never been a satellite. Those w h o thought a n d judged l i k e this w e r e d i s i l l u s i o n e d . T h e others, w h o w i s h e d o u r c o u n t r y w e l l a n d w e r e realists, f o u n d this reality natural, therefore they d e f e n d e d a n d s t i l l d e f e n d u s t o d a y . W h e r e a s the v a r i o u s enemies, w h o f a i l e d i n their a n t i - A l b a n i a n , conspiratorial ambitions, w e r e compelled to change tune. T h i s t i m e the defence of the freedom, independence and sovereignty by the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a and the A l b a n i a n p e o p l e w a s c a l l e d i s o l a t i o n f r o m the outside w o r l d ! B u t w h a t d i d t h e e n e m i e s u n d e r s t a n d w i t h isol a t i o n ? J u s t t h e fact t h a t w e d i d n o t s e l l o u r s e l v e s t o the f o r e i g n e r s , t o w o r l d c a p i t a l , d i d not a l l o w o u r c o u n t r y ' s l i f e t o degenerate, d i d n o t i n c u r debts t o t h e s u p e r p o w e r s a n d t h e o t h e r i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s , d i d n o t s e l l o u r socialist H o m e l a n d , d i d n o t m a r c h i n step w i t h t h e m , d i d not g o towards spiritual, economic and m i l i t a r y enslavement, as the gentlemen w h o m a l i g n and criticise us did and continue to do in order to cover up their obvious bankruptcy. In order to cover up the tragedy w h i c h is going on a t t h e e x p e n s e o f t h e peoples, A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d its secret agency, Y u g o s l a v T i t o i s m , c o i n e d t h e p o l i t i c a l t e r m non-aligned countries. W h e n the question is asked
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w h a t m a k e s these c o u n t r i e s n o n - a l i g n e d , t h e a n s w e r i s t h a t t h e y are f o r m a l l y o u t s i d e N A T O a n d t h e W a r s a w Treaty. However, the political, ideological, economic a n d military commitment of most of the non-aligned countries to the superpowers and the developed capitalist countries is an u n d e n i a b l e fact. T h i s c o m m i t m e n t h a s b e c o m e a s e c o n d n a t u r e f o r m a n y l e a d e r s o f these c o u n t r i e s , w h o e m p l o y t h e i r so-called p o l i c y of n o n - a l i g n m e n t as a f i g l e a f to cover up their complete dependence on the big powers. In most o f these c o u n t r i e s , t h e p r o f i t s a c c r u i n g f r o m e n s l a v i n g l o a n s a n d c r e d i t s t o t h e b a n k s o f t h e b i g c a p i t a l i s t states e n d u p i n the p o c k e t s o f t h e l o c a l r i c h a n d t h e f o r e i g n c a p i t a l i s t s a n d m o n o p o l i s t s , w h i l e m i s e r y , crisis, d e g e n e r a t i o n w e i g h h e a v y , a s a l w a y s , o n t h e b a c k s o f t h e peoples, t h e w o r k i n g masses. S o c i a l i s t A l b a n i a has a v o i d e d t h i s g r i p , t h a t i s w h y t h e c h a m p i o n s o f i m p e r i a l i s t p l u n d e r c o n s i d e r i t isolated f r o m t h e w o r l d . B u t w e A l b a n i a n s don't care a t a l l a b o u t t h i s label t h e y s t i c k t o us. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , w e a r e m a r c h i n g o n t h e correct course u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f o u r P a r t y , t h e course o f socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n , c o n s t a n t progress and i m p r o v e m e n t of the w e l l - b e i n g of the w o r k e r s a n d increase of t h e p r o s p e r i t y of t h e H o m e l a n d , a c o u r s e w h i c h k n o w s n o crises o r debts. T h e p r o g r e s s i v e w o r l d , t h a t w o r l d w h i c h j u d g e s w i t h its o w n h e a d , t h e peoples w h o are w o r k i n g a n d f i g h t i n g f o r f r e e d o m a n d t h e s o v e r e i g n t y of t h e i r lands, m a k e a correct assessment of o u r course. O u r reality is the majestic w o r k of the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a , it is the result of the f a i t h f u l implementation of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . T h i s i s w h y t h e e n e m i e s oppose o u r P a r t y a n d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . T h e y d o s o because o u r reality makes more evident the betrayal of M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m by all the modern revisionists and shows the v i t a l i t y o f o u r t h e o r y . S m a l l b u t i n v i n c i b l e socialist A l b a n i a ,
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f r e e f r o m t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s c u m w h i c h has s p r e a d t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d , s h o w s t h e w h o l e m a n k i n d t h a t w h e n t h e peoples r e l y o n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y a n d t h e i r o w n forces, socialism is built successfully. T h e Y u g o s l a v T i t o i t e s a r e s w o r n e n e m i e s o f socialist A l b a n i a . F o r 40 years on end they have striven w i t h a l l m a n n e r o f m e a n s t o i m p e d e o u r a d v a n c e . W e w o n because r i g h t w a s o n o u r side, because w e w e r e c o n f i d e n t i n t h e l i n e of the Party, and relied on Marxism-Leninism. Yugoslavia i s u p t o t h e n e c k i n debts, a l t h o u g h r e c e n t l y w e a r e h e a r i n g the Titoites using the phrase we are building socialism w i t h o u r o w n forces. B u t t h e w o r l d i s n o t b l i n d a n d c a n c l e a r l y see t h a t Y u g o s l a v i a i s b u i l d i n g c a p i t a l i s m w i t h f o r e i g n forces. T h e y d o n o t say this, b u t w e say t h i s t o t h e m every day. This has made t h e m to l a u n c h even more v i c i o u s a t t a c k s o n us. Those w h o are financing Yugoslavia and propping it u p s a y s o o p e n l y i n t h e i r press, i n d e e d t h e y h a v e a d m i t t e d to us verbally, that they are giving Y u g o s l a v i a oxygen t o b r e a t h e , o t h e r w i s e , i t w o u l d die. T h e c a p i t a l i s t states are competing as to w h o w i l l grant more credits to this insatiable monster. This competition enriches foreign and domestic capital, w h i l e the people languish in misery and poverty. There prices are constantly rising and inflation is soaring. Likewise, unemployment and national oppression have increased. T i t o i t e Y u g o s l a v i a has b e e n t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a chessb o a r d f o r t h e g a m e b e t w e e n t w o opponents, t h e U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a a n d the Soviet U n i o n . T h e outcome of t h i s g a m e is c h e c k - m a t e f o r Y u g o s l a v i a , b u t also a t h r e a t t o peace a n d s e c u r i t y i n t h e B a l k a n s , E u r o p e a n d t h e world. T h e w o r l d today, comrades, is going t h r o u g h a t u r b u l e n t s i t u a t i o n , t h e t h r e a t o f w a r i s great. E v e r y b o d y a d m i t s this publicly. B u t w h a t is done to prevent this? There
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is m u c h talk, indeed regional and international meetings a r e h e l d a b o u t it. B u t w h a t comes out o f t h e m ? N o t h i n g . On the contrary, the danger of a nuclear w a r is increasing and the capitalist-revisionist w o r l d is feverishly a r m i n g . W h o i s i n c i t i n g t h i s h i s t e r i a o f a n e w w a r ? O n t h e one h a n d , N A T O , l e d b y t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , a n d o n t h e other hand, the W a r s a w Treaty, led by the Soviet U n i o n . W h a t are the so-called non-aligned countries doing i n these c i r c u m s t a n c e s ? S o m e o f t h e m , egged o n b y t h e s u p e r p o w e r s , are f i g h t i n g a m o n g s t t h e m s e l v e s i n A f r i c a , t h e M i d d l e East, A s i a , C e n t r a l A m e r i c a , a n d e l s e w h e r e . I n these c o u n t r i e s peoples a r e s h e d d i n g t h e i r b l o o d f o r t h e interests o f t h e s u p e r p o w e r s , w h i c h a r e d i v i d i n g a n d r e d i v i d i n g t h e spheres o f i n f l u e n c e , i n s p i r i n g a n d c a r r y i n g out p l o t s against t h e peoples, i n c i t i n g t h e slaves o f t h e d o l l a r o r t h e r u b l e t o e n c r o a c h o n t h e b o r d e r s o f one a n o t h e r . C u r r e n t l y , the leaders of Titoite Y u g o s l a v i a are trotting about in all directions t r y i n g to envenom the situation, s c r e a m i n g t h a t the t h r e a t t o Y u g o s l a v i a , t h e B a l k a n s , a n d E u r o p e comes f r o m socialist A l b a n i a , f r o m t h e d i c t a t o r ship of E n v e r Hoxha, from A l b a n i a ' s non-participation in the H e l s i n k i Conference, the M a d r i d Conference, or a n y o t h e r s u c h m e e t i n g s w h i c h h a v e y i e l d e d a n d are y i e l d i n g n o result, o n t h e c o n t r a r y , n o w w e see t h a t n u c l e a r m i s s i l e s are t o b e s t a t i o n e d i n E u r o p e a n d t h e m e n a c e o f t h e outbreak of a w o r l d w a r is i m m i n e n t . C a n a w o r l d w a r w h i c h t h r e a t e n s t o b r e a k out b e avoided if the policy of the Soviet U n i o n , the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a , N A T O , the W a r s a w Treaty, the E u r o p e a n C o m m o n M a r k e t a n d C o m e c o n i s not opposed a n d e x p o s e d ? C a n a w o r l d w a r b e a v o i d e d b y g e t t i n g i n t o debt t o t h e one a n d t h e other, b y s m i l i n g n o w a t t h e one n o w a t t h e o t h e r , b y r e s o r t i n g t o b l a c k m a i l against a n d m a k i n g concessions t o t h e one o r t h e o t h e r ? N o , i n n o w a y ! O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h i s leads to catastrophe.
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O u r defence of the rights of our A l b a n i a n brothers i n Y u g o s l a v i a does n o t m e a n , a s t h e T i t o i t e s c l a i m , t h a t w e w i s h Y u g o s l a v i a i l l . N o . W e h a v e p r o c l a i m e d o u r stands clearly a n d publicly. We have never interfered in the i n t e r n a l affairs of Yugoslavia. It is the Yugoslav Titoites w h o h a v e p l o t t e d a n d c o n t i n u e t o p l o t against the f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e A l b a n i a n people a n d socialist A l b a n i a . W e are a w a r e o f a n d a l w a y s b e a r i n m i n d t h e a i m s of a l l those w h y o r g a n i z e secret p l o t s of a f a s c i s t - c l e r i c a l a n d annexionist character to destroy our regime and p a r t i tion A l b a n i a . However, it must be clear to all that they w i l l n e v e r succeed i n t h e i r s i n i s t e r a i m s . T h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e w i l l s m a s h a l l plots a n d h o s t i l e a c t i v i t i e s , j u s t a s t h e y d i d w i t h t h e h a t e d c r i m i n a l b a n d o f t h e m u l t i p l e agent M e h m e t Shehu. We constantly weed our garden, other weeds m a y crop up, but we have herbicides to fight them. A s w e t o l d y o u , w h e n w e i n f o r m e d y o u o f t h e decisions of the C e n t r a l Committee on the treacherous activities of t h e agents M e h m e t S h e h u a n d K a d r i H a z b i u a n d c o m p a n y , we acquainted y o u w i t h the strategy of our Party, w h i c h i s r o c k - f i r m , a s t h e c o m r a d e f r o m K o m a n s a i d here. O u r tactics are based on M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d w e i g h up a l l situations and all circumstances. We k n o w that here we must advance that far, there that far. S o c i a l i s t A l b a n i a desires t o l i v e i n h a r m o n y w i t h a l l t h e peoples a n d i n L e n i n i s t p e a c e f u l coexistence w i t h a l l those states w h i c h a r e c o r r e c t i n t h e i r r e l a t i o n s w i t h it. I t i s f o r t h e defence o f peace a n d against aggressive i m p e r i a l ist w a r s . Socialist A l b a n i a and the P a r t y of Labour of A l b a n i a , w h i c h leads it, h a v e t h e i r o w n p o l i c y a n d v i e w s o n e v e r y q u e s t i o n , a n d t h e y e x p r e s s these v i e w s o p e n l y a n d p u b l i c l y . N o one w i l l b e i n a p o s i t i o n t o d r o w n d o w n o u r j u s t v o i c e or to induce us to lower our revolutionary vigilance. Those w h o b e l i e v e t h a t s m a l l e r c o u n t r i e s h a v e n o r i g h t t o raise
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their voice are greatly mistaken. N o b o d y granted us t h e r i g h t t o v o i c e o u r ideas o p e n l y , a l w a y s a n d e v e r y w h e r e , w e w o n this right through bloodshed a n d great sacrifices. O u r r i g h t s are s a c r e d a n d w e ' l l d e f e n d t h e m w i t h a l l o u r m i g h t . W e w i l l a l l o w n o one, w h o e v e r h e be, t o v i o l a t e o u r r i g h t s , t o d e f e n d u n j u s t actions, w h e n t h e y a r e c o v e r e d b y i n t e r n a t i o n a l treaties c o n c l u d e d b y o t h e r s t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f the interests o f t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e a n d outside t h e i r w i l l , o r t o f a i l t o m e e t l e g i t i m a t e o b l i g a t i o n s t o w a r d s socialist A l b a n i a . The internal situation of our country is healthy in a l l directions, p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y . O u r P e o p l e ' s A r m y , w i t h t h e w e a p o n s i t possesses i n a l l its s t r u c t u r e s , is a f o r c e c a p a b l e of d e f e n d i n g A l b a n i a s u c c e s s f u l l y against a n y e n e m y . O u r p e o p l e a r e u n i t e d i n a s t e e l - l i k e u n i t y r o u n d t h e P a r t y a n d its l i n e , a n d o u r e c o n o m y i s stable. A t a t i m e w h e n t h e w h o l e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n ist w o r l d is in a crisis, o u r e c o n o m y is d e v e l o p i n g at s t e a d y h i g h rates, t h e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g o f o u r p e o p l e i s g o o d a n d c o n s t a n t l y i m p r o v i n g , t h e defence p o t e n t i a l o f t h e Homeland is powerful and invincible. O u r socialist i n d u s t r y i s a d v a n c i n g a t h i g h rates, too, p a s s i n g o v e r f r o m one stage t o t h e other. F r o m a s m a l l scale i n d u s t r y w e h a v e passed t o d a y o v e r t o t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f p l a n t s a n d f a c t o r i e s w i t h o u r o w n forces. O f course, i n t h e f u t u r e , too, w e s h a l l i m p o r t m a c h i n e r y f o r f a c t o r i e s w h i c h we are not yet in a position to m a k e ourselves, however, even today we have a l l the means required to advance in this field, too; we have the m e t a l l u r g i c a l combine i n E l b a s a n . I t i s a huge, c o l o s s a l c o m b i n e , w h i c h i n t h e f u t u r e w i l l b e e n l a r g e d w i t h o t h e r factories, a n d w e s h a l l cut d o w n o n t h e i m p o r t lists o f m a n y goods, w h i l e i n c r e a s i n g our exports at the same time. W i t h us everything is harmonized w i t h our current a n d p e r s p e c t i v e needs, w i t h o u r p o s s i b i l i t i e s . I n o u r d e v e l o p -
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m e n t t h e r e i s n o s p o n t a n e i t y , t h e r e a r e n o useless a n d chaotic investments, no pointless a n d uncontrollable spendi n g . O u r masses a r e s a t i s f i e d , n o t because w e h a v e r e a c h e d t h e h e a v e n s , b u t w e h a v e c o n v i n c e d people o f t h e c o r r e c t ness o f t h e r o a d o f t h e P a r t y . T h e people c a n see, t h i n k a n d j u d g e f o r t h e m s e l v e s w h e r e w e h a v e been a n d w h e r e w e are, a n d t h e y c a n see o u r d a i l y a d v a n c e . W e h a v e d o n e a n d are d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g w i t h o u r o w n s w e a t a n d o u r o w n b l o o d w h i c h w e h a v e b e e n s h e d d i n g since t h e t i m e o f t h e war. Y o u r comrades have fallen in b u i l d i n g railways, in the m i n e s , on c o n s t r u c t i o n sites, b u t t h e i r b l o o d has b e c o m e a m a j o r m o b i l i z i n g force. T h e p e o p l e u n d e r s t a n d t h e s i tuation and have unshakeable confidence in the P a r t y a n d i n t h e i r o w n f u t u r e . T h e p o l i t i c a l consciousness o f o u r p e o p l e has r i s e n a n d i s s t e a d i l y r i s i n g , o u r i d e o l o g y has created a n d raised our n e w m a n w i t h a clear idea of his r i g h t s a n d duties, w h o u n d e r s t a n d s t h e p r o l e t a r i a n d i s c i p l i n e at w o r k and the good conduct in life and w h o , before t h i n k i n g a b o u t h i s p e r s o n a l interest, t h i n k s a b o u t t h e c o m m o n interest. These are the invaluable characteristics and merits of o u r s o c i a l s y s t e m of t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , one o f t h e m o s t d e m o c r a t i c , t h e m o s t a d v a n c e d , a n d m o s t h u m a n e systems, r e s t i n g o n p r o l e t a r i a n justice, t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f p e r s o n a l f r e e d o m s a n d t h e defence o f t h e g e n eral freedom of the H o m e l a n d . N a t i o n a l oppression, p r o h i b i t i o n o f t h e f r e e e x p r e s s i o n o f c r e a t i v e ideas, g e n o c i d e a n d a p a r t h e i d are u n k n o w n i n o u r c o u n t r y . O u r people a r e neither r i c h nor poor, they hate l u x u r y a n d corruption, their life is characterized by dignity, love of work, a n d a f f e c t i o n a n d respect f o r one a n o t h e r . O u r s o c i a l s y s t e m is a c r e a t i v e one. T h i s is a g r e a t m e r i t of o u r w o r k i n g class w h i c h , i n a l l i a n c e w i t h t h e p e a s a n t r y a n d u n d e r t h e leadership of the Party, guides the life of the country and has c r e a t e d a l l these m a t e r i a l a n d s p i r i t u a l blessings.
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N o w w e a r e d r a f t i n g the 1984 p l a n , w h i c h w i l l b r i n g new victories to our people and H o m e l a n d . T h e achievements hitherto, the favourable conditions created by the P a r t y must be utilized so that they serve to draft an o p t i m a l a n d mobilizing plan, w h i c h w i l l make the H o m e l a n d more p r o s p e r o u s a n d s t r o n g e r a n d t h e l i v i n g o f t h e p e o p l e better. We must m a k e more efforts to strengthen organization i n p r o d u c t i o n , p l a n n i n g , e d u c a t i o n , c u l t u r e , science, etc., w h i c h in t u r n makes for bigger mobilization of the w o r k i n g people, increases t h e i r z e a l a n d m a k e s t h e i r w o r k m o r e f r u i t f u l . W e m u s t use t o o u r best a b i l i t i e s t h e e x p e r i e n c e we have gained in management and organization, technique a n d technology, i m p r o v e o n t h i s e x p e r i e n c e a n d a d a p t i t t o t h e s i t u a t i o n s w h i c h m a y arise. O u r c r e a t i v e w o r k r e q u i r e s this constantly, n o w a n d in the future. L i k e w i s e , saving m u s t be on the o r d e r of t h e d a y . A t h r i f t y people, m a k i n g no w a s t e f u l s p e n d i n g , is a people c a p a b l e of l i v i n g t h r o u g h t h e centuries. T h e p l a n s o f the P a r t y a n d the t a s k s o f a l l a n d s u n d r y , w h e r e v e r t h e y w o r k , m u s t b e c a r r i e d out t o t h e l e t t e r a n d o n t i m e , w i t h a l o f t y sense o f d u t y a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , b o t h p e r s o n a l a n d collective. T h i s g u a r a n t e e s o u r c o n s t r u c t i o n of socialism, our freedom, independence a n d sovereignty, a n d t h e p r o s p e r o u s f u t u r e o f o u r socialist H o m e l a n d . T h e e n e m i e s are c o n s t a n t l y p l o t t i n g a g a i n s t us, b u t w e a r e p r e p a r e d a n d h a v e t a k e n a l l t h e m e a s u r e s t o cope w i t h t h e m . A l b a n i a i s not a n easy p r e y . T h i s m u s t b e c l e a r t o them. True, A l b a n i a is a small country, w i t h a small p o p u l a t i o n , it does not possess s u c h h i g h l y s o p h i s t i c a t e d w e a p o n s a s o u r enemies have, b u t t h e e n e m i e s k n o w , also, t h a t t h e A l b a n i a n s are a b r a v e people a n d t h a t t h e y a r e a l l u n i t e d r o u n d t h e P a r t y , a n d t h e p r i c e f o r s e t t i n g foot o n A l b a n i a w i l l b e too h i g h f o r t h e m . T h o s e w h o d a r e b r i n g t h e f i r e t o o u r s o i l m u s t k n o w t h a t t h e y w i l l get b u r n t i n it. T h e r e fore, comrades, i t i s o u r d u t y t o m a k e o u r c o u n t r y , o u r
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H o m e l a n d s t r o n g a n d p r o s p e r o u s i n a l l aspects, b e a r i n g always in m i n d that this is the deed of the P a r t y and the P a r t y w i l l g u i d e u s o n t h e r o a d o f progress. T h e P a r t y i s o u r g u a r a n t e e , because i t i s t h e v a n g u a r d o f t h e w o r k i n g class. T h e P a r t y c a n n o t e x i s t w i t h o u t t h e w o r k i n g class. I t i s t h e g r e a t s t r e n g t h o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t w h i c h m a k e s its v a n g u a r d a s s t r o n g a s steel, w h i c h creates t h e u n i t y b e t w e e n t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e p e a s a n t r y , a m o n g t h e w o r k e r s , the p e a s a n t r y a n d the i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , a n d e n a b l e s them to overcome still greater difficulties under the leaders h i p o f t h e P a r t y . E v e n i f s t o r m s r a g e a g a i n s t us, w e w i l l breast t h e m . T h e r e f o r e , w e m u s t p u t t h e s h o u l d e r t o t h e wheel, comrades, being always vigilant, creative and bold. This is a question of major importance. We must have t h e c o u r a g e to act, t h e c o u r a g e of our o p i n i o n s , t h e c o u r a g e t o c r i t i c i z e e v e r y b o d y w h o i s n o t o n t h e c o r r e c t course o f the Party. A l l this is for the good of the H o m e l a n d and for the strengthening of unity. N o b o d y must take offence at his comrades' criticism, on the contrary, must consider it a s a l u t a r y lesson. L e t u s c o n t i n u e t o w o r k e v e r better, s o a s t o s h o w o u r p e o p l e t h r o u g h deeds t h e correctness o f t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a ; let t h e g o o d a n d p r o g r e s s i v e people t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d see a n d j u d g e t h e r e a l i t y o f o u r socialist A l b a n i a . C o m r a d e s , I am 75 y e a r s o l d n o w , b u t I w i l l l i v e l o n g e r . I w i l l l i v e l o n g e r because y o u g i v e m e s t r e n g t h , t h e w o r k o f the P a r t y g i v e s m e s t r e n g t h , a n d y o u a r e t h a t force of m i n d w h i c h helps us to co-ordinate our w o r k and reach the right conclusions. Y o u must not t h i n k we are Z e u s ' m i n d . Y o u exist, t h e r e f o r e w e exist. Y o u h a v e elected u s a n d w e m u s t p e r f o r m o u r d u t i e s t o t h e letter, a s l o n g a s w e b r e a t h e . T h e closer t h e l e a d e r s h i p t o t h e people, t h e b e t t e r i t l i s t e n s t o t h e people, t h e closer a r e its l i n k s w i t h t h e m , w i t h t h e i r p r o b l e m s , because w e h a v e a n d w i l l c o n -
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tinue to have problems and difficulties, the more invincible i t becomes. T h a t i s w h y t h i s u n i t y , t h e P a r t y - p e o p l e u n i t y , m u s t b e c o n t i n u o u s l y steeled. I l i k e t o stay l o n g e r a n d t a l k w i t h y o u . I a m v e r y p l e a s e d w i t h y o u r v i s i t , n o t o n l y because y o u c a m e h e r e f o r m y b i r t h d a y , b u t also because y o u i n f o r m e d m e a b o u t y o u r w o n d e r f u l w o r k . H o w e v e r , I a m also p l e a s e d w i t h your congratulations on my birthday. I w i s h I could always be near y o u in all y o u r joys. A WOMAN COMRADE: A n d y o u a r e a l w a y s w i t h us, Comrade Enver. COMRADE ENVER HOXHA: Y e s , w i t h my h e a r t I am there, w i t h a l l the children w h o are b o r n and g r o w up in creches a n d k i n d e r g a r t e n s , w h o l e a r n a t schools, w i t h those w h o are treated and healed in hospitals. I am h a p p y about a l l these blessings w h i c h t h e P a r t y has c r e a t e d a n d w h i c h w i l l increase i n t h e f u t u r e . Y o u c o n g r a t u l a t e d me, a n d I , too, w h o l e h e a r t e d l y w i s h y o u a l l : M a y success a t t e n d y o u i n y o u r w o r k ! M a y y o u always be merry and happy! Defend your country, under the leadership of the P a r t y ! T h e P a r t y w i l l always be w i t h y o u a n d w i l l s u p p o r t y o u , because y o u are t h e great s u p p o r t of our Homeland and our nation. I once a g a i n t h a n k y o u f o r y o u r c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s o n m y b i r t h d a y and h a i l y o u r victories, w h i c h rejoice me a n d give m e f r e s h energies. Hence, f o r w a r d comrade w o r k e r s and cooperativists, y o u n g m e n a n d w o m e n , specialists i n p r o d u c t i o n , w o r k e r s o f c u l t u r e , f o r w a r d c o m r a d e c o m m u n i s t s , t o n e w successes i n a c c o m p l i s h i n g t h e c u r r e n t t a s k s a n d those w h i c h t h e P a r t y w i l l set u s i n t h e f u t u r e ! Best regards to a l l y o u r workmates. I w i s h y o u h a p piness i n l i f e a n d i n y o u r f a m i l i e s ! M a y success a t t e n d y o u ! L o n g live our people! M a y they advance continually!
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L o n g live our P a r t y ! M a y it become ever stronger! L e t u s r a i s e a toast t o t h e P a r t y a n d t o y o u r h e a l t h , dear comrades!
THE MIDDLE EAST IN THE YEAR 1983

Notes December 1983
T h i s y e a r , too, t h e o p e n p o l i t i c a l - e c o n o m i c r i v a l r y , a n d the indirect m i l i t a r y r i v a l r y between the t w o imperialist s u p e r p o w e r s , the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , i n t h e M i d d l e East, a s w e l l a s t h e p r o b l e m s l i n k e d w i t h t h i s w e r e i n the c e n t r e o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l events. T h e r e were new dangerous developments in the A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n flict, the w a r between Iran a n d Iraq continued fiercely, the resistance o f t h e people o f A f g h a n i s t a n a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t occupiers a s s u m e d m o r e e x t e n s i v e a n d g r e a t e r p r o p o r t i o n s , etc. A t c e r t a i n m o m e n t s t h e f u r t h e r e v o l u t i o n o f t h e e v e n t s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e hotbeds o f l o c a l w a r s i n t h i s r e g i o n m i g h t l e a d t o m u c h g r e a t e r clashes, w i t h g r a v e consequences f o r the n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n t r i e s a n d peoples, too. A s I h a v e w r i t t e n p r e v i o u s l y , t h e r e a l basis o f a l l t h e inter-imperialist r i v a l r y in the M i d d l e East is the oil and the m i l i t a r y strategic positions of the A r a b countries. F o r y e a r s t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n have been clashing fiercely, openly a n d surreptitiously, over the o i l of the M i d d l e East a n d for strategic m i l i t a r y p o s i tions in this region. W i t h o u t oil, their economies as a whole, and their mighty m i l i t a r y machines in particular, cannot go o n f o r l o n g . W i t h o u t d o m i n a t i n g t h e l a n d , sea a n d a i r r o u t e s o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n w h i c h pass t h r o u g h t h i s v e r y e x t e n s i v e region it is difficult for them to realize their plans for
MIDDLE EAST IN THE YEAR 1983
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occupation a n d expansion in the vast territories of the continents of A s i a and A f r i c a and the boundless Pacific a n d A t l a n t i c Oceans. T h e s e a r e t h e m a i n reasons w h y b o t h t h e U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a and the Soviet Union have declared and treat the M i d d l e E a s t r e g i o n , w h i c h e x t e n d s f r o m A l g e r i a t o I r a n , as spheres of t h e i r n a t i o n a l interests f o r t h e defence of w h i c h , as they say publicly, they are ready to r i s k everything, including war. Proceeding f r o m this viewpoint, during 1983 t h e y h a v e gone o v e r f r o m p u b l i c t h r e a t s t o concrete actions a n d measures. T h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a d i s p a t c h e d a w h o l e n a v a l fleet a n d s p e c i a l l a n d i n g d e t a c h m e n t s t o the v i c i n i t y o f t h e P e r s i a n G u l f i n o r d e r t o use t h e f o r c e o f a r m s i f I r a n w e r e t o close t h e S t r a i t o f H o r m u z a n d p r e v e n t t h e o i l t a n k e r s f r o m p a s s i n g t h r o u g h t o t h e ocean. I n t h e M e d i terranean it reinforced the 6th Fleet to the m a x i m u m and l a n d e d m o r e t h a n 2,000 m a r i n e s i n L e b a n o n . E a c h o f these m i l i t a r y actions w a s c a r r i e d out u n d e r t h e p r e t e x t o f d e f e n d i n g t h e n a t i o n a l interests o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ! T h e Soviet U n i o n acted similarly. It dispatched a part o f its n a v a l fleet t o t h e P a c i f i c O c e a n , s t r e n g t h e n e d its M e d i t e r r a n e a n fleet t o t h e m a x i m u m , etc. It, too, d i d a l l these t h i n g s i n o r d e r to d e f e n d t h e n a t i o n a l interests o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n i n these r e g i o n s ! Hence, the t w o imperialist superpowers, this year more t h a n ever before, put into practice the gunboat policy in t h e M i d d l e East, t o t a l l y d i s r e g a r d i n g t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e , f r e e d o m a n d desires o f t h e peoples o f t h i s r e g i o n . T h i s g u n b o a t p o l i c y a n d t h e o p e n m i l i t a r y a c t i o n s o f b o t h sides were expressions of the further exacerbation of what is c a l l e d the M i d d l e E a s t crisis. A t t h e s a m e t i m e , s p e c i a l e n v o y s o f the p r e s i d e n t s and governments of the t w o superpowers undertook f r e q u e n t j o u r n e y s w i t h top-secret s p e c i a l m i s s i o n s t o T e l
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A v i v , Riyadh, Cairo, Damascus, A m m a n and m a n y other c a p i t a l cities o f t h e c o u n t r i e s o f t h e A r a b w o r l d t o o f f e r the a i d a n d m e d i a t i o n o f t h e i r c o u n t r i e s , b u t i n r e a l i t y to exert pressure a n d organize n e w plots against the A r a b peoples a n d , f i r s t o f a l l , a g a i n s t t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e . D u r i n g t h e y e a r I h a v e r e c o r d e d i n m y Diary some o f the moments and events w h i c h h a v e impressed me most f r o m the illegal and i n h u m a n activity of the imperialist superpowers a n d Israel, as w e l l as moments f r o m t h e heroic struggle of the Palestinian, A r a b , A f g h a n a n d I r a n i a n peoples against t h e p l o t s o f t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s . I h a v e also r e c o r d e d some o f m y t h o u g h t s a n d feelings, t h e g r i e f w h i c h I feel over the misfortunes w h i c h have descended u p o n these peoples a n d t h e i n j u s t i c e s p e r p e t r a t e d a g a i n s t t h e m , a s w e l l a s t h e great j o y w h i c h I f e e l o v e r t h e i r e x e m plary struggle for their freedom and national independence, against t h e s a v a g e I s r a e l i , i m p e r i a l i s t a n d s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t o c c u p i e r s a n d enemies. H e r e I a m m a k i n g a s u m m a r y o f these g e n e r a l events.
T h e A r a b - I s r a e l i C o n f l i c t a n d Its Complications T h e y e a r 1983 c a n b e c o n s i d e r e d t h e y e a r o f t h e c o n s o l i d a t i o n of t h e de facto o c c u p a t i o n of L e b a n o n by t h e I s r a e l i a r m i e s a n d t h e m u l t i n a t i o n a l force, w h i c h is made up of special detachments of the A m e r i c a n , Italian, F r e n c h and B r i t i s h armies. This occupation was carried out, f i r s t o f a l l , t o s t r i k e a n e w b l o w a g a i n s t a n d t o d e s t r o y t h e o r g a n i z e d P a l e s t i n i a n forces c e n t e r e d i n L e b a n o n . T h i s m e a n s t h e p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e second part of the package p l a n of Israeli, imperialist and A r a b r e a c t i o n t o sabotage a n d c o m p l e t e l y p a r a l y s e t h e j u s t struggle of the Palestinian people to r e t u r n to their o w n homeland.
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A f t e r f i e r c e f i g h t i n g , t h e I s r a e l i forces, a r m e d t o t h e teeth w i t h the most m o d e r n weapons a n d comprised of about a h u n d r e d thousand men, occupied Beirut and the m a i n p a r t o f t h e s o u t h e r n zone o f L e b a n o n . T h e P a l e s t i n i a n f i g h t e r s r e s i s t e d h e r o i c a l l y , but, a b a n d o n e d b y t h e i r f a l s e friends, in the end were obliged to w i t h d r a w f r o m Beirut t o t h e zones n o r t h o f t h e c i t y a n d i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e B e q a a V a l l e y under the surveillance of the m u l t i - n a t i o n a l force. Nevertheless, the occupation of Lebanon and the i m p l e mentation of the p l a n for the destruction of the organized P a l e s t i n i a n forces c o u l d n o t b e f u l l y a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t b r e a k i n g up and damaging the unity of the Lebanese a n d P a l e s t i n i a n peoples. T h u s i n 1983 t h e w o r l d w a s f a c e d w i t h t w o f r a t r i c i d a l w a r s i n c i t e d b y I s r a e l , t h e U n i t e d States a n d c e r t a i n r e a c t i o n a r y circles o f the A r a b w o r l d . F r a t r i c i d a l w a r was incited between various factions of the Lebanese people, b e t w e e n C h r i s t i a n s a n d M o s l e m s , a n d e v e n b e t w e e n v a r i o u s C h r i s t i a n a n d M o s l e m sects a s b e t w e e n t h e D r u z e , the Shia, the S u n n i Moslems, the Maronite Christians, and others. T h i s w a r h a d v e r y g r a v e p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c consequences f o r L e b a n o n a n d , a m o n g s t other t h i n g s , l e d to the destruction of the cosmopolitan and f o r m e r l y w e a l t h y city of Beirut. T h e other fratricidal w a r was that w h i c h w a s incited w i t h i n the Palestine Liberation Organization, between Palestinian fighters, between A r a f a t and his supp o r t e r s , o n t h e one h a n d , a n d A b u M o u s a , a t one t i m e A r a f a t ' s r i g h t - h a n d m a n , o n t h e other h a n d . T h i s w a r ended w i t h the complete w i t h d r a w a l f r o m Lebanon of A r a f a t and about four thousand p a r t l y disarmed Palestinian fighters. F r o m a l l this f r a t r i c i d a l fighting it was Israel that benefited and the Palestinian people and their liberation m o v e m e n t t h a t lost. D u r i n g this year, in the context of the campaign of t e r r o r a g a i n s t t h e defenceless P a l e s t i n i a n p o p u l a t i o n a n d
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the a t t e m p t s t o d r i v e f r o m L e b a n o n a b o u t t h r e e t o f o u r h u n d r e d thousand Palestinians w h o h a d settled there since I s r a e l d r o v e t h e m f r o m t h e i r h o m e l a n d , t h e agents o f Israel in Lebanon organized and carried out in cold blood a m a s s a c r e u n p r e c e n d e n t e d f o r its f e r o c i t y i n S a b r a a n d Shatila, two undefended Palestinian camps on the periphery of Beirut. In the darkness of the night and under the supervision of the Israeli regular a r m y w h i c h allegedly had the d u t y t o protect these c a m p s f r o m s u r p r i s e attacks, some L e b a n e s e fascist gangs i n t h e s e r v i c e o f I s r a e l s l a u g h t e r e d m o r e t h a n 1,500 people m e n , w o m e n , o l d f o l k a n d children, entire families, without discrimination, in the most barbarous w a y . Those w h o perpetrated this i n h u m a n crime as w e l l as their inciters and supporteres covered their tracks, w e r e taken under protection and remained unpunished. Nevertheless t h e w h o l e o f p r o g r e s s i v e o p i n i o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e world condemned them and branded them as w a r criminals. D u r i n g this year a v e r y grave situation w a s created, also, i n t h e i n t e r n a l p o l i t i c a l a f f a i r s o f L e b a n o n . T h e country remained almost continuously w i t h o u t a g o v e r n ment and administration capable of r u n n i n g affairs, caring f o r t h e people a n d o p p o s i n g t h e a c t i o n s o f t h e I s r a e l i occupiers. T h e r e a c t i o n a r y L e b a n e s e circles t o o k a d v a n t a g e of the situation, organized and a r m e d themselves and carr i e d out m i l i t a r y actions a g a i n s t p r o g r e s s i v e L e b a n e s e forces, e s p e c i a l l y against t h e P a l e s t i n i a n s , c o n t r a r y t o t h e national interests of Lebanon. N e v e r t h e l e s s t h e L e b a n e s e p e o p l e w e r e not d e f e a t e d . T h e y took up arms and forcibly resisted the Israeli a r m y o f o c c u p a t i o n a n d the other occupiers, e s p e c i a l l y t h e A m e r ican and the F r e n c h . Israeli, A m e r i c a n and F r e n c h m i l i t a r y targets w e r e a t t a c k e d , a n d serious d a m a g e w a s i n f l i c t e d on them. Hence, the situation became no m o r e peaceful, even
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though the Israeli a r m y occupied B e i r u t and the inspirers a n d s u p p o r t e r s o f I s r a e l d i s p a t c h e d t h o u s a n d s o f peacek e e p i n g specialists (the m u l t i - n a t i o n a l force) t o B e i r u t . Therefore the Israeli air force and n a v y and the air force a n d n a v a l fleet o f the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , w h i c h included the aircraft carriers Nimitz, Eisenhower, and Independence, a n d tens o f h e a v y c r u i s e r s , c o n t i n u e d t o b o m b a r d and strike the positions of the Palestinian and Lebanese fighters in the mountains around Beirut and especially in the Beqaa V a l l e y w i t h all their fire power. T h e A m e r i c a n a i r f o r c e a n d n a v a l a r t i l l e r y h a v e also b o m b a r d e d t h e j o i n t A r a b - S y r i a n forces w h i c h h a v e been deployed in the Beqaa V a l l e y w i t h the a p p r o v a l of the Lebanese government. As f o r t h e S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s , as f a r as I c a n see f r o m t h e i r deeds a n d t h e i r b o m b a s t i c statements, i t seems t h a t t h e y a r e d o i n g n o t h i n g a t a l l a b o u t these t h i n g s t h a t a r e o c c u r r i n g , a b o u t t h e a t t a c k s w h i c h are b e i n g m a d e o n t h e P a l e s t i n i a n s a n d the L e b a n e s e o r e v e n a b o u t t h e a t t a c k s which a r e b e i n g m a d e o n t h e S y r i a n s . W h y d o I say t h i s ? I s a y t h i s because e v e n t h o u g h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n has a t r e a t y o f f r i e n d s h i p w i t h S y r i a , i t has p l a y e d a n d i s p l a y i n g t h e r o l e o f t h e deaf a n d t h e b l i n d . T h i s i s not t h e first time that the Soviet social-imperialists have betrayed and left their A r a b friends in the lurch. T h e Soviet sociali m p e r i a l i s t s a r e i n t e r e s t e d , m o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g else, i n selling them the m a x i m u m number of weapons so that t h e y use t h e m u p a s q u i c k l y a s p o s s i b l e a n d t h e n b u y m o r e w e a p o n s , r a t h e r t h a n i n c a r r y i n g out t h e pledges t h e y m a k e i n the t r e a t i e s o f f r i e n d s h i p w h i c h t h e y s i g n w i t h one c o u n t r y o r a n o t h e r , a n d i n e n g a n g i n g i n open c o n f l i c t w i t h the A m e r i c a n imperialists. N o w there is more and more talk about a package political plan said to be prepared and hatched up under the personal patronage of the A m e r i c a n president, Reagan,
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f o r t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e M i d d l e E a s t crisis. T h i s p l a n does s p e a k a b o u t the c r e a t i o n of a d i s m e m b e r e d P a l e s t i n i a n state: u n d e r t h e d o m i n a t i o n o f t h e a n t i - P a l e s t i n i a n k i n g o f J o r d a n , b u t its m a i n o b j e c t i v e i s t o g u a r a n t e e s e c u r e b o r d e r s f o r Israel. T h i s i s t h e t h i r d i n s t a l m e n t i n t h e a c h i e vement of the aims of Israel, A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d A r a b reaction, for the dispersal of the Palestinian people a n d t h e sabotage o f t h e i r j u s t s t r u g g l e . O u r people h a v e s p e c i a l s y m p a t h y f o r t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people, because t h e y h a v e w a g e d a n d a r e w a g i n g a r e s o l u t e and heroic fight, a n d we have supported and w i l l go on s u p p o r t i n g t h e m i n t h e ocean o f l o n e l i n e s s a n d b e t r a y a l in w h i c h they f i n d themselves today. E v e n betrayed and abandoned as the Palestinian people are today, they w i l l t r i u m p h . T h e y w i l l t r i u m p h , for they are fighting for a just cause, f o r t h e i r r e t u r n t o t h e i r h o m e l a n d t h e I s r a e l i a g gressors u s u r p e d w i t h t h e o p e n s u p p o r t o f t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , t h e S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d t h e react i o n a r y forces o f v a r i o u s A r a b c o u n t r i e s .
T h e A f g h a n People W i l l K i c k O u t the Soviet Occupiers T h e s e d a y s see t h e c o m p l e t i o n of f o u r y e a r s since t h e occupation of A f g h a n i s t a n by the Soviet a r m y . T h e Soviet s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s c o m m i t t e d t h i s fascist a g g r e s s i o n w i t h the hope that everything w o u l d q u i c k l y be forgotten and t h a t t h e A f g h a n people w o u l d b e d e c e i v e d a n d s u b j u g a t e d just as quickly. B u t they were gravely mistaken. Not for one m o m e n t h a v e the A f g h a n p e o p l e r e c o n c i l e d t h e m s e l v e s to the occupation of their homeland by the hordes of the Soviet social-imperialists. On the contrary, they h a v e fought and are fighting arms in h a n d so effectively that the S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t has been o b l i g e d t o d i s p a t c h c o n t i n u a l
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reinforcements of fresh troops a n d the most m o d e r n w e a p o n s , i n c l u d i n g c h e m i c a l w e a p o n s , t o c a r r y out m a s s bombardments by means of the air force and artillery, to depopulate, b u r n and massacre whole villages, to pursue the policy of scorched earth a n d to pack the prisons w i t h defiant A f g h a n fighters. W h a t means have the Soviet s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s n o t u s e d d u r i n g these f o u r y e a r s t o s u b j u g a t e t h e A f g h a n p e o p l e ? B u t t h e y h a v e been n e i t h e r s u b j u g a t e d n o r i n t i m i d a t e d a n d t h e y w i l l not b e s u b jugated or intimidated. D u r i n g 1983 t h e a r m e d resistance o f t h e A f g h a n fighters to the Soviet occupiers assumed more extensive a n d greater proportions. T h e p o w e r f u l garrisons of the Soviet occupation a r m y have been the targets of repeated attacks by the A f g h a n patriots a n d not just in mountainous regions as in the provinces of P a k t y a , K a n d a h a r and Herat, etc., b u t also r i g h t i n t h e c a p i t a l o f t h e c o u n t r y , K a b u l . O n a n u m b e r of occasions t h e fortress S o v i e t e m b a s s y a n d t h e r e i n f o r c e d concrete b u i l d i n g s w h e r e t h e g e n e r a l c o m m a n d of the Soviet occupation troops is located have been attacked. Generals, other senior officers a n d thousands o f s o l d i e r s h a v e b e e n k i l l e d , scores o f a d v i s e r s h a v e b e e n t a k e n prisoner, m i l i t a r y airports have been attacked a n d a i r c r a f t , h e l i c o p t e r s , t a n k s , a r t i l l e r y a n d other m e a n s o f w a r f a r e destroyed, while large quantities of weapons have been captured. T h e v e r y ground is ablaze under the feet o f t h e S o v i e t o c c u p i e r s w h o a r e o b l i g e d t o l i v e i n p a n i c amongst a people w h o k n o w t h e m not as friends but as savage, p e r f i d i o u s e n e m i e s w h o m u s t b e f o u g h t t o t h e d e a t h . N o t f o r one m o m e n t c a n t h e S o v i e t occupiers f e e l t h e m s e l v e s secure o n A f g h a n s o i l , i r r e s p e c t i v e o f the n u m b e r of soldiers a n d the amount of f i r e power they have dep l o y e d there. T h e v a l i a n t f i g h t i n g people o f A f g h a n i s t a n , w h o a r e poor and armed m a i n l y w i t h weapons captured f r o m the
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occupiers, a r e s e t t i n g a v e r y f i n e e x a m p l e o f h o w f o r e i g n occupiers, w h o e v e r t h e y are, h o w e v e r p o w e r f u l a n d h e a v i l y a r m e d t h e y m a y be, c a n a n d m u s t b e f o u g h t , o f h o w t h e ability to fight, the qualities of b r a v e r y and self-sacrifice are a c q u i r e d i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e f i g h t i n g t o d e f e n d t h e i r freedom and their homeland. F r e q u e n t l y w h e n I r e a d r e p o r t s o r see o n t h e T V shots o f t h e f i g h t i n g a n d d a r i n g actions w h i c h t h e A f g h a n f i g h t e r s c a r r y out against p o w e r f u l f o r m a t i o n s o r m o t o r i z e d c o l u m n s of the Soviet a r m y of occupation, j u m p i n g f r o m rock to r o c k a m o n g s t t h e s n o w a n d ice, t h e r a i n a n d h u n d r e d s o f other d i f f i c u l t i e s , a n d a r m e d o n l y w i t h r i f l e s , m y m i n d goes b a c k t o o u r g l o r i o u s N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , t o t h e heroism a n d sacrifices of our valiant, patriotic a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y people. O f course, o u r w a r w a s a t a m u c h h i g h e r level a n d m u c h better organized and, above all, it w a s l e d b y o u r C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o n t h e basis o f t h e t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . O u r people, r a l l i e d i n t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t , closely u n i t e d , w i t h o u t d i s t i n c t i o n a s t o r e g i o n o r r e l i g i o n , w e r e m o r e conscious a b o u t t h e i d e a l s for w h i c h they had to and d i d fight a n d about the character o f t h e state w h i c h t h e y w o u l d b u i l d o n t h e r u i n s o f past regimes, a f t e r t h e v i c t o r y . N e v e r t h e l e s s , I repeat t h a t t h e s t r u g g l e of t h e people of A f g h a n i s t a n is a j u s t s t r u g g l e , a n d t h e A f g h a n p a t r i o t i c f i g h t e r s deserve t o b e h o n o u r e d a n d respected b y a l l t h e p a t r i o t i c forces o f t h e w o r l d , t o b e s u p p o r t e d s o t h a t t h e y c a n step u p t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n w a r even further u n t i l they drive the Soviet occupiers completely f r o m their homeland. A n d , whether the Soviet social-imperialists a n d t h e i r l o c a l l a c k e y s l i k e i t o r not, t h i s w i l l c e r tainly be realized in the near future. T h e people of Afghanistan w i l l regain their freedom and independence.
MIDDLE EAST IN THE YEAR 1983 O n the Iraq-Iran W a r
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T h e I r a q i r u l e r s b e g a n t h e w a r against I r a n f r o m f e a r o f t h e i n f l u e n c e i n t h e i r c o u n t r y o f t h e I r a n i a n people's r e v olution against the S h a h and his patrons, the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , a n d also w i t h t h e i n c i t e m e n t o f t h e S o v i e t social-imperialists, the A m e r i c a n imperialists and A r a b r e a c t i o n i n o r d e r t o o v e r t h r o w the n e w I r a n i a n r e g i m e . I t seems t o m e t h a t S a d d a m H u s s e i n a n d h i s c l i q u e t h o u g h t that this w a r w o u l d be over v e r y q u i c k l y and that the I r a n i a n s w o u l d soon s u r r e n d e r o n a c c o u n t o f t h e state of their a r m y after the revolution, a l l o w i n g the occupation of the r i c h oil fields near the border, in K h u z i s t a n and e l s e w h e r e . B u t i t d i d n o t t u r n o u t l i k e that. T h e I r a n i a n a r m y withstood the i n i t i a l attacks of the Iraqi army, l a u n c h e d c o u n t e r - a t t a c k s w h i c h l i b e r a t e d t h e b o r d e r zones o c c u p i e d b y t h e I r a q i s , a n d c o n t i n u e d t o d r i v e deeper i n t o Iraq. T h e w a r . has d r a g g e d o n f o r t h r e e y e a r s w i t h h e a v y fighting and bloodshed, sometimes more quietly, sometimes simply w i t h bombardments, with artillery, rockets and a i r c r a f t b o m b s , t h e l a t t e r e s p e c i a l l y f r o m t h e I r a q i side. A l r e a d y t h e w a r h a s c a u s e d v e r y great losses o f h u m a n life a n d m a t e r i a l damage w h i c h is estimated at several tens of b i l l i o n s of d o l l a r s on each side. T h e a i m s f o r w h i c h I r a q b e g a n t h e w a r h a v e n o t been a c h i e v e d a n d S a d d a m H u s s e i n has s e v e r a l t i m e s s o u g h t m e d i a t i o n t o e n d it, b u t w i t h o u t r e n d e r i n g account f o r his deeds a n d w i t h o u t a s s u m i n g m o r a l a n d m a t e r i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e d a m a g e w h i c h has b e e n i n f l i c t e d o n t h e I r a n i a n people. Q u i t e r i g h t l y t h e I r a n i a n s h a v e not accepted t h i s m a n o e u v r e . H o w e v e r , those w h o i n c i t e d t h i s w a r a n d set i t a b l a z e a n d w h o f o s t e r i t w i t h a r m s s u p p l i e s are also opposed to the ending of the Iraqi-Iranian war. W h o a r e those w h o w a n t t o p r o l o n g t h i s w a r e n d l e s s l y ?
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T h e y are t h e S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s , t h e m a i n s u p p l i e r s of I r a q w i t h a l l types of the most m o d e r n weapons; they are the A m e r i c a n imperialists w h o by means of Iraq w a n t t o c a r r y out t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n i n I r a n , t o o v e r t h r o w the present regime a n d reinstate the barbarous P a h l a v i regime, to regain control of the great o i l w e a l t h of Iran and the fabuluous privileges w h i c h they enjoyed only a f e w y e a r s ago; t h e y a r e the a r m s m o n o p o l i e s o f c e r t a i n o t h e r i m p e r i a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , s u c h a s F r a n c e , B r i t a i n , etc. w h o sell Iraq supersonic aircraft, missiles and chemical w e a p o n s ; t h e y are the Israelis w h o w a n t t h e A r a b s t o c h o p each o t h e r t o pieces. F i n a l l y t h e A r a b r e a c t i o n a r i e s , w h o are s c a r e d t o d e a t h o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t a n d p r o g r e s s i v e m o v e m e n t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people, t h e I r a n i a n people a n d a n y o t h e r people i n t h i s r e g i o n , also w a n t to keep it going. T h i s y e a r t h e c o n f l i c t not o n l y c o n t i n u e d , b u t a s s u m e d more extensive proportions and became more bitter. Iraq has h i t a n d i s h i t t i n g i n h a b i t e d centres a n d c i t i e s o u t s i d e t h e w a r zone a n d e s p e c i a l l y a n u m b e r o f o i l f i e l d s a n d t h e refineries at A b a d a n , the K h a r g Island, B a n d a r - K h o m e i n i a n d elsewhere employing modern means of warfare, i n c l u d i n g supersonic aircraft, missiles a n d m o d e r n w a r s h i p s w h i c h i t has r e c e i v e d f r o m t h e S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d t h e other i m p e r i a l i s t s . O n these occasions t h e I r a n i a n g o v e r n m e n t has d e c l a r e d o f f i c i a l l y t h a t i f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s c o n t i n u e t o assist t h e r e g i m e o f S a d d a m H u s s e i n a n d e n a b l e i t t o a t t a c k t h e I r a n i a n people a n d t h e i r p r o p e r t y w i t h s u c h means, i t w i l l b e o b l i g e d t o t a k e m e a s u r e s t o close t h e S t r a i t o f H o r m u z a n d stop t h e passage o f o i l t a n k e r s out o f t h e P e r s i a n G u l f . C l o s i n g t h e S t r a i t o f H o r m u z w o u l d mean that the western capitalist countries, i n c l u d i g t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , w o u l d b e d e p r i v e d of 40-45% of the o i l needed to keep their industry going. T h e r e f o r e , t h e y h a v e a l l g a n g e d u p against a n d i n c r e a s e d
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t h e i r p r e s s u r e o n I r a n . I n d e e d , t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a has t h r e a t e n e d a r m e d i n t e r v e n t i o n . T o t h i s e n d some t i m e ago t h e A m e r i c a n s d e p l o y e d a b i g n a v a l fleet i n t h e G u l f of O m a n as w e l l as other special troops a n d means f o r r a p i d i n t e r v e n t i o n i n t h e P e r s i a n G u l f zone. R e g a r d l e s s o f t h e s e pressures, t h e I r a n i a n g o v e r n m e n t i s m a i n t a i n i n g a f i r m s t a n d i n defence o f t h e interests o f t h e I r a n i a n p e o p l e a n d resolutely opposing the anti-Iranian policy of the t w o superpowers. T h e prospects f o r p u t t i n g a n e n d t o t h i s w a r a r e g l o o m y a n d its p r o l o n g a t i o n increases t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f m i l i t a r y i n t e r v e n t i o n b y t h e s u p e r p o w e r s a t v a r i o u s s t r a t e g i c zones a n d p o i n t s o f t h e P e r s i a n G u l f , increases t h e d a n g e r s o f even greater flare-ups and complications in this region of the w o r l d and further exacerbates the M i d d l e East crisis. * * *
T h e y e a r 1983 p r o v e d once a g a i n t h a t t h e c r i s i s o f t h e M i d d l e East cannot be resolved t h r o u g h the package political plans or the mediation a n d aid of the t w o superpowers. On the contrary, they are t r y i n g to prolong t h i s c r i s i s a s m u c h a s p o s s i b l e because o n l y i n t h i s w a y c a n t h e y r e a l i z e t h e i r p l a n s t o sabotage a n d u n d e r m i n e t h e movements for national and social liberation of the A r a b peoples, c o n t i n u e t o e n s u r e c o l o s s a l p r o f i t s f r o m t h e t r a f ficking on arms and maintain their control of the extract i o n a n d p r o c e s s i n g o f A r a b o i l , which e n t a i l s t h e e n s l a v e m e n t , o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e A r a b peoples. However, the crisis in the M i d d l e East can never be s o l v e d u n t i l t h e m a r t y r e d P a l e s t i n i a n people r e g a i n t h e i r h o m e l a n d s t o l e n f r o m t h e m b y t h e I s r a e l i aggressors, a n d this w i l l be achieved only w h e n the political, economic a n d m i l i t a r y influence of the superpowers and the other
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i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s has been dealt p o w e r f u l b l o w s a n d b e e n t o t a l l y r e j e c t e d b y a l l t h e A r a b peoples. I n t h i s sense, t h i s y e a r s h o w e d t h a t t h e p r i m a r y q u e s t i o n w h i c h faces t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people, t h e L e b a n e s e people, t h e A f g h a n p e o p l e , the Iranian people and a l l the other A r a b and n o n - A r a b peoples o f t h e M i d d l e E a s t i s t o a v o i d f a l l i n g a g a i n i n t o t h e traps and the misleading a n d disruptive plots of the superp o w e r s , t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , a n d Israel. T h e y m u s t e s t a b l i s h a n d s t r e n g t h e n g e n u i n e u n i t y a n d o v e r c o m e t h e u n i t e d forces o f I s r a e l , t h e A m e r ican imperialists, the Soviet social-imperialists and the l o c a l f e u d a l - b o u r g e o i s r e a c t i o n a r y circles. O n l y r e s o l u t e , u n c o m p r o m i s i n g struggle, based o n g e n u i n e A r a b u n i t y , w i l l lead them to victory, to true independence and freedom s o t h a t t h e y c a n u t i l i z e t h e i r colossal w e a l t h , t h e i r o i l , f o r t h e i r n a t i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t a n d s o c i a l progress. *
T h e events o f t h e last t w o y e a r s i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t a n d t h e i r f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t c a n n o t f a i l t o h a v e consequences i n t h e r e g i o n s u r r o u n d i n g t h i s zone, too, t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n , Europe, A f r i c a and elsewhere. I n the M e d i t e r r a n e a n t h e y h a v e b e e n e x p l o i t e d b y t h e two imperialist superpowers to increase a n d strengthen t h e i r n a v a l fleets to s u c h a l e v e l as to create serious c o n c e r n a n d g r a v e t h r e a t s t o a l l t h e M e d i a t e r r a n e a n peoples. E u r o p e has been f i l l e d w i t h h e w l a n d a n d a i r bases a n d t h e n u m b e r o f l o n g - a n d m e d i u m - r a n g e n u c l e a r m i s s i l e s has b e e n increased. T h e a r m s race has a s s u m e d s t i l l g r e a t e r p r o p o r t i o n s and, even though the capitalist-revisionist w o r l d is in a g r a v e e c o n o m i c crisis, t h e a r m s p r o d u c t i o n i n d u s t r y c o n tinues to g r o w and b r i n g the capitalist magnates colossal
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p r o f i t s . T h i s w h o l e a r m s r a c e i s b e i n g c a r r i e d out m a i n l y b y r e d u c i n g the f u n d s w h i c h o u g h t t o b e spent t o r a i s e t h e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g o f t h e w o r k i n g people, e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e sectors o f services, h e a l t h a n d e d u c a t i o n , t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f c h e a p e r c o n s u m e r goods, etc. T h e q u e s t i o n presents i t s e l f : h o w l o n g w i l l t h e w o r k i n g masses p u t u p w i t h t h i s c r a z y arms race of the monopolies producing arms for profits, w h i c h is at their expense? C e r t a i n l y this cannot go on for long and without doubt t h e peoples w i l l r i s e . T h e n t h e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t b o u r geoisie w i l l b e o b l i g e d t o t a k e n e w , m o r e severe m e a s u r e s o f o p p r e s s i o n a n d w i l l seek n e w w a y s t o get o u t o f t h e crisis. O n e o f these w a y s w i l l b e t h e t h r e a t o f t h e o u t b r e a k of a n e w w o r l d conflict. Therefore, the clamour about d i s a r m a m e n t w h i c h i s b e i n g m a d e b y the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a a n d the Soviet U n i o n , as w e l l as a n u m b e r of other countries such as France, B r i t a i n and the Federal Republic of Germany, w h i c h have militarized their indust r i e s a n d a r e e n g a g e d i n the a r m s t r a f f i c , i s i n t e n d e d t o deceive progressive public opinion and keep it under control. W e see t h a t F r e n c h i m p e r i a l i s m , too, has e n t e r e d t h e race t o c a p t u r e n e w m a r k e t s . F r a n c e has b e g u n t o p u r s u e its o l d c o l o n i a l p o l i c y a n d i s t r y i n g , d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y , t o r e t u r n t o a l l those c o u n t r i e s w h i c h w e r e t h e F r e n c h s p h e r e s o f i n f l u e n c e or, a s t h e y a r e c a l l e d , the F r e n c h s p e a k i n g c o u n t r i e s , i n t h e N e a r East, L e b a n o n a n d some countries of C e n t r a l A f r i c a . Today, apart f r o m selling them weapons and t r y i n g to reintroduce F r e n c h culture, France has sent d e t a c h m e n t s o f p a r a c h u t i s t t r o o p s t o those c o u n tries. T h e y i n c l u d e t h e d e t a c h m e n t s w h i c h h a v e been sent to C h a d , w h e r e a bitter struggle for influence is being w a g e d b e t w e e n F r a n c e a n d Q a d d a f i o f L i b y a , a n d those d i s p a t c h e d t o some o t h e r A f r i c a n c o u n t r i e s . H e n c e , F r a n c e i s s e e k i n g t o r e g a i n t h e p l a c e i n the s u n w h i c h i t h a d b e f o r e the Second W o r l d W a r .
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A p a r t f r o m Chad, there are other hotbeds of w a r in A f r i c a . T h e y are A n g o l a i n S o u t h A f r i c a , N a m i b i a , M o z a m bique, Somalia and other countries in w h i c h the situation is c r i t i c a l . I n T u n i s i a , m a j o r clashes b r o k e out b e t w e e n t h e m a s ses o f t h e p e o p l e a n d t h e l o c a l p o l i c e a n d a r m y o v e r t h e i n c r e a s e i n t h e p r i c e o f b r e a d a n d f l o u r . T h e clashes e n d e d w i t h m a n y deaths o n t h e people's side a n d P r e s i d e n t B o u r guiba was obliged to a n n u l the government decisions on increasing the price of bread and flour. In Morocco there was a m a j o r bloody clash between t h e a r m y a n d t h e people, m a i n l y t h e s t u d e n t y o u t h , f o r t h e s a m e reasons. I n fact, i n b o t h cases t h e m a i n r e a s o n f o r t h e clashes w a s t h e resistance t o o p p r e s s i v e m e a s u r e s a n d police violence. In the B a l k a n s the imperialist superpowers are f a n n i n g u p the f l a m e s a n d w a n t t o t u r n i t i n t o a p o w d e r k e g a g a i n a s i t w a s i n t h e past. O n t h i s p e n i n s u l a a p a r t i c u l a r l y negative role is being p l a y e d by the Titoites w h o , in order t o escape f r o m t h e g r a v e i n t e r n a l p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c crisis, i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h o t h e r r e a c t i o n a r y a n d f a s c i s t forces, are f a n n i n g u p t h e f l a m e s i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f o u r country. I t i s s e l f - e v i d e n t t h a t a l l these d e v e l o p m e n t s , t h e s e events a n d s i t u a t i o n s m a k e i t e s s e n t i a l t o e n h a n c e t h e a w a r e n e s s o f t h e peoples t h a t t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r s are threatening the w o r l d w i t h a terrible n e w conflict, a l t h o u g h t h e y are a f r a i d o f i t because i t w o u l d b e c a t a s t r o p h i c f o r t h e m , too. T h e superpowers and the other imperialist powers h a v e become m o r e a r r o g a n t a n d aggressive e v e r y w h e r e i n t h e w o r l d , i n A s i a , i n A f r i c a , i n C e n t r a l A m e r i c a a n d elsew h e r e . T h e r e f o r e , t o d a y m o r e t h a n ever, i t i s u p t o t h e p r o g r e s s i v e a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces and the genuine M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s to arouse progressive opinion w o r l d - w i d e ,
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i n t h e f i r s t place, t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e o p p r e s s e d a n d e n s l a v e d peoples, t o c r y h a l t t o t h e c r a z y , p r e d a t o r y , w a r - m o n g e r i n g p o l i c y o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , the revisionist Soviet U n i o n , a l l the other i m p e r ialist and revisionist powers as w e l l as national and international reaction. O u r people, l e d b y t h e i r P a r t y , a r e s t a n d i n g v i g i l a n t , w o r k i n g f o r t h e ceaseless s t r e n g t h e n i n g a n d f l o u r i s h i n g o f t h e e c o n o m y a n d t h e d e f e n c e o f t h e i r socialist H o m e l a n d , w e l l aware of the dangerous situations a n d plots of the superpowers, the imperialist and revisionist powers and a l l t h e o t h e r r e a c t i o n a r y forces. O u r c o u n t r y p u r s u e s a foreign policy of friendship w i t h all other countries a n d peoples a n d e s p e c i a l l y t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n t r i e s a n d peoples. I t does n o t i n t e r f e r e i n t h e i r i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s a n d a l l o w s n o one t o p o k e t h e i r f i n g e r s o r m e d d l e i n t h e internal affairs of A l b a n i a . T h e People's Socialist R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a f i g h t s t o d e f e n d its r i g h t s , its f r e e d o m a n d independence and the victories achieved in the construction o f s o c i a l i s m , t h e r e f o r e i t i s s t r o n g a n d f e a r s n o one. A t t h e s a m e t i m e i t has s u p p o r t e d t h e l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e o f a l l o t h e r peoples a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o d o s o i n t h e f u t u r e .
Reflections on the M i d d l e East
LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE NEW ALBANIA

Memoirs and historical notes (Excerpts)
In the m a n y centuries of the history of A l b a n i a , our people's state p o w e r a n d t h e m o n o l i t h i c u n i t y o f o u r people, embodied in the organization of the Democratic Front, a r e t w o o f t h e greatest a n d m o s t b r i l l i a n t a c h i e v e m e n t s , t w o of the most m o n u m e n t a l w o r k s of the epoch of the Party. These t w o i m m o r t a l m o n u m e n t a l w o r k s , l i k e the P a r t y itself, w h i c h w a s a n d r e m a i n s f o r e v e r t h e i r p o w e r f u l b r a i n a n d heart, w e r e n o t b o r n i n m a r b l e h a l l s , w e r e n o t t h e p r o d u c t s o f great m i n d s , l o l l i n g i n t h e easy c h a i r s o f cafes o r p a r l i a m e n t a r y seats. N o , t h e y w e r e b o r n f r o m the barrel of the partisan rifle, in the fire of the w a r for f r e e d o m , w e r e n u r t u r e d i n t h e b o s o m o f t h e people, a n d t h e h u m b l e h o m e s o f t h e people b e c a m e t h e i r p l a c e o f residence. T o d a y , l o o k i n g b a c k o v e r m o r e t h a n f o u r decades, w e A l b a n i a n communists feel p r o u d that ever since the days of their creation, the Democratic F r o n t of A l b a n i a and our people's state p o w e r , u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f o u r g l o r i o u s Party, have performed their tasks and mission for the people a n d t h e H o m e l a n d w i t h h o n o u r , h a v e b e e n t e m p e r e d i n the sternest battles a n d tests, h a v e w i t h s t o o d a n d
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d e f e a t e d the p l a n s o f a l l i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l enemies a n d h a v e been t u r n e d i n t o i m p r e g n a b l e fortresses o f t r i u m p h a n t socialism and the fine new life w h i c h is flourishing in Albania. Their honour and glory w i l l be raised higher and h i g h e r i n t h e f u t u r e , because t h e b l o o d o f 28,000 o f t h e f i n e s t sons a n d d a u g h t e r s o f t h i s l a n d ( 1 ) h a s been p o u r e d i n t h e i r f o u n d a t i o n s , because t h e y h a v e b e e n set u p , r a i s e d a n d c e m e n t e d w i t h sweat, t o i l , countless e f f o r t s a n d s a c r i f i c e s b y o u r p e o p l e a n d our P a r t y . T h e y h a v e b e e n and w i l l remain for all time the inviolable creation of the people, d e f e n d i n g a n d e x p r e s s i n g t h e i r l o f t y a s p i r a t i o n s , and the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t l i n e and ideology of our P a r t y of L a b o u r w i l l always inspire them and pervade them like a red thread. A s t o h o w w e m a n a g e d t o create a n d b u i l d these i m mortal works, that is a w h o l e history. M a n y documents of t h a t t i m e , besides p r o v i d i n g v i v i d e v i d e n c e o f o u r w o r k a n d s t r u g g l e f o r t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e F r o n t a n d t h e state p o w e r , also, c o m p r i s e , t o some degree, t h e f i r s t w r i t t e n h i s t o r y o f t h e process o f t h e i r b i r t h a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n . L a t e r , in the years of Liberation, we have w r i t t e n and spoken again and again about t h e m and about the whole glorious p e r i o d o f o u r h i s t o r y , w h e n t h e people, e n l i g h t e n e d a n d l e d b y t h e P a r t y , succeeded i n l i b e r a t i n g t h e H o m e l a n d f r o m the chains of foreigners and themselves f r o m any k i n d o f class o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n . T h e s e t w o colossal a c h i e v e m e n t s o f o u r s w i l l c o n t i n u e t o e x i s t a n d f u n c t i o n t h r o u g h t h e ages, b u t t h e e a r l i e s t t i m e s , t h e m o m e n t s w h e n w e l a i d the f o u n d a t i o n s , w h e n i n
________________________________________ 1 As one of the more active participants of the w o r l d a n t i fascist coalition, A l b a n i a occupies one of the first places in regard to h u m a n a n d m a t e r i a l losses d u r i n g the Second W o r l d War? compared w i t h the size of its territory a n d its p o p u l a t i o n .
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t h e heat o f the w a r w e c r e a t e d t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t a n d o u r people's state p o w e r , s h a l l n e v e r b e f o r g o t ten. We have looked back over that unforgettable period again and again, not f r o m nostalgia, but in order to i l l u m i n a t e t h e p r o b l e m f r o m a l l aspects a n d t o m a k e a s c l e a r a n d concrete a s p o s s i b l e t o t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n s h o w w e , t h e i r p a r e n t s , m a n a g e d t o o v e r t h r o w t h e o l d a n d set up the new. T h i s is t h e p u r p o s e of these notes of m i n e , w r i t t e n at various times in the f o r m of reminiscences about historical events, w h i c h I a m n o w h a n d i n g o v e r f o r p u b l i c a t i o n . O n t h e eve o f t h e 40th a n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e H o m e l a n d a n d t h e t r i u m p h o f t h e people's r e v o l u t i o n , t h e y are i n t e n d e d b o t h t o p a y g r e a t h o m a g e t o t h e o u t s t a n d i n g deed o f o u r P a r t y a n d people i n t h e y e a r s o f the Anti-fascist N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r and to refresh the m e m o r y o f t h e past, w h i c h has a l w a y s b e e n the f o u n d a t i o n o f the f u t u r e w h i c h i t has a l w a y s s e r v e d a n d i l l u m i n a t e d . T h e emergence of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a on N o v e m b e r 8, 1941 as a p o w e r f u l c u r r e n t e n l i v e n e d t h e energies o f t h e A l b a n i a n people, r o u s e d t h e i r hopes i n the future and terrified the enemy. T h i s w a s a d e c i s i v e event, a m o s t i m p o r t a n t act, because f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n t h e m a n y c e n t u r i e s o f t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e A l b a n i a n people t h e P a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e o n l y P a r t y w h i c h , h a v i n g t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y i d e o l o g y a s its g u i d e , w o u l d l e a d t h e people i n t h e s t r u g g l e and to victory, had placed itself at the head of the people. This historic moment was v e r y q u i c k l y reflected in t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e A l b a n i a n people, w h i c h g r e w s t e a d i l y stronger, b e c o m i n g e v e r b e t t e r o r g a n i z e d . this W i t h joy and great v i c t o r y enthusiasm we communists welcomed of which we had dreamed and for
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w h i c h we had struggled for a long time. N o w we had the P a r t y w h i c h w a s t o guide a l l o u r efforts, w h i c h w o u l d t e a c h a n d e d u c a t e us, w o u l d l e a d u s i n t h e s t r u g g l e f o r the liberation of the H o m e l a n d and, later, towards the realization of our ultimate ideal c o m m u n i s m . T h e n e w l y f o r m e d P a r t y w a s f a c e d w i t h m a n y great tasks. L i n k i n g u p w i t h t h e people, a c q u a i n t i n g t h e masses w i t h the p r o g r a m and a i m of the P a r t y , the mobilization a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e masses i n t h e l i f e - a n d - d e a t h s t r u g gle w i t h t h e fascist o c c u p i e r s a n d l o c a l t r a i t o r s w a s one o f these tasks, i n d e e d , one o f t h e m a i n a n d m o s t i m p o r t a n t t a s k s . W i t h o u t t h e people, w i t h o u t t h e masses, a c o m m u n i s t party, whether newly formed or w i t h a long period of existence and activity, can achieve nothing. We A l b a n i a n communists understood this a x i o m of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . W h a t made our w o r k difficult was the fact that in the grave conditions of the occupation and t e r r o r w e h a d t o c o m e o u t b e f o r e t h e people, t o w i n t h e m t o o u r cause, t o o r g a n i z e a n d l e a d t h e m a t a t i m e w h e n w e also h a d t o o r g a n i z e ourselves, t o b u i l d a n d t e m p e r t h e P a r t y a n d t o p r o v e i t i n s t r u g g l e a s a capable, r e l i a b l e and irreplaceable leading force. This was something unprecedented in history, but a s y o u m i g h t say, t h i s w a s o u r fate. H a d w e w a i t e d u n t i l the P a r t y was built and strengthened, u n t i l it extended to all parts of the country, had we w o r k e d only w i t h i n the P a r t y a n d t h e n addressed ourselves to the people w i t h our p r o g r a m for struggle, this w o u l d have been c a t a s t r o p h i c , n o t o n l y f o r t h e P a r t y , b u t also f o r t h e f a t e o f t h e p e o p l e a n d t h e H o m e l a n d . T h e r e f o r e , conscious o f the situation t h r o u g h w h i c h we were passing and the difficulties w h i c h we had, we d i d not wait. We went into a c t i o n a t once, f a c i n g u p t o a l l t h e tasks a t t h e same t i m e , i n c l u d i n g t h a t o f m a k i n g t h e people conscious a n d u n i t i n g
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them in that fighting u n i o n w h i c h was soon to take the name of the Anti-fascist N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t of Albania. T h e formation of the P a r t y found us in a situation w h e n a l l the objective and subjective possibilities existed for the formation of the anti-fascist F r o n t in our country. W h a t was m o s t i m p o r t a n t w a s t h e fact t h a t i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d cadres o f o u r n e w l y f o r m e d P a r t y , a s a r e s u l t of the earlier w o r k and the analyses made at the F o u n d i n g M e e t i n g o f the P a r t y , t h e c o n v i c t i o n w a s b e i n g i m p l a n t e d t h a t o u r P a r t y c o u l d a n d m u s t create t h e a n t i - f a s c i s t F r o n t o f t h e A l b a n i a n people t h r o u g h d i r e c t concrete w o r k w i t h t h e masses, w i t h o u t w a i t i n g f o r a n d w i t h o u t s e e k i n g a g r e e m e n t s a n d m a c h i n a t i o n s w i t h t h e s e l f - s t y l e d leaders, t h a t is, as a F r o n t f o r m e d f r o m b e l o w . As is k n o w n , in the Resolution w h i c h the F o u n d i n g M e e t i n g o f t h e P a r t y a d o p t e d , t h i s u n i t y w a s c a l l e d the f i g h t i n g u n i t y b e t w e e n t h e w o r k i n g masses o f t o w n a n d countryside, and this was n o t h i n g but the idea of the Anti-fascist National Liberation Front of the A l b a n i a n people. L i k e w i s e , t h e f i r s t d o c u m e n t o f o u r P a r t y , w h i c h c a m e out s i m u l t a n e o u s l y w i t h t h e R e s o l u t i o n , w a s t h e f i r s t open m i l i t a n t A p p e a l w h i c h our P a r t y addressed to the people, m a k i n g its p r o g r a m c l e a r t o t h e m a n d i n v i t i n g t h e m to unite in the struggle for freedom and independence! N o w t h e P a r t y , w i t h o r g a n i z e d a n d m u l t i p l i e d forces, w i t h its c l e a r m i l i t a n t p r o g r a m , w a s t o i n t e n s i f y a n d further extend the w o r k to b u i l d up that p o w e r f u l fortress o f t h e u n i t e d people against t h e s t r e n g t h a n d v i t a l i t y o f w h i c h the nazi-fascist legions w o u l d smash their heads and the efforts and plans of internal and external reaction would be thwarted. T h i s u n i t y o f t h e masses, u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p a n d banner of the P a r t y , w o u l d m a k e possible the outbreak
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a n d successful accomplishment of the revolution, for w h i c h the conditions existed in A l b a n i a . T h e f e u d a l r e g i m e o f Z o g , w i t h its o p p r e s s i o n , p o v e r t y , h u n g e r , i m p r i s o n m e n t s a n d thefts, h a d a n g e r e d , e n r a g e d and f i l l e d the people w i t h hatred for that regime, b r i n g i n g t h e m to the point of revolt. Precisely w h e n this revolt and a n g e r o f t h e masses w a s s e e t h i n g , t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f t h e country prepared by Z o g and the feudal bourgeoisie filled the cup to overflowing. N o w the hatred of the people and the antagonistic struggle between oppressors and oppress e d r e a c h e d its c u l m i n a t i o n . T h u s , t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f A l bania by Italian fascism had m a r k e d the beginning of a change of national importance. This situation had to be u n d e r s t o o d a n d h a n d l e d c o r r e c t l y , because i t w a s p r e g n a n t w i t h revolution. The A l b a n i a n communists and their Party u n d e r s t o o d t h i s state o f a f f a i r s p r e c i s e l y a n d d e c i d e d t o emerge as masters of the situation and become the leaders of the revolution. Hence, the grave, difficult, but glorious historic task devolved on our C o m m u n i s t P a r t y : to raise the people in revolution, lead t h e m in struggle for the liberation of the H o m e l a n d and take them and the w o r k i n g class, o f w h i c h i t w a s t h e v a n g u a r d , t o v i c t o r y . The National Liberation War, w h i c h the P a r t y undert o o k t o l e a d , h a d t o h a v e c l e a r aims, a p r o g r a m acceptable t o o u r people, a p r o g r a m w h i c h w o u l d m o b i l i z e a n d e n l i v e n h e a l t h y energies. T h e people, a n d f i r s t o f a l l , t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e p e a s a n t r y , h a d t o k n o w a n d u n d e r s t a n d w h y they were fighting and what the victory w o u l d bring t h e m . T h e b i t t e r past, w h e n t h e people's w a r s a n d u p r i s i n g s w e r e b l o o d i l y s u p p r e s s e d b y t h e f e u d a l l o r d s , aghas a n d u s u r e r s , w a s f r e s h i n t h e i r m e m o r y . T h e people c o u l d not be aroused to fight a n d shed their blood for their ageo l d oppressors. T h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a w a s a g u a r a n t e e t h a t t h e past w o u l d n e v e r a g a i n b e r e p e a t e d ,
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but this h a d to be proved in practice w i t h a program, w i t h action, w i t h f i g h t i n g and w i t h policy. T h r o u g h its p r o g r a m , t h e P a r t y h a d t o m a k e c l e a r to the people t h a t t h i s w o u l d be a great, f i e r c e , c o m p l i c a t e d a n d d i f f i c u l t w a r . T h e r e f o r e , great p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s necessary. A l l t h i s t h e P a r t y m a d e c l e a r t o t h e p e o p l e a n d i t t o l d t h e m (just a s i t d e m o n s t r a t e d i n deeds) t h a t t h e c o m m u n i s t s w o u l d b e i n t h e forefront of the fight, w o u l d be the first to h u r l themselves into the flames, w o u l d give their lives f i g h t i n g but the w a r c o u l d not b e w a g e d o n l y b y t h e m , w i t h o u t t h e masses. T h i s r e s u l t e d f r o m the i d e a t h a t t h e c o m m u n i s t s c o u l d n o t f i g h t a n d t r i u m p h w i t h o u t t h e people. T h e p e o p l e make the revolution. In all this activity, the question of alliances and the d e f i n i t i o n o f allies w o u l d b e d e c i s i v e . T h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e w o r k i n g class, o n t h e basis o f o u r m a i n p r i n c i p l e s , a n d t h e a l l i a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g class w i t h t h e f r i e n d l y class t h e p e a s a n t r y , e s p e c i a l l y w i t h t h e p o o r peasants w i t h n o land or little land, is k n o w n . Precisely this alliance, to w h i c h w e d e v o t e d t h e greatest i m p o r t a n c e a n d a t t e n t i o n , was to be the key to the victory in our N a t i o n a l L i b e r ation War. H o w e v e r , w e also k n e w t h e o t h e r side o f i t : t h i s a l l i a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g class w i t h t h e p e a s a n t r y , u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e w o r k i n g class, w h i c h w a s t o b e c o m e the pivot of the unification of other patriotic and progressive strata, had to be created in accord w i t h our concrete conditions and situation, and to this end, our P a r t y had t o m a k e analyses n o t o n l y o f t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n of classes and s t r a t a , b u t also of t h e specific, s p e c i a l l i n k s o f g r o u p s a n d clans, o f t h e p o s i t i v e a n d n e g a t i v e i n f l u e n c e s , o l d a n d n e w , w i t h i n A l b a n i a n society. We recognized t h e t r u t h t h a t the A l b a n i a n w o r k i n g
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class w a s s t i l l f e w i n n u m b e r s a n d w i t h o u t great e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e class s t r u g g l e , b u t r i g h t f r o m t h e outset w e w e r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h i s w o r k i n g class w a s a n d w o u l d be the first to embrace the call and p r o g r a m of the P a r t y a n d w o u l d p l a y , j u s t a s i t d i d , t h e great r o l e w h i c h belonged to it in the popular revolution as the vanguard class o f t h e society. Its m o s t f a i t h f u l a l l y u n d o u b t e d l y w o u l d be the peasantry w h i c h not only suffered under a m e d i a e v a l exploitation, but had a l w a y s been the source o f l i b e r a t i o n a n d s o c i a l s t r u g g l e s i n t h e past. T h e b r i l l i a n t patriotic and democratic traditions of our peasantry, n o w k i n d l e d t o a f i e r c e b l a z e b y t h e i n t o l e r a b l e state o f o c c u p a t i o n , w e r e t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l a r g u m e n t , also, f o r t h e necessity and possibility of the creation of the alliance b e t w e e n t h e w o r k i n g class a n d p e a s a n t r y a n d t o r e f u t e those r e a c t i o n a r y v i e w s w h i c h p r e s e n t e d t h e p e a s a n t r y a s a n i g n o r a n t , d o w n - t r o d d e n m o b , useless a n d u n r e l i a b l e i n w a r . T h e fact t h a t i n t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f o u r c o u n t r y , t h i s class w o u l d b e t h e greatest s o u r c e a n d t h e b r o a d e s t base of m a n p o w e r for the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r made our w o r k to w i n the support of the peasantry for the p r o g r a m of the P a r t y even m o r e necessary. So, w h i l e w e w e r e conscious t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e p e a s a n t r y w o u l d c o n s t i t u t e t h e m a i n basis o f t h e f i g h t i n g u n i t y o f t h e people, a t t h e same t i m e , w e k n e w t h a t t h e past h a d left its m a r k o n o u r society, b l e m i s h e s w h i c h w e r e obstacles t o u n i t y a n d m a d e t h e c r e a t i o n o f a l l i a n c e s d i f f i c u l t . R e l i g i o n h a d d o n e its w o r k a n d c o n t i n u e d to poison the m i n d s and hearts of individuals. The clergy, the beys and bayraktars (2) had striven not only to exploit b u t also t o s u b d u e a n d tame o u r b r a v e a n d i n d o m i t a b l e people, w h o m t h e r e g i m e s o f t h e past h a d k e p t i n c u l t u r a l and political obscurantism.
_____________________________________ 2 Representatives of the gentry in the mountainous areas, especially i n N o r t h A l b a n i a .
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True, w h e n the country was occupied there were no parties, e i t h e r r e a c t i o n a r y o r p r o g r e s s i v e , leftist, etc., b u t t h e f a c t o r s w h i c h I l i s t e d above, a n d m a n y o t h e r s l i k e these, o p e r a t e d a s i f t h e r e w e r e i n n u m e r a b l e p a r t i e s w h i c h s h r i v e l l e d t h e energies o f t h e p e o p l e a n d k e p t t h e m divided in order to be enslaved and exploited more c o m pletely. A n o t h e r danger w h i c h threatened the struggle and fighting alliance of the people was that section of political e m i g r a n t s , sons a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f o p p r e s s i n g a n d e x p l o i t i n g classes w h o , l i k e scores o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a t r i o t s a n d d e m o c r a t s , h a d gone a b r o a d w h e n Z o g c a m e t o p o w e r , ( 3 ) but u n l i k e the true patriots a n d democrats, h a d never been l i n k e d w i t h t h e t r o u b l e s o f t h e H o m e l a n d a n d t h e people. They remained abroad for 15 years and the majority of t h e m degenerated completely politically, becoming the t r u s t e d m e n , allies a n d agents o f t h a t f o r e i g n p o w e r w h i c h f e d a n d p a i d t h e m . T h e y posed a s a n t i - Z o g i t e s , b u t w e r e also a n t i - c o m m u n i s t s , a n d t h e y r e t u r n e d t o A l b a n i a t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e I t a l i a n s i n 1939. T h e i r p r e t e n s i o n s t h a t t h e y should g o v e r n t h e c o u n t r y w e r e c a t e g o r i c a l . T h e y w e r e completely divorced f r o m the life, opinions and aspirations of t h e people. T h e y t h o u g h t t h a t t h e o u t d a t e d ideas of corrupted bourgeois democracy, w h i c h they n u r t u r e d , w e r e appropriate to the t i m e and applicable to the country. A n d w h e n ? A f t e r t h e w o r l d h a d u n d e r g o n e s u c h g r e a t changes. T h e y h a d r e t u r n e d t o A l b a n i a a s the c r e a m o f A l b a n i a n nationalism and, regardless of the fact that m a n y of t h e m received fat salaries f r o m the occupiers a n d h a d c o m p l e t e l y e n t e r e d t h e i r service, t h e y m a i n t a i n e d c o n t a c t s
_____________________________________ 3 A f t e r the t r i u m p h of the J u n e 1924 Bourgeois-Democratic Revolution, A h m e t Zog, w h o h a d taken refuge i n Y u g o s l a v i a , in December 1924 suppressed the J u n e R e v o l u t i o n a n d established his reactionary regime w i t h the encouragement a n d assistance of the reactionary Serbian government a n d the s u p port of its troops as w e l l as of i n t e r n a l A l b a n i a n f e u d a l reaction.
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w i t h those a n t i - f a s c i s t a n d a n t i - Z o g i t e e l e m e n t s w h o t h o u g h t t h a t these e m i g r a n t s , w h o r e t u r n e d f r o m a b r o a d , were politically as they w e r e 15 years earlier(!). The d a n g e r w h i c h these i n d i v i d u a l s posed t o t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r became clearer later, w h e n they created the traitor organization B a l l i K o m b t a r , w h i c h , to the v e r y e n d , assisted t h e fascist a n d n a z i occupiers w i t h d e m a g o g y a n d arms against the Anti-fascist N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t a n d its l e a d e r s h i p , t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a . Being rabid anti-communists, they in no w a y welcomed the f o r m a t i o n of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a and its p r o g r a m p r o c l a i m e d i n t h e R e s o l u t i o n . T h e s e elements, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e fascists, c a l l e d t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a a party of foreigners and n o t o f A l b a n i a n s , a p a r t y o f S l a v s , R u s s i a n s , etc., a n d n o t of Albanians. T h e y described the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r as a crazy w a r , w i t h o u t prospects and h a r m f u l to A l b a n i a . T h e y said that the leaders of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a and the Anti-fascist W a r w e r e hotheaded y o u t h s w h o d o n o t k n o w h o w t o c o n d u c t politics, a n d spread a thousand other slanderous rumours. T h i s w a s t h e s i t u a t i o n a t t h a t t i m e a m o n g s t t h i s collection of individuals, a situation w h i c h the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a a n d its l e a d e r s h i p s t u d i e d m a n y t i m e s b o t h d u r i n g 1942 a n d l a t e r . D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d t h e P a r t y also h a d t o c a r r y o u t a s i m i l a r study in regard to religious beliefs in A l b a n i a . We analysed the religious beliefs in t w o directions: the c o n c r e t e i n f l u e n c e o f r e l i g i o n a m o n g t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e people, a n d t h e d a n g e r f r o m t h e r e l i g i o u s h i e r a r c h y . I s h a l l n o t go i n t o these a n a l y s e s at l e n g t h , b u t it is necessary to define certain m a i n features on w h i c h the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C P A b a s e d i t s e l f i n its w o r k w i t h t h e masses i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e f o u n d i n g o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h r o u g h the w h o l e p e r i o d o f t h e W a r .
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It is k n o w n that there were three religious beliefs in our country: the M o s l e m faith, w h i c h w a s the most widespread, the O r t h o d o x C h r i s t i a n faith, w h i c h r a n k e d second, a n d t h e R o m a n C a t h o l i c f a i t h , less w i d e s p r e a d , w a s centered in S h k o d r a and extended to the highlands of Shkodra, to Lezha and d o w n to Durrs, where there was a b i s h o p r i c . I n A l b a n i a t h e r e w e r e also some M o s l e m b e l i e v e r s i n c l u d e d i n m i n o r sects, w i t h o u t i n f u e n c e a m o n g t h e people, w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e B e k t a s h i sect. I n r e g a r d t o the clergy, t h e i r i n f l u e n c e w a s a s f o l l o w s : t h e C a t h o l i c priests, i r r e s p e c t i v e o f t h e i r v a r i o u s orders, s u c h as Jesuites, F r a n c i s c a n s , etc., w e r e m e n w i t h o u t a H o m e l a n d w h o depended on the V a t i c a n even for the smallest thing. In A l b a n i a , as in other countries of the Catholic w o r l d , the Catholic C h u r c h had the same p y r a m i d o r g a n i z a t i o n , the same o r g a n i z a t i o n of c h u r c h e s , p a r i s h e s , monasteries, r e l i g i o u s o r state schools, t h e s a m e r i t e s a n d liturgy, the same method a n d style of w o r k in general. T h e i r i n c o m e s , t h e i r s a l a r i e s a n d e v e r y t h i n g else c a m e f r o m their plunder of the believers in the forms of donations, o r e v e n t h r o u g h c o m p e l l i n g t h e i r b e l i e v e r s t o b e q u e a t h t h e i r l i q u i d a n d f i x e d assets t o t h e C h u r c h . A l l the clergymen of the Catholic C h u r c h , f r o m the u p p e r ones d o w n t o t h e deacons a n d p a r i s h priests, w e r e l e a r n e d people w h o h a d gone t h r o u g h t h e o l o g i c a l schools w i t h i r o n discipline, h a d learned the methods and tricks o f s u p p r e s s i n g t h e w i l l o f people t h r o u g h t h e f e a r o f G o d , C h r i s t a n d t h e apostles. T h e C a t h o l i c b e l i e v e r s h a d t o obey t h e c h u r c h perinde ac cadaver*. T h e s p i d e r ' s w e b h a d e n t a n g l e d the b e l i e v e r s i n the l a w s o f t h e c h u r c h , t h e canons a n d l a w s o f t h e r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s i e , a n d these w e r e all a collection of chains w h i c h b o u n d and oppressed t h e b e l i e v e r s . T h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h a n d its c l e r g y w e r e
____________________________________________ * as a dead body ( L a t i n in the original), in this context, blindly.
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extremely obscurantist and conservative, as w e l l as adapt a b l e a n d f l e x i b l e w h e n necessary, b u t a l w a y s i n a l l i a n c e w i t h t h e r e a c t i o n a r y r e g i m e s l i k e those o f P r i n c e W i e d ( 4 ) a n d A h m e t Z o g (indeed, t h e y d i d n o t f a i l t o p o k e t h e i r fingers into the bourgeois-democratic regime of F a n Noli), as w e l l as w i t h every foreign occupier of A l b a n i a , including t h e A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n s , t h e I t a l i a n fascists a n d t h e G e r m a n nazis. O n l y our regime of the dictatorship of the proletariat put an end to the evil, reactionary and collaborationist activity of the Catholic C h u r c h . B u t let u s n o t d e p a r t f r o m t h e p e r i o d t h a t w e a r e analysing. T h i s was the situation in the hierarchy of the C a t h o l i c f a i t h a n d its b e l i e v e r s i n t h i s h i s t o r i c a l p e r i o d . T h e s e n i o r p r i e s t s w e r e d o u b l e agents o f t h e V a t i c a n a n d t h e I t a l i a n o c c u p i e r s . F o r us, h o w e v e r , f o r t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , there was a broad field, the people of t h e N o r t h , t h e C a t h o l i c l a i t y . T h e r e w e r e also some p o o r m e m b e r s o f t h e l o w e r clergy, w h o , f o l l o w i n g i n t h e footsteps o f o u t s t a n d i n g f i g u r e s o f o u r n a t i o n a l cause a n d culture such as B u d i and Bogdani, Ndre M j e d a and Shtjef n G j e o v i , m i g h t n o w l i s t e n t o w h a t w e h a d t o say, because t h e y l i v e d closer t o t h e s u f f e r i n g s a n d p r o b l e m s o f t h e people. I n these d i r e c t i o n s w e w e r e t o w o r k a n d m a k e progress. T h e M o s l e m r e l i g i o n a n d its h i e r a r c h y w e r e n o t a s e r i o u s obstacle t o t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t the I t a l i a n o c c u p i e r s as the Catholic religion was. E v e n before the occupat i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y , b u t s t i l l m o r e s o a f t e r it, the h i e r a r c h y
_______________________________________ 4 W i l h e l m V o n W i e d (1876-1945). A p r i n c e of G e r m a n o r i g i n . In 1913 the E u r o p e a n great powers appointed h i m as the head of the A l b a n i a n state. In the t i m e of his r e i g n ( M a r c h September 1914), he supported the p o l i c y of the i m p e r i a l i s t powers, especially of A u s t r o - G e r m a n i m p e r i a l i s m , a n d the interests of l o c a l l a n d o w n i n g reaction, a n d acted to the d e t r i ment of the sovereignty of the A l b a n i a n state.
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of the M o s l e m religion was weak, w i t h o u t any experience t o w o r r y us. T h e m o s q u e s e x i s t e d . T h e y h a d a h o d j a , b u t those w h o p r a c t i s e d t h e r e l i g i o n w e r e v e r y f e w . T h e rites h a d b e e n a b a n d o n e d , n o m a r r i a g e s w e r e c o n d u c t e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e S h e r i a t a n d e v e r y t h i n g else, s u c h a s t h e o b s e r v a n c e o f R a m a d a n a n d t h e feast o f B a j r a m , h a d become r o u t i n e c u s t o m s w h i c h w e r e p r a c t i s e d h e r e a n d there in certain regions mostly f r o m force of habit. T h e hodjas were all ignorant, none of t h e m was able to p r o p a g a t e t h e p h i l o s o p h y , ethics a n d t h e m o r a l i t y o f t h e K o r a n , a n d n o one u n d e r s t o o d t h e K o r a n , because i t w a s recited in a foreign language (Arabic). A l t h o u g h the h o d j a s w e r e c o n s e r v a t i v e i n t h e i r customs, t h e y h a d n e i t h e r the ability n o r the political capacity to exert any i n f l u e n c e t h r o u g h t h e I s l a m i c t h o u g h t . T h e b r o a d masses o f t h e people w e r e v i r t u a l l y liberated f r o m the bonds of religion, the development of the intellect of the M o s l e m believers was more extensive, a n d there was m u c h greater l i b e r a l i s m and tolerance. Hence, the w o r k of the P a r t y in a r o u s i n g t h e people t o f i g h t e n c o u n t e r e d a l m o s t n o s e r i o u s o b s t a c l e in this direction. A m o n g t h e B e k t a s h i sect, also, a l a r g e p r o p o r t i o n o f the believers traditionally have displayed patriotism a n d have fought for the liberation of A l b a n i a . The situation was similar w i t h the O r t h o d o x C h r i s t i a n f a i t h , too, b o t h i n t h e h i e r a r c h y o f t h e c h u r c h a n d a m o n g the believers. H i s t o r i c a l l y , a s e c t i o n of t h e O r t h o d o x priests, e s p e c i a l l y t h e s i m p l e priests i n t h e v i l l a g e s a n d e v e n some i n t h e cities, those w h o l i v e d close t o t h e people, w h o a f t e r r e l i g i o u s services l a i d a s i d e t h e i r p r i e s t ' s h a t s t o t a k e u p the hoe o r some o t h e r t o o l t o d o s o m e w o r k , h a v e f o u g h t and striven both to gain the independence of the C h u r c h and, especially, to introduce the A l b a n i a n language i n t o t h e c h u r c h services. I t i s s e l f - e v i d e n t t h a t these e f f o r t s
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of theirs w o u l d r u n into opposition f r o m the Patriarchate of Constantinople and later, especially f r o m the reactionary G r e e k Church, and it was by no means rare for the latter to c o m m i t monstrous crimes against patriotic priests w h o l o v e d t h e people, t h e H o m e l a n d a n d t h e A l b a n i a n l a n g u a g e , w h o w a n t e d the independence of the A l b a n i a n Church. T h e i r e f f o r t s a n d a i m s i n these d i r e c t i o n s , i n t h e h i s t o r i c a l c o n t e x t , h a d great v a l u e a n d w e r e e x p r e s s i o n s a n d c o m ponents of the struggle for independence w h i c h was waged in all the A l b a n i a n territories. O u r people honoured and r e s p e c t e d these m a r t y r s , n o t s i m p l y o f t h e C h u r c h b u t o f t h e cause o f A l b a n i a . T h e y i n c l u d e P a p a K r i s t o N e g o v a n i , Father Stath Melani, Dhimitr Misha, Papa Llambro B a l l a m a i a n d others w h o , l i k e o t h e r o u t s t a n d i n g p a t r i o t s w h o s t r o v e f o r t h e A l b a n i a n l a n g u a g e a n d school, N a u m Veqilharxhi, Petro N i n i Luarasi, Koto Hoxhi, Pandeli S o t i r i a n d tens o f others, w e r e p o i s o n e d o r m u r d e r e d i n the most barbarous w a y s by the G r e e k Partriarchate. T h e reasons f o r w h i c h t h e G r e e k c l e r i c a l r e a c t i o n a c t e d i n t h a t w a y t o w a r d s these p a t r i o t s w e r e a s t o n i s h i n g l y c y n i c a l ! I t m u r d e r e d a n d e l i m i n a t e d t h e m s i m p l y because these sons o f A l b a n i a n s p r o c l a i m e d t h a t t h e y w e r e A l banians, that they w a n t e d A l b a n i a n spoken in the church j u s t a s i n t h e h o m e s , t h e streets, f i e l d s a n d t h e schools, m u r d e r e d t h e m because t h e y d e f e n d e d t h e l e g i t i m a t e r i g h t of the people to their territories. In reality, however, b e h i n d t h e reasons a n d r e l i g i o u s m o t i v e s o f the b i s h o p s l u r k e d political motives and aims, the territorial a m b i tions of Greek chauvinists towards A l b a n i a . This antiA l b a n i a n c h a u v i n i s m was so unrestrained that it linked its t e r r i t o r i a l p r e t e n s i o n s w i t h a n d based t h e m o n t h e extension of the Orthodox religion! Their chauvinist b l i n d ness w e n t s o f a r t h a t r e a c t i o n a r y b i s h o p s d i d n o t w a n t t o see t h a t t h e O r t h o d o x r e l i g i o n e x t e n d e d n o t o n l y t o c e r t a i n zones o n t h e b o r d e r o f o u r t e r r i t o r y w i t h G r e e c e ( w h i c h
788
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include the villages of the Greek m i n o r i t y w i t h about 20,000 i n h a b i t a n t s i n t h e f i r s t y e a r s o f t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r a n d a b o u t 50,000 i n h a b i t a n t s t o d a y ) , b u t t h i s religion, like the M o s l e m religion, extended all over A l bania, to precincts and regions of G j i r o k a s t r a , Saranda, Prmet, K o r a , V l o r a , Tepelena, Fier, Lushnja, Berat, E l b a s a n , D u r r s , T i r a n a a n d s o o n ! P r e c i s e l y o n t h e basis o f this absurd logic, certain reactionary bishops of G r e a t G r e e k c h a u v i n i s m p r e t e n d n o w t h a t 400 t h o u s a n d A l b a n i a n citizens, f o r m e r l y l i n k e d w i t h t h e O r t h o d o x r e l i g i o n , a r e G r e e k s . H e n c e , w e r e t h e r e l i g i o n t o b e t h e basis f o r d e t e r m i n i n g t h e n a t i o n a l i d e n t i t y o f a people, a c c o r d i n g t o this crazy logic of the chauvinist bishops, m o r e t h a n half o f A l b a n i a w o u l d b e l o n g t o Greece(!), a t h i n g w h i c h t h e G r e e k chauvinists, the champions of G r e a t e r Greece (5) have always dreamed of and demanded! Precisely in favour of these d r e a m s o f o c c u p a t i o n a n d a n n e x a t i o n t h e y h a d persecuted and m u r d e r e d o u r h o n o u r e d patriots, i n c l u d i n g p a t r i o t i c priests a n d b e l i e v e r s , w h o h a d r i s e n , t o g e t h e r w i t h their brothers of the M o s l e m and Catholic religions, to defend the territorial integrity of A l b a n i a f r o m the a n n e x a t i o n i s t appetites o f n e i g h b o u r i n g c h a u v i n i s t s . H e n c e , t h i s close c o m b i n a t i o n o f t h e cause o f t h e C h u r c h a n d r e l i g i o n w i t h t h e n a t i o n a l cause, g i v i n g p r i o r i t y to the latter, h a d brought about that not only t h e l a i e t y o f t h e O r t h o d o x f a i t h b u t also m o s t o f t h e s i m p l e priests, w e r e b r o u g h t u p a n d e d u c a t e d w i t h t h e feeling of patriotism. the the So, the P a r t y h a d t h e q u e s t i o n o f r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f s a t centre o f its a t t e n t i o n d u r i n g the w h o l e p e r i o d o f N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , b u t also a f t e r t h e w a r ,
______________________________________________ 5 Ideological p l a t f o r m of the G r e e k chauvinistic b i g bourgeoisie w h i c h sought to create a great e m p i r e i n c l u d i n g a good part of the B a l k a n P e n i n s u l a , w h i c h w a s considered G r e e k only because it was of C h r i s t i a n O r t h o d o x f a i t h .
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because i n o r d e r t o a r o u s e t h e people t o f i g h t f o r t h e liberation of the H o m e l a n d and build a new A l b a n i a we h a d to a v o i d h u r t i n g their feelings. In regard to the intelligentsia, extensive, qualified, differentiated w o r k at various levels h a d to be done. I n g e n e r a l , t h e t e r r a i n o f t h e w o r k w i t h the i n t e l l e c t u a l s w a s suitable. T h e exception to this w e r e the top officials, w h o n o t o n l y accepted f a s c i s m b u t also s e c u r e d f i n e m a t e r i a l g a i n s f r o m it. I n g e n e r a l , c u l t u r e d o f f i c i a l s o f this c a t e g o r y w e r e c o r r u p t e d b y a l l t h e r e g i m e s a n d were among the first who willingly enrolled in the A l b a n i a n F a s c i s t P a r t y set u p b y t h e o c c u p i e r s . However, generally speaking, the intelligentsia of our c o u n t r y w a s patriotic, anti-fascist, and opposed to the occupation of the country, therefore the P a r t y was to give great i m p o r t a n c e t o t h i s s t r a t u m o f t h e people, too, because b y m e a n s o f it, t h e p a t r i o t i s m o f t h e b o y s a n d g i r l s w o u l d become more and more tempered a n d encouraged. S u c h w i d e - r a n g i n g and detailed analyses of situations, t h e r a t i o o f forces, etc., w e r e t h e f r u i t o f debates w h i c h we held in the meetings of the leadership, in meetings w i t h c o m r a d e s o f t h e P a r t y i n the c a p i t a l o r f r o m t h e t e r r a i n . T h e y w e r e a g r e a t assistance i n o u r d a y - t o - d a y a n d f u t u r e w o r k , because t h e f i r s t a n d i n d i s p e n s a b l e t h i n g i n o r d e r t o a c c o m p l i s h o u r tasks a s c o m m u n i s t s , t h a t i s , as l e a d e r s of t h e masses, w a s to o r i e n t a t e o u r s e l v e s c o r r e c t ly in that difficult situation of enslavement, terror, i n t r i gues a n d s p i r i t u a l a n d p h y s i c a l s u f f e r i n g a n d h a r d s h i p s w h i c h h a d descended u p o n o u r people. T h u s , its u n s h a k e a b l e l o y a l t y t o a n d f a i t h i n the r e v o l u t i o n a r y t h e o r y o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a s w e l l a s its t h o r o u g h knowledge of the reality of our country were two f u n d a m e n t a l factors w h i c h enabled our P a r t y to determine a correct l i n e , t o g i v e p r e c i s e i n s t r u c t i o n s o n i d e o l o g i c a l , political and organizational matters i n c l u d i n g b u i l d i n g the
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m i l i t a n t u n i t y o f t h e masses a r o u n d t h e p r o g r a m o f t h e P a r t y and all the other problems. I n s p e a k i n g a b o u t these a n a l y s e s a n d studies w h i c h the P a r t y carried out a n d on w h i c h it relied, it should n e v e r b e t h o u g h t t h a t f i r s t w e w a i t e d u n t i l these w e r e c a r r i e d out i n c o m p l e t e a n d f i n a l f o r m a n d t h e n b e g a n t h e w o r k w i t h t h e masses, o r t h a t w e c h a r g e d w o r k i n g g r o u p s or mobilized specialists and experts to do t h e m . No, the specialists, t h e w o r k i n g groups, w e r e w e ourselves, a l l t h e c o m m u n i s t s , f r o m the r a n k - a n d - f i l e m e m b e r s t o t h e m a i n leaders, w h o a c q u a i n t e d o u r s e l v e s w i t h a n d s u m m e d u p t h e s i t u a t i o n s a l o n g w i t h t h e concrete d a y - t o - d a y w o r k . A l l o f us, t h e n , f r o m t h e m a m l e a d e r s a n d cadres o f t h e P a r t y t o t h e o r d i n a r y m e m b e r s , set a b o u t t h i s great task w i t h d e t e r m i n a t i o n . N o w , a f t e r t h e f o u n d i n g o f t h e Party, the v e r y situation in w h i c h we were obliged to live a n d f i g h t h e l p e d u s t o e n t e r m o r e w i d e l y i n t o contact w i t h t h e w o r k i n g people. A l m o s t a l l o f u s w e r e sons a n d d a u g h t e r s o f t h e w o r k i n g people, m a n y o f u s w e r e i l l e g a l a n d a s s u c h w e spent d a y s a n d n i g h t s i n t h e p o o r q u a r t e r s , g o i n g f r o m one h o u s e t o t h e other, a m o n g s t t h e c o m m o n f o l k , w o r k e r s , a n d c r a f t s m e n , some o f w h o m w e r e unemployed or plied their trade f r o m their homes. E v e r y w h e r e we were surrounded and protected by the love and care o f t h e o r d i n a r y p e o p l e f o r o u r f a t e a n d w e f e l t t h a t i n essence t h i s w a s a n e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e l o v e a n d c o n c e r n o f t h e people f o r t h e f a t e o f t h e c o u n t r y . B a s i n g ourselves on this situation, we w o r k e d and instructed all the comrades to exploit every possible opportunity, personal acquaintance and friendship, celebrations, funerals, weddings, chance or organized meetings, a n d , y o u m i g h t say, i n a n a t u r a l a n d d a i l y c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h t h e masses w e p r o p a g a t e d t h e l i n e a n d p r o g r a m o f t h e P a r t y a t e v e r y m o m e n t . A n d t h e fact i s t h a t w h a t w e s a i d w a s r e a d i l y accepted, because w e t o u c h e d o n t h e m o s t
791
sensitive p r o b l e m of the nation. W a r against the occupier, war, merciless w a r against the occupier traitors! that is what the communists and our sympathizers propagated d a y a n d n i g h t a n d , o f course, t h i s c o u l d n o t f a i l t o w a r m the hearts of our people w h o have a l w a y s distinguished t h e m s e l v e s a s g r e a t f i g h t e r s f o r t h e cause o f f r e e d o m . This intensive propaganda, day by day, by w o r d of m o u t h , w i t h leaflets, c o m m u n i q u e s a n d appeals, w a s m a d e c l e a r e r , m o r e c r e d i b l e a n d a c c e p t a b l e t o t h e people, because t h e c o m m u n i s t s a c c o m p a n i e d t h e i r w o r d s w i t h deeds. T h e y w e r e propagandists and fighters at the same time, they attacked fascism and were pursued by fascism. This could n o t f a i l t o m a k e a p r o f o u n d i m p r e s s i o n o n t h e masses. O u r c o m r a d e s i n t h e cities f o u g h t , o r g a n i z e d actions, acts of sabotage, e x e c u t e d enemies, at a t i m e w h e n t h e r i f l e f i r e o f g u e r i l l a u n i t s a n d p a r t i s a n etas w a s b e i n g h e a r d i n creasingly everywhere. R i g h t f r o m t h e outset o u r P a r t y c o r r e c t l y l a i d d o w n t h a t t h e w h o l e people, a l l s o c i a l classes a n d s t r a t a , w i t h o u t distinction as to political, ideological, religious and other views, should be included in the w a r for the salvation of the country. T h e m a i n thing w h i c h could and must unite these forces w a s t h e s t a n d t o w a r d s t h e f o r e i g n occupiers, the u n c o m p r o m i s i n g w a r against them. T h i s was the basis on w h i c h the Anti-fascist National Liberation F r o n t w o u l d be organized, a front in w h i c h , apart f r o m the w o r k i n g masses o f t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e , a l l t h e o t h e r forces a n d e l e m e n t s , a l l those w h o w e r e i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e f r e e d o m and the existence of A l b a n i a and the A l b a n i a n nation w o u l d take part. A n d in this context, a major, wide-ranging job, frequently extremely complicated and wearisome, was that w h i c h we h a d to do w i t h the patriotic elements or those w h o posed a s p a t r i o t s , t h a t is, w i t h a l l those w h o a t t h a t time were called nationalists.
792
ENVER HOXHA
T h e t e r m nationalist, as we used it in that period, must not be confounded w i t h the m e a n i n g w h i c h this t e r m has a s s u m e d t o d a y i n p o l i t i c a l l i t e r a t u r e t o d e n o t e elements w i t h b o u r g e o i s - n a t i o n a l i s t v i e w s , a s o p p o s e d t o the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t principle of proletarian internationali s m . T h e t e r m n a t i o n a l i s t w a s a p p l i e d t o those f i g h t e r s w h o i n past t i m e s h a d f o u g h t a g a i n s t f o r e i g n o c c u p i e r s w h o aimed to eliminate us as a nation. Precisely f r o m the w o r d natio t a k e n f r o m t h e L a t i n l a n g u a g e , e m e r g e d t h e t e r m n a t i o n a l i s t w h i c h w e used d u r i n g t h e w a r a n d i s found in my writings of that period. T h e t r u t h is that this w a s a t e r m w h i c h included a w i d e r a n g e o f people, f r o m t h e e l e m e n t s w i t h a p a t r i o t i c past a n d a c t i v i t y t o t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s w h o w e r e k n o w n o r proclaimed themselves as people w i t h patriotic and d e m o c r a t i c s e n t i m e n t s . T h u s , i n a c e r t a i n sense w i t h t h e t e r m nationalist we made a differentiation between c o m m u n i s t s , o n t h e one h a n d , a n d o t h e r p e o p l e w i t h w h o m w e h a d contacts a n d w o r k e d . A s e a r l y a s t h e t i m e o f t h e communist groups, but especially after the f o u n d i n g of the P a r t y , the w o r k w i t h t h e n a t i o n a l i s t s w a s a sector i n w h i c h all the communists were involved. N a t u r a l l y , this w a s done a c c o r d i n g t o the p o s s i b i l i t i e s w h i c h e a c h m e m b e r h a d , a c c o r d i n g t o h i s s o c i a l c i r c l e o f a c q u a i n t a n c e s a n d relatives. I n t h e cells t o w h i c h w e b e l o n g e d w e r e p o r t e d o n a l l o u r w o r k , i n c l u d i n g the w o r k w i t h i n t e l l e c t u a l s a n d p a t r i o t s , e x c h a n g e d o p i n i o n s a n d c o n s u l t e d one a n o t h e r about our activities. W h e n some member encountered difficulties w i t h the person w i t h w h o m he had been appointed to work, then he handed over the job to another comrade and f o u n d the w a y to introduce h i m to that person. T h e f o r m a l aspect o f t h e w o r k w a s a p r o b l e m i n i t s e l f : y o u had to be introduced to them and then to enter into t h e i r circles, t o t a k e p a r t i n t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n s w h i c h t h e y
793
h e l d a n d t o m a n a g e t o u n d e r s t a n d a s f a r a s possible, f o r example, w h a t political inclinations a person might have, h o w far y o u could go w i t h h i m , w h e n you should go a h e a d a n d w h e n y o u s h o u l d stop a t g e n e r a l c o n v e r s a t i o n s i n o r d e r t o d i s g u i s e y o u r s e l f f r o m a spy. B e c a u s e w e should not forget that the regime of Zog, and subsequently t h e fascist r e g i m e , w e r e r e g i m e s o f spies w h o w a t c h e d a n d s a w w i t h w h o m y o u associated, w i t h w h o m y o u t a l k e d and w h a t y o u talked about and w h o branded you accordingl y . F r o m t h i s aspect a t t h a t t i m e t h e r e h a d t o b e b o t h a s p e c i a l s t r a t e g y a n d tactics, because a m o n g s t t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s , teachers, professors, m e r c h a n t s a n d n a t i o n a l i s t s , t h e r e w e r e g o o d people b u t also w e a k ones, a s w e l l a s a l l k i n d s o f rogues d o w n t o o u t r i g h t spies a n d c o l l a b o r a t o r s of the enemy. In the talks w h i c h we held w i t h them, after we were convinced about their predisposition, we put f o r w a r d our stand as communists and as a C o m m u n i s t P a r t y . O u r f u n d a m e n t a l thesis w a s t h a t i n t h i s g r a v e s i t u a t i o n f o r the H o m e l a n d , all A l b a n i a n s had a common a i m the fight against the occupiers f o r the liberation of A l b a n i a . In the face of this i m p e r a t i v e d u t y a l l the differences in ideological convictions and political sympathies, religious a n d r e g i o n a l d i f f e r e n c e s , h a d t o t a k e second place. T h i s w a s t h e m o m e n t , w e c o m m u n i s t s stressed, w h e n w e m u s t r e f l e c t d e e p l y o n t h e w o r d s o f t h e p a t r i o t i c poet ( 6 ) t h a t the r e l i g i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n i s A l b a n i a . T h i s w a s one o f t h e m o s t d i f f i c u l t t a s k s w h i c h t h e P a r t y a n d its m e m b e r s , f r o m t h e l e a d e r s h i p t o the i n d i v i d u a l c o m m u n i s t s , h a d t o do. H e r e I a m n o t r e f e r r i n g t o t h e danger that threatened us in this work, the possibility of being spied u p o n or betrayed, or the probability of the i n t r o d u c t i o n o f some agent p r o v o c a t e u r e l e m e n t i n t o o u r
_______________________________________ 6 P a s h k o V a s a (1825-1892).
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r a n k s . O f course, these d a n g e r s e x i s t e d , b u t w h a t w o r k c o u l d t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d honest p a t r i o t s d o w i t h o u t d a n g e r ? T h e y h a d t a k e n these d a n g e r s i n t o a c c o u n t s i n c e t h e y h a d e n t e r e d t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t a savage, c r u e l a n d cunning enemy. T h e greatest d i f f i c u l t i e s w e r e i n a n o t h e r d i r e c t i o n , i n w h i c h mere bravery did not count for much, but w h i c h r e q u i r e d tact, p o l i t i c a l a c u m e n , cool-headedness a n d p r u dence. T h e P a r t y c o m r a d e s h a d t o s t a n d u p t o g r e a t t e n s i o n , n o t o n l y p h y s i c a l , b u t also n e r v o u s a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l . W e had to talk and quarrel for whole hours, time after time, w i t h all kinds of blockheads w h o were not only unconvinced by our correct arguments w h i c h w e r e as clear as t h e l i g h t o f day, b u t also t r i e d t o c o n v i n c e u s o f t h e opposite w i t h r i d i c u l o u s a r g u m e n t s a n d p e t t i f o g g i n g sophistry! A p a r t f r o m other things, it took great patience a n d s e l f - r e s t r a i n t t o a v o i d t e l l i n g these p a t r i o t s b l u n t l y , To hell w i t h you!. However, the w o r k of the P a r t y and t h e cause o f t h e w a r d e m a n d e d s o m e t h i n g else. S o m e t i m e s a comrade w o u l d come to us f i l l e d w i t h disgust to report a b o u t a m e e t i n g w h i c h h e h a d h a d a n d ask u s t o r e l i e v e h i m o f t h i s t a s k a n d seek o u r a p p r o v a l t o b r a n d t h i s o r t h a t p e r s o n a s a t r a i t o r . N o , w e w o u l d t e l l h i m , the d a y w i l l come w h e n t h e c u p i s f i l l e d a n d t h e n w e s h a l l d o t h i s , but meanwhile, carry on w i t h the work, refute and expose h i s a r g u m e n t s a n d w h e n y o u are c o n v i n c e d t h a t h e t r u l y does n o t w a n t t o f i g h t , t h e n w e ' l l g i v e h i m u p a s hopeless. T h e readers, a n d e s p e c i a l l y t h e y o u n g ones, m a y o p e n t h e i r eyes a n d ask w h y s u c h n i c e t i e s w e r e n e c e s s a r y w i t h these elements, w h o s h o u l d b e p u t i n t h e i r place. O f course, t h e m o m e n t w o u l d c o m e w h e n t h e P a r t y a n d t h e people w o u l d also t u r n t h e r i f l e o n a l l those w h o u n i t e d w i t h t h e n a z i - f a s c i s t s i n w o r d s a n d deeds, b u t b e f o r e t h i s , efforts had to be made to t u r n t h e m f r o m the road of betrayal and involve t h e m in the w a r against the occupier.
795
In w o r k i n g w i t h the nationalists, the P a r t y had in mind the strategic aims of the w a r it was leading, the m a j o r interests of the people a n d the H o m e l a n d . F i r s t of a l l , t h e P a r t y p r o c e e d e d f r o m the v i e w t h a t t h e b r o a d e r t h e mass p a r t i c i p a t i o n w a s i n t h e P o p u l a r F r o n t the m o r e f u r i o u s l y the w a r w o u l d be w a g e d and the more certain t h e f i n a l v i c t o r y w o u l d be. T h e n , i t m u s t n o t b e f o r g o t t e n that m a n y of the k n o w n nationalists of that period had, to v a r i o u s degrees, a c e r t a i n i n f l u e n c e i n d i f f e r e n t d i s t r i c t s a n d cities o f t h e c o u n t r y o r a m o n g t h e circles o f t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a . T h e i n c o r p o r a t i o n i n t h e F r o n t o f tens a n d tens o f o u t s t a n d i n g p a t r i o t s , k n o w n t o t h e p e o p l e f o r t h e i r progressive sentiments and democratic opinions and as a n t i - Z o g i t e f i g h t e r s , w a s a v i c t o r y of t h e p o l i c y of t h e P a r t y , because these people, besides t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n , t h e i r p e r s o n a l a b i l i t i e s a n d capacities, possessed great a u t h o r i t y a m o n g t h e people, w h i c h t h e y p u t a t t h e d i s p o s a l and in the service of the N a t i o n a l Liberation W a r . T h e struggle of the P a r t y to u n m a s k such pseudopatriots as L u m o Skndo, A l i K l c y r a , Q a z i m K o c u l i and others, a n d t o b r i n g t h e m out i n t h e i r t r u e colours, y i e l d e d s i m i l a r results. M a n y o f these i n d i v i d u a l s w e r e n e i t h e r stupid nor without influence. Some of them profited f r o m the reputation of the families whose names they bore, some f r o m t h e t w o o r t h r e e shots t h e y h a d f i r e d i n V l o r a i n 1920, ( 7 ) s o m e o t h e r s f r o m t h e i r stands, a d o p t e d i n o p position to Zog or the momentary participation in the J u n e R e v o l u t i o n o f 1924. It w u l d have been political short-sightedness t u r n e d t h e r i f l e on a l l of t h e m as e a r l y as 1941, m i g h t t h i n k . This w o u l d have been h a r m f u l t h e w a r a n d t o t h e P a r t y . T h i s h u m a n ore h a d t o to have as some both to undergo
_______________________________________ 7 Reference is to the W a r of V l o r a of 1920 against the i m p e r i a l i s t I t a l i a n invaders w h i c h ended w i t h the victory o f the A l b a n i a n people.
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a process o f selection a n d f r o m it, a p a r t f r o m t h e f i l t h w h i c h w o u l d b e t h r o w n aside, p u r e m e t a l w o u l d e m e r g e , a n d t i m e a n d the w a r w o u l d d o t h i s s o r t i n g out. T h e l i n e o f the P a r t y w a s c o r r e c t : t h e p a t r i o t i c e l e m e n t s s h o u l d b e brought into the w a r and their influence amongst the masses u s e d f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e w a r ; t h e d e m a g o g u e s , t h e d i s g u i s e d tools o f t h e occupiers, s h o u l d b e u n m a s k e d by asking t h e m the question: A r e y o u going to fight f o r A l b a n i a o r n o t ? A n d t h e people w o u l d see, a s t h e y d i d , w h o were true patriots and w h o pseudo-patriots. In the context of extending the w o r k w i t h the n a tionalists we devoted special attention at that time, especially, to w o r k w i t h the intelligentsia, a i m i n g to m a k e the patriotic and democratic elements participants in the w a r . The A l b a n i a n intelligentsia at that time was n u m e r i c a l ly small and this was a result of the l o w level of economic and cultural development and the obscurantist policy of the regime of Zog. A p a r t f r o m all the other evils w h i c h t h e y p e r p e t r a t e d o n t h e c o u n t r y , t h e august m o n a r c h and his circle d i d their utmost to leave A l b a n i a in darkness a n d i g n o r a n c e , because t h e d a r k n e s s a n d i g n o r a n c e o f t h e masses are t h e best allies of o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n . Z o g a n d h i s r e g i m e d i d n o t h i n g f o r c u l t u r e , a r t a n d science, h o w e v e r m u c h he, t o g e t h e r w i t h h i s d e g e n e r a t e a n d c o r r u p t sisters, w h o i r o n i c a l l y , d e s p i t e t h e i r u t t e r i g n o r a n c e , took t h e arts, c u l t u r e a n d sport, w h i c h v i r t u a l l y d i d n o t e x i s t i n A l b a n i a , u n d e r t h e i r p a t r o n a g e , posed as s u p p o r t e r s of these t h i n g s . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h r o u g h t h e e f f o r t s of t h e people, of t h e sons a n d d a u g h t e r s o f t h e p e o p l e a n d c o n t r a r y t o t h e desire o f t h e f e u d a l - b o u r g e o i s r e g i m e , i t w a s m a d e p o s s i b l e t o set u p a n e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m w i t h p r i m a r y a n d s e c o n d a r y schools t o t e a c h the sons a n d d a u g h t e r s o f t h e people, w h o w i t h their unerring intuition and their broad horizon of history prepared the y o u t h for the n e w days. W i t h great
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difficulties and coping w i t h m a n y economic privations, some o f t h e y o u n g p e o p l e w e n t a b r o a d w h e r e t h e y a t t e n d e d h i g h e r studies. A l l these people c o m p r i s e d t h e soundest part of the A l b a n i a n intelligentsia w h i c h w a s opposed to the anti-popular a n d reactionary section w h i c h originate d f r o m t h e beys, u s u r e r s a n d m e r c h a n t s . A t t h e t i m e o f w h i c h I a m s p e a k i n g the teachers a n d professors comprised the m a j o r i t y of the intellectuals, w h i l e t h e r e w a s a s m a l l e r n u m b e r f r o m o t h e r professions, s u c h a s doctors, e n g i n e e r s a n d j u r i s t s . T h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a w a s n o t a h o m o g e n o u s mass, e i t h e r f r o m its s o c i a l c o m p o s i t i o n o r f r o m its p o l i t i c a l c o n v i c t i o n s , w h i c h w e r e i l l d e f i n e d . B e s i d e s this, w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f one section, e s p e c i a l l y t h e v i l l a g e teachers, t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a w a s n o t s o c l o s e l y l i n k e d w i t h t h e people a n d w a s a c q u a i n t e d only superficially, at second-hand, w i t h their problems. T h i s does n o t m e a n i t w a s n o t p a t r i o t i c . N o , i n g e n e r a l t h e A l b a n i a n intelligentsia was patriotic and anti-Zog, and s u b s e q u e n t l y p r o v e d its p a t r i o t i s m i n its s t a n d i n t h e w a r against the occupiers. T h o s e closest t o t h e p e o p l e w e r e t h e t e a c h e r s w h o w e r e more intimately linked w i t h their sufferings and problems. U n d e r the regime of Zog they were at the bottom of the small p y r a m i d of the education system, scorned by the intellectual aristocracy, regarded w i t h suspicion by the regime, and received a pittance. A n d even that tiny salary w a s p a i d once i n f i v e m o n t h s , a n d o c c a s i o n a l l y once i n n i n e m o n t h s . So, i n o r d e r t o l i v e t h e y h a d t o g o a n d sell t h e i r p a y v o u c h e r s to t h e m o n e y - l e n d e r s , of course, at a d i s c o u n t . I myself did this d u r i n g the few months that I w o r k e d i n t h e s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l i n T i r a n a a t t h e e n d o f 1936 a n d t h e b e g i n n i n g o f 1937, f o r w h i c h I w a s p a i d b y t h e h o u r without any fixed salary and received nothing at all w h e n I was sick or d u r i n g school holidays. In general, the teachers h a d completed or half com-
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pleted their secondary schooling w i t h i n the country. R a r e l y one o f t h e m k n e w some f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e , b u t t h e r e w a s no foreign literature w h i c h they could read in order to develop themselves. The intellectuals of this category w e r e w i t h t h e people a n d d e t e s t e d t h e r e g i m e o f Z o g a n d its t o p f u n c t i o n a r i e s . T h e y w e r e closely l i n k e d w i t h t h e p u p i l s a n d their families, were patriots and democrats and w h e n A l bania was occupied they united w i t h the w o r k e r s and pupils in demonstrations agairst the occupiers a n d most of them took part in the partisan war. T h e professors, a s w e c a l l e d t h e s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l teachers o f t h a t t i m e , f i g u r e d h i g h e r i n t h e h i e r a r c h y o f the education system and the intelligentsia, in general. U n l i k e t h e o r d i n a r y teachers, g e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , t h e y w e r e more remote f r o m the people and the w o r k w i t h t h e m w a s m o r e c o m p l i c a t e d . O f course, e v e n a m o n g t h e p r o f e s s o r s t h e r e w e r e m a n y w h o l o v e d t h e H o m e l a n d a n d t h e people, w h o h a t e d t h e f e u d a l - b o r g e o i s r e g i m e a n d t h e fascist occupation and l i n k e d themselves w i t h the N a t i o n a l L i b e r ation M o v e m e n t and the P a r t y . B u t the m a j o r i t y of t h e m were integrated into the oppressive system of Z o g and fascism, were content w i t h their o w n situation, and as f o r t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e masses, t h e y d i d n o t w o r r y t h e i r heads a b o u t t h a t . I n t e l l e c t u a l s o f t h i s t y p e c o n s i d e r e d t h e m selves t h e lite o f t h e e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m a n d b o a s t e d t h a t t h e y w e r e t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d t h a t the regime had need of them. M a n y of t h e m had been abroad w h e r e t h e y h a d g r a d u a t e d f r o m h i g h e r schools, s o m e i n Italy, some i n F r a n c e , some i n A u s t r i a o r G e r m a n y , some i n G r e e c e , a f e w i n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a . S o m e o f t h e o l d e r ones h a d g r a d u a t e d f r o m T u r k i s h schools. O t h e r m e m b e r s o f t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l lite w e r e t h e doctors, engineers, architects, a g r o n o m i s t s a n d o t h e r s , w i t h o u t f o r g e t t i n g e i t h e r those w h o h a d g r a d u a t e d i n l a w a n d b e c a m e advocates o r judges, o r t h e j o u r n a l i s t s , i n t h e
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ranks of w h o m there were some w h o were w e l l - k n o w n , a section w i t h progressive democratic tendencies and views, w h i l e the remainder were completely in the service o f t h e r e a c t i o n a r y a n d a n t i - p o p u l a r r e g i m e s . O f course, here I exclude such intellectuals as M e d a r Shtylla, O m e r N i s h a n i , X h a f e r K o n g o l i , G a q o T a s h k o a n d tens o f others w h o I m e n t i o n i n these notes, a n d w h o k n e w t h e d i f f i c u l t s i t u a t i o n o f t h e masses a n d w h o p r o v e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h deeds t o b e d e m o c r a t s a n d p a t r i o t s . H e r e I a m r e f e r r i n g t o those i n t e l l e c t u a l s , w h o a f t e r g a i n i n g h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , t h r o u g h t h e m o n e y w h i c h t h e i r f a t h e r s h a d fleeced f r o m t h e w o r k e r s a n d peasants, c a m e b a c k t o A l b a n i a w i t h t h e pretension that they were b r i n g i n g culture and civilization, b u t w h o , i n fact, c a m e t o s h a r e i n t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e masses. T h e y h a d t a k e n n o t h i n g o f r e a l v a l u e f r o m E u r o p e a n c i v i l i z a t i o n , a p a r t f r o m some f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e , a c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f k n o w l e d g e o f the c r a f t t h e y h a d l e a r n e d a n d m o d e r n e t i q u e t t e a l o n g w i t h t h e t o p hat o r b o w t i e , w i t h o u t w h i c h t h e y w e r e n e v e r seen i n the streets o r cafes. A n d these c i v i l i z e d i n t e l l e c t u a l s w e r e n o t a s h a m e d t o p u t t h e m s e l v e s u p f o r a u c t i o n o n t h e m a r r i a g e m a r k e t , because almost all of t h e m were fortune-hunters. It is natural that m a n y o f t h e m b e c a m e b o u r g e o i s , w e r e pushed i n t o h i g h o f f i c e s a n d b e c a m e e x a m p l e s f o r t h e less f o r t u n a t e . T h e s e i n d i v i d u a l s w e r e lost t o t h e cause o f t h e people, w e r e superficial democrats, liberals only in certain manifestations w h i c h were hangovers f r o m the countries w h e r e they had attended school. In general, the intelectuals w i t h higher schooling and in top positions either integrated themselves w i t h and became pillars of the regime or, even w h e n they were d e m o c r a t s a n d a n t i - Z o g , d i d n o t see t h e f u t u r e o f t h e c o u n t r y clearly. There w e r e some of t h e m w h o d i d not l i k e Z o g a n d h i s r e g i m e a n d w h o deep d o w n w e r e a n t i - Z o g i t e s , b u t w h o d i d n o t h a v e t h e c o u r a g e t o act o r e v e n t o e x p r e s s
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their views openly. There were only a few of t h e m w h o s p o k e o p e n l y , o f course n o t o u t i n t h e street, a g a i n s t Z o g a n d h i s r e g i m e . B u t e v e n these f e w e n g a g e d i n a c a d e m i c t a l k about l a w s , measures, prices, m i n i s t e r s , a n d s o o n . B u t it was extremely difficult, not to say impossible, to f i n d in t h e m a consistent s p i r i t of resistance, or e v e n less, a n y a t t e m p t a t resistance. O f course, t h i s c a m e a b o u t also f r o m t h e fact t h a t Z o g , w h o m t h e y a b u s e d , h a d s h u t t h e i r m o u t h s because i t w a s a t i m e w h e n e c o n o m i c m i s e r y r e i g n e d a m o n g t h e people, w h e n t h e w o r k e r t o i l e d t h e w h o l e d a y b r e a k i n g stones i n t h e heat o f s u m m e r f o r t w o t o t h r e e l e k s a day, w h i l e p e o p l e o f t h i s c a t e g o r y received ten to fifteen gold napoleons a month, and were well-dressed, owned comfortable homes, f u r n i t u r e and radios. T h u s , these elements w i t h some d e m o c r a t i c a n d anti-Zogite veneer found it more suitable to take a c o m f o r t a b l e p o s i t i o n , t o e n j o y t h e blessings w h i c h t h e r e g i m e provided for them and to whisper the occasional criticism against it. In g e n e r a l , these i n t e l l e c t u a l s , as s o o n as t h e y r e t u r n e d f r o m a b r o a d , a i m e d t o get a g o o d j o b a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n Tirana. At that time, whether y o u h a d graduated as an a g r o n o m i s t o r a n engineer, t h e place f o r y o u w a s i n t h e ministry, and if there was no job f o r you, it was created, because n e i t h e r t h e a g r o n o m i s t s n o r t h e e n g i n e e r s h a d anywhere to work, agriculture was at a v e r y low level and n o i n v e s t m e n t s w e r e m a d e t o boost i t ; n o t h i n g w a s b u i l t except the o d d p r i s o n a n d h o m e s f o r t h e w e a l t h y . T h u s , t h e a g r o n o m i s t w a s f o u n d a j o b i n some office, w h i l e t h e engineer residing in T i r a n a d r e w the plans f o r the h o m e o f t h e b i g m e r c h a n t . T h e doctors, f o r t h e i r p a r t , set a b o u t m a k i n g m o n e y , w h i l e t h e p r o f e s s o r s c o m p e t e d w i t h one a n o t h e r t o get a j o b i n T i r a n a o r i n t h e M i n i s t r y , o r i f t h e y c o u l d not m a n a g e this, w e n t t o t h e f e w c i t i e s i n w h i c h t h e r e w a s a s e c o n d a r y school.
801
There could be no talk about organization in the r a n k s o f t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a . E s p e c i a l l y a m o n g s t t h e soundest p a r t o f it, o f course, t h e r e w e r e e f f o r t s t o d o s o m e t h i n g , t o change the existing situation. Some of t h e m established l i n k s w i t h t h e c o m m u n i s t g r o u p s , b u t these w e r e s p o r a d i c o r o n a n i n d i v i d u a l basis. I n t h e r a n k s o f t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l lite w h i c h i n c l u d e d t h e p r o f e s s o r s , t h e doctors, t h e j u r i s t s , t h e j o u r n a l i s t s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s o f o t h e r professions, t h e r e w a s a k i n d o f d i v i s i o n , o n t h e basis o f t h e i r l i n k s and affinities created by the type of culture and the c o u n t r y i n w h i c h t h e y h a d r e c e i v e d it. H e n c e , o p i n i o n s c i r c u l a t e d t h a t so a n d so is of D e u t s c h e K u l t u r because h e h a d b e e n t o u n i v e r s i t y i n A u s t r i a o r G e r m a n y , so a n d s o i s o f F r e n c h c u l t u r e because h e h a d b e e n i n F r a n c e , he w h o h a d been to university in Italy was of Italian culture, and so on. T h i s tendency, w h i c h created f o r m a l affinities between groups, encouraged a spirit of x e n o m a n i a a n d b r o u g h t a b o u t the i s o l a t i o n o f t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a f r o m the m a i n problems w h i c h were preoccupying the H o m e l a n d a n d t h e people. W h e n I was in T i r a n a , p r i o r to the occupation of the c o u n t r y b y fascist I t a l y , a p a r t f r o m contacts w i t h p r o gressive and democratic intellectuals, I was g i v e n the o p p o r t u n i t y t o c o m e i n t o contact also w i t h t h e m i l i e u s , opinions a n d psychology of that section of intellectuals that t h e r e g i m e p a m p e r e d . In t h e Royal Road t h e r e w a s a s m a l l caf, w h i c h at t h a t t i m e s e e m e d a b i g one, c a l l e d Bella Venezia. T h i s Bella Venezia w a s f r e q u e n t e d by t h e lite of the capital and the m a j o r sycophants of the regime f r o m F u a d A s l l a n i , the foreign minister, and other ministers, to t h e top p e r s o n a l i t i e s o f c u l t u r e . T h e y g a t h e r e d t h e r e a c c o r d i n g t o t h e E n g l i s h c u s t o m , a t f i v e o'clock. O n c e o r twice, a comrade took me w i t h h i m to this club of the intell e c t u a l lite. A n d w h a t d i d I see t h e r e ? A c i r c l e of arrogant, conceited consmopolitans. It was sickening to
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w a t c h t h e m e a t i n g c a k e a n d d r i n k i n g tea w i t h t h e i r aristocratie w a y s a n d w h i m s l i k e l a d i e s i n d r a w i n g r o o m s . T h e r e y o u c o u l d h e a r a l l sorts o f l a n g u a g e s s p o k e n , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p a r t i c u l a r clans, and A l b a n i a n was spoken m i x e d w i t h whole phrases i n foreign languages, just as we have read in Tolstoy about the Russian aristocrac y w h i c h m i x e d R u s s i a n and F r e n c h . T h e talk i n these circles w a s a b o u t p o l i t i c s on a g r a n d scale a n d d i s c u s s i o n s a b o u t art. T h e r e y o u c o u l d h e a r j u d g e m e n t s d e l i v e r e d w i t h absolute competence a b o u t C h a m b e r l a i n , a b o u t Titulescu, about Hitler, about Nietzsche's Zarathustra, a b o u t G o e t h e ' s Faust, a b o u t t h e Niebelungen, b u t n o t a w o r d w a s s a i d a b o u t t h e s u f f e r i n g o f t h e peasant o f M y z e q e , w h o m Zog, the V r i o n i s and the Vrlacis fleeced and w h o died of malaria. T o speak o p e n l y w i t h these p e o p l e w a s d a n g e r o u s . T h e y w o u l d h a n d y o u o v e r t o Z o g o r t h e occupier, i f n o t directly, indirectly, by denouncing y o u . As I said, however, the w h o l e intelligentsia was not l i k e this. I p e r s o n a l l y w a s a w a r e o f t h i s t r u t h f r o m t h e contacts w h i c h I h a d established w i t h a w h o l e circle of teachers a n d i n t e l e c t u a l s of v a r i o u s p r o f e s s i o n s d u r i n g t h e y e a r s I w o r k e d i n t h e s e c o n d a r y school o f T i r a n a a n d t h e L y c e o f K o r a . T h e fact is, h o w e v e r , t h a t o u r l i n k s w i t h t h e i n t e l lectuals were extended f u r t h e r and placed on a sounder basis a f t e r t h e G r o u p o f K o r a s h i f t e d t h e c e n t r e o f g r a v i t y o f its w o r k t o T i r a n a , a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f 1940, a n d e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r the f o u n d i n g o f t h e P a r t y , w h e n w e e v a l u a t e d t h e w o r k w i t h t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s a s one o f t h e most i m p o r t a n t f i e l d s o f t h e w o r k o f t h e P a r t y w i t h t h e nationalists. We have always mentioned the fact that the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a w a s the o n l y p o l i t i c a l p a r t y w h i c h operated in A l b a n i a as a positive factor and aid for our
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work. But while affirming this truth, it must in no w a y be t h o u g h t t h a t t h e l e a d i n g r o l e i n t h e w a r , i n t h e F r o n t , etc., belonged to our P a r t y and w o u l d be given to it autom a t i c a l l y , since t h e r e w a s n o o t h e r p a r t y t o compete w i t h o r a n y o n e else t o w h o m t h i s role c o u l d b e g i v e n ! N o , the reality was quite different, extremely complex, difficult and w i t h major problems. True, there were no bourgeois political parties of various hues in our country, but there were all k i n d s o f g r o u p s a n d circles a n d t r e n d s o f t h e m o s t v a r i e d h u e s a n d t e n d e n c i e s a l l o f w h i c h , t o a g r e a t e r o r lesser e x t e n t , h a d i n f l u e n c e a n d c o n n e c t i o n s . T r u e , these g r o u p s a n d t r e n d s d i d n o t rise o r e x p r e s s t h e m s e l v e s a g a i n s t t h e occupiers, b u t t h e y w e r e n o t a n d n o one a l l o w e d t h e m t o r e m a i n inactive, aloof f r o m politics and activity. A n d since, i n g e n e r a l , t h e y w e r e n o t a g a i n s t f a s c i s m , n e c e s s a r i l y t h e y w o u l d b e a g a i n s t us, a g a i n s t o u r P a r t y , a n d its p r o g r a m and line about the Front, the national liberation c o u n c i l s , t h e w a r , etc. We w e r e bound to clash w i t h all of t h e m and this c l a s h b e c a m e e x t r e m e l y c o m p l i c a t e d because, j u s t a s t h e y d i d n o t c o m e o u t o p e n l y against t h e o c c u p i e r s , a t f i r s t m o s t o f t h e m d i d n o t c o m e o u t o p e n l y a g a i n s t us, e i t h e r , but on the contrary, engaged in t r i c k e r y and manoeuvres. L e t u s n o t forget, e i t h e r , t h a t t h e i n h e r i t e d b a c k wardness and ignorance, b a c k w a r d mental outlooks, both f e u d a l and bourgeois, and in this context, the feverish propaganda against c o m m u n i s m carried out by Z o g and f a s c i s m f o r m a n y y e a r s , w e r e t o r e m a i n m a j o r obstacles t o our work. H e n c e , a l l these groups, t e n d e n c i e s a n d m e n t a l o u t l o o k s stood a l o n g s i d e f a s c i s m , c o n f r o n t i n g o u r C o m m u n i s t P a r t y as expressions of the bourgeois and f e u d a l partisanship. Therefore, although in our w o r k we were not confronted w i t h organized political parties of the bourgeoisie and
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r e a c t i o n , w e w e r e c o n f r o n t e d w i t h t h e class i n t e r e s t s o f the bourgeoisie and reaction and their aims to safeguard t h e i r d o m i n a n t p o s i t i o n s , w h i c h w e r e n o less f i e r c e a n d c o m p l e x , n o less c u n n i n g , u n d e r m i n i n g a n d d a n g e r o u s a n d t h e o u t l o o k s a n d b a c k w a r d n e s s o f t h e past. W e h a d t o d o b a t t l e a n d f i g h t against these, t o c l a r i f y t h e m i n d s a n d w i n t h e hearts o f the people i n o r d e r t o m a k e t h e m a w a r e o f the right road w h i c h had to be followed. I t w a s e s s e n t i a l t h a t t h e P a r t y i n c r e a s e its s t r u g g l e and efforts a hundred-fold w i t h the a i m not merely of e x t e n d i n g its l e a d i n g r o l e i n t h e F r o n t a n d t h e n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n c o u n c i l s a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y , b u t also, a n d m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y , o f s a f e g u a r d i n g a n d ceaselessly s t r e n g t h e n i n g i t a n d e n s u r i n g t h a t o t h e r s d i d n o t seize t h i s r o l e f r o m the P a r t y . We h a d foreseen clearly that even that section o f i n t e r n a l r e a c t i o n w h i c h s t i l l h a d n o t d e c l a r e d i t s e l f a s such, also, w o u l d o r g a n i z e itself a n d t r y t o d e s t r o y the F r o n t and the national liberation councils w i t h the a i m o f s a b o t a g i n g t h e people's w a r f o r f r e e d o m a n d d e m o c r a c y , So, i t c a n b e i m a g i n e d w h a t a c a t a s t r o p h e w o u l d h a v e o c c u r r e d i n these n e w s i t u a t i o n s h a d o u r P a r t y , after t h e C o n f e r e n c e o f P e z a , c o n s i d e r e d its t a s k s f o r t h e F r o n t a n d t h e c o u n c i l s completed, a n d s u b s e q u e n t l y c o n c e n t r a t e d its o w n forces, let u s say, s i m p l y a s a n assault force t o c a r r y o u t c o m b a t actions. W i t h t h e A b a z K u p i s a n d H a l i m Begejas n o t o n l y w o u l d A l i K l c y r a a n d c o m p a n y n e v e r b e b r o u g h t out i n t h e i r t r u e c o l o u r s , b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y , B a l l i K o m b t a r , w h i c h w a s t o b e set u p w i t h a l l its c r i m i n a l s a n d g e n t r y , w o u l d seize t h e r e i n s a n d t h e P a r t y w o u l d s u d d e n l y f i n d itself f a c e d w i t h t h e o r g a n i z e d a n d l e t h a l a t t a c k o f t h e forces o f f a s c i s m a n d r e a c t i o n . A t t h e m o m e n t s w h e n w e w e r e i n t h e heat o f t h e w o r k t o p u t i n t o p r a c t i c e t h e decisions o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e of Peza, especially in the m o n t h of November, a n u m b e r
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of comrades f r o m T i r a n a and other districts reported to u s a b o u t m a n y m o v e m e n t s , m e e t i n g s a n d contacts o f c e r t a i n nationalist chiefs, prominent amongst w h o m was M i t h a t Frashri. We were certain that something was b e i n g p r e p a r e d a n d i s s u e d i n s t r u c t i o n s t h a t the greatest vigilance must be displayed and everything must be r e p o r t e d to us. N o t m u c h l a t e r , a b o u t t h e e n d o f N o v e m b e r a n d the b e g i n n i n g o f D e c e m b e r , t h r o u g h the f i r s t issue o f the p a p e r , The War for National Liberation ( 8 ) , w h i c h h a d been p u b l i s h e d a n d d i s t r i b u t e d i l l e g a l l y , w e l e a r n e d the n e w s about the f o r m a t i o n of the nationalist organization c a l l e d t h e B a l l i K o m b t a r . A s soon a s w e r e c e i v e d the n e w s a b o u t t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d its leaders, as w e l l as a l i t t l e l a t e r , w h e n w e w e r e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h its p r o g r a m , t h e notorious Decalogue, we were convinced that we h a d to do w i t h an organization spawned by the enemy occupier w h i c h h a d t h r o w n t h i s reserve i n t o the s t r u g g l e against the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a , the Anti-fascist N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t and the partisan N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r . T h e n a m e of the B a l l i K o m b t a r itself explains the w h o l e p l a n of the local feudal-bourgeois reaction and the aims of the occupiers. Balli is not s i m p l y a literal transl a t i o n of front and l i k e w i s e K o m b t a r is not s i m p l y a t r a n s l a t i o n o f t h e w o r d n a t i o n a l . N o , the t e r m does n o t h a v e a p a t r i o t i c or l i n g u i s t i c c h a r a c t e r b u t has a p r o f o u n d i d e o l o g i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e . F o r r e a c t i o n the Balli w o u l d n o t m e a n w a r a s t h e F r o n t m e a n t f o r us. F o r t h e m t h e B a l l i m e a n t t h e head, t h e pre-destined n a t i o n a l l e a d e r s h i p , t h a t is, t h e o l d u n c h a n g e a b l e w o r l d w i t h o u t end, t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e w o r l d w i t h oppressors a n d o p p r e s s e d , t h e A l b a n i a n n a t i o n a l w o r l d w h i c h rejects a n d f i g h t s progress a n d c o m m u n i s m . T h i s w a s the m e a n i n g o f
______________________________________________ 8 Organ of the Balli Kombtar.
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t h e B a l l i K o m b t a r created b y t h e I t a l i a n o c c u p i e r s a n d b y m e a n s o f w h i c h the heads o f A l b a n i a n r e a c t i o n d r e a m e d o f h o w t h e y c o u l d o r g a n i z e a n d r u n A l b a n i a i n the f u t u r e . T h e w o r d war did not exist in the name of this org a n i z a t i o n o r i n its content, because i t r e p r e s e n t e d a w o r l d i n its d e a t h throes. T h e B a l l i w a s t o engage i n w a r , b o t h w i t h propaganda and w i t h arms, not against the occupier, however, but against the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a , against t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n A r m y a n d the n e w state power of the national liberation councils. M i t h a t Frashri, an arch-traitor, was placed at the head of this assembly of traitors, and around h i m such n o t o r i o u s elements a s A l i B e y K l c y r a , K o l T r o m a r a , F a i k Q u k u , N u r e d i n V l o r a , and others such as F u a t D i b r a , H a s a n D o s t i , L e f N o s i , a n d s o o n , b u t i n fact t h e B a l l i Kombtar was led by Jacomoni, the viceroy of K i n g Victor E m m a n u e l III a n d G e n e r a l D a l m a z z o , t h e c o m m a n d e r o f the Italian a r m y i n A l b a n i a . As to the local scum w h o f o r m e d and led this org a n i z a t i o n , w h i c h t h e y a d v e r t i z e d a s patriotic(!), t h e m a j o r i t y w e r e p r e c i s e l y those p s e u d o - p a t r i o t i c n a t i o n a l i s t elements w i t h w h o m w e h a d b e e n t r y i n g f o r m o r e t h a n two years on end and h a d done e v e r y t h i n g possible to w i n their support for the war, the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t a n d t h e cause o f t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f the H o m e l a n d . Earlier, w h e n I mentioned the meetings and fierce debates w h i c h w e h a d w i t h t h e m , I also s a i d s o m e t h i n g about their character, o r i g i n and their political and ideo l o g i c a l baggage. N o w , h o w e v e r , I w a n t t o d w e l l s o m e w h a t m o r e e x t e n s i v e l y o n t h i s aspect, t o i n d i c a t e t h e essence a n d o r i g i n o f these i n d i v i d u a l s w h o , a t t h e e n d o f 1942, w e r e a d v e r t i z i n g t h e m s e l v e s a s t h e head, t h e cream of the nation, and w h a t A l b a n i a could expect f r o m their organization, the B a l l i Kombtar.
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T h e b u l k o f these c e r t i f i e d patriots c o m p r i s e d t h e c a r a v a n of t h e a n t i - Z o g i t e e l e m e n t s w h o a f t e r a 15 years a s y l u m on foreign soil had returned to A l b a n i a in the w a k e of the Italian a r m y and u n d e r the protection of f a s c i s t b a y o n e t s . I n t h e past t h e y h a d b e e n d e p u t i e s t o t h e A l b a n i a n parliament, prior to the government of F a n Noli, a n d h a d been present at the f u n e r a l of A v n i Rustemi and t a k e n p a r t i n t h e R e v o l u t i o n o f 1924. T h e y h a d d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e i r p o l i t i c a l c o n v i c t i o n s because t h e y e x p r e s s e d t h e most v a r i e d opinions in a n u m b e r of newspapers w h i c h t h e y b r o u g h t out d u r i n g t h e b o u r g e o i s - d e m o c r a t i c r e g i m e w h i c h t h e c o a l i t i o n o f beys a n d f e u d a l s h e a d e d b y A h m e t Z o g o v e r t h r e w . T h e d e m o c r a t i c v i e w s o f some o f t h e m w e r e s u p e r f i c i a l a n d q u i c k l y f a d e d , w h i l e t h e m o s t o f those w h o h a d posed a s p a r t i s a n s o f Opinga ( 9 ) w e r e i n fact c h a m p i o n s o f t h e aghas a n d t h e m e r c a n t i l e b o u r g e o i s i e w h i c h was b u i l d i n g itself up by b u y i n g the lands of b a n k r u p t f e u d a l f a m i l i e s . A l l o f t h e m , e v e n i n c l u d i n g those w h o p o s e d a s f a r t h e s t t o t h e left, w e r e f a r f r o m b e i n g revolutionary democrats, l i k e A v n i Rustemi, H a l i m X h e l o a n d o t h e r s w h o w e r e l o y a l sons o f t h e p e o p l e a n d consistent fighters for democracy. A l l the elements of the anti-Zogite emigration w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s , o r reds, a s t h e a n t i Zogites and democrats in exile called them, claimed to be supporters of F a n Noli. B u t a f t e r t h e f a i l u r e o f t h e 1924 R e v o l u t i o n t h a t e r u d i t e w r i t e r , F a n N o l i , t r a v e l l e d f r o m place t o place, visited the Soviet U n i o n , spoke and wrote w e l l about it, s t a y e d i n G e r m a n y , w r o t e b e a u t i f u l a n d p o w e r f u l a n t i - Z o g i t e verses, w e n t t o t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a w h e r e he became head of the C h u r c h , became m o r e bourgeois, assumed all k i n d s of colours, and f r o m being an
____________________________________ 9 T h e common people.
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anti-Zogite came to terms w i t h Z o g and his men. T r u e , h e d i d n o t become a c o n v i n c e d a n d a c t i v e Z o g i t e , n e v e r theless, h e accepted m o n e y f r o m Z o g . H e n e v e r f u l l y understood our National Liberation War, did not prove to be a zealous c h a m p i o n of it to t h e e n d , w h i l e , w h e n t h e people were d r i v i n g out the occupiers and traitors a n d establishing their o w n power, F a n N o l i approved the B r i t i s h plan for the formation of an A l b a n i a n government i n exile. N e v e r t h e l e s s , w e a p p r e c i a t e F a n N o l i a s a b o u r geois d e m o c r a t i c w r i t e r a n d p o l i t i c i a n , l i m i t e d i n h i s v i e w s , it is true, but who, on the whole, loved A l b a n i a . W h e r e a s these disciples o f F a n N o l i i n e x i l e w e r e n o t e v e n s u p p o r t e r s o f his, a n d b e f o r e t h e y w o r r i e d a b o u t A l b a n i a , t h e y h a s t e n e d t o e n s u r e the m a n g e r f r o m w h i c h t h e y w o u l d eat. M u s s o l i n i ' s I t a l y p a i d some o f t h e m , A l e x a n d e r ' s Y u g o s l a v i a others, w h i l e s t i l l o t h e r s w e r e p a i d b y t h e F r e n c h secret service, t h e B r i t i s h I n t e l l i g e n c e S e r v i c e , t h e G r e e k A s p h a l i a , the A m e r i c a n secret service, a n d s o on. T h e y w e r e d i v i d e d into groups, but not according to their political tendencies and views, each w i t h its o w n program and organization, newspaper a n d other publications. A l t h o u g h t h e y t r i e d t o p r e s e n t t h e i r p o l i t i c a l s q u a b bles a s o r i g i n a t i n g f r o m d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e i r p o l i t i c a l v i e w s , i n fact t h e y w e r e g r o u p e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e sources f r o m w h i c h t h e y r e c e i v e d t h e i r subsidies, t h e i r f l o w o f i n c o m e . E a c h g r o u p h a d its premises i n a caf w h i c h t h e m e m b e r s o f other groups d i d n o t e n t e r . A l l t h e i r a c t i v i t y a s great politicians a m o u n t e d t o r e a d i n g t h a t n e w s p a p e r w h i c h w a s p r o v i d e d b y t h e caf w h e r e t h e y sat a l l d a y i n d u l g i n g i n i d l e t a l k a n d academic d i s c u s s i o n s a b o u t i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o b l e m s w h i c h w e r e a c c o m p a n i e d b y a f e w curses a b o u t Z o g . W h e n t h e y r a n out o f w o r d s a n d t h e i r o p p o s i t i o n s p i r i t dried up. they began p l a y i n g poker and bridge and each tried to rob the other at gambling. T h e chiefs, o f course, c o n d u c t e d t h e f i n a n c i a l p o l i c y ,
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s h a r i n g out the m o n e y a c c o r d i n g t o t h e o r d e r s o f t h e c e n t r e f r o m w h i c h t h e y r e c e i v e d it, a s w e l l a s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r p e r s o n a l s y m p a t h i e s . T h e p o c k e t s o f some o f t h e m w e r e f u l l b u t t h e r e w e r e o t h e r s w h o h a d n o t h i n g t o eat f o r d a y s o n e n d . T h i s u n d o u b t e d l y created q u a r r e l s a m i d s t g r o u p s f e e d i n g f r o m t h e same m a n g e r a n d f r e q u e n t i n g t h e s a m e caf. O f course, t h e r e w e r e some w h o r e c e i v e d i n c o m e f r o m m o r e t h a n one source, c a m e a f l o a t a g a i n , a n d i f one o f t h e m were asked w h e r e he f o u n d this money, he w o u l d r e p l y , I w o n i t a t g a m b l i n g . I n fact, h o w e v e r , these i n d i v i d u a l s w e r e spies f o r v a r i o u s agencies. I am n o t e x a g g e r a t i n g these t h i n g s . W h e n I w a s a student in France, on my w a y back to A l b a n i a for holidays or on the r e t u r n journey, I stopped both in B a r i , w h e r e I c a u g h t t h e s h i p , a n d i n P a r i s . D u r i n g these t r a n s i t stops I h a v e seen h o w t h e y l i v e d w i t h m y o w n eyes. F o r instance, I w a s s e v e r a l t i m e s i n t h e Stoppant caf i n B a r i w h i c h w a s one o f t h e best k n o w n cafs o f these e m i g r a n t s i n w h i c h t h e h o n o u r a b l e s , f o r m e r d e p u t i e s a n d other m e m b e r s o f t h e Z o g i t e opposition, l i k e B a h r i O m a r i , S h e h K a r b u n a r a , M u h a r r e m V l l a m a s i , Qamil ela, w h o m they c o n s i d e r e d a red, a n o f f i c e r c a l l e d L e k M a r g j i n i a n d others o f t h e s a m e t y p e g a t h e r e d . I n B a r i t h e r e w e r e o t h e r e m i g r a n t s w h o c a m e a r o u n d , b u t these w e r e t h e m a i n ones, t h e h e i r s t o t h e a n t i - Z o g i t e p o l i c y a n d t h e Stoppani caf w a s t h e i r p a r l i a m e n t . A l l e g e d l y to protect t h e i r lives the Italian government had openly appointed a n o f f i c i a l p o l i c e g u a r d f o r these h o n o u r a b l e s a p a r t f r o m others w h o s h a d o w e d t h e m . W h e n I passed t h r o u g h B a r i o n my w a y to France, they asked m e : What's the news f r o m A l b a n i a , w h a t is going on? Do they or do they not l i k e Z o g ? W h e n i s h e g o i n g t o die? a n d lots o f o t h e r q u e s t i o n s l i k e these. I d o n ' t r e m e m b e r a n y t i m e w h e n t h e y a s k e d m e a b o u t the t r o u b l e s o f t h e people, t h e w o r k e r s a n d peasants, o r e x p r e s s e d r e v u l s i o n a b o u t the w a y t h e w o r k e r s a n d
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peasants w e r e p l u n d e r e d a n d e x p l o i t e d . W h e n I s p o k e a b o u t these t h i n g s t h e y l i s t e n e d t o m e w i t h i n d i f f e r e n c e , because t h e s i t u a t i o n a n d m o v e m e n t s o f t h e masses w e r e of no i m p o r t a n c e to these p a r t i s a n s of Opinga; f o r t h e m the best n e w s w a s i f y o u t o l d t h e m t h a t Z o g h a d b e e n i l l , because i t s e e m e d t o t h e m t h a t t h e w a y w a s b e i n g opened for them to take power in A l b a n i a . I n t h e Stoppani caf t h e y dealt i n g r a n d p o l i t i c s . E a c h o f t h e m e x p r e s s e d his o w n t e n d e n c i e s a n d s y m p a t h i e s in their conversations. Sheh K a r b u n a r a , for example, app a r e n t l y ate t h e b r e a d of t h e I t a l i a n s b u t h a d a s p e c i a l a d m i r a t i o n f o r the E n g l i s h . T h e S h e h w a s l i v e l y i n c o n versation and attracted attention w i t h his manner of speaki n g in the M y z e q e dialect and his l o u d laughter. He was c l e v e r a n d c u n n i n g b u t h a d n o t t h e slightest c u l t u r e . H e w a i t e d f o r B a h r i O m a r i t o r e a d h i m a n e w s p a p e r because B a h r i k n e w several eastern a n d western languages. Bahri's culture, however, was a little of everything, and of no d e p t h . In his p o l i t i c a l v i e w s , he posed as a r a d i c a l socialist because h e h a d great a d m i r a t i o n f o r E d o u a r d H e r r i o t , o n e of the leaders of the F r e n c h r a d i c a l socialists. Le Temps, a liberal newspaper w i t h great influence in F r a n c e at that time, was the source of B a h r i ' s i n f o r m a t i o n a n d interpretations. S h e h K a r b u n a r a a n d t h e o t h e r s w a i t e d f o r h i m i n the Stoppani caf w i t h t h e n e w s p a p e r Le Temps in f r o n t of h i m . These p s e u d o - p o l i t i c i a n s , these s u p p o r t e r s o f t h e m e r c a n t i l e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d aghas h a d h a t r e d f o r c o m m u n i s m in their blood stream and this they demonstrated later. As for any organization on their part w i t h i n the country, n o t o n l y d i d t h i s n o t exist, b u t t h e y h a d n o t sent a n y newspapers, pamphlets or even a single leaflet into A l bania. Their activity could not be compared even w i t h t h a t o f d e m o c r a t i c elements a m o n g the e x i l e s l i k e O m e r
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N i s h a n i or F a n N o l i himself, whose disciples they claimed t o be, let a l o n e w i t h t h e a c t i v i t y o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o m munist militants like A l i Kelmendi, H a l i m X h e l o and Riza C e r o v a , w h o w o r k e d a b r o a d b u t also e n t e r e d A l b a n i a legally or illegally, and w o r k e d under the threat of i m p r i s o n m e n t , i n t e r n m e n t a n d m u r d e r . B u t w h a t sort o f o r g a n i z a t i o n c o u l d t h e h a b i t u s of t h e Stoppani c a f c l a i m to h a v e w h e n their l i n k s w i t h the country w e r e non-existent? A p a r t f r o m a few f o r m e r acquaintances, m e n of the bourgeoisie, aghas, t o p o f f i c i a l s o r s o m e o l d i n t e l l e c t u a l s , n o one i n A l b a n i a remembered them. The latter had considered it more advantageous to m a k e t h e i r peace w i t h Z o g t h a n t o r o v e t h e cities o f Europe, h a d submitted to the regime, l i v e d and carried out their activity u n d e r the protection of the K r o s i s and Z o g ' s m i n i s t e r s a n d h a d e v e n g a i n e d some posts i n t h e c a p i t a l o r w e r e a p p o i n t e d its prefects i n t h e d i s t r i c t s . T h e S k n d e r P o j a n i s , R e i z Selfos, V e h i p R u n a s , Q e m a l V r i o n i s a n d m a n y others w e r e of this type. N o w even their opinions w e r e u n i f i e d , t h e y h a d b e c o m e c o n v i n c e d Zogites, a l t h o u g h s o m e posed a s a p o l i t i c a l , o t h e r s a s n e u t r a l a n d w h e n t h e y w e n t a b r o a d , e s p e c i a l l y t o I t a l y , because t h a t i s w h e r e t h e y w e n t m o s t l y t o s t r i k e t r a d e deals, t h e y d i d n o t f o r g e t t h e i r o l d f r i e n d s . T h e y w o u l d m e e t i n t h e Stoppani caf, c r a c k a f e w j o k e s , pose as d e m o c r a t s , r e l a t e some of the crimes of the regime and, as friends and acquaintances, p u t a b i t o f m o n e y i n t h e i r p o c k e t s . H e n c e , t h e contacts o f t h e e m i g r a n t p o l i t i c i a n s w i t h A l b a n i a were made through men of the Zogite regime w h o went abroad, through officials, b i g merchants, land-owners a n d aghas, a n d these contacts w e r e m a i n t a i n e d n o t i n o r d e r t o c o n s p i r e o r d o s o m e t h i n g a g a i n s t the r e g i m e , b u t i n o r d e r t o get some e c o n o m i c a i d f r o m i t a n d t o d e l u d e t h e m s e l v e s b y s a y i n g t h a t t h e y h a d n o t lost contact w i t h A l b a n i a . T h i s was not surprising. E v e n in the t i m e of the
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F a n N o l i g o v e r n m e n t w h e n these m e n w e r e m e m b e r s o f it, o r elected a s deputies, t h e i r l i n k s w e r e n o t w i t h t h e masses o f the people b u t m a i n l y w i t h t h e l i b e r a l g e n t r y of the city and, up to a point, w i t h the gentry of the countryside. It was not the idea of the progress of A l b a n i a w h i c h l i n k e d them w i t h the gentry, but their f a m i l y a n d m a r r i a g e l i n k s , a n d chance f r i e n d s h i p s w h i c h w e r e w i d e l y d e v e l o p e d i n the s o c i a l l i f e o f t h a t t i m e . T h e a n t i - Z o g i t e democrats o f P a r i s c o m p r i s e d a n o t h e r group of this category of political exiles. T h a t included A l i Klcyra, Kol Tromara, Qazim Koculi, Sejfi Vllamasi, Rex h e p M i t r o v i c a a n d others, b u t T r o m a r a , A l i B e y , K o c u l i a n d M i t r o v i c a posed a s leaders. I n fact n o n e o f t h e m r e c o g n i z e d the other as leader, because t h e y a l l led, b u t t h e y w e r e leaders i n w o r d s , c o m m a n d e r s w i t h o u t a n a r m y . T h e i r centres w e r e La Coupole, La Source a n d o t h e r w e l l - k n o w n cafs. T h e r e t h e y g a m b l e d , p l a y e d p o l i t i c s , o v e r t h r e w Zog, a r o u s e d the A l b a n i a n people, a n d s h a r e d out t h e f r a n c s a n d t h e d o l l a r s w h i c h t h e c o u r s e o f b e t r a y a l o n w h i c h t h e y h a d set o u t s e c u r e d f o r t h e m . T h e a n t i - Z o g i t e s of the Stoppani caf h a d good r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h i s g r o u p w h i l e t h e y q u a r r e l l e d w i t h the g r o u p o f M u s t a f a M e r l i k a w h i c h Mussolini kept in D a l m a t i a and prepared f o r his f u t u r e p l a n s o f i n v a s i o n . A s soon a s fascist I t a l y i n v a d e d A l b a n i a a l l these e x i l e s r e t u r n e d f r o m t h e cafs o f E u r o p e . N a t u r a l l y , t h e y w e r e pleased t o see t h e i r f r i e n d s a n d e s t a b l i s h e d p o l i t i c a l c o n tacts w i t h o t h e r anti-Zogites w h o h a d r e m a i n e d w i t h i n the country or had returned earlier. N o w , w i t h the o c c u p a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y , these s o - c a l l e d a n t i - Z o g i t e d e m o c r a t s e i t h e r s t i l l h e l d t h e posts w h i c h t h e y h a d h a d i n t h e t i m e o f Z o g , o r h a d been r a i s e d i n r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , a n d w i t h the a i d o f f a s c i s m , w e r e f u r t h e r e n r i c h i n g t h e m s e l v e s at the people's expense.
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T h e outstanding patriots returned f r o m Europe, sounded out the terrain, sniffed out w h e r e the lire came f r o m a n d h o w , s o u n d e d out t h e q u i s l i n g s , t h e I t a l i a n a n d A l b a n i a n fascist h i e r a r c h s , posed a s p o l i t i c a l l y u n d e f i l e d , a s able m e n a n d p o l i t i c i a n s , a s m e n w h o h a d m a d e sacrifices for this nation, w h i l e languishing on foreign s o i l , s o n o w t h a t t h e sea h a d t u r n e d i n t o y o u g h u r t t h e y o u g h t t o b e g i v e n n o t spoons b u t ladles. T h e y w e r e installed in homes, their salaries continued, but in w h a t w a y , n o b o d y k n e w . T h e o c c u p i e r w a n t e d t o l e g a l i z e these salaries, b u t t h e f a t h e r s o f t h e n a t i o n p u t u p r e s i s t a n c e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n because t h i s w o u l d m e a n t h a t t h e p s e u d o p a t r i o t s w o u l d b e c o m p r o m i s e d i n t h e eyes o f t h e people a n d c o m m i t t e d t o t h e dance. H o w e v e r , fascist I t a l y w a s t o a l l o w t h e m t o r e t a i n t h e i r disguise, j u s t a s l o n g a s i t w a s i n its interests, because i t h a d t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t t h e r o l e o f t h e r e a c t i o n a r y chiefs o f t h e p o l i t i c a l e x i l e s i n its p l a n s f o r t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f A l b a n i a . I t w a s not f o r n o t h i n g t h a t Z o g ' s great f r i e n d h a d l o n g b e e n w o r k i n g t o o r g a n i z e t h e m , h a d k e p t a n d s u b s i d i z e d t h e m , a l l e g e d l y i n secret w a y s , because Z o g d i d n o t d a r e m a k e t h e slightest protest. F a s c i s m h a d c o n s i d e r e d a n d w a s to use these m e n as a reserve for the domination of A l b a n i a and they were a n i m p o r t a n t c a r d i n t h e I t a l i a n g a m e o f the l i b e r a t i o n o f A l b a n i a f r o m Zog. T h e s e e l e m e n t s h a d b e c o m e p u p p e t s a n d a s s u c h n o b o d y w a s g o i n g t o ask t h e m w h a t r o l e t h e y w e r e g o i n g t o p l a y i n t h e p r e p a r e d plot. A n d f a s c i s m d i v i d e d t h e roles a m o n g s t t h e g r o u p s o f these p o l i t i c a l exiles. S o m e o f t h e m , s u c h a s M u s t a f a K r u j a a n d others, i t u s e d d i r e c t l y t o g o v e r n its colony, w h i l e t h e o t h e r s i t kept in reserve. I t w a s n o t t h a t fascist Italy h a d n o n e e d o f t h e m , b u t i t k n e w t h a t i t c o u l d n o t b r i n g t h e m i n t o use b e f o r e V r l a c i , M u s t a f a M e r l i k a , E q r e m B e y Libohova, M a l i q Bushati, and s o o n . T h e y w e r e the f i r s t v i o l i n s , w h i l e t h e o t h e r s h a d
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to submit to the quisling regime of the occupiers and w o r k for it and, moreover, at first shed the odd tear for A l b a n i a and A l b a n i a n i s m . A l l this was a puppet play, but the captor I t a l y h a d n o t s t a g e d i t f o r n o t h i n g . I n t h i s w a y , these pseudo-patriots, pseudo-democrats and fascists were b r o u g h t i n t o t h e dance o f t h e I t a l i a n fascist o c c u p i e r s . S o m e o f t h e m w e r e m a d e m e m b e r s o f t h e C o u n c i l o f State created especially f o r them, w h i l e , as I said, the others b e c a m e l o c a l fascist chiefs, a n d o t h e r s s t i l l r e c e i v e d p e n sions a n d b r i b e s w i t h o u t o c c u p y i n g a n y d e f i n i t e post, s o that they could retain for a w h i l e the reputation of u n b l e m i s h e d patriots a l t h o u g h a l l t h e t i m e t h e y c a r r i e d o n d i s g u i s e d p r o p a g a n d a against t h e people's r e s i s t a n c e . T h e elements o f t h i s g r o u p t e m p o r a r i l y l e f t i n r e s e r v e w e r e closely l i n k e d w i t h fascist Italy, b u t t h e i r r o l e w a s t o c a r r y out s u b v e r s i v e a c t i v i t y w i t h i n t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e A l b a n i a n people and to co-ordinate their demagogy w i t h the b l u d geon w h i c h M u s t a f a M e r l i k a w i e l d e d o p e n l y . T h e i r m i s s i o n w a s t o l i n k t h e m a x i m u m n u m b e r o f p e o p l e t o t h e fascist band-wagon through deception and threats and to w i n over the peasantry and the intellectuals. In the end this d a n g e r o u s a c t i v i t y o f t h e i r s h a d some results, e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g vacillating and c o w a r d l y elements. Thus, in order t o suppress t h e people a n d t h e i r s t r u g g l e , t h e fascist o c c u p i e r w o r k e d f r o m b o t h sides: f r o m t h e side o f t h e A l b a n i a n fascist o f f i c i a l s p l a c e d i n g o v e r n m e n t posts f r o m w h i c h t h e y oppressed a n d e x p l o i t e d t h e people, a n d f r o m t h e s i d e of the pseudo-patriots, pseudo-democrats a n d Zogites allegedly fallen in disgrace. These latter w e r e the politicians of t h e Kursaal caf a n d g a m b l i n g c l u b s l i k e t h e Savoy a n d o t h e r n o t o r i o u s e s t a b l i s h m e n t s . T h e fascist secret agency, w h i c h w a s e v e r y w h e r e a n d r e p o r t e d e v e r y t h i n g , t u r n e d a b l i n d eye a n d a deaf e a r w h e n one o f these p o l i t i c i a n s e x p r e s s e d some c r i t i c i s m o f persons i n p o w e r o r t h e f a s c i s t r e g i m e i n t h e c o u n t r y .
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T h e w h o l e lot of t h e m w e r e a f i l t h y scum among w h o m i t w a s h a r d t o f i n d e v e n one, h o w e v e r i n s i g n i f i c a n t , w h o was undefiled. O f course, a p a r t f r o m the k n o w l e d g e w h i c h w e h a d f r o m the period p r i o r to the occupation, we created a more complete and accurate opinion about t h e m d u r i n g o u r m a n y a t t e m p t s t o f a n u p t h e i r p a t r i o t i s m , t h a t is, t o u n i t e t h e m w i t h t h e w a r , w i t h t h e F r o n t , w i t h t h e great cause o f t h e H o m e l a n d . A s I h a v e a l r e a d y s h o w n i n d e t a i l , however, i n i t i a l l y they treated us w i t h total disregard, and, indeed, implied that they could h a r d l y deign to talk w i t h u s h o t - h e a d e d y o u n g reds. T h e r e w e r e t w o m a i n reasons f o r t h i s s t a n d o f t h e i r s t o w a r d s u s i n the i n i t i a l stage o f o u r contacts w i t h t h e m : F i r s t , a m o n g these n a t i o n a l i s t - d e m o c r a t s , w h o l i v e d on fascist hand-outs a n d w h o w e r e neither nationalists n o r d e m o c r a t s , t h e i d e a p r e v a i l e d t h a t t h e y w e r e t h e most capable, w e r e p r o v e n p o l i t i c i a n s , t h a t the p e o p l e l o v e d a n d respected t h e m a n d , hence, t h e y t h o u g h t t h e y w e r e d e s t i n e d , w h e n t h e f a v o u r a b l e m o m e n t came, t o t a k e p o w e r a n d g o v e r n the c o u n t r y . T h u s , w i t h t h e i r d e l i r i u m a n d these absurd illusions they had about themselves they could not e v e n t h i n k , let a l o n e accept, t h a t t h e i r t i m e h a d passed a n d that n o w n e w m e n were emerging f r o m the ranks of the c o m m o n people, r e a d y t o t a k e o v e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e fate of the H o m e l a n d . Second, this disdainful attitude towards us in this first phase of the w a r was dictated to t h e m b y t h e fascist o c c u p i e r a n d o p e n r e a c t i o n , w i t h t h e a i m t h a t w e , y o u n g people, w o u l d b e o v e r a w e d b y t h e i r p r o f o u n d r e a s o n i n g a n d lose heart, hence, w o u l d c o m e t o o u r senses, a s t h e y a d v i s e d us, r e c o n c i l e o u r selves t o t h e s i t u a t i o n a n d , w h i l e s w a l l o w i n g t h e m i s f o r t u n e s o f t h e H o m e l a n d , e n j o y t h e blessings o f t h e f a s c i s t order! A f t e r y e a r s o f i d l e t a l k a n d d r e a m s i n cafes, h o w e v e r ,
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t h e i r c a l c u l a t i o n s w e n t e v e n f u r t h e r t h a n this, f o r t h e m t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y b y fascist I t a l y w a s a p a s s i n g p h e n o m e n o n f o r A l b a n i a a n d t h e y t h o u g h t that, w h e n t h e I t a l i a n s left they w o u l d s t i l l h a v e t h e m as a s u p p o r t , p r o v i d e d w e d o n ' t a n n o y t h e m , a s these b o y s are d o i n g . T h e i r ideas w e n t f u r t h e r s t i l l : If n a z i G e r m a n y r e places Italy, t h a t w i l l b e e v e n b e t t e r a n d i t w i l l h e l p u s ; on the other hand, if both Italy and G e r m a n y are defeated, t h e n B r i t a i n a n d the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a w i l l t r i u m p h , t h e y w i l l m a k e t h e l a w a n d i n t h a t case w e s h a l l b e e v e n b e t t e r off. As a r e s u l t of these d a n g e r o u s v i e w s a n d t h e e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l i n t e r e s t s t h e y r e g a r d e d t h e w a r o f the A l b a n i a n people against t h e occupier, f o r w h i c h w e w e r e appealing and striving, as something terrible. In no w a y d i d t h e y w a n t t o f i g h t the fascist o c c u p i e r , t h e r e f o r e t h e y did their utmost and employed every means to strangle t h e r e v o l u t i o n i n its e m b r y o n i c phase. O f course, regardless o f t h e disdain, gibes a n d r e m o n s t r a n c e s of these o l d m e n , h a r n e s s e d to t h e fascist plough, we carried on w i t h our w o r k and were to witness all their metamorphoses w h i c h appeared ridiculous but. i n fact, w e r e done o n orders. W h e n , t o t h e i r a s t o n i s h ment, they saw that we w e r e really t a k i n g the reins of the w a r in hand, they were obliged and ordered to come and seek u s out, t o t r y a n d p e r s u a d e u s f o r t h e s a k e o f s u f f e r i n g A l b a n i a t o p r o c e e d n o f u r t h e r o n t h e course o f adventurism w h i c h we had taken. Quietly and patiently, w e e x p l a i n e d o u r s t a n d t o t h e m once a g a i n a n d c o n t i n u e d o n o u r course.
Taken f r o m L a y i n g the Foundations of the New Albania, A l b . ed., T i r a n a 1984
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BELOVED ALBANIA ON THE NOVEMBER CELEBRATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WONDERFUL PEOPLE!
Message of greetings on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Liberation of Albania
November 29, 1984
A h , my beloved H o m e l a n d ! Seventy-two years have gone by since the proclamation of independence. F o r 40 years y o u have been l i v i n g and advancing in socialism, liberated forever f r o m oppression and exploitation, f r o m t h e i n t r i g u e s a n d v i l l a i n i e s o f f o r e i g n o c c u p i e r s a n d the i n t e r n a l enemies. A l l t h r o u g h t h e centuries, y o u , m y A l b a n i a , h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d endless s u f f e r i n g a n d h a r d s h i p s . Y o u r life has been filled w i t h bloody wars, w h i c h have b e e n w a g e d i n e v e r y c o r n e r o f y o u r t e r r i t o r y , i n the m o u n t a i n s a n d o n t h e p l a i n s , i n t h e castles a n d t h e h u m b l e cottages. Y o u s h e d y o u r blood, m y people, i n o r d e r t o l i v e f r e e a n d i n d e p e n d e n t l i k e t h e m o u n t a i n eagle t h a t y o u were, w i t h y o u r f r e e d o m - l o v i n g spirit and dauntless c h a racter, w i t h y o u r c l e a r m i n d a n d w i s d o m , y o u r great, c o u r a g e o u s a n d g e n e r o u s h e a r t , y o u r desires a n d a r d e n t a s p i r a t i o n s . Y o u w e r e n e v e r a f r a i d t o f i g h t against t h e enemy and slavery, never intimidated by occupation, despite the trickery, the burnings and killings w h i c h the
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enemy engaged i n ; y o u never bent the knee to foreigners o r accepted b e t r a y a l , b u t a l w a y s stood p r o u d l y a n d f o u g h t b a c k . I n y o u r belt y o u c a r r i e d t h e s i l v e r c h a s e d pistols, o n y o u r shoulders rifles, in y o u r hands the d r a w n s w o r d and y o u f o u g h t f u r i o u s l y . A t t a c k e d f r o m a l l sides, y o u w e r e o f t e n defeated, b u t n e v e r c o n q u e r e d , m y A l b a n i a a n d m y people! I t i s h a r d t o f i n d i n the w o r l d a n o t h e r s m a l l c o u n t r y l i k e o u r A l b a n i a , w i t h a people s u c h a s t h e A l b a n i a n people, w h o h a v e f o u g h t s o m u c h , w h o h a v e d a r e d s o much, w h o have displayed such great courage a n d w i s d o m , w h o have smashed a l l the enemies and emerged p r o u d l y in history, w h o have emerged free and sovereign, a n d h a v e seized p o w e r t h r o u g h t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e i r o w n a r m s , w i t h o u t s e e k i n g o r e n j o y i n g t h e a i d o f a n y o n e else. T h e most f e r o c i o u s enemies h a v e a t t a c k e d t h i s v a l i a n t people a n d s o u g h t t o w i p e t h e m f r o m t h e f a c e o f the e a r t h , to eliminate A l b a n i a f r o m the m a p of the w o r l d , to p a r t i t i o n i t a n d d i v i d e i t a m o n g s t its n e i g h b o u r s , t h e r u l e r s o f w h i c h w e r e agents o f G r e a t P o w e r s . B u t i n v a i n . A l b a n i a a n d the A l b a n i a n s f o u g h t a n d t r i u m p h e d , t h e y w e r e , a r e and w i l l be immortal. A h , m y A l b a n i a , m y people, h i s t o r y s p e a k s o f t h e s e great m e r i t s . N o w h i s t o r y speaks m o r e l o u d l y , b u t i t h a s s p o k e n i n t h e past, too, a l t h o u g h t h e f o r e i g n e n e m i e s h a v e done t h e i r u t m o s t t o stop y o u r v o i c e f r o m b e i n g h e a r d . Nevertheless, this voice could not be smothered, because t h e echo o f t h e A l b a n i a n s ' w a r s r e v e r b e r a t e d f r o m t h e m o u n t a i n s , s p r e a d t h r o u g h space a n d t o l d t h e w o r l d h o w a d a u n t l e s s people, w i t h S k a n d e r b e g a t t h e h e a d , b e c a m e the terror of the Ottomans. W h i l e Europe trembled before the T u r k i s h sultans' hordes, in the mountains of A l b a n i a a people, l e d b y a h e r o w h o d e f e n d e d t h e H o m e l a n d a n d E u r o p e f r o m i n v a s i o n , f o u g h t a n d resisted. M y v a l i a n t people, y o u s h e d t o r r e n t s o f b l o o d b u t n o one w a s g r a t e f u l
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NOVEMBER CELEBRATIONS! 819 t o y o u , a n d despite t h i s , y o u w e r e n o t d i s c o u r a g e d , because l i f e h a d t a u g h t y o u t h a t y o u m u s t t a k e y o u r fate i n t o y o u r o w n hands and defend and liberate y o u r Homeland. M a n y enemies have violated our m o t h e r soil the R o m a n s of Caesar and M a r k A n t o n y , the Ottomans, the S e r b i a n hordes, f r o m t h e t i m e o f S t e p h a n D u a n t o t h e Karageorgevies, the Greeks of Venizelos and Zographos, t h e I t a l i a n s o f t h e F i r s t W o r l d W a r a n d those o f M u s s o l i n i , the A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n s of F r a n c i s Joseph and the G e r m a n s o f H i t l e r . B u t y o u , t h e A l b a n i a n people, f a c e d u p t o a l l these i n v a d e r s e m e r g i n g a f t e r each o c c u p a t i o n m o r e u n i t e d , m o r e rejuvenated, more determined to refuse to bow y o u r head to anyone. T h e a r c h i v e s o f t h e c h a n c e l l e r i e s o f t h e states o f E u r ope h a v e been f i l l e d w i t h d o c u m e n t s w h i c h t e s t i f y t o y o u r s t r u g g l e , t o y o u r v a l i a n t deeds a n d y o u r a r d e n t a s p i r a t i o n s f o r f r e e d o m . B u t these a r c h i v e s are n o t o p e n , t o t h i s d a y t h e y r e m a i n closed. T h e a r c h i v e s o f I s t a n b u l , B e l g r a d e a n d A t h e n s , I t a l y , A u s t r i a a n d F r a n c e r e m a i n closed. B u t , m y h e r o i c people, y o u r m a j e s t i c h i s t o r y has b e e n w r i t t e n better and more clearly than in the m e m o r a n d a of foreign chancelleries w i t h y o u r blood and sweat and y o u yourselves h a v e s u n g a b o u t i t g e n e r a t i o n a f t e r g e n e r a t i o n . Y o u r songs f a i t h f u l l y d e s c r i b e y o u r great h i s t o r y , y o u r customs, h a b i t s and costumes; they are h y m n s to y o u r valour, endurance, l o y a l t y a n d n o b i l i t y , t o y o u r l i f e i n its h a r m o n i o u s d e v e l o p ment. T h u s y o u sang to yourselves, to y o u r blood, to y o u r i m m o r t a l i t y . T h e s e songs i n s p i r e d t h e g e n e r a t i o n s t h a t came, a r m e d t h e m w i t h l o v e f o r t h e H o m e l a n d a n d f o r f r e e d o m , t o l d t h e m o f t h e courage, d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d dauntless spirit of their forefathers, told them that their freedom, honour, language, customs and culture could be d e f e n d e d o n l y w i t h b l o o d a n d sweat. Y o u r songs evoke the aid w h i c h you, the A l b a n i a n
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people, h a v e g i v e n other peoples i n t h e c o u r s e o f h i s t o r y . T h e y are songs t o S k a n d e r b e g a n d his v a l i a n t A l b a n i a n f i g h t e r s w h o assisted H u n y a d i , w h o assisted i n t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f the K i n g d o m o f N a p l e s ; t h e y are songs t o y o u r sons w h o w e n t a n d f o u g h t a s f a r a w a y a s F r a n c e w i t h M a r s h a l d e Q u e r c ; t h e y are songs t o t h e v a l i a n t f i g h t e r s o f t h i s l a n d w h o assisted t h e r e v o l u t i o n f o r t h e i n d e pendence o f G r e e c e . W h e r e has t h e A l b a n i a n n o t f o u g h t for freedom, not displayed valour, not displayed v i t a l i t y and w i s d o m ! F r o m y o u r r a n k s , m y people, great m e n h a v e e m e r g e d , m e n w h o h a v e f o u g h t w i t h t h e r i f l e a n d t h e pen, w h o h a v e inspired the generations and i m b u e d them w i t h patriotism, w i t h t h e i r sense o f f r e e d o m . T h e s e m e n h a v e d r e a m e d , w o r k e d a n d s t r i v e n f o r t h e M o t h e r l a n d t o l i v e free, for the Albanians to gain learning, to assimilate knowledge and build the free A l b a n i a , unhampered by chains or by foreigners, i n w h i c h the A l b a n i a n language w o u l d flower, our l a n g u a g e so b e a u t i f u l , so p u r e , so t u n e f u l in t h e songs o f t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e h i g h l a n d s a n d t h e p l a i n s , of the courageous w o m e n and the girls and boys. H o w greatly that language was loved and valued by the outs t a n d i n g p a t r i o t s o f a l l periods, e s p e c i a l l y those o f o u r N a t i o n a l Renaissance, who, w i t h their keen minds, desired that this language should be w r i t t e n and taught in the A l b a n i a n schools a n d t h a t these schools s h o u l d w i p e out f r o m a m o n g s t t h e people t h e i g n o r a n c e , the i n f l u e n c e o f l a n g u a g e s o f c o u n t r i e s w h i c h o p p r e s s e d us, s h o u l d w i p e out t h e i g n o r a n c e o f t h e M i d d l e A g e s a n d r e l i g i o n s w h i c h poisoned t h e s p i r i t o f t h e A l b a n i a n people. T h e s e p i o n e e r s of the A l b a n i a n language sacrificed themselves at the a l t a r of t h e H o m e l a n d , t h e i r b l o o d b e c a m e a b e a c o n - l i g h t , t h e i r w o r k took root, g r e w u p a n d d e v e l o p e d a m i d s t s t o r m s , amidst the suffering and poverty. F r o m the A l b a n i a n schools, w h i c h w e r e o p e n e d t h r o u g h t h e e f f o r t s o f these
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NOVEMBER CELEBRATIONS! 821 o u t s t a n d i n g p a t r i o t s , e m e r g e d p e o p l e w h o collected t h e songs o f o u r h i s t o r y a n d t h e c u s t o m s o f t h e people, w h i c h strengthened the determination of the A l b a n i a n to liberate himself, w h i c h gave us light and the strength of knowledge, u n t i l i n t h e end, y o u , m y b e l o v e d people, o v e r c a m e a l l these h a r d s h i p s . H i s t o r y h a d t a u g h t y o u t h a t those peoples w h o d o n o t f i g h t a r e e l i m i n a t e d , t h e r e f o r e , y o u , m y people, f o u g h t f o r f r e e d o m , f o r y o u r l a n g u a g e , f o r y o u r customs, f o r y o u r sacred soil, and you w e r e not eliminated, but t r i u m p h e d . C e n t u r i e s w e n t b y i n ceaseless w a r s i n w h i c h y o u s u f f e r e d death a n d destruction but y o u d i d not y i e l d and were not q u e l l e d , a n d e v e n t u a l l y , o n N o v e m b e r 29, 1944, t o g e t h e r w i t h y o u r f r e e d o m y o u also w o n p o w e r , b e c a m e m a s t e r s o f y o u r o w n f a t e a n d e m e r g e d i n t h e l i g h t f o r ever, because at the head of y o u r struggle y o u h a d the heroic C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , t o w h i c h y o u , t h e people, g a v e b i r t h and w h i c h y o u defended and nurtured w i t h the blood of y o u r f i n e s t sons, s o t h a t i t w o u l d g r o w s t r o n g a s t h e moments and your future and that of our Homeland required. This was a well-earned victory. R a r e l y has a n y o t h e r p e o p l e d e s e r v e d s u c h a v i c t o r y as y o u d e s e r v e d it, m y people, because y o u h a v e b e e n s t r o n g , courageous, a n d o p t i m i s t i c a n d y o u h a v e a l w a y s l o v e d l i f e . Y o u b r o u g h t f o r t h n o b l e sons a n d d a u g h t e r s , f i e r y - h e a r t e d , e a g l e - e y e d a n d s t r o n g a s the r o c k s o f t h e A l p s , w h o f e l l u p o n the enemy l i k e t h u n d e r and lightning. S u c h w e r e y o u r sons a n d d a u g h t e r s w h o l e d y o u i n b a t t l e w i t h songs o n t h e i r l i p s t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e w a r cries, o f w h o s e h i s t o r y , battles a n d s a c r i f i c e s y o u , m y v a l i a n t a n d g r e a t - h e a r t e d people, s a n g . Not just but a whole every period, y o u r glorious one o r t w o , o r a f e w t h o u s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s , people w e r e i n s p i r e d a t e v e r y m o m e n t , i n at all the troubled moments of history, by past, m y H o m e l a n d . N e v e r w a s t h e h e a d o f
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the A l b a n i a n confused in storms and blizzards. Never were the A l b a n i a n people c o n q u e r e d , b u t t h e y f o r g e d a h e a d t h r o u g h the s t o r m s a n d c o n q u e r e d t h e enemies, h o w e v e r mighty, ferocious and w e l l - a r m e d they were. Y o u , m y d e a r people, w e r e n o t b a r b a r i a n s , o t h e r s b e h a v e d l i k e b a r b a r i a n s t o w a r d s y o u ; y o u , m y people, w e r e not w i t h o u t c u l t u r e , o t h e r s w a n t e d t o i m p o s e t h e i r e n s l a v i n g c u l t u r e o n y o u . Y o u h a d n o t o n l y s t r o n g muscles, but also k e e n m i n d s a n d great hearts, a n d t h a t i s w h y t h e invaders could neither assimilate you, n o r w i p e y o u out. T h e enemies h a v e left n o t h i n g u n s a i d a g a i n s t y o u , b u t l i f e , struggle, h i s t o r y , has p r o v e d t h e m w r o n g . Y o u h a v e been superior to y o u r enemies f r o m every standpoint. Y o u r w h o l e l i f e , m y people, has b e e n r e v o l u t i o n , e v e n w h e n y o u w e r e s t a r v i n g , n a k e d o r dressed i n rags, w i t h y o u r bodies bleeding f r o m wounds, but fiery-spirited and u n b o w e d . A t n o t i m e has y o u r l i f e b e e n m e a n i n g l e s s , b u t o n the c o n t r a r y , e v e r y y e a r , e v e r y d a y o f y o u r l i f e , has been f i l l e d w i t h s t r u g g l e s a n d s t r i v i n g s f o r f r e e d o m , justice and economic and social development and progress. T h i s w a y o f l i f e has a l w a y s k e p t u s v i g o r o u s , a n d t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r has a l w a y s h a d t h i s o n t h e o r d e r o f t h e d a y . T h e P a r t y has m a d e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a d i t i o n s o f o u r people a n i n s e p a r a b l e p a r t o f o u r l i f e : t h e o u t s t a n d i n g dates, events a n d f i g u r e s o f t h e p e o p l e a r e c e l e b r a t e d , s u n g a n d w r i t t e n about. A m a r v e l l o u s s i t u a t i o n has b e e n created everywhere, the political enlightenment and outs t a n d i n g p a t r i o t i s m o f the people are i m m o r t a l . A s a r e s u l t o f t h i s s o u n d state o f a f f a i r s A l b a n i a i s a d v a n c i n g a n d b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m s u c c e s s f u l l y , people a r e c o n s c i e n t i o u s i n w o r k a n d i n action, f i g h t e r s f o r t h e great cause o f s o c i a l i s m and communism, and y o u n g and old love our heroic Party wholeheartedly. A l l t h e blessings w h i c h w e h a v e c r e a t e d a n d e n j o y i n g d u r i n g the years of socialism stem f r o m are the
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NOVEMBER CELEBRATIONS! 823 N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r o f t h e people l e d b y t h e C o m munist P a r t y , w h i c h has always been enlightened by M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m its u n e r r i n g guide. G u i d e d by this i d e o l o g y f r o m t h e t i m e o f its c r e a t i o n , t h e P a r t y w a s a b l e t o i m b u e a n d t e m p e r t h e n e w m a n o f socialist A l b a n i a w i t h the patriotism of centuries, to unite and mobilize the w h o l e people in the sacred w a r for freedom, to lead t h e m o n s u c h a c o u r s e that, besides w i n n i n g t h e i r f r e e d o m , the people took power in their o w n hands, established the people's state p o w e r a n d set t o w o r k t o m a k e o u r b e l o v e d A l b a n i a a f l o u r i s h i n g garden, the free country of free people. We fought and t r i u m p h e d , the w h o l e of A l b a n i a rose t o its feet d u r i n g t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r . A l l our villages became nurseries of partisans. The w h o l e people was able to unite f i r m l y around the Party, drove t h e b a r b a r o u s f o r e i g n i n v a d e r s f r o m o u r s o i l once a n d f o r a l l , o v e r t h r e w t h e p o w e r o f t h e f e u d a l l o r d s , beys a n d capitalists, and punished the traitors as they deserved. M a n y o f t h e f i n e s t sons o f t h i s p e o p l e f e l l w i t h h o n o u r on the field of battle, but they became torch-bearers a n d t o d a y a l l o v e r A l b a n i a t h e i r r e m a i n s rest i n m o n u m e n t a l cemeteries t o w h i c h t h e p e o p l e g o c o n t i n u a l l y t o p a y t h e greatest h o m a g e , because t h e b l o o d t h e y shed cemented the foundations of the new A l b a n i a . A l l the f r i e n d l y foreigners w h o visit our country b o w w i t h respect b e f o r e t h e g r a v e s o f o u r heroes a n d s a y w i t h conviction a n d a d m i r a t i o n that our people have fought, h a v e shed t h e i r b l o o d a n d t h a t w a r has b e e n w a g e d o n every inch of this soil. A f t e r L i b e r a t i o n y o u , m y people, c o n t i n u e d t h e s t r u g gle h e r o i c a l l y . T h e P a r t y l e d y o u i n e v e n greater, e v e n m o r e d i f f i c u l t battles, t h e battles f o r s o c i a l i s m w h i c h y o u h a d t o w i n t h r o u g h t o i l a n d sweat, t h r o u g h k n o w l e d g e a n d d e t e r m i n a t i o n . D a y b y day, y o u are w o r k i n g , t r i u m p h i n g
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and advancing without laying d o w n the rifle and without b e n d i n g t h e k n e e t o o l d e n e m i e s o r t o n e w ones i n a l l k i n d s of disguises. The Party, the people and socialism filled A l b a n i a w i t h great factories, c o m b i n e s a n d h y d r o - p o w e r stations, made the plains flourish, beautified hills and mountains w i t h terraces, p l a n t e d forests u p t o t h e A l p s , a n d d e v e l o p e d the livestock f a r m i n g and agriculture of w h i c h N a i m sang w i t h s u c h passion, f i l l e d t h e c o u n t r y w i t h schools, c u l t u r a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c i n s t i t u t i o n s , w i p e d out t h e i l l i t e r a c y , t h e d a r k n e s s a n d b a c k a w r d n e s s o f t h e past, a n d b r o u g h t t h e light of learning, development a n d scientific progress everywhere. Socialist A l b a n i a today is the only country in t h e w o r l d w h i c h i s b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m e n t i r e l y w i t h its o w n forces, w i t h o u t a c c e p t i n g c r e d i t s f r o m a n y o n e a n d w i t h o u t b e i n g i n d e b t e d t o a n y o n e , a c o u n t r y w i t h o u t taxes, w i t h o u t inflation and unemployment, a country where schooling a n d t h e m e d i c a l service are f r e e o f c h a r g e . E v e r y c o r n e r o f A l b a n i a has b e e n t r a n s f o r m e d t o its f o u n d a t i o n s , t h e l i f e o f o u r l o n g - s u f f e r i n g p e o p l e has c h a n g e d r a d i c a l l y a n d has b e c o m e secure, e n l i g h t e n e d a n d p r o s p e r o u s . A b o v e a l l , d u r i n g t h i s w h o l e process, t h e P a r t y u n i t e d a l l t h e people m o r e f i r m l y a n d m a d e t h e m conscious o f t h e i r g r e a t and decisive role in history. This beautiful A l b a n i a w h i c h you, my Party, have built amidst so m a n y storms, struggles and intrigues, this happy life w h i c h w e enjoy today, this new m a n w h o m y o u formed, are y o u r glorious w o r k s w h i c h y o u achieved t h r o u g h t h e s t r e n g t h o f y o u r people, t h r o u g h y o u r d e t e r m i nation and maturity, and through your m i n d enlightened b y M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , w i t h o u t h o l d i n g out y o u r h a n d t o f o r e i g n e r s . N o t o n l y has t h e a i d o f f o r e i g n e r s b e e n v e r y r e s t r i c t e d , but a s e x p e r i e n c e has p r o v e d , a l t h o u g h p r o v i d e d u n d e r t h e disguise o f p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m , i n essence i t h a d a n e n s l a v i n g i m p e r i a l i s t c h a r a c t e r . B e l i e v i n g
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NOVEMBER CELEBRATIONS! 825 that it d i d not have an enslaving character, the A l b a n i a n p e o p l e a n d t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a accepted t h i s a i d i n o r d e r t o set t h e c o u n t r y o n its feet a g a i n . B u t w h e n we saw that w i t h the aid that they provided the T i t o i t e s , t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d those o f t h e c o u n t r i e s of Eastern Europe, and M a o Zedong's C h i n a h a d ulterior, hostile, enslaving aims, or intended to t u r n A l b a n i a into a n a p p e n d a g e d e p e n d e n t o n t h e m , s o t h a t i t w o u l d lose its freedom and independence, we tore the mask f r o m t h e m a n d t o l d t h e m b l u n t l y a n d c l e a r l y t h a t socialist A l b a n i a , t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a a n d t h e A l b a n i a n people w e r e n o t f o r sale f o r a h a n d f u l of rags, or f o r a f e w r u b l e s , d i n a r s o r y u a n , j u s t a s t h e y h a d n o t sold t h e m s e l v e s t o t h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s f o r t h e i r h a n d o u t o f rags or for their pounds sterling and dollars. F o r 40 years on end, my valiant A l b a n i a , y o u have kept the honoured flag of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m flying, just as through the centuries y o u have kept the flag of freedom f l y i n g , t h e r e d f l a g w i t h t h e t w o - h e a d e d eagle, t o w h i c h y o u a d d e d a f i v e - p o i n t e d star, t h e s t a r of f r e e d o m , t h e star of socialism and communism. N o t f o r one m o m e n t d u r i n g t h e 4 0 y e a r s o f l i f e i n s o c i a l i s m h a v e y o u , m y people, w i t h t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r at the head, allowed the new perfidious and p o w e r f u l enemies to conquer y o u . Once again y o u drew the sword, w h i c h was n o w keener-edged, tempered in the fires of r e p e a t e d battles, a n d f o r g e d o n t h e a n v i l o f h i s t o r y . W i t h this sword you, my Party, mercilessly struck d o w n the imperialists and reactionaries, struck d o w n the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s o f a l l hues, a n d c o m p e l l e d those secret r e v isionists, w h o , f o r t h e i r o w n h e g e m o n i c aims, s e e m e d t o be, a n d f r o m t i m e t o t i m e posed a s i f t h e y w e r e , M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t s a n d o u r f r i e n d s , t o t h r o w off t h e i r disguise. W i t h these s t a n d s a n d y o u r l o f t y e x a m p l e , y o u , m y P a r t y , p e r f o r m e d y o u r i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t d u t y and, a t t h e s a m e
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t i m e , t o l d others t h a t t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t c u r r e n t s m u s t n o t cease, t h a t t h e r e c o u l d b e n o a g r e e m e n t o r c o m p r o m i s e w i t h t h e m , because t h e y w e r e r e n e g a d e s a n d t r a i t o r s . T h e w o r d o f o u r P a r t y , its c l e a r t h i n k i n g , its courage a n d d e t e r m i n a t i o n , shone f o r t h a n d b e c a m e b e a c o n l i g h t s f o r t h e peoples a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s i n the w o r l d . Y o u , m y socialist H o m e l a n d , l e d b y t h e P a r t y o f Labour, waged this heroic struggle w i t h astonishing vigour, a n d y o u r p o w e r f u l v o i c e w a s l i s t e n e d t o because y o u rose r e s o l u t e l y a g a i n s t T i t o i s m w h i c h w a s u n m a s k e d i n t h e eyes of the w h o l e w o r l d as an ideological and political agency of A m e r i c a n imperialism and w o r l d reaction. O v e r a long period you have always struggled and raised your voice against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d a l l t h e r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r geoisie o f the w o r l d w h i c h seeks t o k e e p t h e peoples a n d t h e p r o l e t a r i a t o f the w h o l e w o r l d u n d e r its h e e l , a n d i n the s a m e w a y y o u h a v e r a i s e d y o u r v o i c e a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t social-imperialists w h o are struggling for w o r l d hegemony, t o oppress t h e peoples b y t h r e a t e n i n g t h e m w i t h t h e f o r c e of arms and atomic bombs. Later your p o w e r f u l voice rose t o t h e skies o f t h i s t r o u b l e d w o r l d a g a i n s t t h e practice and theory of M a o Zedong and the entire Chinese l e a d e r s h i p w h i c h b e t r a y e d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d set o u t o n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t course t o m a k e C h i n a a n i m p e r i a l i s t w o r l d superpower. I n f u r i a t e d b y t h e j u s t stands, t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d t h e courage of a s m a l l p e o p l e a n d a v a l i a n t P a r t y , t h e i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t e n e m i e s left n o t h i n g u n s a i d against us. T h e y speak a n d w r i t e a n g r i l y a n d w i t h e v i l aims, W h a t i s t h i s people, w h a t i s this P a r t y w h i c h i s m a k i n g s u c h a c l a m o u r , w h a t are these s t u b b o r n c r e a t u r e s w h o a r e n o t a f r a i d t o oppose p o w e r f u l s t a t e s ? ! T h e y m u s t be crushed, they must be liquidated, they must be brought t o t h e i r knees, s t a r v e d i n t o s u b m i s s i o n t h r o u g h blockades... However, t h e y are g r a v e l y mistaken, as they have
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NOVEMBER CELEBRATIONS! 827 a l w a y s been, because t h e y h a v e n o t k n o w n a n d h a v e n o t w a n t e d t o k n o w t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e A l b a n i a n people, the m a n l y c h a r a c t e r o f t h e A l b a n i a n , because t h e y h a v e not w a n t e d to recognize w h a t lofty m e a n i n g the freedom, independence and sovereignty of the H o m e l a n d has always h a d f o r t h e A l b a n i a n . A s t h e capitalists, i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d reactionaries they are they have thought and still t h i n k that n o t h i n g can withstand their economic and m i l i t a r y s t r e n g t h a n d t h e i r i d e o l o g y . B u t , y o u see, t h e peoples, w h e t h e r b i g o r s m a l l , h a v e t h e s t r e n g t h t o resist enemies. T h e peoples w h o f i g h t a l w a y s t r i u m p h ; t h e e n e m i e s are quite unable to destroy the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties w h i c h stand u n w a v e r i n g l y on their principles. M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , w h i c h g u i d e s t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , the g e n u i n e c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s a n d t h e peoples w h o a r e d e m a n d i n g l i b e r a t i o n a n d t h e i r rights, is invincible. T h e struggle against Soviet revisionism and all m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m i s one o f y o u r m o s t b r i l l i a n t epics, m y P a r t y . T h i s heroic struggle is an honour and pride for you, the w o r k i n g class o f A l b a n i a , f o r y o u , t h e A l b a n i a n people, f o r y o u , o u r socialist A l b a n i a ! A l l t h e states o f t h e w o r l d , o f w h a t e v e r r e g i m e , a l l t h e peoples, a l l t h e p o l i t i c a l c u r r e n t s , f r i e n d l y a n d hostile, cannot but admit that y o u are c o m p l e t e l y free, i n d e p e n d e n t , a n d s t a n d a s f i r m a s g r a n i t e . O u r socialist A l b a n i a , y o u w i t h s t o o d t h e f u r i o u s w a v e s o f e n e m i e s a n d d i d n o t y i e l d . Y o u r just, c o u r a g e o u s , r e v olutionary, M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t stands have made n u m e r o u s friends and admirers f r o m all countries rally r o u n d y o u ; even though y o u were small, the w o r l d proletariat looked a n d l o o k s t o y o u w i t h h o p e a n d t r u s t , because i n y o u r c o u r s e a n d d e t e r m i n a t i o n i t sees its great idea, M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m , the struggle for the revolution, the struggle f o r t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h e r e a c t i o n a r y forces w h i c h oppress a n d e x p l o i t it, a c c o m p l i s h e d a n d i n v i n c i b l e . Y o u h a v e t o l d a n d t e l l t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e peoples t h e t r u t h , a n d
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the t r u t h has e x t r a o r d i n a r y i m p o r t a n c e . T h e t r u t h g i v e s y o u v i g o u r , does n o t a l l o w y o u t o f a l l i n t o t h e a b y s s a n d b r e a k y o u r neck, i l l u m i n a t e s t h e w a y , opens n e w paths, causes m i g h t y forces t o e m e r g e f r o m t h e b o s o m o f t h e people t o o v e r c o m e a l l t h e e n e m i e s , a l l t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s , a n d all the intrigues. W i t h t h e i r s t a n d s a n d o p i n i o n s , socialist A l b a n i a a n d the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a have given and give heart and confidence to all and tell the proletariat and the p e o p l e s : s t a n d a s w e s t a n d , f i g h t a s w e f i g h t , because y o u w i l l t r i u m p h as we have t r i u m p h e d and are t r i u m p h i n g . O u r victory is certain, our victory is a c o m m o n victory, t h e r e f o r e , w e m u s t close o u r r a n k s i n t h e heat o f t h e w a r against enemies. O p e n f i r e o n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s , b e t r a y e r s o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e peoples, d e s t r o y t h e i m p e r i a l i s t p l a n s o f b i g w o r l d c a p i t a l , because o n l y i n t h i s w a y can the freedom, independence and sovereignty of the H o m e l a n d be won, and the revolution develop and t r i u m p h . A l l t h e t a l k about t a k i n g p o w e r b y m e a n s o f r e f o r m s i s poppycock. T h e bourgeoisie and capitalism can never agree t o a l l o w the w o r k i n g class, t h e m o s t a d v a n c e d class i n t h e w o r l d t o w h i c h t h e f u t u r e belongs, t o t a k e p o w e r . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , e v e r y d a y t h e e n e m i e s o f t h e peoples a n d t h e p r o l e t a r i a t are p r e p a r i n g s u g a r - c o a t e d p o i s o n p i l l s a n d forging new chains of enslavement, therefore only by f i g h t i n g against t h e o l d s y s t e m o f t h e p o w e r o f c a p i t a l c a n the peoples a n d t h e p r o l e t a r i a t t r i u m p h step b y step a n d take power into their o w n hands. The P a r t y of L a b o u r f o l l o w e d t h i s course a n d t h u s t h e A l b a n i a n people w e r e l i b e r a t e d , a n d s o socialist A l b a n i a has b e e n b u i l t a n d i s advancing. I n a l l y o u r actions, y o u , m y h e r o i c P a r t y , h a v e h a d a l o f t y aim, and have always proceeded cautiously but w i t h o u t fear. Y o u r s t a n d has n e v e r b e e n one o f c r a w l i n g , y o u h a v e n e v e r been o p p o r t u n i s t , b u t n e i t h e r h a v e y o u b e e n s e c t a r i a n ,
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NOVEMBER CELEBRATIONS! 829 y o u have always marched f o r w a r d on the Marxist-Leninist course. Y o u r sole a i m t h r o u g h o u t has b e e n t h e g o o d o f t h e peoples. Y o u h a v e s i n c e r e l y l o v e d t h e g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n insts, h a v e d e f e n d e d t h e m t o t h e e n d , a n d w i l l a l w a y s d e f e n d t h e m i n t h i s w a y . Y o u h a v e a l w a y s stated y o u r o p i n i o n s o p e n l y , g e n t l y w h e n necessary, b u t y o u h a v e r a i s e d y o u r t o n e w h e n t h i s has b e e n r e q u i r e d . W i t h those w h o h a v e made mistakes, y o u have tried patiently to correct them, h a v e a d v i s e d t h e m w i s e l y , a n d a t t h e same t i m e , y o u h a v e listened attentively to any valuable advice and have learned f r o m it. Y o u h a v e s u p p o r t e d t h e i r c o r r e c t actions, b u t w h e n they have been w r o n g y o u have criticised them. This is the course y o u have always followed, but w h e n the cup has been filled and y o u have been convinced that there is no w a y other t h a n that of struggle, y o u have not been a f r a i d but have declared w a r on enemies a n d have never ceased t h i s s t r u g g l e . W e h a v e n e v e r r e t r e a t e d o r m a d e a n y concessions t o e n e m i e s . H i s t o r y has t a u g h t u s this, w e h a v e l e a r n e d i t n o t o n l y f r o m o u r o w n s u f f e r i n g s a n d h a r d s h i p s b u t also f r o m t h o s e o f a l l t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d , f r o m t h e i r countless s t r u g g l e s d u r i n g t h e c e n t u r i e s . M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m h a s o p e n e d o u r eyes w i t h t h e c o n c l u s i o n s d r a w n f r o m t h e a n a l y s e s w h i c h i t has m a d e o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f society t h r o u g h t h e class s t r u g g l e . It teaches us t h a t t h e class s t r u g g l e is t h e m o t o r of society, w h i c h k e e p s y o u a l i v e , g i v e s y o u s t r e n g t h , gives y o u v i c t o r y . I f y o u e x t i n g u i s h t h i s s t r u g g l e the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d capitalism w i l l strangle and enslave you, and our people h a v e never l i k e d slavery. On the contrary, our people have always fought against the grip of slavery. Therefore, o u r P a r t y has n e v e r ceased t h e class struggle, e i t h e r i n t e r n a l l y o r i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a , a n d n e v e r w i l l cease it, e v e n f o r a m o m e n t . F o r 4 0 y e a r s o n e n d o u r p e o p l e a n d P a r t y h a v e r e s o l u t e l y opposed a n d c o m b a t e d e v e r y t h i n g
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o l d a n d c o n s e r v a t i v e , o p p o r t u n i s t a n d l i b e r a l , a l l those w h o have tried openly or secretly to divert us f r o m our c o r r e c t course, w e h a v e f o u g h t a n y f o r c e o r i d e o l o g y w h i c h has a i m e d to i n f e c t the consciousness of o u r people, to hinder our m a r c h towards better days, towards the present a n d t h e m o r e secure f u t u r e . W e h a v e a l w a y s k e p t t h e class s t r u g g l e ablaze, a n d i t i s p r e c i s e l y t h i s great a n d revolutionizing motive force w h i c h has made our small H o m e l a n d unshakeable either by the cannon, or the b o m b , a s the f o l k s o n g says, t h a t is, e i t h e r b y r e v i s i o n i s m , capitalism, or reaction. We have m a n y friends and admirers in the w o r l d . O u r f r i e n d s a r e a l l t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d w h o h a v e a g r e a t l o v e a n d respect f o r A l b a n i a , speak w i t h a d m i r a t i o n a b o u t o u r c o u n t r y a n d o u r socialist r e a l i t y , a n d w a n t t o k n o w w h e r e w e f i n d t h i s s t r e n g t h , because t h e y s t i l l d o not understand h o w this reality has been achieved. T h e r e fore, i t i s o u r d u t y t o m a k e t h e v i c t o r i e s o f t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r , t h e A l b a n i a n people a n d socialist A l b a n i a k n o w n i n a l l t h e i r aspects t o the peoples, t o e x p l a i n t h e m n o t o n l y w i t h the present, b u t w i t h a l l t h e g l o r i o u s past h i s t o r y o f t h e A l b a n i a n people. T h e s e v i c t o r i e s a r e l i k e a steel chain, the l i n k s of w h i c h are the r e v o l u t i o n a r y events i n s e p a r a b l e f r o m each other, w h i c h represent, a t d i f f e r e n t stages, t h e p e r m a n e n t ideals o f t h e f r e e d o m , i n d e p e n d e n c e , democracy, and u n i t y of our nation, of our well-being, c u l t u r e a n d ceaseless progress. W e m u s t e x p l a i n t o o u r brothers and a d m i r i n g friends that this chain of the l i f e o f t h e A l b a n i a n people has a c h i e v e d u n p r e c e d e n t e d toughness at the present day t h a n k s to M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m w h i c h w e are t r y i n g t o u n d e r s t a n d p r o f o u n d l y i n a l l its aspects a n d t o f a i t h f u l l y a p p l y its p r i n c i p l e s i n t h e c o n ditions of our country and the international situation. W e h a v e not p e r m i t t e d the p r i n c i p l e s o f o u r f o r e i g n p o l i c y t o b e s u b o r d i n a t e d t o the m o m e n t a r y changes i n t h e
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NOVEMBER CELEBRATIONS! 831 w o r l d situation. We always take the international political a n d e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n i n t o account, b u t i n o u r relations w i t h o t h e r states, i n o u r stands, w e h a v e a l w a y s been g u i d e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s because t h e y a r e t h e k e y t o t h e correct u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d assessment o f w o r l d events, c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t arise, t h e i n t r i g u e s and aims of i m p e r i a l i s m towards the aspirations of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces, t h e peoples a n d t h e p r o l e t a r i a t o f each country and the whole w o r l d . B e c a u s e o f a l l these t h i n g s , w h e n t h e r e d - l e t t e r d a y s , t h e 28th a n d 29th o f N o v e m b e r , d r a w n e a r , socialist A l b a n i a celebrates i n t h e f u l l m e a n i n g o f the t e r m . E v e r y where there is rejoicing over the w o r k , the achievements a n d t h e f i n e n e w l i f e . T h e w h o l e people s i n g a b o u t a n d r e j o i c e o v e r t h e great v i c t o r i e s t h a t h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d i n a l l f i e l d s , t h e n e w socialist l i f e , t h e s e c u r i t y a n d great a n d c l e a r prospects f o r t h e f u t u r e . I f e e l b o u n d l e s s s a t i s f a c t i o n w h e n I see on t h e T V , h e a r o n t h e r a d i o , o r r e a d i n t h e p a p e r s a b o u t t h e great construction w o r k that is going on all over the Homeland, a b o u t t h e t r i u m p h s a n d successes w h i c h h a v e been a c h i e v e d , one a f t e r t h e other, i n a l l fields. I t w a r m s m y h e a r t w h e n I see o u r t i r e l e s s a n d s k i l f u l w o r k e r s a n d s p e c i a l i s t s b u i l d i n g dams, c o n s t r u c t i n g m a c h i n e r y , a n d setting m o d e r n plants and combines in action w i t h c o m petence a n d s k i l l ; w h e n I see t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s i n t h e plains, the hills and the mountains, carefully c u l t i v a t i n g t h e c r o p s a n d g e t t i n g y i e l d s o f w o r l d l e v e l : w h e n I see t h e g r e a t a r m y o f o u r n e w socialist i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , t h e p u p i l s a n d students, b e n d i n g o v e r books, o r i n l a b o r a t o r i e s , w o r k i n g o n sketehes a n d designs, w h e n a l o n g s i d e m e n , e v e r y w h e r e , I see t h e A l b a n i a n g i r l s a n d w o m e n w h o m t h e P a r t y drew into life, w o r k i n g and singing, producing and managing, and raising healthy happy children, the future of the Homeland. The whole of A l b a n i a is in movement,
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i n d e v e l o p m e n t , i n c o n s t a n t progress. T o d a y e v e r y i n c h of it is t h e scene of c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d c r e a t i o n , a n d a s c h o o l , a n d a b a r r i c a d e i n s u r m o u n t a b l e to t h e e n e m i e s , a n d a stage w h e r e o u r people, t h e c r e a t o r s o f e v e r y t h i n g , s i n g to the Party, to their life, to freedom and socialism. T h e people t h e m s e l v e s , w i t h t h e P a r t y a t t h e h e a d , h a v e created such a situation, that is w h y w h e n they are w o r k i n g and rejoicing, especially w h e n they come to celebrations, o u r p e o p l e e x p r e s s w i t h a s t o n i s h i n g f o r c e the fine pure feelings w h i c h inspire t h e m to even greater deeds. F o r us, t h e s o l d i e r s o f t h e P a r t y , t h e r e c a n b e n o g r e a t e r s a t i s f a c t i o n t h a n this, w h e n w e see y o u , o u r p e o p l e , m a s t e r s o f y o u r o w n fate, h a p p y , c o n t e n t e d , a n d f r e e in a sovereign and independent A l b a n i a , in an A l b a n i a t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a n i m p r e g n a b l e fortress, a n d w i t h ceaseless socialist d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e s a t i s f a c t i o n a n d p r i d e w h i c h we feel is the f r u i t of the great victories we h a v e achieved, of our u n i n t e r r u p t e d efforts, of our p e r m a n e n t concern to ensure that our P a r t y is always at the head, as o u r tested g u i d e . W e h a v e l i v e d t h r o u g h t h e past 4 0 y e a r s a s r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s k n o w h o w t o l i v e , b u i l d a n d d e f e n d . I n these y e a r s o f t h e e p o c h o f the P a r t y o u r d e a r A l b a n i a has b e e n t r a n s f o r m e d t o its v e r y f o u n d a t i o n s , h a s k n o w n t h a t growth, that renewal, that all-round development w h i c h it had not experienced for w h o l e centuries. E v e r y t h i n g about i t i s n e w a n d h e a l t h y , its a p p e a r a n c e a n d c o n t e n t , its l i f e w h i c h i s f l o u r i s h i n g a n d g a i n i n g n e w d i m e n s i o n s , the n e w m a n e n d o w e d w i t h t h e l o f t y v i r t u e s o f t h e c o m m u n i s t ideology, h a p p y a n d p r o u d a b o u t w h a t h a s b e e n a c h i e v e d , c o n v i n c e d a n d conscious a b o u t t h e c o n t i n u i t y o f o u r course, o f o u r e f f o r t s , o u r h o n o u r a n d p r e s t i g e . D u r i n g t h e c o m i n g decades t h e people a n d t h e P a r t y ,
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NOVEMBER CELEBRATIONS! 833 f i r m l y united, as always, w i l l do even m o r e for this dear l a n d , f o r t h i s c o u n t r y o f eagles. H e n c e , let u s g u a r d w h a t we h a v e a c h i e v e d as t h e a p p l e of o u r eye, let us go on consistently to develop it further, to leave the c o m i n g generations an A l b a n i a ever stronger, always red, l i k e the u n d y i n g flame of the hearts and ideals of communists and partisans, a n A l b a n i a w h i c h w i l l l i v e and progress t h r o u g h the centuries. I am convinced that the people a n d the P a r t y w i l l raise our t r i u m p h a n t f l a g higher and h i g h e r , w i l l r a i s e t h e h o n o u r , p r e s t i g e a n d n a m e o f socialist A l b a n i a higher and higher i n the w o r l d . C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s o n the N o v e m b e r c e l e b r a t i o n s t o o u r b e l o v e d socialist A l b a n i a ! Congratulations on the celebrations people, t o o u r w o n d e r f u l p e o p l e ! to our heroic
Published for the first time in the newspaper Z r i i popullit, November 29, 1984
P u b l i s h e d according to the brochure Congratulations on the Occasion of the 40th A n n i versary of the L i b e r a t i o n of Albania
PANORAMA
December 30, 1984
T o d a y i s t h e last d a y b u t one o f t h e y e a r 1984. F o r u s 1984 w a s t h e y e a r o f t h e g l o r i o u s j u b i l e e o f t h e 40th anniversary of the Liberation of the H o m e l a n d and the t r i u m p h of t h e people's r e v o l u t i o n , a y e a r of n e w v i c t o r i e s in the b u i l d i n g of socialism, in increasing the prosperity o f t h e people, i n s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e defence a n d i n b o o s t i n g the authority of our country in the international arena. O f course, t h i s y e a r w e h a v e h a d t o cope w i t h a n d s u r m o u n t o b j e c t i v e d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d obstacles, s u c h a s t h e s e v e r e d r o u g h t w h i c h lasted m o r e t h a n a n y o t h e r y e a r b e f o r e , a l t h o u g h t h e r e w e r e also d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d s h o r t c o m i n g s d u e t o s u b j e c t i v e causes, c o n n e c t e d w i t h q u e s t i o n s o f o r g a n i z a t i o n , d i s c i p l i n e , etc. W h a t I w a n t t o t o u c h o n b r i e f l y i n this p a n o r a m a o f the y e a r 1984 i s t h e g e n e r a l situation and the various developments in the international political situation, w h i c h exert their influence on o u r c o u n t r y , too. In foreign policy our country continued the line def i n e d a t t h e 8th C o n g r e s s o f t h e P a r t y : u n i n t e r r u p t e d persistent s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m , a n d f i r s t o f a l l , against the t w o i m p e r i a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r s , t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , against t h e i r v i c i o u s p o l i c y t o w a r d s t h e peoples; s u p p o r t f o r t h e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t forces, t h e p r o g r e s s i v e m o v e m e n t s , t h e s t r u g g l e s for national and social liberation of various peoples;
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i.e., s u p p o r t f o r t h e class b a t t l e s of t h e w o r l d p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e o p p r e s s e d peoples f o r n a t i o n a l a n d s o c i a l l i b e r a tion; collaboration w i t h the neighbouring countries on the basis o f r e c i p r o c a l benefit, n o n - i n t e r f e r e n c e i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f one a n o t h e r a n d respect f o r n a t i o n a l s o v e r e i g n t y . T h e same for the other countries w h i c h w a n t to have good relations w i t h our country. W i t h the revisionist countries c o l l a b o r a t i o n i n t h e f i e l d o f t r a d e exchanges, w i t h o u t t h e slightest i d e o l o g i c a l o r p o l i t i c a l concession o r c o m p r o m i s e . T h a n k s to this correct policy of our country and the good desire of the G r e e k government, improvements were m a d e i n o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h n e i g h b o u r i n g G r e e c e , some agreements of reciprocal benefit were concluded, w h i c h , in m y o p i n i o n , w i l l o p e n u p t h e r o a d o f s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e ties o f t h e a n c i e n t f r i e n d s h i p b e t w e e n o u r t w o peoples. O u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h I t a l y h a v e p r o c e e d e d s o m e w h a t better, a l t h o u g h t h e r e are p o s s i b i l i t i e s t o d o m o r e . W i t h T u r k e y w e h a v e g o o d r e l a t i o n s , a n d s o h a v e w e w i t h some W e s t - E u ropean countries a n d various A r a b a n d A f r i c a n countries, etc. W i t h Yugoslavia we have had and continue to have p r o b l e m s w h i c h are t h e d i r e c t r e s u l t o f t h e h o s t i l e s t a n d o f its l e a d e r s h i p a n d o f G r e a t - S e r b c h a u v i n i s t circles. E v e n t h o u g h t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d i n g c i r c l e s s u f f e r e d defeat in the international arena, they continue to slander a n d accuse us, h o l d i n g u s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the g r i e v o u s e v e n t s and the ensuing bloodbath w h i c h occurred in K o s o v a in 1981, c a l l i n g us i n s t i g a t o r s of these events, s u p p o r t e r s of nationalism and irredentism in K o s o v a and saying that we w a n t the disintegration of the Yugoslav Federation. W i t h this pretext they have intensified the repressive measures a n d p e r s e c u t i o n o f o u r b r o t h e r s i n K o s o v a a n d i n the other A l b a n i a n r e g i o n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a , a n d are t r y i n g b y a l l m a n n e r o f m e a n s t o d a m a g e a n d i m p e d e the b u i l d i n g o f socialism in A l b a n i a .
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W e h a v e c o n t i n u o u s l y m a d e i t clear, i n a n o f f i c i a l a n d p u b l i c m a n n e r , i n speeches, a r t i c l e s a n d g o v e r n m e n t documents, that we have in no w a y been i n v o l v e d in w h a t o c c u r r e d i n K o s o v a i n 1981. T h e e v e n t s i n K o s o v a a t t h a t t i m e w e r e t h e consequences o f t h e c h a u v i n i s t p o l i c y o f r e p r e s s i o n a n d d i s c r i m i n a t i o n against t h e A l b a n i a n s , o f t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e colossal assets o f K o s o v a a n d t h e a b a n d o n m e n t o f its A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n o f K o s o v a i n e c o n omic, c u l t u r a l and social backwardness, they were the consequence o f the n e g a t i o n o f t h e i r h i s t o r i c past. W e h a v e done n o t h i n g o t h e r b u t h a v e d e f e n d e d t h e i r j u s t d e m a n d s f o r the p r e s e r v a t i o n o f t h e i r n a t i o n a l p a t r i m o n y a n d t r a ditions, h u m a n d i g n i t y , t h e i r d e m a n d f o r p r o c l a i m i n g K o sova a r e p u b l i c , etc., r i g h t s w h i c h a r e r e c o g n i z e d e v e n i n the Constitution of the Y u g o s l a v Federation. We have given a n d w i l l g i v e t h i s s u p p o r t i n t h e f u t u r e , too, w i t h o u t backing down an inch. O u r stand over this question is based o n i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w a n d t h i s does not c o n s t i t u t e a n i n t e f e r e n c e i n the i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f Y u g o s l a v i a . W e h a v e rejected a n d a g a i n reject t h e a c c u s a t i o n t h a t w e w a n t t h e disintegration of Yugoslavia. No, we have never said so and have never desired such a thing. On the contrary, we have declared several times officially that we are against the disintegration of Yugoslavia, indeed, we have said that t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e w i l l g o t o assist t h e j u s t w a r o f t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a i f t h e y a r e a t t a c k e d b y t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r s o r a n y o n e else. T h e Y u g o s l a v c h a u v inists have never pledged to do such a thing. On the c o n t r a r y , t h e i r a n t i - A l b a n i a n p o l i c y has posed a n d c o n t i n u e s to pose a g r a v e t h r e a t to o u r people. T h e Y u g o s l a v s t h e m s e l v e s , w h o sabotaged a n d t h e n b r o k e off t h e c u l t u r a l r e l a t i o n s w i t h us, a n d e s p e c i a l l y those w e h a d w i t h t h e A u t o n o m o u s R e g i o n o f K o s o v a , h o p e d t h a t w e w o u l d n o t accept t h e i r p r o p o s a l f o r n e w cultural relations. B u t w h e n we not o n l y accepted them,
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b u t also p r e s e n t e d o u r c o n c r e t e p r o p o s a l s f o r t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n , a n d i n d e e d , e x t e n s i o n o f t h e m , i f t h e y d e s i r e d so, t h e y m a d e a n a b o u t - f a c e , r a i s i n g m a n y obstacles s o t h a t such an agreement should not be concluded by a n y means. O u r country has respected a n d f u l f i l l e d the joint agreements w h i c h we have signed w i t h Yugoslavia. One of t h e m was about the b u i l d i n g of the S h k o d r a - T i t o g r a d r a i l w a y . W e c o m p l e t e d w i t h success o u r p a r t o f t h i s r a i l w a y . T h e y r a i s e d m a n y obstacles. N o w t h e y p r o m i s e t h a t t h e y w i l l c o m p l e t e t h e i r p a r t i n 1985. L e t u s w a i t a n d see! O u r stand towards Yugoslavia is clear-cut and c o m p l e t e l y correct. I t has m e t w i t h a p p r o v a l i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a , too. T h e r e i s n o r e a s o n w h y t h e Y u g o s l a v s s h o u l d e x p e c t u s t o m a k e a change, o r d e m a n d t h a t w e o p e n u p . T h e b a l l , o n t h i s q u e s t i o n , has b e e n a n d r e m a i n s i n t h e i r h a l f o f t h e l a w n . I f t h e y r e a l l y w a n t it, m a n y t h i n g s c a n be settled a n d relations can be placed on healthy a n d c o r r e c t bases. B u t f o r t h i s t o b e done, t h e Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p m u s t desist f r o m its a n t i - A l b a n i a n p o l i c y a n d f r o m t h e d e n a t i o n a l i z i n g a n d r e p r e s s i v e actions against t h e K o sovars and the A l b a n i a n s w h o live in their o w n territories i n Y u g o s l a v i a a n d s h o u l d r e c o g n i z e t h e r i g h t s w h i c h the Y u g o s l a v Constitution gives them. W h y do the Yugoslav chauvinists maintain this negative, totally illogical and reactionary stand towards o u r country and people? F o r t h e i r p a r t , t h e y h a v e d o n e n o t h i n g against o u r c o u n t r y w i t h o u t b e i n g conscious o f it. T h e r a b i d S e r b chauvinists are a n t i - A l b a n i a n in their very blood. They have n e v e r t h o u g h t w e l l o f o u r people. O n the c o n t r a r y , t h e y have thought and w o r k e d openly and under cover in order to subjugate t h e m completely and, as documents show, to t u r n our country into the seventh republic of their F e d e r a t i o n , t h a t is, not t o cede K o s o v a , b u t t o g o b b l e u p
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t h e P S R o f A l b a n i a , too, a n d t o h a v e t h e m u n d e r t h e G r e a t - S e r b predatory a n d denationalizing savage rule. T h e r e i s also a n o t h e r r e a s o n f o r t h i s . T h e T i t o i t e s c a n n o t t o l e r a t e t h a t a socialist c o u n t r y s u c h as A l b a n i a , a c o m p l e tely i n d e p e n d e n t c o u n t r y , w i t h e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l s t a b i l i t y , w i t h c l e a r perspectives, w i t h o u t debts a n d c r e d i t s , w h i c h does n o t s u b m i t t o t h e m i l i t a r y - p o l i t i c a l - e c o n o m i c blocs a n d g r o u p i n g s of one or t h e o t h e r s u p e r p o w e r , a c o u n t r y w h i c h serves a s a n e x a m p l e t o t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e f r e e d o m - l o v i n g peoples o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d , hence, t o t h e peoples t h a t m a k e u p Y u g o s l a v i a , too, s h o u l d exist a n d f l o u r i s h o n t h e b o r d e r w i t h t h e m . Y u g o s l a v i a today is the worst example of social, p o l i t ical, economic and national degeneration in the B a l k a n s a n d i n E u r o p e . W e A l b a n i a n s s a y t h i s n o t because w e w a n t to m a l i g n a n d d i s c r e d i t Y u g o s l a v i a a n d its i d e o l o g y , T i t o i s m . N o , t h i s i s s a i d also b y t h e Y u g o s l a v press, o f f i c i a l s , economists a n d p o l i t i c i a n s e v e n i n o p e n t a l k s a n d a t o f f i c i a l m e e t i n g s , o r e v e n i n t h e i r t o p - l e v e l organs. S o m e t i m e s t h e one, s o m e t i m e s t h e other, t h e y s o u n d t h e a l a r m in order to avoid the economic catastrophe w h i c h threatens t h e m a t e v e r y step. S e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s n o w c o n s i d e r e d t h e r o o t of a l l e v i l s . T i t o has b e c o m e a t a r g e t of a t t a c k , e v e n t h o u g h n o t q u i t e o p e n l y a s yet. S t r i f e a m o n g n a t i o n s h a s b r o k e n out a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y a n d t o d a y t h e p r o b l e m does not boil d o w n to the question of K o s o v a a n d the K o s o v a r s , o r the A l b a n i a n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e C r o a t s , t h e S l o v e n e s , the Macedonians a n d others are n o w d e m a n d i n g m o r e r i g h t s a n d secession f r o m t h e G r e a t - S e r b r u l e . T h e i n f l u ence o f the C a t h o l i c C h u r c h a n d t h e P o p e h a s i n c r e a s e d i n Croatia, that of Islam in Bosnia, the pressure of the O r t h o dox. C h u r c h i n S e r b i a , etc. T h e m o v e m e n t o f dissidents, o f those w h o a l l e g e d l y d e m a n d m o r e r a d i c a l r e f o r m s a n d w h o , i n fact, w a n t t o t a k e the g o v e r n m e n t o f t h e c o u n t r y i n t o t h e i r h a n d s , i s n o w
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u n d e r the p r o t e c t i o n o f d e f i n i t e i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l c i r c l e s . I n t e r n a t i o n a l m o n o p o l i e s r e q u i r e a n d get d o u b l e g u a r a n t e e f o r t h e c r e d i t s t h e y h a v e a c c o r d e d a n d f o r the profits they expect to make, otherwise they threaten to t u r n off t h e t a p . T h i s is not t h e p l a c e to m a k e a c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n a l y s i s of the catastrophic political, economic and social situation in w h i c h Y u g o s l a v i a finds itself today. I have made several s u c h analyses, some o f t h e m e v e n d u r i n g t h i s y e a r , a n d , in general, the opinions of our P a r t y about the situation in Y u g o s l a v i a have p r o v e d to be thoroughly true. Here I j u s t w a n t to stress t h a t t h i s s i t u a t i o n of c o m p l e t e d i s i n t e g r a t i o n is the consequence of t h e c a p i t a l i s t - b o u r g e o i s s y s t e m itself w h i c h the T i t o c l i q u e set u p w i t h s o m u c h ado and w h i c h it advertised throughout the w o r l d as the most d e m o c r a t i c , most l i b e r a l , m o s t a d v a n c e d socialist state of a specific type. H o w liberal, how democratic and to w h a t e x t e n t socialist t h i s state is, t h i s w a s r e v e a l e d a n d i s b e i n g revealed in the barbarous, oppressive and denationalizing actions w h i c h t h e G r e a t S e r b s h a v e p e r p e t r a t e d a n d are p e r p e t r a t i n g against t h e A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n K o s o v a , Macedonia and Montenegro. D u r i n g 1984, a p a r t f r o m the u s u a l plots a n d sabotage activities of the imperialist superpowers, we have had to cope not o n l y w i t h t h e a n t i - A l b a n i a n a t t a c k s a n d actions o f the G r e a t - S e r b c h a u v i n i s t s , b u t also w i t h those o f r e a c t i o n and, mainly, the G r e e k bishops and the Vorio-Epirote c h a u v i n i s t circles, t h a t h a v e left n o t h i n g u n d o n e i n o r d e r to poison the atmosphere and impede the rapprochement between Greece and our country. T h e Pope of the V a t i can, t h e P o l e W o y t y l a , also, j o i n e d t h e c a m p a i g n o f s l a n d e r s a n d a t t a c k s against o u r c o u n t r y a n d people, a n d against t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m i n A l b a n i a . I n a l l t h i s i t i s not h a r d to see a secret m a l e v o l e n t c o l l u s i o n b e t w e e n the G r e a t -
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S e r b c h a u v i n i s t a n d r e a c t i o n a r y forces, t h e G r e e k fascist forces a n d t h e c e n t r e o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l o b s c u r a n t i s m , t h e V a t i c a n . B u t w e h a v e b e c o m e h a r d e n e d t o s u c h slanders, attacks and conspiracies. We k n o w them, we h a v e coped w i t h t h e m a n d w e h a v e defeated t h e m m e r c i l e s l y . T h a t w i l l h a p p e n i n t h e f u t u r e , too. W o r l d c a p i t a l i s m calls A l b a n i a an anachronistic c o u n t r y , because i t stands face t o f a c e w i t h i m p e r i a l i s m a n d r e v i s i o n i s m , w i t h t h e i r i n t r i g u e s , d i v e r s i o n a n d deceptions. W e a r e n o t i m p r e s s e d b y t h e i r e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y p o t e n t i a l . W e d o not a n d w i l l not f o r g e t w h a t J . V . S t a l i n s a i d about t h i s q u e s t i o n i n 1928:
It would be sheer madness to think that national capital would leave us in peace.*
inter-
W e are o p t i m i s t s , because w e are M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t revolutionaries. O u r f o r e i g n p o l i c y , o u r stands, a n a l y s e s a n d c o n c l u sions about v a r i o u s i n t e r n a t i o n a l e v e n t s h a v e c o m p l e t e l y j u s t i f i e d t h e m s e l v e s . T h e life, the d e v e l o p m e n t o f e v e n t s around us and a l l over the w o r l d have s h o w n that we were r i g h t , not o u r o p p o n e n t s a n d enemies. L e t m e r e t u r n t o t h e p o s i t i v e d e v e l o p m e n t s t h a t occurred in our relations w i t h Greece, about w h i c h there w a s great r e p e r c u s s i o n i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l p u b l i c o p i n i o n . I w a n t to stress r i g h t f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g t h a t w h a t has been a c h i e v e d , w h i c h , t h r o u g h g o o d w i l l , s h o u l d certainly be carried ahead w i t h the repeal of the absurd law o n the state o f w a r w i t h o u r c o u n t r y o n t h e p a r t o f t h e G r e e k g o v e r n m e n t , is t h e r e s u l t of t h e consistent s t a n d of o u r c o u n t r y based o n t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f its f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f good n e i g h b o u r l i n e s s w i t h a l l t h e c o u n t r i e s a r o u n d us, o n
_____________________________________ * J. V. Stalin, Works, v o l . 11, p. 55, A l b . ed.
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t h e basis o f r e c i p r o c a l b e n e f i t , n o n - i n t e r f e r e n c e i n the i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f one a n o t h e r , w h i l e m a k i n g n o i d e o l o g i c a l o r p o l i t i c a l concessions. A s soon a s w e m a k e k n o w n a n o f f i c i a l v i s i t t o Italy, t o G r e e c e , t o T u r k e y o r some other place, i n d e e d , e v e n w h e n w e s e n d o u r athletes t o p a r t i c i p ate in some i n t e r n a t i o n a l event, as h a p p e n e d in t h e case of t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a t h l e t i c m e e t i n g i n N i c e o f F r a n c e , the b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t p r o p a g a n d a , a s u s u a l , begins t o r u m o u r t h a t A l b a n i a i s o p e n i n g up t o t h e West. N o w , too, i t c o n t i n u e s t o b l o w the s a m e b r o k e n b u g l e . H o w m u c h w r o n g a r e those w h o a l w a y s m i s t a k e o u r r e s o l u t e a n d c l e a r - c u t p o l i t i c a l stands. F r o m the f o u n d i n g of our People's Republic we have pursued this p o l i c y w h i c h w e are p u r s u i n g t o d a y . W e h a v e a l w a y s been i n f a v o u r o f r a p p r o c h e m e n t b e t w e e n o u r c o u n t r y a n d our neighbours and understanding w i t h them. It is the others w h o have s h o w n no understanding for our policy of good n e i g h b o u r l i n e s s , or h a v e r e s p o n d e d to it hesitati n g l y , because, a s o u r people say, t h e y h a d the d e v i l i n t h e i r bowels. So, w h e n e v e r the l o f t y interests o f o u r H o m e l a n d h a v e r e q u i r e d it, w e h a v e b e e n f o r s u c h o p e n i n g u p a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o b e f o r i t i n t h e f u t u r e , too, but not f o r i n t e g r a t i o n , f o r selling out the f r e e d o m a n d the w e a l t h o f the H o m e l a n d , f o r relations a n d alliances w i t h t h e aggressive p o l i t i c a l - m i l i t a r y g r o u p i n g s of the one or the o t h e r s u p e r p o w e r . L e t n o one d e c e i v e h i m s e l f o n that score. A s the p r o p a g a n d a has it, w e h a v e been c o m p e l l e d t o m a k e t h i s o p e n i n g u p f o r o u r i n t e r n a l needs, i n o r d e r t o get over t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s w h i c h e m e r g e d f o r u s after o u r r u p t u r e w i t h C h i n a , a n d f o r m o d e r n technology. T h i s i s c o c k - a n d - b u l l story. F i r s t t h i n g , i t i s not t r u e t h a t w e b r o k e a w a y f r o m C h i n a . I t i s the r e v i s i o n i s t a n d c a p i t a l ist leaders o f C h i n a w h o w e n t o v e r t o a n t i - A l b a n i a n actions w h i c h e n d e d w i t h t h e C h i n e s e u n i l a t e r a l l y b r e a k i n g off the agreements of economic collaboration w i t h our country,
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a n d a l l this because w e s t r o v e t o c o n v i n c e t h e m t h a t t h e y were pursuing a counter-revolutionary foreign policy and were sliding more and more deeply into reprehensible actions a n d a l l i a n c e s w i t h A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m . A n d w e k n e w w h a t m i g h t b e t h e consequences o f t h i s s t a n d o f o u r P a r t y a n d c o u n t r y t o w a r d s C h i n a , t h a t is, w e w e r e conscious t h a t t h e r e w o u l d b e e c o n o m i c consequences f o r us, j u s t a s t h e r e w e r e w h e n w e e x p o s e d t h e t r e a c h e r o u s actions o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s . T h e r e f o r e , w e h a d t a k e n t h e necessary m e a s u r e s . We began to have trade relations w i t h the other c o u n t r i e s , n o t t h i s y e a r o r last y e a r , b u t since w e f o u n d e d o u r n e w state. O u r t r a d e has h a d a t its basis t h e p r i n c i p l e o f r e c i p r o c a l benefit, g i v e a n d t a k e , w i t h o u t c r e d i t s a n d l o a n s c o n d i t i o n e d o n p o l i t i c a l concessions, e x c e p t f o r t h e period w h e n we thought that the Yugoslavs, the Soviets, a n d the C h i n e s e later, w e r e o u r f r i e n d s a n d t h a t t h e i r countries, a s socialist a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , w e r e d u t y - b o u n d t o assist u s a s a s m a l l c o u n t r y w e w e r e . W e accepted credits, w h i c h w e i n t e n d e d t o p a y t o the letter, a n d t h a t i s w h a t w e d i d , a n d t o d a y i n fact w e a r e n o t indebted to anyone. On the contrary, they are indebted t o us, because w i t h t h e i r actions t h e y b e h a v e d a s r e v i sionists, a s t r a i t o r s t o M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a n d s a b o t aged a n d d a m a g e d o u r e c o n o m y . T h e i r c r e d i t s r e p r e s e n t e d only a very s m a l l part of the economic-financial potential of our country. Hence, we have been a n d are for balanced t r a d e exchanges, w i t h o u t d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a n d r e s t r i c t i v e m e a sures, w i t h o u t a n y p o l i t i c a l c o m m i t m e n t , w i t h o u t p u t t i n g u p f o r a u c t i o n the l o f t y n a t i o n a l interests o f t h e c o u n t r y , o f socialism and of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , at any time and under any circumstances. A s I said e a r l i e r , t h e y n o w b r i n g u p t h e i m p r o v e m e n t of our relations w i t h Greece as an e x a m p l e of our openi n g u p t o the West. I t d e p e n d s o n h o w a n d f r o m w h a t
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a n g l e t h e q u e s t i o n i s seen, f r o m w h a t p o s i t i o n s a n d w i t h w h a t a i m s i t i s c o m m e n t e d o n , because t h e i m p r o v e m e n t of our relations w i t h Greece occurred in definite political m o m e n t s a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s w h i c h f a c i l i t a t e d t h i s process. E a c h state has its o w n p o l i t i c a l strategy a n d p u r s u e s a w e l l - d e f i n e d tactics d e p e n d i n g o n the c o n d i t i o n s a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s c r e a t e d b y u n f o r e s e e n factors, o r those w h i c h r e s u l t f r o m t h e p r e v i o u s actions on the basis of a g i v e n s t r a t e g y . O u r c o u n t r y , too, has its o w n s t r a t e g y a n d tactics i n f o r e i g n p o l i c y . T h e y h a v e been d e f i n e d a n d p r o c l a i m e d p u b l i c l y a t the v a r i o u s congresses o f the P a r t y . I n t h e concrete case w e h a v e a l w a y s been f o r r e l a t i o n s w i t h G r e e c e , i n d e e d w e have r e q u e s t e d a n d w a i t e d p a t i e n t l y f o r r e l a t i o n s of good n e i g h b o u r l i n e s s to be e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h t h i s c o u n t r y , because s u c h a t h i n g i s i n the i n t e r e s t o f o u r t w o peoples. N o w t h a t the Y u g o s l a v c h a u v i n i s t s , a n t i - A l b a n i a n t o t h e core, i n u n i s o n w i t h i m p e r i a l i s m , i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e a c t i o n a n d a n y other fascist force, are t h r o w i n g a l l the stones t h e y c a n against socialist A l b a n i a , h a t c h i n g u p plots i n o r d e r t o i m p e d e o u r c o n s t r u c t i v e w o r k , w e h a d t o a n d d i d t a k e the necessary d e f e n s i v e measures. W e c o u l d not a l l o w t h e T i t o i t e s t o d o a s t h e y l i k e d w i t h o u r r i g h t s , to t r y to isolate us, to sabotage us, as t h e y d i d w h e n t h e y i n t e r f e r e d w i t h o u r v e h i c l e s c a r r y i n g o u r goods t o the m a r k e t s o f W e s t e r n E u r o p e , etc. T h a t w o u l d b e i m p e r m i s s i b l e . So, i n these c o n d i t i o n s w e n e g o t i a t e d a n d c o n c l u d e d a n a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e I t a l i a n g o v e r n m e n t f o r the o p e n i n g of a f e r r y - b o a t l i n e to t r a n s p o r t o u r goods to t h e c o u n t r i e s w i t h w h i c h we have trade agreements; we talked and r e a c h e d p o s i t i v e r e s u l t s w i t h the G r e e k g o v e r n m e n t f o r t h e s i g n i n g o f some a g r e e m e n t s o f r e c i p r o c a l b e n e f i t ; w e d e c i d e d to o p e n t h e b o r d e r cross-point at K a k a v i j a as a g e s t u r e o f f r i e n d s h i p , etc. T h e s e m e a s u r e s w e r e r e q u i r e d by the lofty interests of our H o m e l a n d and we d i d this w i t h o u t a l l o w i n g a n y concessions a n d w i t h o u t m a k i n g a n y
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c o m p r o m i s e t o the d e t r i m e n t o f o u r i d e o l o g y a n d p o l i c y a n d w i t h o u t j e o p a r d i z i n g a n d i n t e r f e r i n g i n t h e least i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s of others. D u r i n g t h i s y e a r t h e r e a c t i o n a r y G r e e k forces, t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f the O r t h o d o x C h u r c h , the V o r i o - E p i r o t e r e a c t i o n a r y circles a n d t h e i r s u p p o r t e r s , t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , w e r e a cause of c o n c e r n f o r us. T h e y b r o u g h t p r e s s u r e t o b e a r o n us, t h e y o r g a n i z e d p r o v o c a t i o n s u p t o t h e p o i n t o f b l o w i n g u p t h e cars o f o u r e m b a s s y i n Athens and demonstrating threateningly in front of it against the supposed i l l - t r e a t m e n t o f t h e G r e e k m i n o r i t y i n A l b a n i a , etc. I n these g r a v e m o m e n t s , some circles, i n c l u d i n g the T i t o i t e ones, h o p e d t h a t w e w o u l d f a l l i n t o the t r a p o f r e a c t i o n , t h a t is. w e w o u l d cut d i p l o m a t i c r e l ations w i t h G r e e c e . B u t w e d i d not f a l l i n f o r it. W e k n e w that such situations were temporary, that they expressed the d i s a r r a y a n d defeat o f the G r e e k a n d f o r e i g n r e a c t i o n a r y a n d a n t i - A l b a n i a n forces. T h e y w e r e n o t a n d c o u l d not b e the w o r k o f the f r i e n d l y G r e e k people, w i t h w h o m w e h a v e f o u g h t t o g e t h e r n o t j u s t once, f o r t h e s a m e a i m s . A n d w e w e r e not w r o n g . T h e s t o r m spent its rage a n d t h e days o f c a l m set i n . w h e n the G r e e k g o v e r n m e n t i t s e l f took the f i r s t steps t o w a r d s concrete r e l a t i o n s , t o w a r d s r a p p r o c h e m e n t a n d good n e i g h b o u r l y r e l a t i o n s . O n t h i s basis a n d w i t h c o m m o n u n d e r s t a n d i n g w e r e a c h e d those r e s u l t s w h i c h I m e n t i o n e d above. A l l t h i s w a s i n t h e interest o f the G r e e k people a n d i n t h e interest o f o u r people. T h e p o s i t i v e fact f o r u s i s t h a t the r e a c t i o n a r y G r e e k forces, the bishops, t h e m o s t r e a c t i o n a r y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of the V o r i o - E p i r o t e circles, t h e i r s u p p o r t e r s a n d b a c k e r s i n the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a w e r e i s o l a t e d ; t h e honest and progressive Greeks rejoiced. T h e Y u g o s l a v Titoites, who incited and expected explosions between Greece and A l b a n i a were isolated and suffered a fiasco; their p r o p a g a n d a i n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a t h a t A l b a n i a i s against
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peace a n d represents a w a r - m o n g e r i n g c o u n t r y i n the B a l kans, etc., s u f f e r e d a c o m p l e t e f a i l u r e . T h e G r e e k press n o w w r i t e s t h a t the s l a n d e r s o f the r e a c t i o n a r y circles a b o u t the i l l - t r e a t m e n t of a n d the d e n i a l o f r i g h t s t o the G r e e k m i n o r i t y i n A l b a n i a are d e v o i d o f a n y basis a n d t h a t t h e G r e e k m i n o r i t y people in our country live in n o r m a l conditions, enjoying all the c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s , are h a p p y , e t c . . . W e d o n o t f o r g e t t h e b i t t e r lessons o f t h e h i s t o r y o f our country, either. T h e bourgeoisie and the reactionary, c h a u v i n i s t a n d fascist g r o u p i n g s i n t h e c o u n t r i e s b o r d e r i n g o n u s h a v e m o r e t h a n once i n t h e past c o l l a b o r a t e d t o d i v i d e u p A l b a n i a i n t o t h e i r zones o f i n f l u e n c e a n d h a v e c l a s h e d w h e n e v e r one of t h e m has t r i e d to v i o l a t e the tacit joint agreement on Albania. E v e n though m a n y years have gone b y since t h a t t i m e a n d A l b a n i a i s n o l o n g e r w h a t i t w a s a n d a l l o w s n o one to t a k e a n interest i n its destinies, the p o l i c y o f these r e a c t i o n a r y circles t o w a r d s socialist A l b a n i a has not c h a n g e d m u c h . L i k e w i s e , w e n o t i c e t h a t o u r p o l i c y o f good n e i g h b o u r liness a n d r e c i p r o c a l b e n e f i t t o w a r d s t h i s o r t h a t c o u n t r y m a k e s t h i s b o u r g e o i s i e a n d these r e a c t i o n a r y circles j e a l o u s a n d a n g r y , a s t h o u g h A l b a n i a w e r e t h e i r estate. T h i s s t r a n g e j e a l o u s y a n d a n g e r i s b e i n g m a n i f e s t e d b y the Y u g o s l a v chauvinists over the further improvement of our relations w i t h Greece a n d Italy, over the strengthening of o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h some E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s , w i t h the c o u n t r i e s o f t h e A r a b w o r l d , etc. W h y does i t seem s t r a n g e t o t h e m ? W h y are t h e y c o n c e r n e d ? T h i s i s t h e i r business. W e h a v e not c o n s u l t e d , d o not c o n s u l t a n d w i l l n e v e r c o n s u l t B e l g r a d e o r a n y other c a p i t a l , w h i c h e v e r i t m a y be, a b o u t w h a t w e d o a n d w h a t w e i n t e n d t o d o i n t h e interest o f o u r socialist c o u n t r y a n d Homeland. T h e hopes w h i c h are n o u r i s h e d a n d p r o p a g a t e d a g a i n
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n o w , a s o c c u r r e d w h e n w e put t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s a n d the C h i n e s e r e v i s i o n i s t s i n t h e i r places, t h a t t h e d a y has c o m e f o r someone else to set foot in A l b a n i a , or t h a t A l b a n i a w o u l d f a l l under the control and influence of the A m e r i c a n s o r the S o v i e t s , t h e F r e n c h , t h e B r i t i s h o r t h e G e r m a n s , not t h r o u g h force, but t h r o u g h w e l l - w i s h i n g offers o f a i d o n f a v o u r a b l e t e r m s t o e n a b l e u s to m a k e progress, to correct a n d to m o d e r n i z e o u r i n d u s t r y a n d e c o n o m y , etc., etc., are f u t i l e . W e are n o t i n n e e d o f t h a t k i n d of modernization about w h i c h T i t o a n d the Y u g o s l a v T i t o i t e s boasted s o m u c h , about w h a t the C h i n e s e revisionistsa r e t a l k i n g o r the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s are s u g g e s t i n g n o w , m o d e r n i z a t i o n o n credits, w i t h s m o t h e r i n g debts o n d e n i g r a t i n g a n d e n s l a v i n g t e r m s . W e s h a l l n e v e r p u t s u c h c h a i n s r o u n d the n e c k o f o u r people. T o d a y w e have built an advanced economy and are in a position to m a r c h a h e a d w i t h o u r o w n forces, t h a t is, t o m o d e r n i z e and equip our economy w i t h advanced technology f r o m its o w n i n c o m e , w i t h its o w n f i n e goods w h i c h a r e i n demand everywhere. the the this get his T h e q u e s t i o n o f A l b a n i a a n d its f u t u r e i s d i s c u s s e d i n l e a d i n g c i r c l e s o f N A T O a n d the W a r s a w T r e a t y . B o t h one g r o u p i n g a n d t h e o t h e r f r o m t i m e t o t i m e p r o m p t c o u n t r y o r t h a t t o o f f e r u s sincere aid i n o r d e r t o over d i f f i c u l t s i t u a t i o n s . T h e y p i t y t h e r i d e r because feet a r e d a n g l i n g , as a s a y i n g of o u r people goes.
We put it clearly for all the short-sighted dreamers that n e i t h e r t h e one n o r t h e other, n e i t h e r S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l ists n o r A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s o r a n y o n e else, c a n e v e r set foot a g a i n o n t h e A l b a n i a n s o i l ; t h e y w i l l n e v e r a g a i n b e g i v e n the r i g h t t o set u p m i l i t a r y bases a n d c o n c e n t r a t e t h e i r troops here. W e h a v e o u r e x p e r i e n c e w i t h f o r e i g n m i l i t a r y bases. A s l o n g a s t h e S o v i e t m i l i t a r y base set u p i n o u r c o u n t r y , i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f t h e f o r m e r socialist c a m p , h a d d e f e n s i v e a i m s , w e accepted it, b u t w h e n
PANORAMA
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K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s m s h o w e d its aggressive i m p e r i a l ist teeth, w e d e n o u n c e d i t a n d d r o v e i t out. I n t h a t case w e d i d o u r i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t d u t y . I t i s u p t o t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g peoples t o t a k e a s t a n d t o w a r d s f o r e i g n m i l i t a r y bases i n t h e i r o w n t e r r i t o r i e s , w h i c h a r e d i r e c t e d against the n e i g h b o u r i n g peoples a n d c o u n t r i e s , o t h e r w i s e t h e r e a r e g r e a t d a n g e r s i n store f o r t h e m , too. T h e i r d i r e c t a n d i n d i r e c t pressure, a s w e l l a s t h a t w h i c h i s e x e r c i s e d t h r o u g h t h e i r tools, w h i c h e v e r t h e y are, h a v e n o effect o n us. W e are a f r a i d o f n o b o d y , w e molest nobody, while, on the other hand, we allow nobody to molest us, b u t w e h a v e a l w a y s d e m a n d e d o u r d u e a n d w i l l d e m a n d a n d d e f e n d i t t o the end. W e h a v e b o r n e u p s o m a n y years, w e s h a l l s t i l l b e a r u p , b u t w e w i l l n o t r e n o u n c e o u r due. T h o s e w h o k i l l e d a n d m a s s a c r e d o u r people d u r i n g the S e c o n d W o r l d W a r , w h o d a m a g e d u s m a t e r i a l l y , w i l l h a v e t o r e s p o n d m a t e r i a l l y . T h o s e w h o w i t h h o l d the g o l d w h i c h w a s r o b b e d f r o m u s m u s t r e t u r n i t t o us. T h e e n e m i e s o f socialist A l b a n i a a n d its h e r o i c a n d i n d o m i t a b l e a n c i e n t people a r e s t r i v i n g a n d w a i t i n g i n v a i n f o r s u c h a n o p e n i n g up, w h i c h w o u l d l e a d u s t o t h e i r clutches and their pen. W e w i l l g o a h e a d . W e d o not d e n y t h a t w e h a v e d i f f i c u l t i e s . T h e y are d i f f i c u l t i e s o f g r o w t h , b u t t h e y a r e also c o n n e c t e d w i t h the obstacles w h i c h the i m p e r i a l i s t s , s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s , a n d the c h a u v i n i s t a n d r e a c t i o n a r y forces o f a l l c o l o u r s raise o n o u r r o a d . A n y w a y , w e h a v e n o w got u s e d t o t h i s s i t u a t i o n . T h e v i c t o r i e s , w h i c h h a v e become the basis f o r o u r f u r t h e r a d v a n c e , h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d w i t h o u r o w n forces, w i t h o u r o w n w e a l t h , w i t h o u r o w n t o i l a n d w i t h the k n o w l e d g e o f o u r sons a n d d a u g h t e r s . W e s h a l l p r o c e e d o n t h i s r o a d i n t h e f u t u r e , too, because t o d a y w e are s t r o n g e r a n d h a v e m o r e e x p e r i e n c e t h a n i n t h e past, w e are a l w a y s o n t h e ascent, we have our glorious P a r t y w h i c h leads us w i t h w i s d o m
848
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and Marxist-Leninist determination, we have our w o r k i n g class, a h e a l t h y i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , a r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d h e a l t h y y o u t h , w e h a v e a w o n d e r f u l people. W e a r e p r e p a r i n g the 8th F i v e - y e a r P l a n o f o u r e c o n o m i c a n d c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t f u l l o f o p t i m i s m . T h i s p l a n , p r e c i s e l y because o f the c o n d i t i o n s i n w h i c h w e are l i v i n g a n d w o r k i n g , i s based entirely on our internal material, financial and h u m a n resources. A l b a n i a has chosen its r o a d a n d n o t h i n g a n d n o force, n e i t h e r a d u l a t i o n , n o r p r o m i s e s , p r e s s u r e a n d plots of the s u p e r p o w e r s a n d of t h e i r allies a n d vassals can swerve it f r o m this road. A s w e h a v e s a i d , the present i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n i s c o m p l i c a t e d , i n d e e d , v e r y c o m p l i c a t e d a n d g r a v e . W e are g o i n g t h r o u g h a p e r i o d of d a n g e r o u s p r o v o c a t i o n s . T h e a r m a m e n t s race b e t w e e n t h e s u p e r p o w e r s has g r o w n a n d e x t e n d e d i n t o t h e o u t e r space, a n d w i t h t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r t h e so-called star w a r s , i s p o s i n g a n e x t r e m e l y g r a v e threat t o m a n k i n d ; the hotbeds o f l o c a l w a r s h a v e i n c r e a s e d , the p o l i c y of a r m e d aggressions, of t h e t h r e a t of t h e use of m o d e r n d e s t r u c t i v e w e a p o n s b y t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d the S o v i e t U n i o n , has been i n t e n s i f i e d : t h e l i b e r a t i o n w a r s o f the peoples o f A s i a , A f r i c a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a c o n t i n u e to be s a b o t a g e d ; t h e j u s t s t r u g g l e of the P a l e s t i n i a n people a n d the o t h e r A r a b peoples c o n t i n u e s t o b e s a b o t a g e d ; the fascist forces c o n t i n u e t o increase a n d g r o w stronger, etc., etc. N o t h i n g i m p e d e s the t w o s u p e r p o w e r s f r o m e l b o w i n g out one a n o t h e r e v e n i n t h e cases w h e n m i l l i o n s o f people f a l l v i c t i m t o i l l - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o r n a t u r a l c a l a m i ties, a s i s o c c u r r i n g i n E t h i o p i a , w h e r e u n d e r t h e p r e t e x t o f the f a m i n e w h i c h i s t h r e a t e n i n g some m i l l i o n s o f l i v e s , w h o s e u r g e n t needs f o r f o o d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , the great a l l y o f E t h i o p i a , i s i n n o p o s i t i o n t o cope w i t h , t h e i m p e r i a l ist states, a n d i n t h e f i r s t place, t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , h a v e i n t e r v e n e d i n o r d e r t o g i v e t h e i r aid.
PANORAMA
849
I h a v e w r i t t e n s u n d r y notes a n d analyses i n m y Diary a b o u t a l l these p r o b l e m s . T o d a y I w a n t to d w e l l a l i t t l e o n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f events i n C h i n a , o n the e v o l u t i o n o f t h i s c o u n t r y t o w a r d s c a p i t a l i s m a n d its l i n k s w i t h the w o r l d c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m , a n d o n t h e deals b e t w e e n t h e two imperialist superpowers. O u r P a r t y ' s forecasts a b o u t t h e r o a d o n w h i c h t h e Deng X i a o p i n g clique and company w o u l d lead C h i n a and its p e o p l e i s b e i n g c o n f i r m e d t o t h e h i l t . C h i n a has e n d e d u p c o m p l e t e l y i n the o r b i t o f w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m . Its l i n k s w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , i n p a r t i c u l a r , are a l l - s i d e d , t h e y e x t e n d i n t o a l l f i e l d s . P o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y delegations a r e s h u t t l i n g b a c k a n d f o r t h . T i m e a n d a g a i n , f o r t h e sake o f m a k i n g some d e m a g o g i c noise, t h e r e i s t h e o d d w o r d a b o u t some disa g r e e m e n t a n d discordance, w h e r e a s , i n fact, t h e r e i s only agreement and accord between them. T h e w e s t e r n c a p i t a l i s t - m o n o p o l y w o r l d i s f u l l y satisfied w i t h the i n t e r n a l d e v e l o p m e n t s i n C h i n a . W h y s h o u l d i t not b e s a t i s f i e d ? B y d e c i s i o n o f t h e p l e n u m o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the C h i n e s e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t y , i t w a s o f f i c i a l l y d e c i d e d t o change the e x i s t i n g e c o n o m i c s t r u c t u r e w i t h the m a i n o b j e c t i v e o f o p e n i n g C h i n a u p t o t h e outside w o r l d , t h a t is, t o f o r e i g n c a p i t a l ; T i t o i t e s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n has been e s t a b l i s h e d i n f a c t o r i e s a n d p l a n t s ; p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y a n d e v e n t h e use o f h i r e d l a b o u r has b e e n r e s t o r e d i n the r u r a l a r e a s ; t h e p r i v a t e m a r k e t a n d t r a d e a n d the r i g h t o f t h e p r i v a t e e x e r c i s e o f h a n d i c r a f t s h a v e been r e v i v e d ; political rights have been recognized to 20 m i l l i o n C h i n e s e , f o r m e r r i c h peasants, l a n d o w n e r s , c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d e v i l e l e m e n t s ; s p e c i a l e c o n o m i c regions, f o r e i g n c a p i t a l i s t enclaves, h a v e been c r e a t e d i n a l m o s t a l l the b i g coastal c i t i e s ; t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l b a n k s a n d the b i g m o n o p o l i e s h a v e been g i v e n the r i g h t o f o p e n i n g t h e i r
850
ENVER HOXHA
agencies i n B e i j i n g a n d i n the m a i n C h i n e s e cities, a n d m a n y m a n y other t h i n g s . I n N o v e m b e r o f t h i s y e a r , D a l i a n , one o f t h e b i g cities o f C h i n a , w a s the v e n u e o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e o n f o r e i g n i n v e s t m e n t s a n d t h e i r l e g a l aspects i n C h i n a , w i t h the p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f 250 C h i n e s e a n d A m e r i c a n e x p e r t s , f i r m managers, legal experts and bankers, a m o n g t h e m t h e r e w a s also the f o r m e r A m e r i c a n s e c r e t a r y o f State, Cyrus Vance. F r o m 1979 u n t i l today, p u r c h a s e r s ' l o a n c r e d i t s f r o m foreign governments and international organizations have r e a c h e d to 12 b i l l i o n a n d 500 m i l l i o n d o l l a r s , a n d d i r e c t foreign investments to 8 billion dollars. T h e Chinese minister o f F i n a n c e , a s t h e H S I N H U A n e w s a g e n c y reports, a t a m e e t i n g w i t h a d e l e g a t i o n o f the c o m m i s s i o n o f the A m e r i c a n Senate f o r b a n k i n g , h o u s i n g a n d t o w n - p l a n n i n g , d e c l a r e d t h a t C h i n a w i l l c o n t i n u e t o open its doors t o a l l countries, b i g a n d s m a l l , a n d t h a t measures h a v e been t a k e n a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o b e t a k e n t o protect t h e i n t e r e s t s o f f o r e i g n investors. A c c o r d i n g t o h i m , u n t i l t h e e n d of 1984 the f o r e i g n t r a d e c o m p a n i e s h a v e i n v e s t e d up to 3-4 b i l l i o n d o l l a r s f o r the s e t t i n g u p o f e n t e r p r i s e s w i t h j o i n t o r separate c a p i t a l i n C h i n a . That Xiaoping doors o f the f i r s t i s h o w the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y c l i q u e o f D e n g f l u n g open not o n l y b o t h doors, b u t a l l the f o u r China to international monopoly capital and, in place, t o A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l .
W h a t are the consequences of s u c h a s i t u a t i o n ? A b o u t the i n t e r n a l situation in C h i n a we hear today t h e same t h i n g s a s those w e h e a r a b o u t t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d some o t h e r c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s : t h e y o u t h are g o i n g d o w n the r o a d o f f u l l d e g e n e r a t i o n , a n d v i o l e n c e , h o o l i g a n i s m , rape, etc., etc., are b e c o m i n g w i d e s p r e a d . D e n g X i a o p i n g and his followers, w h o have apparently e l i m i n a t e d t h e i r r i v a l s f o r p o w e r , are t r y i n g u n d e r s u n d r y
PANORAMA
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disguises, i n c l u d i n g h e r e e v e n some theses of s c i e n t i f i c M a r x i s m and M a o Zedong's thought grafted on B u d d h i s m , t o f i n d a n d a p p l y a socialism w i t h C h i n e s e features, t h a t is, a m o n s t r o u s s o c i a l i s m o r i g i n a t i n g f r o m the g r a f t i n g of classical capitalism on Titoite m o d e r n revisionism. T h e West describes these efforts, changes a n d decisions of Deng X i a o p i n g a n d his clique in C h i n a as vict o r i e s o f t h e course o f D e n g X i a o p i n g , w h e r e a s the T i t o i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s , in t h e i r n e w s p a p e r Politika, a p p r a i s e t h e m as C h i n a ' s e n t r y i n t o t h e e p o c h o f the most r e v o l u t i o n a r y changes i n its socialist h i s t o r y ! T h e t u r n in the capitalist direction in China, just as occurred in Yugoslavia, the Soviet U n i o n and the other f o r m e r socialist c o u n t r i e s , leads to the d e e p e n i n g of t h e p o l a r i z a t i o n i n p o l i c y a n d i n t h e e c o n o m y b e t w e e n the r u l i n g class o f t h e n e w bourgeoisie, w h i c h i s g r o w i n g e v e r r i c h e r , o n t h e one h a n d , a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses, w h i c h a r e b e c o m i n g e v e r poorer, o n t h e other. D e n g X i a o p i n g says t h a t i n C h i n a t h e r e i s n o r o o m f o r the emergence o f a n e w bourgeoisie and for millionaries. Nonsense! The e x a m p l e o f Y u g o s l a v i a , w h i c h h e has a s h i s g u i d e , s h o w s n o t o n l y t h a t a n e w b o u r g e o i s i e , j u s t as o p p r e s s i v e a n d savage t o w a r d s t h e peoples a s t h e c a p i t a l i s t b o u r g e o i s i e i n a n y o t h e r c o u n t r y , i s e m e r g i n g a n d f a t t e n i n g , but also t h a t millionaires w h o m a k e the l a w in every field are emergi n g , too. W e h a v e t h i s e x a m p l e i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , w h e r e a n e w r e v i s i o n i s t b o u r g e o i s i e has e m e r g e d w h i c h is f a t t e n i n g at t h e e x p e n s e of the g l o r i o u s peoples of this c o u n t r y w h i c h f o r m e r l y w a s t h e c r a d l e o f the p r o l e t a r i a n socialist r e v o l u t i o n . C h i n a has b e e n r u l e d b y a c u n n i n g b o u r g e o i s i e and by internal and external millionaries. This rule today is e x p a n d i n g a n d g r o w i n g ever stronger. In t h e case of C h i n a we h a v e to do also w i t h a specific c h a r a c t e r i s t i c d u e t o its v e r y great g e o g r a p h i c a l e x t e n s i o n , its h u g e p o p u l a t i o n a n d its colossal n a t u r a l w e a l t h . T h e
852
ENVER HOXHA
i m p o s i t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m a n d its m e r c i l e s s l y e n s l a v i n g l a w s o n the C h i n e s e w o r k i n g masses w i l l create m u c h g r e a t e r problems there than in Yugoslavia. The Titoite capitalist e c o n o m y , f o r instance, u n t i l n o w has n e e d e d 2 0 b i l l i o n d o l l a r s i n o r d e r t o r e m a i n o n its feet. T h e C h i n e s e e c o n o m y w i l l need s e v e r a l h u n d r e d b i l l i o n d o l l a r s , w h i c h , j u s t a s i n Yugoslavia, w i l l b r i n g along the shackles of capitalist e n s l a v e m e n t , the r u t h l e s s p l u n d e r o f t h e n a t i o n a l w e a l t h a n d p o l i t i c a l s u b j u g a t i o n u p t o the loss o f n a t i o n a l i n d e pendence. W i l l t h e h u n d r e d s o f m i l l i o n s o f C h i n e s e , t h e C h i n e s e w o r k i n g class, t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e l o n g - s u f fering peasantry, tolerate this subjugation? W i l l Deng's rivals for power in the Chinese leadership allow h i m to go in this career? O u r P a r t y has n e v e r m a d e u n f o u n d e d a l l u s i o n s a n d forecasts. T h e analyses i t has m a d e h i t h e r t o h a v e been based o n concrete events a n d facts a b o u t C h i n a o r a n y other c o u n t r y , r e l y i n g o n h i s t o r i c a l a n d d i a l e c t i c a l m a t e r i a l i s m , o n M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . A s I h a v e w r i t t e n above, t h e y h a v e n e v e r p r o v e d t o b e false, b u t h a v e been c o n f i r m e d f u l l y f o r the o v e r w h e l m i n g p a r t o f t h e m . W e are c o n v i n c e d t h a t the ideas e x p r e s s e d h e r e i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the f u t u r e course o f events i n C h i n a , a f t e r t h e r a p i d c a r e e r o f D e n g X i a o p i n g towards the restoration of capitalism, w h i c h Deng calls s o c i a l i s m w i t h C h i n e s e features, w i l l f i n d t h e i r confirmation in practice. A s f o r the tense r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , t h a t is, b e t w e e n the t w o i m p e r i a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r s w h i c h t h i n k t o b e t h e o n l y ones w h o c a n r a v e l a n d u n r a v e l a l l the p r o b l e m s o f the w o r l d , c a n rule and repeal any decision on any question w h i c h it is up t o other peoples a n d c o u n t r i e s t o solve, t h e r e w a s a n easing i n t h e e n d o f 1984. T o t h i s end, a f t e r R e a g a n ' s e l e c t i o n f o r a second t e r m of o f f i c e as p r e s i d e n t of t h e U S A , the red a n d b l a c k d i r e c t t e l e p h o n e lines b e t w e e n M o s c o w a n d
PANORAMA
853
W a s h i n g t o n w e r e t i c k i n g t o g i v e t h e w o r l d the good t i d i n g s : A t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f 1985 S c h u l t z a n d G r o m y k o w i l l meet i n G e n e v a i n o r d e r t o c o m e t o a n a c c o r d about s t a r t i n g n e g o t i a t i o n s f o r c o n c l u d i n g a n a g r e e m e n t o n stopp i n g the a r m a m e n t s race o f n u c l e a r m i s s i l e s o n e a r t h a n d a b o v e t h e earth, t h a t is, a g e n t l e m e n ' s agreement, or, b e t t e r say, a n a g r e e m e n t a m o n g h u c k s t e r s . T h e good t i d i n g s w e r e i n s t a n t l y a c c o m p a n i e d b y r e c i p r o c a l smiles, p r o p a g a n d a a n d d e m a g o g i c statements a b o u t t h e desire a n d g o o d w i l l o f t h e U n i t e d States a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n f o r peace, d i s a r m a m e n t , etc., etc. H o w e v e r , t h e peoples t o d a y are not e a s i l y d e c e i v e d b y these r e p e a t e d r a p p r o c h e m e n t s a n d cooling b e t w e e n the t w o i m p e r i a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r s , w i t h t h e smiles a n d grins of their topmost representatives. Experience has taught t h e m t o expect n o t h i n g good a n d f a v o u r a b l e f r o m the superpowers, pretenders to w o r l d domination. W h a t i s h i d d e n b e h i n d t h e recent d i p l o m a t i c a n d p o l i t i c a l steps o f M o s c o w a n d W a s h i n g t o n ? W h a t a r e the r u l e r s o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n h a t c h i n g u p against the peoples a n d the w o r l d ? W h y w i l l t h e y sit a t t h e t a b l e o f top-secret n e g o t i a t i o n s i n G e n e v a ? O n l y t o d e f e n d t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e i r p r e d a t o r y policies. F e a r i n g t h e s u p e r i o r i t y one m i g h t h a v e g a i n e d o v e r the o t h e r i n t h e f e v e r i s h a r m a m e n t s race o f c o n v e n t i o n a l a n d s o p h i s t i c a t e d w e a p o n s , i n t h e f i r s t place, t h e y w i l l t r y t o w o r m i n t o each other's secrets of a g e n e r a l or s p e c i f i c c h a r a c t e r a b o u t some w e a p o n or s y s t e m of weapons, to the e x t e n t t h i s is possible, of course, because, as o u r people say, t h e s n a k e n e v e r s h o w s its feet. S e c o n d , t h e y w i l l t r y t o b r i n g p r e s s u r e t o b e a r o n one a n o t h e r t h r o u g h the t h r e a t of t h e u s e of n e w w e a p o n s , f o r a r e d i v i s i o n of the spheres o f p o l i t i c a l , m i l i t a r y a n d e c o n o m i c i n f l u e n c e , etc. S i n c e the d i v i s i o n o f the spheres o f i n f l u e n c e b e t w e e n t h e m o n t h e e a r t h has a l r e a d y e n d e d , n o w t h e y are t r y i n g t o
854
ENVER HOXHA
e l b o w one a n o t h e r out of n e w spaces, t h a t is, t h e s t r u g g l e has b e g u n f o r t h e d i v i s i o n o f s p h e r e s o f i n f l u e n c e i n t h e endless outer space, t h e o c c u p a t i o n of t h i s or t h a t p l a n e t o f t h e solar s y s t e m i n o r d e r t o prospect f o r a n d f i n d e v e n t h e r e v a l u a b l e strategic m i n e r a l s w h i c h t h e y n e e d f o r t h e i r w a r i n d u s t r y , a n d set u p m i l i t a r y bases f r o m w h i c h t h e y c a n s t r i k e at one a n o t h e r . T h e s u p e r p o w e r s h a v e f i l l e d t h e o u t e r space w i t h s p y satellites, w i t h m i s s i l e s a n d a n t i - m i s s i l e s e q u i p p e d w i t h systems o f l e t h a l l a z e r rays, w i t h m e a n s o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , etc. A r e a l chaos w i t h h i g h r i s k s o f c o l l i s i o n . T h e i m p e r i a l i s t r e v i s i o n i s t chiefs w i l l m e e t i n G e n e v a i n o r d e r t o t a l k about this, too, a n d t r y to p u t some order, to r e a c h a k i n d of modus vivendi in t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h i s i n f i n i t e space, u n t i l the psychosis of l o s i n g t h e race o v e r c o m e s t h e m again. A t the s a m e t i m e , w i t h t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f the p o t e n t i a l o f t h e i r w e a p o n s a n d w i t h t h e noise t h e y m a k e a b o u t t h e t h r e a t these w e a p o n s pose, t h e y t r y t o i n t i m i d a t e t h e peoples o f the w o r l d w h o f i g h t f o r n a t i o n a l a n d social l i b e r ation, a n d the r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces, t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e other w o r k i n g masses. Thus, the two superpowers strive to maintain an e q u i l i b r i u m of t h e i r d e s t r u c t i v e m i l i t a r y forces, so t h a t the one is as s t r o n g as t h e o t h e r in a m o u n t s of a r m a m e n t s , m e a n s a n d effectives, so t h a t t h e y c a n i m p o s e t h e m s e l v e s o n t h e other c o u n t r i e s a n d peoples, a n d c a n cope w i t h t h e deals f o r the d i v i s i o n a n d r e d i v i s i o n of t h e spheres of i n f l u e n c e t h r o u g h h u c k s t e r i n g , w i t h o u t t h e r i s k o f the o u t break of a w a r that w o u l d lead to their m u t u a l destruction and annihilation. O u r P a r t y has e x p r e s s e d its o p i n i o n l o n g a g o : t h e r e is and can be no disarmament by the imperialist superp o w e r s . T h e y n e i t h e r w a n t d i s a r m a m e n t n o r t h i n k about it, o t h e r w i s e , t h e y w o u l d h a v e t o g i v e u p t h e i r p o l i c y f o r
PANORAMA
855
t h e conquest o f t h e w o r l d , t h e colossal p r o f i t s t h e y m a k e f r o m t h e a r m a m e n t s race, s t i r r i n g u p a n d o r g a n i z i n g h o t beds o f f r a t r i c i d a l w a r s a n d s a b o t a g i n g a n d d i s r u p t i n g t h e j u s t w a r s o f the peoples a n d t h e social r e v o l u t i o n s . Y e s , t h e y are f o r d i s a r m a m e n t , but f o r t h e d i s a r m a m e n t o f t h e f r e e d o m - l o v i n g peoples, t h e w o r l d p r o l e t a r i a t , a n d the w o r k i n g masses, s o t h a t t h e y c a n c a r r y out t h e i r sinister plots m o r e r a p i d l y a n d m o r e easily. T h e i l l u s i o n s a n d hopes w h i c h t h e b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t ideologists w a n t t o create a b o u t t h e blessings t h a t m a y b e e x p e c t e d f r o m the A m e r i c a n - S o v i e t meetings i n G e n e v a o r elsewhere, are v e r y d a n g e r o u s a n d f r a u g h t w i t h g r a v e consequences f o r t h e destinies o f the peoples, for their freedom and national independence. T h e show of the economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y m i g h t o f c a p i t a l i s m , w h e t h e r A m e r i c a n o r S o v i e t , despite a l l its w e a p o n s , s h o u l d not i n t i m i d a t e the peoples w h o are l a n g u i s h i n g u n d e r colonialist and neo-colonialist domination and fighting to w i n t h e i r f r e e d o m , the g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t forces a n d the revolutionary proletarians. Capitalism is strong only when it is n o t f o u g h t w i t h f o r c e a n d resolve. Its strength is s m a s h e d t o pieces w h e n c o n f r o n t e d w i t h t h e colossal s t r e n g t h o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d f r e e d o m - l o v i n g sentiments a n d a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n s a n d the peoples. S o c i a l ist A l b a n i a w i l l n e v e r get c a u g h t i n t h e c o b w e b o f the demagogic propaganda about disarmament. On the contrary, i t w i l l e m p l o y a l l t h e m e a n s a t its d i s p o s a l t o ceaselessly s t r e n g t h e n a n d i n c r e a s e its d e f e n c e c a p a c i t y i n o r d e r t o b e i n a p o s i t i o n t o cope w i t h a n y a g g r e s s i o n w h i c h m i g h t c o m e f r o m its e n e m i e s o f a l l hues. The two imperialist superpowers are compelled to take a wise a n d logical course, because t h e y h a v e a n o t h e r great w o r r y , w h i c h c a m e out v e r y c l e a r l y d u r i n g 1984, n a m e l y , t h e a l a r m i n g s i t u a t i o n i n t h e i r r e a r area, w i t h i n the political, m i l i t a r y and economic groupings of N A T O
856
ENVER HOXHA
and the W a r s a w Treaty, the European C o m m o n M a r k e t and C o m e c o n . W i t h t h i s I a m r e f e r r i n g t o t h e o p p o s i t i o n not o n l y by the peoples of t h e m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s of these groupings to the dangerous political activities and economic pressure, the t r a m p l i n g u n d e r f o o t o f t h e n a t i o n a l i n d e p e n dence a n d d i g n i t y o n t h e p a r t o f the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d the S o v i e t U n i o n , b u t also b y some g o v e r n m e n t s a n d l e a d i n g circles i n these c o u n t r i e s . O f course, o p p o s i t i o n b y these g o v e r n m e n t s a n d l e a d i n g circles i s not an e x p r e s s i o n of a r e v i v a l of g e n u i n e n a t i o n a l feelings, but r a t h e r a m a n i f e s t a t i o n of fear of the f u r t h e r e x t e n s i o n of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t a n d actions of t h e peoples, the w o r k i n g masses o f t h e E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s . O n some occasions w e h a v e seen t h a t t h e d i c t a t e o f the. one or the o t h e r s u p e r p o w e r on t h i s or t h a t a l l y has become so i n t o l e r a b l e as to arouse open d i s a g r e e m e n t s w i t h the b i g boss w h o t i g h t e n s the s c r e w s c o n t i n u o u s l y on t h e m . It is not a c c i d e n t a l , f o r e x a m p l e , t h a t the s t a t i o n i n g o f the E u r o m i s s i l e s (Pershing-2 a n d Cruise b y t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d SS-20 b y t h e S o v i e t s o c i a l i m p e r i a l i s t s ) i n the F e d e r a l R e p u b l i c o f G e r m a n y , Italy, Britain, Czechoslovakia, and the G e r m a n Democratic R e p u b l i c d i d not p r o c e e d w i t h o u t resistance, w i t h o u t m u c h p o l i t i c a l a n d d i p l o m a t i c p r e s s u r e a n d m a n o e u v r i n g . Indeed, the g o v e r n m e n t of some c o u n t r y , as is t h e case of H o l l a n d , B e l g i u m , D e n m a r k , etc., c o n t i n u e s t o t h i s d a y t o m a k e resistance a n d accept t h e s t a t i o n i n g of these m i s s i l e s on its o w n t e r r i t o r y o n l y o n some c o n d i t i o n s . T h e allies are now clearly understanding that in an eventual conflict b e t w e e n the t w o s u p e r p o w e r s , t h e i r c o u n t r i e s a r e d e s t i n e d to become t h e b a t t l e f i e l d s of a t h e r m o n u c l e a r w a r . T h u s , t h e y see t h a t W a s h i n g t o n a n d M o s c o w m a y s u d d e n l y a n d p e r f i d i o u s l y raise a t o m i c m u s h r o o m s , w i t h t h e i r u n c a l c u l a b l e consequences, i n t h e skies a n d o v e r t h e t e r r i t o r i e s o f these countries at any moment in order to avoid reciprocal
PANORAMA
857
s t r i k e s o f t h e t e r r i t o r i e s o f the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d the S o v i e t U n i o n . F a c e d w i t h t h i s m o r t a l danger, heads o f state a n d g o v e r n m e n t o f t h e N A T O m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s h a v e gone t o W a s h i n g t o n to d e m a n d e x p l a n a t i o n s , to get guarantees and express the opposition of E u r o p e a n public opinion to t h e u n w i s e a n d a r r o g a n t actions o f the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a . F o r their part, the president a n d vice-president o f t h e U S A , t h e secretaries o f the S t a t e a n d D e f e n c e D e p a r t m e n t s are s h u t t l i n g b a c k a n d f o r t h i n t h e capitals o f W e s t e r n E u r o p e i n o r d e r t o c o n v i n c e t h e i r allies t o accept t h e a c c o m p l i s h e d fact, t h r o u g h e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l press u r e a n d dictate, e v e n t h r o u g h t h e t h r e a t o f w i t h d r a w i n g t h e A m e r i c a n m i l i t a r y forces f r o m W e s t e r n E u r o p e a n d l e a v i n g it e x p o s e d to the p r e s s u r e of a possible aggression on the part of the Soviet social-imperialist armies. T h e s i t u a t i o n w i t h i n t h e so-called socialist c o m m u n i t y has b e e n no less t r o u b l e d . S o m e of t h e allies of t h e S o v i e t U n i o n are d e m a n d i n g m o r e f r e e d o m s t o l i n k u p w i t h t h e r i c h c o u n t r i e s o f W e s t e r n E u r o p e a n d c a r r y out economic r e f o r m s o f the T i t o i t e t y p e ; some d e m a n d m o r e r i g h t s w i t h i n the f r a m e w o r k o f t h e m i l i t a r y W a r s a w T r e a t y . N e w s agencies a n d t h e press, i n g e n e r a l , are t a l k i n g , a n d t h e r e m u s t b e some t r u t h i n a l l this, a b o u t disagreements w i t h i n the C o m e c o n , a b o u t voices r a i s e d against excessive d e p e n d e n c e on the Soviets, a n d a b o u t a lack of desire t o r e n e w the W a r s a w T r e a t y , o r d e m a n d s t o soften at least some of t h e c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h m a k e absolute the d i c t a t o r i a l a n d one-sided c o n t r o l a n d d i r e c t i o n b y t h e Soviet officers. T h e r e i s n o s m o k e w i t h o u t f i r e . I n P o l a n d the f i r e a n d the s m o k e h a v e leapt u p o v e r t h e roof. A t the m o m e n t o f the e x a c e r b a t i o n o f t h e g r a v e economic c r i s i s w h i c h has t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t w o r l d i n its g r i p , the S o v i e t U n i o n has m a n y a t i m e u s e d t h e e c o n o m i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h
858
ENVER HOXHA
its allies i n t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y a s a m e a n s o f p o l i t i c a l p r e s s u r e o n s o m e disobedient a l l y , o r too i n c l i n e d t o w a r d s the W e s t w h i c h , of course, has caused r e a c t i o n s . H o n n e c k e r , C e a u s e s c u a n d Z h i v k o v h a d p l a n n e d t o p a y official visits to the Federal Republic of G e r m a n y , w i t h whose l e a d i n g p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y circles t h e y h a v e traditionally had good relations and are ready to renew them t o t h e highest p o s s i b l e l e v e l . N o n e o f t h e m denies t h e fact t h a t t h e y a r e e s p e c i a l l y a t t r a c t e d b y the e c o n o m i c potential of B o n n . B u t Moscow intervened a n d the visits w e r e p u t off sine die*. S o m e of the personalities I m e n t i o n e d m a d e a protest, r a i s e d t h e i r voices, s h o w e d signs of d i s c o n t e n t m e n t , k i c k e d up a l i t t l e , etc., b u t g a v e in u n d e r the t h r e a t o f the M o s c o v i t e c o n d u c t o r ' s b a t o n . H e n c e , t h e r e are p r o d i g a l sons w i t h i n the p o l i t i c a l , m i l i t a r y a n d e c o n o m i c g r o u p i n g s o f the t w o s u p e r p o w e r s . S o m e are m o r e v e x a t i o u s , some are m e l l o w , some act o p e n l y a n d some i n disguise. A n y h o w , l i f e i s p r o v i n g w h a t o u r P a r t y has s a i d m a n y y e a r s ago, n a m e l y , t h a t these k i n d s o f g r o u p i n g are l i k e b a s k e t f u l s o f crabs q u a r r e l l i n g a n d b i t i n g one a n o t h e r w i t h o u t m e r c y o r c e r e m o n y . T h e p e r s p e c t i v e , t h e prognosis, i s g l o o m i e r s t i l l . T h e forecast f o r t h e y e a r 1985 f o r the t w o s u p e r p o w e r s has no clear sky, b u t a n overcast one a c c o m p a n i e d w i t h l o c a l r a i n and snow fall, as w e l l as storms and strong w i n d s !
T a k e n f r o m the Diary
___________________________________ * Indefinitely ( L a t i n in the original).
CONTENTS FOREWORD 1980 T H E G R E A T W O R L D E C O N O M I C CRISIS I S I N T E N S I F Y I N G (July 1, 1980) THE WORK OF THE PARTY SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD AS A SCIENCE A N D A P P L I E D SCIENTIF I C A L L Y (From the talk w i t h the members of the Bureau of the Party Committee and some cadres of the district of Kora) (July 18, 1980) ONLY IN STRUGGLE CAN THE MARXIST-LENINIST PARTIES BE STRENGTHENED AND TEMPERED A N D G A I N C A P A B I L I T Y (From the conversation w i t h Joao Amazonas, First Secretary of the CC of the Communist P a r t y of Brazil) (July 25, 1980) PROBLEMS A N D TASKS FOR THE T R A N S F O R M A TION OF THE HIGHER-TYPE COOPERATIVES I N T O S T A T E F A R M S (From a talk at the daily meeting w i t h the secretaries of the CC of the P L A ) (September 9, 1980) THE DRAFTING OF A SCIENTIFIC A N D MOBILIZING P L A N REQUIRES PROFOUND, COMPLEX AND S P E C I F I C S T U D I E S (Opinions and views about the study on the rates of agricultural development as a whole and the intensification of production w i t h priority in the lowland zones of several districts) (October 1, 1980) VII
14
44
68
82
860
CONTENTS A. About the relations the cooperative between the state and 91
B. About the relations between the cooperative and the members C. About the relations of management and the organization o f work and production . . . T H E K H R U S H C H E V I T E S (Excerpts) WE MUST H A V E A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LIFE AND THE RICH WORLD OF THE YOUTH (From a talk at the daily meeting of the secretaries of the CC of the P L A ) (November 7, 1980) THE ECONOMISTS SHOULD GIVE PRECISE AND CORRECT OPINIONS BASED ON M A R X I S M - L E N I N I S M (From a talk at the daily meeting of the secretaries of the CC of the P L A ) (December 10, 1980) . .
93
94 98
116
124
1981 P O L A N D C A N B E S A V E D O N L Y B Y ITS W O R K I N G C L A S S (Article published in the newspaper Zri i popullit) (February 13, 1981) T H E F O R C E O F T H E A L B A N I A N P A T R I O T I S M (Article published in the newspaper Bashkimi) ( M a r c h 23, 1981) WHY WERE POLICE VIOLENCE A N D T A N K S USED A G A I N S T T H E A L B A N I A N S O F K O S O V A ? (Article published in the newspaper Zri i popullit) ( A p r i l 8, 1981)
134
142
146
CONTENTS THE COMMITTEE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNIQUE SHOULD EXERT INFLUENCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND ON THE PRACTICAL A P P L I C A T I O N O F ITS A C H I E V E M E N T S (From the contribution at the meeting of the secretaries of the C C of the P L A ) ( M a y 6, 1981) T H E S T A T U S OF A R E P U B L I C FOR K O S O V A IS A J U S T D E M A N D (Article published i n the newspaper Zri i popullit) (May 17, 1981) A few facts of history about the treatment of the national problem of the Albanians of Yugoslavia The policy of the A l b a n i a n state does not endanger but defends the S F R of Yugoslavia The A l b a n i a n nation is one, it has the one history, culture and language . Pure ethnic entity, Small A l b a n i a and Greater A l b a n i a . W H E N T H E P A R T Y W A S B O R N (Excerpts) R E F L E C T I O N S (July 15, 1981) ON THE ACTIVITY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE O F T H E P A R T Y O F L A B O U R O F A L B A N I A (Extracts from the Report submitted to the 8th Congress of the P L A ) (November 1, 1981) I THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY AND THE TASKS OF THE PARTY
861
159
169
171
183
190
197 205 284
310
310
862
CONTENTS 1. The further strengthening of industry a decisive factor for the general advance of the country 2. A g r i c u l t u r a l production must be further intensified and the socialist relations in the countryside perfected 5. The level of well-being of the people must b e guaranteed and gradually raised . . . .
315
321
331
II WE MUST CEASELESSLY STRENGTHEN THE PARTY AND FURTHER ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS WORK 1. We must further enhance and leading role of the P a r t y perfect the 339
338
2. The effectiveness of the w o r k of the Party and the sense of responsibility of the P a r t y organs and organizations should be increased 3. The established criteria for increasing the ranks of the Party must be applied correctly 345
351
III THE TASKS OF THE PARTY FOR THE COMMUNIST EDUCATION OF THE WORKING PEOPLE . 1. The communist education of the w o r k i n g people the basis of our successes
354
354
CONTENTS IV THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION AND POLICY OF THE PSR OF ALBANIA THE FOREIGN
863
374
V THE STRUGGLE AGAINST REVISIONISM. THE REVOLUTIONARY AND LIBERATION MOVEMENT AT THE PRESENT STAGE 1982 THE ANGLO-AMERICAN (Excerpts) THREAT TO ALBANIA 460 523
421
ON T H E I N T E R N A T I O N A L S I T U A T I O N (February 1982) WE MUST NOT SEPARATE THE INTENSIFICATION WITH PRIORITY IN THE A L L O C A T E D L O W L A N D ZONE FROM THE INTENSIFICATION OF AGRICULT U R E O V E R T H E W H O L E C O U N T R Y (Contribution at the meeting of the Political Bureau of the CC of the P L A ) ( A p r i l 24, 1982) M A R X I S M - L E N I N I S M IS A NECESSITY, L I K E T H E AIR W E B R E A T H E A N D T H E F O O D W E E A T (From a contribution at the meeting of the Secretariat of the CC of the P L A ) ( A p r i l 26, 1982) A SYNOPSIS OF T H E SECRET ACTIVITY OF THE E N E M Y M E H M E T S H E H U (Speech delivered a t the 4th P l e n u m of the CC of the P L A ) (September 24, 1982) WORK AND VIGILANCE TO M A K E THE PEOPLE'S S T A T E P O W E R E V E R S T R O N G E R (Address t o the electors) (November 10, 1982)
533
551
568
597
864 T H E T I T O I T E S (Excerpts)
CONTENTS 630 1983
WE MUST INVOLVE THE W O M A N MORE ACTIVELY I N T H E P R O B L E M S O F S O C I E T Y (From a conversation at the daily meeting w i t h the secretaries of the CC of the P L A ) (January 21, 1983) THE SCIENCES W H I C H STUDY OUR N A T I O N A L HISTORY, L A N G U A G E A N D C U L T U R E M U S T B E R A I S E D T O A H I G H E R L E V E L (From the c o n t r i b u tion at the meeting of the Secretariat of the CC of the P L A ) (May 9, 1983) THE PARTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ORGANIZED FORCE WHICH HAS SAVED THE COUNTRY AND S O C I A L I S M (From the closing speech at the 7th P l e n u m of the CC of the P L A ) (September 21, 1983) . . THIS W O N D E R F U L R E A L I T Y I S T H E W O R K O F T H E PEOPLE, IS YOUR WORK, IS THE RESULT OF T H E C O R R E C T L I N E O F T H E P A R T Y (From a conversation w i t h a group of workers f r o m various sectors of the economy) (September 30, 1983) T H E M I D D L E E A S T IN T H E Y E A R 1983 (December 1983) The Arab-Israeli conflict and its complications The Afghan people w i l l k i c k out the Soviet occupiers On the Iraq-Iran w a r LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE NEW A L B A N I A (Excerpts)
698
707
727
739 758 760
764 767
774
CONTENTS
865
1984 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BELOVED ON THE NOVEMBER CELEBRATIONS! TULATIONS TO OUR WONDERFUL (Message of greetings on the occasion of the versary of the Liberation of Albania) 29, 1984) PANORAMA ALBANIA CONGRAPEOPLE! 40th a n n i (November 817 834
(December 30, 1984) . . . . . . . . .

Ενβέρ Χότζα Έργα τ.6

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Ενβέρ Χότζα Έργα τ.6

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WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!

PUBLISHED BY DECISION OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY OF LABOUR OF ALBANIA

AT THE CC OF THE PLA

IULY 1980 - DECEMBER 1984

NNTORI PUBLISHING T I R A N A 1987

THE GREAT WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS IS INTENSIFYING

DEEPENING OP THE WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

DEEPENING OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

DEEPENING OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

DEEPENING OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

DEEPENING OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

DEEPENING OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

i n K o r a , because a l l t h e a c t i v i t y a n d t h e w o r k o f t h e P a r t y a n d state i n t h e d i s t r i c t i s r e f l e c t e d p r e c i s e l y i n those sectors.

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

PARTY WORK IS SCIENCE

Reports and Speeches 1980-1981

PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE

ML PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE

ML PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE

ML PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE

ML PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE

ML PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE

ML PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE

ML PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE

ML PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE

ML PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE

ML PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE

ML PARTIES STRENGTHEN THROUGH STRUGGLE

TURNING AGR. COOPS. INTO STATE FARMS

TURNING AGR. COOPS. INTO STATE FARMS

TURNING AGR. COOPS. INTO STATE FARMS

TURNING AGR. COOPS. INTO STATE FARMS

TURNING AGR. COOPS. INTO STATE FARMS

TURNING AGR. COOPS. INTO STATE FARMS

TURNING AGR. COOPS. INTO STATE FARMS

T H E D R A F T I N G OF A SCIENTIFIC A N D MOBILIZING P L A N REQUIRES PROFOUND, C O M P L E X A N D SPECIFIC STUDIES

THOROUGH STUDIES FOR A SCIENTIFIC P L A N

THOROUGH STUDIES FOR A SCIENTIFIC PLAN

THOROUGH STUDIES FOR A SCIENTIFIC PLAN

THOROUGH STUDIES FOR A SCIENTIFIC PLAN

THOROUGH STUDIES FOR A SCIENTIFIC P L A N

A. ABOUT THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE COOPERATIVE

THOROUGH STUDIES FOR A SCIENTIFIC P L A N

B. ABOUT THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE COOPERATIVE AND THE MEMBERS

THOROUGH STUDIES FOR A SCIENTIFIC P L A N

THOROUGH STUDIES FOR A SCIENTIFIC PLAN

THE KHRUSHCHEVITES (EXCERPTS)

THE KHRUSHCHEVITES. (EXCERPTS)

THE KHRUSHCHEVITES. (EXCERPTS)