ECONOMIC SITUATION DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1953

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001900440007-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 27, 2001
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: August 19, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2001/11/21 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001900440007-6
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains Information affecting the No-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
Ing of Title 19, Sections 703 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorised person Is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form Is prohibited.
SECRET/CONTROL - U. So OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY Albania
SUBJECT Economic Situation During
the First quarter of 1953
25X1 &TE OF INFO.
25X1X
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES.
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
25X1A
19 August 1953
Thethird of the compulsory national loans, recently issued. has compelled'the
population to subscribe in the amount of about 470 million leka. This last loati
in .particular has caused much hardship., since as a result, fttrther'withiholdings
from the already ridiculously low wages and salaries were required,' This hap-
paned at a time when the cost of living was rising which added L-to the hardship.
As a result, the economic situation remains very serious if not tragic.
2. The shortage of foodstuffs and consumer) a goods has been particularly notioeable.
The food situation has become so difficult that even leeks have now been placed
on the ration list. Because of the, poor quality, the bread, is almost: impossible
to eat. Mat has almost disaappeared completely from the market and the price
of apples is now 150 leks per kilogram.
In order tp meet the serious food situation, the Council of Ministers. adopted a
new land classification system. This provides that every farmer must' surrender
to the State produce of a quantity and quality which is fixed'by an appropriate
commission, Further measures also include large drainage projects such as the
one near Korce in the Terbufit swamp, and canalization projects such as the
Vijose-Fier Canal as well as many other similar attempts to reclaim-arable land.
Theme projects are done mainly with forced labor. 'In addition the collective
fauns, which now number 112 with a .total of more than 6,100 families, are being
further developed. 25X1 A
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I I I
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Approved For Release 2001/11/21 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001900440007-6
 Approved For Release 2001/11/21 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001900440007-6
25X1A
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Many projects are also underway in the industrial field. A natural bitumen pro-
cessing plant has been constructed at Selenice. An oil refinery-which has been
under construction at Patos has been completed and work continues at the other
petroleum centers. All other projects under way in the industrial field are go-
ing ahead at full speed in an attempt to complete therm according to plan. This
includes mechanisation of the mines, installation of various types of factory
equipment, construction of power lines,and installation of turbines at the various
hydroelectric projects.
5. Formerly much of the industrial equipment imported into the country was furnished
without payment. Now, however, the present international situation and increased
commitments among the satellites have forced the Communist countries to take more
stringent measures which require at least partial payment for the equipment.
SECRET/CONTROL - U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2001/11/21 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001900440007-6