The counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Ottawa provided the following information on the above subject during a telephone interview on 3 June 1994.

Although draftees are required to register for military service at the age of 17, they begin their military service at the age of 18. Draftees who have reached draft age but who wish to continue their studies are permitted to do so, but they must begin their service before they reach 27 years of age.

Military service in Slovenia is not conditioned on ethnicity. Regardless of ethnicity, only all male citizens of Slovenia who permanently reside in Slovenia are required to serve military service. Draftees such as students who temporarily reside abroad are also liable for military service upon return to Slovenia. However, draftees who permanently reside abroad and wish to maintain that status are not liable for military service. These draftees must inform the military authorities about their status in order to be officially exempted.

Regardless of their ethnicity, during the war of independence all eligible draftees, including Slovenians of Serbian origin, were conscripted. During that war no one was denied or exempted from military service because of his ethnicity. The DIRB does not have corroborative information on this subject.

Attached please find a copy of an unofficial translation of the Slovenian military service law available to the DIRB in Ottawa.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia. 3 June 1994. Telephone interview with counsellor.

Slovenia. Law on Military Duty. 27 April 1991, pp. 1-25.