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Office for Religious Communities

Director

	Aleš Gulič

Aleš Gulič

Aleš Gulič was born on 5 March 1954 in Trbovlje. After graduating from the Trbovlje Gymnasium, he studied at the Ljubljana Faculty of Arts, majoring in Slovenian and Serbo-Croatian studies. For his first thesis he was awarded the Student Prešeren Award.

In 1984 he worked as a Slovenian teacher at the Secondary School of Economics in Trbovlje, later (1985–1989) as journalist and language editor, and then (1984–1985 and 1989–2004) as editor-in-chief at Radio Trbovlje.

As a member of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia, he served as a Deputy to the National Assembly in the 2004–2008 term. During that time he was a member of the following working bodies: the Commission under the Incompatibility of Holding Public Office with Profitable Activity Act (President); Commission under the Prevention of Corruption Act; Committee on Labour, the Family, Social Policy and Disability; Committee on Domestic Policy; Commission for Relations with Slovenes in Neighbouring and Other Countries. He was also active in the field of relations between the government and religious communities in Slovenia. 

His active involvement in life and activities in Trbovlje and Zasavje earned him the highest municipal award in 1997 – the 1 June Award. He has closely collaborated with musicians and artists and has even published a selection of artistic texts by Slovenian poets and writers with links to Zasavje entitled Šarabanka (1997) with links to Zasavje. He is also noted for his humanitarian pursuits as a member of the Trbovlje Lions Club, which centres its activities on helping people by providing relief and education as well as raising awareness.

Organisation

Director:

Aleš Gulič

Phone: +386 1 478 25 25

fax: +386 1 478 25 26

e-mail: ales.gulic[@]gov.si

Main Areas of Activity

The Office for Religious Communities monitors the position of religious communities, conducts the procedure for registration and keeps the Register of Churches and Other Religious Communities in the RS. It issues certificates on the legal personality of registered churches and other religious communities. It also provides professional assistance to religious communities by monitoring their activities, informing them of relevant regulations, acts and measures concerning their activities, and organising discussions and meetings, as well as receptions for their representatives. The Office also drafts materials and proposals of decisions for decision-making procedure of the Slovenian Government on issues referring to area of religious communities and cooperates with other ministries in drafting regulations related to this area. In solving the open issues concerning religious communities, the Office cooperates with ministries, other national and local bodies, and organisations. The Office is also home to Government working bodies charged with resolving issues concerning religious communities. Furthermore, it is responsible for paying state financial support for pension, disability and health insurance contributions to religious employees. It cooperates with the competent services in other countries and attends international meetings.

Programme Priorities

Implementing legislation, particularly the Religious Freedom Act, and providing support to government working bodies involved in dialogue with the religious communities.