E/CN.4/2005/61/Add.1 Page 56 minorities, enjoy effective protection against discrimination and are able to enjoy their own culture, to practise and profess their own religion, and use their own language, in accordance with article 27 of the Covenant”. Slovenia Follow-up to previously transmitted communication 214. By letter dated 15 December 2003, the Government of Slovenia transmitted a response to a communication sent by the Special Rapporteur on 13 October 2003 regarding complaints concerning the new law on religious communities and the building of a mosque in Ljubljana. 215. Regarding the complaints and concerns expressed by the minority religious communities because the Office for Religious Communities had chosen Dr. Lovro Sturm as head of the expert team tasked with preparing an initial draft of a new law on religious communities, the Government informed the Special Rapporteur that, according to the statement of the governmental Office for Religious Communities, which is responsible for the law in question, the head of the expert team had been chosen in a procedure for awarding small public contracts, in compliance with the legislation of the Republic of Slovenia. The Institute for Human Rights Law, of which Dr. Sturm is the director, had submitted the lowest bid. In accordance with the Constitution and relevant international conventions, every person in Slovenia is guaranteed equal human rights and fundamental freedoms, irrespective of national origin, race, sex, language, religion, etc. The Government therefore expressed its belief that the decision as to whether a bid is appropriate or inappropriate may not be based on the religion of the bidder, since that would be inadmissible and discriminatory and would violate the Constitution as well as the relevant international instruments. 216. The Government indicated that the draft law on religious communities, which would be decided upon by the National Assembly, would ultimately be formulated by the Government which was not obliged to accept the initial draft as formulated by Dr. Sturm. After the draft law was formulated and submitted to the National Assembly, the Government would take the responsibility for its compliance with the Constitution and international conventions binding on the Republic of Slovenia (particularly for the respect for the constitutional principles of the separation of Church and State, the equality of religious communities and their freedom to pursue their activities). It was thus clear that Dr. Sturm would not be responsible for the draft law on religious communities, but only for formulating the legal arguments that would provide the basis of the draft law. 217. Regarding the complaints of the Islamic community, who believed their freedom of religion was curtailed, the Government responded that, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the obligations arising from ratified international instruments, it recognizes the right of any religious community to act freely and supports their endeavours to acquire appropriate facilities for practicing and professing their beliefs.