"This is a historical event," Rop said after announcing the decision during a visit to army barracks in Ljubljana.

Slovenia, which is due to join NATO in 2004, decided last year to abolish forced conscription from 2004 and to create a fully professional army by 2010.

Defense Minister Anton Grizold Tuesday said the army had revised its initial plan to call up conscripts until June 2004, and will rely on its reserve force and 500 professional recruits who joined the army this year.

"Starting January next year the young men will be given the opportunity of voluntarily attending to military service," Grizold said.

He added that the volunteers would join for three months and receive a salary and social security during that time.

Until now, all Slovenian men between 18 and 27 years old had to complete seven months of military service.

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