GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS SLOVENIA

LJUBLJANA, March 12 (Hina) - The European Union and NATO are of key importance to the security, development and stability of Europe, said German Foreign Minister Joschka Fisher, who arrived in Slovenia Wednesday for a short visit. #L# The European Union is important for all, not only in the economic and social sense, but primarily because of democracy, stability and peace in Europe, Fisher said after his meeting with Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel. He also stressed the great importance of NATO for the Old Continent. Fisher said NATO was the foundation for peace and stability not only in Europe and both sides of the Atlantic, but also in a global sense. He said Germany would not forget what the United Stated had done for it, but it maintains its critical standpoint on the current Iraqi crisis. As far as Iraq is concerned, Germany believes that the United States chose a risky path, and it informed the US of its opinion, Fisher said. Slovene minister Rupel said his country wanted a stronger Europe within the framework of the European Union and NATO and was against situations in which it must chose a side among friendly countries. (hina) it sb