BUDAPEST, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A Hungarian Foreign Ministry official said on Wednesday Hungary considers the further expansion of NATO very significant for the stability of the Balkans, Hungarian official news agency MTI reported.

    The NATO's expansion will be the most important issue at a summit to be held in Bucharest, capital of Romania in early April,said Gabor Szentivanyi, state secretary of Hungarian Foreign Ministry.

    Hungary has made significant efforts to aid the accession of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia. Most NATO countries are in favor of expansion, he said.

    Vilmos Szabo, head of the Hungarian delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly, said further expansion in the direction of Ukraine and the Balkans will also be important in the future.

    Mihaly Balla ,deputy head of the Hungarian delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly, said there was a consensus among Hungarian parties regarding the invitation of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia to NATO.

    At the same time, more efforts need to be made to ensure that Hungary becomes a moderator between NATO and the West Balkans, he added.