Hungary in talks with Surgut on MOL stake -ministry

BUDAPEST, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Hungary's government has begun talks with Russia's Surgutneftegaz (SNGS.MM: Quote) about the 21.2 percent stake Surgut holds in Hungarian oil and gas group MOL (MOLB.BU: Quote), the Hungarian Development Ministry said on Wednesday.

"The Hungarian government is committed to strongly asserting the national interest in every strategic area -- and the government considers the energy sector a key area in this respect -- and strengthen the state's role within legal bounds," it said in a statement.

"In this spirit, it has begun talks with Russia's Surgutneftegaz about the 21.2 percent stake it holds in MOL."

The ministry said Russia and Hungary aimed to find a "reassuring solution" to the issue as soon as possible. (Reporting by Gergely Szakacs; Editing by Hans Peters)