Hungary govt ready to step in to save airline Malev

BUDAPEST, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Hungary's government is ready to buy a stake in national airline Malev [MALV.UL] or provide financing to ensure continued operation of the company, the Finance Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The ministry said Hungarian Finance Minister Peter Oszko conducted talks in Moscow with Viktor Zubkov, Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister, about a resolution of Malev's situation.

"Hungary indicated that in order to ensure continued operation of the company it is ready to take an ownership or financing role in the national airline," the ministry said.

It said the Russian government welcomed the Hungarian stance and negotiations would continue.

Russia's state-owned Vneshekonombank holds 49 percent in AirBridge, the owner of Malev, while the rest of AirBridge shares are owned by Hungarian businesswoman Magdolna Kolto, according to Malev's website www.malev.hu.

Loss-making Malev has been struggling with financing difficulties and had already received capital injections earlier this year.

(Reporting by Krisztina Than; editing by Simon Jessop)