By Margit Feher

BUDAPEST--Hungarian oil and gas company MOL Nyrt. (MOL.BU) already owns the management rights of Croatian peer INA (INA.ZG) so the actual size of its ownership stake in INA is of less significance, MOL Chairman and Chief Executive Zsolt Hernadi said Thursday.

His comments were made in reaction to earlier press reports that MOL is in talks with the Croatian government over increasing its ownership in INA by buying part or all of the government's stake in the company.

"MOL's role in INA is already defined by the fact that it has management rights in the firm," Mr. Hernadi said at a press conference after the company's annual meeting.

"[The issue] whether it buys more or doesn't buy more shares in the firm, and at what price, is of secondary importance," Mr. Hernadi added.

MOL owns a 49.1% stake in INA while the Croatian government controls 44.84%.

Write to Margit Feher at margit.feher@dowjones.com