ROME, April 18 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General BanKi-moon started a two-day visit to Italy on Wednesday, meeting with top Italian political figures and urging them to continue supporting its peacekeeping role in the world.

    Ban talked with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Foreign Minister and Deputy Premier Massimo D'Alema, then addressed parliament's foreign committees.

    In parliament's foreign committees, the secretary-general referred to Italian peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan and Lebanon, urging MPs to "continue supporting your government's action in carrying out its foreign policy."

    "Without the full support of parliament, no executive can ever transform its foreign policy promises into reality. Your support goes not only to your government but also directly to the United Nations," the secretary-general said.

    The Italian troop presence in Afghanistan is unpopular with some hard-left elements in the nine-way governing coalition, who have in the past threatened to block funding.

    The secretary-general stressed how much the UN appreciated Italy's contribution in Afghanistan and Lebanon.

    He expressed "deep gratitude for the very important role Rome has played in tackling highly sensitive issues."

    "Italy is one of the most active UN member states and one of the top eight countries in terms of financial and other contributions to the UN," he added.

    Foreign Minister D'Alema also raised the issue of Lebanon.

    Speaking after talks with the secretary-general, D'Alema said he had expressed "serious concerns" to Ban over the "current political and institutional deadlock in Lebanon".

    Other issues discussed were the humanitarian crisis in the western Sudanese region of Darfur and Italy's commitment to abolishing the death penalty.

    D'Alema said Italy was "willing to collaborate as far as possible to help re-establish peace and security in Darfur".

    But he stressed there was only so much Italy could do.

    "Italy has more than 8,000 soldiers out serving around the world," he said. "We can't send them everywhere. There are objective limits".

    The deputy premier expressed Italy's continuing commitment to the UN as an institution and the crucial role it plays on the international stage.

    "It's vital that all major international players are fully convinced that unless the UN has a central role, there can be no solution to problems of security, stability and living side-by-side," he said.

    This is Ban's first official visit to Italy since taking over at the UN helm at the start of the year.

    On Thursday, Ban will leave the capital and travel south, where he will visit the UN logistics base in Brindisi and meet with local authorities.

    He will return to Rome in the afternoon and may pay a brief visit to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization before leaving the country.