Aug 14 (Reuters) - UniCredit should continue to

have strong Italian roots, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

said on Friday, referring to the Italian lender's takeover of

Germany's Commerzbank.

"I hope a positive dialogue can be established between the

bank and the German authorities," Meloni added in an interview

with Italian financial weekly Milano Finanza.

Commenting on Intesa Sanpaolo's unsoliceted bid for

Monte dei Paschi, Meloni said she hoped MPS would not

be broken up, losing its name and identity.