Greece officially requested a new loan from the IMF

Greece has sent an official request to the International Monetary Fund for a new loan, at a time when Greek government officials have repeatedly stated that negotiations will begin in Athens with creditors on approving a package of assistance to Greece worth 86 billion euros, reports the Patria News Agency.

-We would like to inform you that we are seeking a new loan from the International Monetary Fund, wrote the Greek Minister of Finance, Euclid Tsakalotos, to the Director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde.

Representatives of European credit institutions have arrived in Athens to initiate talks on the third aid package for Greece, the BBC reported earlier.

Greek government officials are expected to meet with representatives of European creditors, which, according to the BBC, will represent their first high-level negotiations in Athens since Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was appointed Prime Minister in January.