Athens is eyeing a bond issue before August with a likely maturity of seven years to raise 2-3 billion euros, the official said, to take advantage of bond yields hovering around four-and-a-half year lows.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is paying a three-day visit to Athens, starting today.

The IMF is discussing changing the rules for borrowing countries facing problems, which will provide for the extension of the maturity of the bonds held by private investors.