Eager to settle disputes with its creditors, Argentina outlined its conditions for repaying the roughly $9.5 billion (5.8 billion pounds) in debt it owes Paris Club members last month.

Paris Club Secretary General Clotilde L'Angevin said that its members had had "preliminary discussions" on the offer from Buenos Aires, which was their first official contact in years.

"They are open to continue the dialogue with Argentina," L'Angevin told Reuters, adding that Paris Club members wanted clarification from Buenos Aires on questions which she declined to specify.

With dollar funding scarce and international reserves dwindling, Argentina devalued its currency last month , putting Latin America's third-largest economy at the centre of a global sell-off in emerging market assets.

The revival of long-stalled talks between Argentina and the Paris Club marks a small step towards opening formal negotiations to decide how to handle the country's outstanding debt with the group, a remnant of its massive 2002 default.

Argentina wants a breakthrough deal because it needs to open up new sources of international funding after being shut out of capital markets since its default.

(Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)