ECB set to inaugurate 1.3-bn euro headquarters in FrankfurtMarch 18, 2015 - 10:15 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Central Bank officially inaugurates its new 1.3-billion euro headquarters in Frankfurt on Wednesday, March 18, under tight security with more than 10,000 anti-austerity demonstrators planning a protest rally, AFP reports. The ECB already moved into the 185-metre (605-foot), steel and glass towers, situated on the Main river running through Germany's financial capital, late last year. But the spectacular skyscraper costing the equivalent of $1.4 billion will be officially inaugurated in the presence of ECB president Mario Draghi at 11:00 am (1000 GMT) on Wednesday, with between 60 and 100 invited guests. Given the raging Greek debt crisis, the central bank has decided to keep the celebrations relatively low-key with just 20 guests from outside the institution. A security zone has been erected a few hundred metres away to prevent any of the anti-capitalist protesters from getting anywhere near. Marching under the Blockupy banner, groups such as Attac, but also unions will join in the rally, alongside representatives from Greece's leftist Syriza party, and Miguel Urban of Spain's Podemos. Organizers estimate that at least 10,000 protesters will take part, with a special train of 800 activists arriving from Berlin and 60 buses from 39 different cities across Europe. While police expect most of the protesters to remain peaceful, water cannon and helicopters are standing by in case the situation turns violent. Related links: Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |