Vilnius image "suffered" - Heller

VILINIUS 's The head of the Linz European Capital of Culture 2009 project has said that Vilnius' image has suffered as a result of the problems surrounding the VECC project.

Head of the Linz 2009 GmbH company tending to implementation of the Linz European Capital of Culture 2009 program Martin Heller on Thursday made this statement on a visit in Vilnius, APA Austrian news agency reported.

"Vilnius' image has suffered", Heller is quoted as saying in the statement in question.

Heller communicated this position when commenting on the trimmed VECC budget and the move to replace management at the company tending to program implementation, the statement said.

Vilnius is the first capital of Eastern European countries and the Baltic States to be granted the prestigious status of European capital of culture. The Lithuanian capital was granted this status by the Council of Europe in 2005. Vilnius assumed the title of European capital of culture together with Austrian city Linz in 2009.