Vilnius image "suffered" - Heller

VILINIUS 's The head of the Linz European Capital of Culture2009 project has said that Vilnius' image has suffered as a result of the problemssurrounding the VECC project.

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

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

Heller communicated this position when commenting on the trimmed VECC budgetand the move to replace management at the company tending to programimplementation, the statement said.

Vilnius is the first capital of Eastern European countries and the BalticStates to be granted the prestigious status of European capital of culture. TheLithuanian capital was granted this status by the Council of Europe in 2005.Vilnius assumed the title of European capital of culture together with Austriancity Linz in 2009.