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VILNIUS, Jun 17, BNS - An international forum to kick-off on Friday in Vilnius is expected to draw mayors and deputy mayors from over 30 cities worldwide. Guests attending the Mayor's Forum: Culture as a Driving Force in City Development alongside cultural discussions will become familiar with the Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009 program.

 City officials representing Chicago (US), Milan (Italy), Aalborg (Denmark), Ankara (Turkey), Vienna (Austria), Minsk (Belarus) and Krakow (Poland) will be among forum participants, Vilniaus diena daily reported on Wednesday.

"Even though Vilnius became a Eropean Capital of Culture amid thee conomic slump, even if there are less flights to Vilnius, the number of expected guests is considerable. Such forums help disseminate information about Vilnius, attract more tourists, boost our city's competitive edge and form the image of Vilnius as the region's front runner," Director of the Vilnius Municipality Department of Foreign Affairs Zilvinas Abaravicius told the daily.

Vilnius city authorities plan a solemn reception on guest arrival day also a tour around the old town and a dinner in the Belmontas restaurant. The forum itself is due to start Friday in the manor of the Chodkevicius family.

According to the municipality's calculations, organization, guest accommodation, transport and food will cost the city around 200,000 litas (EUR 58,000), with the municipality itself to cover the sum in question. The sum constitutes a mere 40 percent of a preliminary estimate, which, six months back, provisioned spending of up to half a million litas for theevent.