TEHRAN In a message to the International Conference on Caucasian Jews that opened in Baku yesterday, Azerbaijan's President Haider Aliyev described as important the contribution of Jews to the Azeri culture and history and thanked them for their role in his country's progress and development, according to a news dispatch by the Central News Bureau (CNB) from Baku.

While stressing that there have never been any anti-Semitic feelings in the Republic of Azerbaijan, he said mountainous Jews in Azerbaijan enjoy full civic rights and freedoms within the framework of the Constitution. He added that favorable conditions have been provided for the Jews to practice their religion and perform their cultural and ethnic rites.

It is worth mentioning that the authorities in charge of holding the conference prevented the CNB's reporter from covering the event.