TOKYO, Oct. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- International donors for Iraq's reconstruction closed a two-day meeting here Thursday, saying achievements had been made while appealing for more contributions as the funds had almost been exhausted.

    "The Committee expressed appreciation that despite the securitychallenges, many of the approved projects are beginning implementation and some are showing results. The Committee also noted that additional priority projects could not be financed without additional funding," said a statement issued after the third Donor Committee Meeting and Expanded Meeting for the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI).

    All of the 1 billion US dollars that the organization controls had nearly been allocated to priority projects approved by the Iraqi Strategic Review Board, it noted.

    "The chair appealed to existing and new donors to come forward with additional funds to enable IRFFI continue to channel funds for Iraqi priorities," the statement said.

    Following the first donors meeting last October in Madrid, reconstruction sponsors set up the IRFFI at the Abu Dhabi conference in February, and gave birth to the committee to overseethe fund that is separately administrated by the World Bank and the United Nations Development Group.

    The committee is composed of 15 standing members that contributed 10 million dollars or more and two rotating ones with donations under the line. It is chaired now by Japan whose donation accounts for nearly half the total.

    In the meeting's opening speech, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh thanked for help while explicitly uttering his dissatisfaction over the support process. "We welcome and are grateful for the assistance we have received so far from the international community. But let me be clear from the outlet: please do not delay," he said.

    "I say now to the UN: 'Where is the critical support for the political process that the UN is mandated to provide?' 'Where is the commitment under UN Resolution 1546?' We need more UN support and we need it now," he said.

    At the press conference on Wednesday, Mehdi Hafedh, minister ofPlanning and Development Cooperation, tried to tone down the harshcomments, saying that as the process is so complicated and faces alot of problems, there might be a number of opinions and estimations, this should not be considered as a sign of disagreement.

    As for the relations with potential donors like Germany, Franceand Russia which opposed bitterly the US-led invasion of Iraq and advocates a UN-centered rebuilding effort, Hafedh said with the establishment of the new Iraqi government and the achievement of political progress, there is a common understanding with those countries that there is a common interest they should get in and contribute to the political process and the reconstruction.

    He said Iraqi delegations had paid visits to those countries, and expressed intention to continue dialogue and cooperation with them despite the differences in the past.

    The three countries also sent delegates to attend the meeting.

    The committee granted Iran the new membership after the state committed to offering 10 million dollars. The World Bank gave 60 million dollars to build and repair schools. Apart from that, other countries and organizations, such as Korea, Kuwait and the European Commission, also announced or expressed intention to inject in more money, said Akio Shirota, ambassador in charge of Reconstruction Assistance to Iraq.

    Delegates also discussed security situation in Iraq, which Shirota described as the biggest challenge to overcome.

    Hafedh said one of the major tasks ahead is to develop and use new modalities and mechanisms in the implementation of projects ina bid to invite a larger participation and overcome the security problems.

    This was the first meeting of donors since the handover of sovereign authority in June, and attended by a total of 57 countries and institutions.

    The next conference is scheduled to kick off next spring in Jordan, the statement said. Enditem