11.   As the conference came to an end Monday, interviews with participants found a range of opinions.

12.   German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, visiting Kiev last month, expressed optimism that the conference would come up with the needed money.

13.   Mair said he did not expect the conference to come up with answers.

14.   Matic added that the entire conference now comes into question and would likely be postponed.

15.   Sharaa said the conference does not come within the framework of the multilateral negotiations in the peace process.

16.   The conference comes a year after Jordan signed a historic peace treaty with Israel, ending nearly five decades of a formal state of war.

17.   The conference comes as the number of executions is rising.

18.   The conference comes at a potentially embarrassing time for Kuwait.

19.   The conference comes at a time when the government and private clubs in the Middle East and Gulf are making large-scale investments in soccer clubs and facilities.

20.   The conference came at a time of growing tensions between Israel and the Arab world and was a sign of rare cooperation despite the political turmoil.