Iraq's president predicted Tuesday that the new constitution could be completed by the end of the month.
The deadline for completing the draft is August 15, after which the charter will be submitted to the electorate for approval two months later, The AP reported.
Speaking to reporters, President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, said the committee was making good progress "but there are some Arab brothers" who "have some reservations that are being taken into consideration."
"If we can reach an agreement with them, I believe the constitution can be ready by the end of the month," he said.
Meanwhile, Turkey's Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu opened a meeting of Iraq's neighbors Tuesday.
The ministers - from Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan - met in a former Ottoman palace overlooking the Bosporus to discuss regional security.
"Controlling the borders is the most urgent problem that stands in front of us," Aksu said in his opening speech. "The success of the process in Iraq will be our success as well."
Aksu on Tuesday called for the signing of a regional security protocol, to "show our resolve" to cooperate against "terrorism" and increase border security. The ministers are expected to pledge to take steps toward increased border security and intelligence sharing.
