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UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT APPEALS FOR RECONCILIATION AMONG VETERANS. President Viktor Yushchenko on May 9 called for reconciliation among Ukrainian veterans of the Soviet army and nationalist guerillas from the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), who at various times fought Polish, Soviet, and Nazi forces, Ukrainian media reported. "I am certain that there will come a day when Ukrainian veterans will extend a hand to each other in the name of Ukraine's future. I am certain that we will witness a time when reconciliation will become reality for the Ukrainian nation," Yushchenko said. Former UPA soldiers do not possess the official status of war veterans and do not enjoy the same social benefits as veterans from the Soviet Army in Ukraine. On May 7, Yushchenko suggested that the issue of granting veteran status to UPA fighters be included in an accord on the next governing coalition. Both Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych and Socialist Party head Oleksandr Moroz have spoken against making the UPA an issue in the coalition talks. JM