BRUSSELS, Nov. 15 - The change in Ukraine's aspirations with regard to gaining NATO membership may be reflected in a communiqué at the alliance's summit, which is to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 19-20.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said at a press conference in Brussels on Monday that according to the decision taken at the Bucharest summit, Ukraine and Georgia, if desired, would become NATO members if they meet the necessary criteria.

"Whether we use the same words for both countries depends on the developments in the next few days. The fact is that there are nuances in the orientation and aspirations of the two countries with respect to future membership of NATO. This may be reflected in the summit's communiqué. But, in principle, the decision of the Bucharest summit remains in force," Rasmussen said, according to Interfax report.

Rasmussen said the upcoming summit would be one of the most important summits in NATO's history.

At the same time, he named the key issues to be discussed by the heads of state and government, in particular, a new strategic concept, Afghanistan, the upgrade of relations with Russia and NATO's missile defense.

Ukraine will strictly adhere to a non-aligned status and intends to actively participate in the development of a collective security system within the European Union and NATO, President Viktor Yanukovych said in July

"The main task of foreign policy and defense policy is to protect national interests in the world. Then comes the issue of instruments [to do this], and a non-aligned policy is among them," Yanukovych has said.

"I am confident it [the policy] meets the requirements of the time, and we will strictly adhere to it," he added.

Yanukovych also stressed that "at the same time, Ukraine needs to cooperate with NATO and other security organizations."

"We should stop talking the talk and start walking the walk. Ukraine will persistently work to develop a new collective security system within European and Euroatlantic space," he said.

"I am confident we have reliable allies in this cause – the countries of the European Union, Russia and the United States, and here it is important to hammer out our own proposal to develop European security with regard to the interests of the member states forming military blocs, nonaligned countries, and countries with a neutral status," he added. (if/om/ez)