MOSCOW, May 06, 15:18 /ITAR-TASS/. A Moscow assembly to discuss security issues later this month is drawing the attention of Western non-governmental organisations despite state-level rebukes to Russia over events in Ukraine, says a senior official in Russia's Defense Ministry.

Many European countries had not confirmed conference participation yet, Sergey Koshelev, international military co-operation head of department at the ministry, told reporters on Tuesday.

But there was no chance the event would be torpedoed despite the United States and NATO suspending military and technical co-operation with Russia, the official said, noting preparations continuing according to plan.

“It is not surprising that members of the North Atlantic community are not ready to confirm their delegations’ participation in the event due to Russia-NATO tension over the Ukrainian crisis," Koshelev said. "But non-governmental enterprises express increasing interest in the gathering,” he added, noting that all participants would have an opportunity to speak, even if voicing opinions differed from those of Russian delegates.

Foreign participants "refraining from visiting the event because of the tough political situation in the world are simply loosing an opportunity to publically express their views on the current global and regional security agenda”, Koshelev said.