MOSCOW, July 3. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed the hope during a meeting with the US congressional delegation that the US legislators’ visit to Russia will contribute to efforts to restore the inter-parliamentary dialogue between the two countries.

"I hope the visit will symbolize the restoration of ties between the parliaments. The parliamentarians are people’s representatives, they reflect the nation’s sentiment," the minister noted.

"I think the resumption of the inter-parliamentary dialogue is very timely in the run-up to the Helsinki meeting between the two presidents due in two weeks," Lavrov said.

Russia’s top diplomat voiced hope that the Congressmen would be able to enjoy the atmosphere of the FIFA World Cup in Russia. "I hope that the World Cup in Russia will become part of a positive history like the US World Cup which you decided to share with Canada and Mexico," Lavrov noted.

The US congressional delegation includes Alabama Senator and Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee Richard Shelby, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy, North Dakota Senator John Hoeven, South Dakota Senator John Thune, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, Montana Senator Steve Daines, as well as member of the US House of Representatives from Texas Kay Granger.

The US delegates arrived in Russia on Saturday. Their first stop was in St. Petersburg, and on Monday they arrived in Moscow, where they will stay until July 5.