MOSCOW, July 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russia expects U.S. President Barack Obama, currently visiting Moscow, to abolish the Soviet-era Jackson-Vanik amendment, which continues to restrict trade between the countries, the foreign minister said.

The amendment was passed in 1974 and restricted trade with the Soviet Union over human rights violations. It continues to apply to Russia.

"President Obama believes that this problem is an American problem. President Obama realizes all the awkwardness, to put it mildly, that the United States is in on this issue, and has given assurances that the abolishment of this amendment will be one of the top priorities of his administration," Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Russia's Vesti channel.

The United States has been annually introducing moratorium on this amendment since 1989, but Congress has not officially abolished the amendment.