TIRANA -- U.S. senator Chris Murphy says he left the Western Balkans with a clear intention to push for greater American involvement in a critical moment for the region.

Commenting on the visit last week to Serbia of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the senator said that he does not think it harmed relations between Serbia and the United States.

Murphy also thinks Putin left the Serbia disappointed, probably because, as he said, the Russian president was hoping that Belgrade will sign an agreement on the start of the construction of the South Stream pipeline,something he did not achieve.

"In case Serbia continues with the implementation of the project South Stream contrary to the rules of the European Union, it would have an impact on its relations with Washington," said Murphy in an interview with Voice of America.

He pointed out that the incident during a football match between Serbia and Albania clearly pointed to the current challenges in the Western Balkans region.

Murphy said he expects the prime ministers of Serbia and Albania to meet, shake hands and show that an incident of "football hooliganism" cannot stand in the way of reconciliation in the region.

"This is an important moment for the two leaders to show that, when an incident like the one in Belgrade happens, the reaction of political leaders and ordinary people should be to sit down and talk, to resolve disputes through communication, instead of provocations and violence," said Murphy.

"That is why the symbolism of the meeting is now greater than ever for these two leaders," said the U.S official.

Touching on "relations between Serbia and Kosovo," Murphy "pointed out that it was necessary that political parties in Priština to form a government as soon as possible in order to continue implementation of the Brussels agreement and the normalization of relations with Serbia," Tanjug reported.

Murphy was in Belgrade last week when he said that Washington was not opposed to Vladimir Putin's visit to Serbia.