Ohrid-based airport "St. Paul the Apostle" has been opened to traffic. Snowdrift on its runways has been cleaned and takeoffs and landings can take place as scheduled, TAV Macedonia's PR service says. No flights are scheduled till Sunday at the Ohrid airport, however it is opened in case of emergency.

Flights at Skopje's "Alexander the Great" airport are taking place without delays. Takeoffs and departures were delayed by half an hour in the morning due to snowfall.

Rail transport and bus services are hindered amid winter conditions with no delays.

Heavy good vehicles are barred on motorways Mavrovo-Debar, Struga-Kafasan border crossing, Straza and Preseka mountain saddles. There are no delays on border crossings for entering or exiting the country.

US support for Macedonia's membership to NATO confirmed
Washington, 3 February 2012 (MIA) - US Deputy Secretary of State, William Burns at a meeting with Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki in Washington underscored the US continuous support for Macedonia and its candidacy for NATO membership.

Burns also stressed the US firm commitment to continuing the NATO enlargement process, MoFA said in a press release on Friday.

FM Poposki during the meeting at the Department of State presented the efforts continuously made by the Macedonian government in accomplishing a full-fledged membership into the European Union and NATO.

He pointed out Macedonia's successful engagement in international peacekeeping missions and consequently expressed content with the ongoing cooperation with the United States on the matter. The FM voiced expectation that the US support in relation to Macedonia's integration to NATO would resume in the future.

FM Poposki, Defense Minister Fatmir Besimi and Parliament's vice president Jani Makraduli participated at a strategic session of the members of the US Atlantic Council Board.

Poposki presented the government's activities involving foreign policy with respect to Euro-Atlantic integration. He emphasised that Macedonia from the time of its independence had cherished and implemented the values promoted by Euro-Atlantic structures. The Minister said that Macedonia's actions were based on the principles of constructiveness, openness and maturity. Poposki stated that Macedonia regarded the NATO enlargement as a process that must be resumed and as a result the country was making constructive efforts acting as a NATO member.

DM Besimi presented defense reforms aimed at meeting NATO standards and briefed on Macedonia's participation into international peace missions. He noted that these issues enjoyed an overwhelming support by all political parties and the citizens of Macedonia. The Minister underlined that NATO membership was of exceptional importance for peace, stability and development, not only in Macedonia, but also in the region of Southeast Europe.

Parliament's vice president Makraduli accentuated the backing of the legislative body and opposition parties for Euro-Atlantic integration. He said that NATO accession would enable the security zone in Southeast Europe to be extended and the country to experience an economic development, MoFA said.