2008 State Department Briefing

2008 State Department Briefing held on March 31 to April 1
Department in Washington on March 31-April1. This meeting will offer editorial writers access to upper echelons of the State Department and a chance to get a variety of questions answered. It will give a comprehensive overview and provide great background in foreign policy issues.

A block of rooms has been reserved for attendees at the George Washington University Hotel, 824 New Hampshire Avenue, NW,Washington, D.C. 20037. Please call (202)-337-6620 to reserve your room at the $206 reduced rate. A continental breakfast is included. Room must be reserved by Feb 29 to receive the reduced rate.

AGENDA
National Conference of Editorial Writers
Foreign Affairs Briefing at the Department of State
March 31 - April 1, 2008

Monday, March 31 - CONFERENCE ROOM 1107

9:15 am Arrive Department of State, 23rd Street
Entrance/Coffee

9:45 - 10:15 am Welcome and Opening Remarks
Tom Casey - Deputy Spokesman

10:15 - 11:00 am Deputy Secretary of State
Ambassador John Negroponte

11:00 - 11:45 am Middle East Overview
David Welch - Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs

11:45 - 12:30 pm LUNCH BREAK

12: 30 - 1:15 pm Iran
R. Nicholas Burns - Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs

1:15 - 1:45 pm U.S. Foreign Assistance
Henrietta Fore - Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance/ USAID Administrator

1:45 - 2:00 pm BREAK

2:00 - 2:30 pm Western Hemisphere
Thomas Shannon - Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere

2:30 - 3:15 pm Foreign Policy Accomplishments and Goals
Dr. Condoleezza Rice - Secretary of State

3:00 - 3:15pm BREAK

3:15 - 4:00 pm Global Affairs
Paula Dobriansky - Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs

4:00 - 4:30 pm Pakistan and Afghanistan
Richard Boucher - Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs

Tuesday, April 1 - CONFERENCE ROOM 1107

8:30 am Arrival 23rd Street Entrance/Coffee

9:15 - 10:00 am Iraq
David Satterfield- Senior Adviser, Coordinator for Iraq

10:00 - 10:45 am European Affairs Overview
Daniel Fried - Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs

10:45 - 11:00 am BREAK

11:00 - 11:30 am Human Trafficking
Mark P. Lagon - Director, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Person

11:30 - 12:15 pm North Korea and China
Ambassador Christopher Hill – Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs

12:15 - 12:30 pm BREAK

12:30 - 1:00 pm Africa
Jendayi Frazer - Assistant Secretary for African Affairs

1:00 - 1:30 pm HR Initiatives
Harry K. Thomas, Jr. - Director General, Foreign Service and
Director, Human Resources

1:30 - 2:00 pm Closing Remarks
Sean McCormack - Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Department Spokesman

2:15 pm Program Concludes

Questions? Please contact Jonathan Gurwitz, Columnist and Editorial Writer, San Antonio Express News, (210) 250-3489, JGurwitz@express-news.net