Thursday’s global agenda: Kerry meets with Syrian opposition, promises direct aid to rebels

by Julian Pecquet - 02/28/13 2:11 PM ET

In other news:

{mosads}The New York Times profiles Cuba‘s likely successor to the Castro brothers, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.

Russia denies visa for Republican human-rights champion. [Foreign Policy]

Japan‘s Shinzo Abe raised the rhetoric against China in a major policy address. [The Wall Street Journal]

Global Affairs news you might have missed:

US to press UN action against North Korea, Sri Lanka for human rights abuses

Obama administration softens demands on Iran

White House denies Brennan played major role in Benghazi talking points

State Department schedule:

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

PUBLIC SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

SECRETARY JOHN KERRY

Secretary Kerry is on foreign travel to Rome, Italy. Secretary Kerry is accompanied by Ambassador Marshall, Assistant Secretary Gordon, Acting Assistant Secretary Jones and U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford.

7:55 a.m. LOCAL Secretary Kerry meets with Syrian Opposition Leaders, in Rome, Italy. (CAMERA SPRAY AT TOP)

9:30 a.m. LOCAL Secretary Kerry participates in an Ad Hoc Meeting on Syria, in Rome, Italy. (CAMERA SPRAY AT TOP)

10:45 a.m. LOCAL Secretary Kerry participates in an Ad Hoc Meeting on Syria with Syrian Opposition Leaders, in Rome, Italy. (CAMERA SPRAY AT TOP)

12:20 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Kerry delivers a joint press statement with Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata and Syrian Opposition Council Chairman Mouaz al-Khatib, in Rome, Italy. (OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

12:40 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Kerry holds a solo press availability, in Rome, Italy. (OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

1:25 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Kerry participates in a cultural event with Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, in Rome, Italy. (OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

2:05 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Kerry participates in a lunch with Italian Ministers and Former Prime Ministers, in Rome, Italy. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

4:25 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Kerry meets with the staff and families of Embassy Rome, Embassy Vatican and US Mission to the UN Agencies, in Rome, Italy. (POOLED PRESS COVERAGE)

6:10 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Kerry meets with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, in Rome, Italy. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

DEPUTY SECRETARY BILL BURNS

11:00 a.m. Deputy Secretary Burns meets with U.S. Ambassador to India Nancy Powell, at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

11:30 a.m. Deputy Secretary Burns meets with U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Thomas Shannon, at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS WENDY SHERMAN

Under Secretary Sherman is on foreign travel to Kazakhstan, Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia from February 23 to March 4 for official meetings.

UNDER SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT ROBERT HORMATS

8:00 a.m. Under Secretary Hormats holds a conference call with Chinese Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao, at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

8:30 a.m. Under Secretary Hormats attends a meeting at the White House. (MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

10:00 a.m. Under Secretary Hormats meets with Professor Bates Gill, Chief Executive Officer, United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

2:30 p.m. Under Secretary Hormats meets with U.S. Ambassador to India Nancy Powell, at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

UNDER SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TARA SONENSHINE

12:30 p.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine delivers opening remarks at the film screening of Buzkashi Boys, at the Department of State. Please click here for more information. (OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

CHIEF OF PROTOCOL AMBASSADOR CAPRICIA PENAVIC MARSHALL

Ambassador Marshall accompanies Secretary Kerry on foreign travel.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONFLICT AND STABILIZATION OPERATIONS RICK BARTON

Assistant Secretary Barton delivers remarks at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. (MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS ESTHER BRIMMER

Assistant Secretary Brimmer is on travel to Boston, Massachusetts for civil society consultations.

10:00 a.m. Assistant Secretary Brimmer participates in a roundtable discussion on U.S. efforts to work with Israel in the UN system hosted by the Anti-Defamation League of Boston, at the Anti-Defamation League Office. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

12:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Brimmer speaks to students and faculty at a lunch discussion hosted by Tufts University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy’s United Nations, Diplomacy, and Women In International Security Clubs. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

2:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Brimmer speaks at an event on U.S. multilateral engagement and U.S. foreign policy, hosted by the United Nations Association of Greater Boston, at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

4:15 p.m. Assistant Secretary Brimmer delivers remarks on America’s role in a globalized world to students and faculty from the Future of Diplomacy Project, at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

5:45 p.m. Assistant Secretary Brimmer attends a reception in her honor hosted by Nicholas Burns, Director of the Future of Diplomacy Project, at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIAN AFFAIRS ROBERT BLAKE

10:30 a.m. Assistant Secretary Blake meets with German Deputy Chief of Mission Jens Hanefeld, at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

2:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Blake meets with Kazakhstan Minister of Economic Integration Zhanar Aitzhanova, at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS JOSE FERNANDEZ

Assistant Secretary Fernandez is on foreign travel to Singapore through March 1 to meet with government officials and representatives from academia, civil society, and U.S. and Singaporean businesses. He also delivers remarks at an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce and Temasek Foundation Centre for Trade & Negotiations.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EUROPEAN AND EURASIAN AFFAIRS PHILIP GORDON

Assistant Secretary Gordon accompanies Secretary Kerry on foreign travel.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS MIKE HAMMER

Assistant Secretary Hammer is on foreign travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to meet with government officials, journalists, and youth.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS ROBERTA JACOBSON

9:30 a.m. Assistant Secretary Jacobson appears before the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere on U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere, on Capitol Hill. (MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOR MICHAEL POSNER

1:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Posner delivers remarks before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) Hearing on Human Rights in Burma, on Capitol Hill. (MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR POPULATION, REFUGEES AND MIGRATION ANNE CLAIRE RICHARD

2:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Richard meets with Elizabeth G. Ferris and Roberta Cohen of the Brookings Institution, at the Department of State.

(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE AND U.S. GLOBAL AIDS COORDINATOR ERIC GOOSBY

9:30 a.m. Ambassador Goosby participates in a town hall forum hosted by the Kaiser Family Foundation on the newly formed Office of Global Health Diplomacy at the Department of State, in The Barbara Jordan Conference Center in Washington, DC. Please click here for more information. (MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

3:30 p.m. Ambassador Goosby meets with Peace Corps Acting Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet, at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE STEPHEN RAPP, OFFICE OF GLOBAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Ambassador Rapp is on foreign travel in Ottawa, Canada to speak at a panel and meet with Canadian officials to discuss global criminal justice issues.

DIRECTOR OF POLICY PLANNING DAVID MCKEAN

6:00 p.m. Director McKean meets with Anne Marie Slaughter, in Washington, DC. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)