POTUS schedule for Thursday, May 19, 2011

WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Obama will give his highly-anticipated speech on the affairs in the Middle East this morning at the State Department. While some have said it’ll be a second speech to the Muslim world, White House aides say that it will be aimed at a broader audience. According to White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, “the President views the situation in the Middle East as a moment of opportunity, the Middle East and North Africa, as a real moment of opportunity forAmericaand for Americans. In the last decade, our focus in the region was largely onIraq, which was a military effort, and on the hunt for Osama bin Laden and the fight against al Qaeda.  That fight against al Qaeda continues, but there is an opportunity in that region to focus on advancing our values and enhancing our security, and that’s what the President looks forward to discussing tomorrow in his speech.”

Also, in the Mideast speech, President Obama will announce economic proposals forEgypt and Tunisia that will “provide a powerful incentive to other countries in the region who are considering democratic reforms,” according to senior administration officials.  

Other items on the president’s agenda tomorrow include an interview with the BBC, closed meetings with senior advisors and then with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, and remarks at the Women’s Leadership Forum at the Grand Hyatt, and finally a DNC fundraiser at a private home in DC.

 At this point, there is no White House briefing or gaggle scheduled. We’ll update you if that changes.

For the full guidance from the White House, see below the jump.

Guidance provided by the White House:

EDT

 10:00AM        In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

 10:30AM        THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing Oval Office (Closed Press) 

11:00AM        THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors Oval Office (Closed Press)

 11:40AM        THE PRESIDENT delivers a speech on the events in the Middle East and North Africa, and U.S. policy in the region U.S. Department of State (Open Press) 

2:55PM           THE PRESIDENT is interviewed by BBC Diplomatic Room (Closed Press) 

3:30PM           THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of the Treasury Geithner Oval Office (Closed Press)

 7:00PM           THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the Women’s Leadership Forum  at the Grand Hyatt (Pooled Press)

 8:00PM           THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a DNC event at a Private Residence (Print Pool Only) 

###