Urs Christian Timotheus Guldimann known as Tim Guldimann (born September 19, 1950) is a Swiss former diplomat and retired politician. Since 2021 he additionally holds German citizenship. Guldimann served in several posts representing Switzerland, including in Iran, where he served as a liaison between the country and the United States. He represented

Zürich , neighboring_municipalities = Adliswil, Dübendorf, Fällanden, Kilchberg, Maur, Oberengstringen, Opfikon, Regensdorf, Rümlang, Schlieren, Stallikon, Uitikon, Urdorf, Wallisellen, Zollikon , twintowns = Kunming, San Francisco Zürich () i ...

as member of the National Council—the first elected while living outside the country, in Berlin—from 2015 until his resignation in March 2018.

Diplomatic career

Guldimann began working for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in 1982, retiring in 1991. From 1996 to 1999, worked as negotiator for the

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world's largest regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization with observer status at the United Nations. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, prom ...

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

and Chechnya. Guldimann re-entered the Swiss foreign service as Swiss ambassador to Iran from 1997 to 2004. During his term, in May 2003, he relayed a document to the U.S. that he said was written by

Sadegh Kharazi Sayyid Mohammad Sadeq Kharazi ( fa, سید محمدصادق خرازی; born 2 March 1963) is a former Iranian diplomat and advisor to Iran's former President Khatami. Kharazi started his career in 1983 during the Iran–Iraq War in the High De ...

, the nephew of Iran's then-foreign minister

Kamal Kharazi Sayyid Kamal Kharazi ( fa, کمال خرازی, born 1 December 1944) is an Iranian reformist politician and diplomat who was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 20 August 1997 to 24 August 2005 as appointed by President Mohammad Khatami serv ...

(Switzerland represents the United States in Tehran). The document, known as the ''Schweizer Memorandum'' (de) in German, laid out a proposal to begin discussions over a large range of issues in

Iran–United States relations Iran and the United States have had no formal diplomatic relations since April 7, 1980. Instead, Pakistan serves as Iran's protecting power in the United States, while Switzerland serves as the United States' protecting power in Iran. Contacts a ...

. Guldimann was distrusted by a number of figures in the administration of

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...

, including Richard Armitage, who suspected Guldimann may have authored large amounts of the document on his own. Guldimann was appointed OSCE Envoy to Ukraine in 2014. He was criticized by some American and European diplomats for his perceived pro-Russian bias.

Political career

Guldimann served for two-and-a-half years as a member of the National Council, representing

for the Social Democratic Party

Social Democratic Party of Switzerland The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (german: Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz; SP; rm, Partida Socialdemocrata da la Svizra) or Swiss Socialist Party (french: Parti socialiste suisse, it, Partito Socialista Svizzero; PS), is a polit ...

before resigning in March 2018. He was the first Swiss legislator elected while living abroad, in Berlin, where he had previously served as Swiss ambassador to Germany. He remained as an expatriate in Berlin while serving as a National Councillor. After his resignation, his seat was succeeded by Fabian Molina.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guldimann, Tim Living people Swiss politicians Swiss diplomats Politicians from Zürich 1950 births Ambassadors to Iran Social Democratic Party of Switzerland politicians Members of the National Council (Switzerland)