Tim Guldimann

Guldimann was born 19 September 1950 in Zürich, Switzerland, the eldest of five sons, to Werner Guldimann and May (née Steuer).{{Cite web |title=Guldimann, Werner |url=https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/articles/027569/2009-11-05/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=hls-dhs-dss.ch |language=de}} His father was a pilot, aviation expert and most notably director for the Federal Office of Civil Aviation.https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=NZN19660307-01.2.12.5.1&srpos=3&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN-Guldimann+Z%c3%bcrich-------0----- His mother was municipal councilor of Uitikon for the Christian Democratic People's Party.May Guldimann, Gemeinderätin-CVP

https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=NZN19821110-01.2.9.6&srpos=2&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN-May+Guldimann-------0-----{{Cite web |title=Tim Guldimann - Munzinger Biographie |url=https://www.munzinger.de/search/portrait/Tim+Guldimann/0/28298.html |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=www.munzinger.de}} He had four younger brothers including: Tobias Guldimann, who was formerly Chief Risk Officer at Credit Suisse.{{Cite web |title=Tobias Guldimann, Credit Suisse Group AG: Profile and Biography |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/2432563 |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2013-07-01 |title=Joachim Oechslin to succeed Tobias Guldimann as Chief Risk Officer on January 1, 2014 |url=https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-us-news/en/articles/media-releases/42178-201307.html |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Credit Suisse |language=en}} Till M. Guldimann was a former executive of SunGard.

He attended Gymnasium Enge where he completed his Matura and then studied Economics at the University of Zürich graduating with a PhD.{{Cite web |title=Lebenslauf |url=https://www.timguldimann.ch/lebenslauf/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Tim Guldimann |language=de-DE}}

Guldimann began working for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in 1982, retiring in 1991. From 1996 to 1999,{{cite web |title=Ambassador Tim Guldimann |url=https://www.osce.org/node/116898 |website=osce.org |accessdate=29 October 2020 |language=en}} worked as negotiator for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Croatia and Chechnya.{{cite news |last1=Gigon |first1=Ariane |title=The man hoping to be the voice of the Swiss abroad |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/federal-elections_tim-guldimann-hopes-to-be-the-voice-of-the-swiss-abroad/41737534 |accessdate=29 October 2020 |work=Swissinfo |date=26 October 2015 |language=en}}

Guldimann re-entered the Swiss foreign service as Swiss ambassador to Iran from 1997 to 2004. During his term, he was responsible for the "Grand Bargain" proposal, known as the Swiss Memorandum in German. On 4 May 2003, the Swiss government sent the U.S. State Department an unsigned one-page memorandum, which was not on official letterhead,{{cite web | last=Rubin | first=Michael | title=The Guldimann Memorandum | website=Middle East Forum | date=2007-10-22 | url=https://www.meforum.org/the-guldimann-memorandum | access-date=2025-05-02}} and contained a cover letter by Guldimann which laid out a roadmap for discussions between Iran and the U.S.{{cite web | title=Official Proposals on the Iranian Nuclear Issue, 2003-2013 | website=Arms Control Association | date=2007-04-28 | url=https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/official-proposals-iranian-nuclear-issue-2003-2013 | access-date=2025-05-02}}{{cite web | author=The Washington Post | title=2003 US Iran Roadmap Proposal | website=Scribd | date=2025-05-02 | url=https://www.scribd.com/document/170613340/2003-US-Iran-Roadmap-proposal | access-date=2025-05-02}} In the cover letter, Guldimann claimed that he developed the document with Sadegh Kharazi, the Iranian ambassador in Paris, and that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei agreed with 85–90% of the paper, although he could not obtain a precise answer on what exactly the Leader explicitly has agreed.{{cite news|last=Kessler|first=Glenn|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2013/12/09/kerrys-claim-that-iran-offered-bush-a-nuclear-deal-in-2003/|title=Fact Checker: Kerry's claim that Iran offered Bush a nuclear deal in 2003|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2013-12-09|access-date=2016-04-01}}{{cite web|last=Rubin|first=Michael|url=http://www.meforum.org/1764/the-guldimann-memorandum|title=The Guldimann Memorandum: The Iranian "roadmap" wasn't a roadmap and wasn't Iranian|work=Middle East Forum|date=2007-10-22|access-date=2016-04-01|archive-date=2024-09-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240904223239/https://www.meforum.org/the-guldimann-memorandum|url-status=live}}

The document outlined several topics for potential negotiations between the two countries and suggested establishing three parallel working groups focused on disarmament, regional security, and economic cooperation.{{cite web | title=US-Iran roadmap (Original document)| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/documents/us_iran_1roadmap.pdf | access-date=2025-05-06}} Among the central issues were:

• The lifting of all U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran
• Joint efforts with the United States to support stability in Iraq
• Complete openness regarding Iran's nuclear activities, including implementation of the Additional Protocol
• Collaboration in combating terrorist groups, especially the Mujahedin-e Khalq and al-Qaeda
• Acknowledgement of the 2002 Arab League “land for peace” declaration concerning Israel and Palestine
• Unrestricted Iranian access to civilian nuclear technology, along with chemical and biotechnological advancements

The Bush administration rejected the proposal, opting instead to increase pressure on Iran.

Guldimann was appointed OSCE Envoy to Ukraine in 2014.{{cite web |title=OSCE Chair appoints Personal Envoy on Ukraine and announces OSCE team to identify support measures |url=https://www.osce.org/cio/115644 |publisher=OSCE |accessdate=29 October 2020 |language=en |date=24 February 2014}} He was criticized by some American and European diplomats for his perceived pro-Russian bias.{{cite news |last1=Ahmari |first1=Sohrab |title=An Unfair Broker for Ukraine |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303908804579561522323515220 |accessdate=29 October 2020 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=15 May 2014}}

Guldimann served for two-and-a-half years as a member of the National Council, representing Zürich for the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland before resigning in March 2018.{{cite news |title=Swiss expat parliamentarian resigns |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/voice-of-swiss-abroad_swiss-expat-parliamentarian-resigns/43910446 |accessdate=29 October 2020 |work=Swissinfo |date=19 February 2018 |language=en}} 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.

Guldimann has been married to German Christiane Hoffmann (born 1967). They have two daughters and reside in Berlin, Germany. His family played a leading role in his decision to resign from public office in 2018.{{Cite web |title=Tim Guldimann tritt als Nationalrat zurück - Die Familie zuerst |url=https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/stars/schweiz/tim-guldimann-tritt-als-sp-nationalrat-zurueck-berlin-botschafter-familie |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Schweizer Illustrierte |language=de-CH}}

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Category:1950 births

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Zurich

Category:Social Democratic Party of Switzerland politicians

Category:Members of the National Council (Switzerland)

Category:Ambassadors of Switzerland to Iran

Category:Ambassadors of Switzerland to Germany

Category:University of Zurich alumni