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Diplomatic Dialogue: A Breakfast Meeting with Peter Zimmerli, Consul General of Switzerland

  • 01/20/2022
  • 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
  • Offices of Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, Atlanta
  • 1

Registration

United States - Switzerland Relations

The United States established diplomatic relations with Switzerland in 1853 following the formation of a unified Swiss state. Switzerland is a democratic country subscribing to the fundamental ideals with which the United States also identifies. The country is politically stable with a strong and resilient economy. It has played an increasingly important role in supporting the spread of democratic institutions and values worldwide, as well as providing humanitarian relief and economic development assistance. U.S. policy toward Switzerland takes these factors into account and seeks to cooperate with Switzerland to the extent consistent with Swiss neutrality. Switzerland has represented the United States in Iran as our Protecting Power since 1980, where it provides assistance to U.S. citizens in Iran.

The United States and Switzerland have signed a number of agreements creating mechanisms that deepen cooperation and improve the relationship: the Enhanced Political Cooperation Framework, the Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum, a Memorandum of Understanding on Apprenticeships and Workforce Development, and the revised Operative Working Arrangement on Law Enforcement Cooperation on Counterterrorism. The centerpiece of the Enhanced Political Cooperation Framework is an annual senior-level meeting, the Joint Working Group. Another vehicle for bilateral cooperation is the U.S.-Swiss Joint Economic Commission, which covers anti-money laundering efforts, counterterrorism, regulatory cooperation, and intellectual property rights, among other topics.


About Peter Zimmerli

Born in 1957 in Switzerland, Peter Zimmerli grew up in the canton of Aargau. He graduated with a Commerce Diploma and holds a Diploma in Advanced Studies in International Relations.

 Prior to joining the Swiss government, he worked for an American multinational company in Geneva as a sales manager. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985 and has lived and worked in Switzerland, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, Italy and Singapore. He held among others, positions as head of chancery, deputy head of the economic section of the Foreign Ministry in Bern, deputy head of Mission in Singapore and head of the division for relations with the Swiss abroad at the Ministry in Berne.

Peter Zimmerli arrived in Atlanta in August 2017. As the current Consul General of Switzerland in Atlanta, his jurisdiction is over the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, as well as the Cayman Islands.

He speaks German, French, English, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish. He is married to his wife Jun Cui and has two children.

 

For your safety and the safety of others,

ACIR requests that only fully vaccinated people

or those immune from having had COVID19 attend.