BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF DANA AHMED MAJEED, GOVERNOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000695 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2017 TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF DANA AHMED MAJEED, GOVERNOR OF SULAIMANIYAH PROVINCE, IRAQI KURDISTAN REGION Classified By: RRT Erbil Leader James Yellin, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) This is an Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) cable. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The following is a brief biography of the Governor of Sulaimaniyah Province in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The biography is based on information provided by the Office of Foreign and Public Relations, Sulaimaniyah Province, press reports and conversations between RRT Off and the Governor and other sources. END SUMAMRY. -------------- BASIC BIO BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Dana Ahmed Majeed was born in 1958 in Sulaimaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan Region. He attended high school in Salah Ad Din and graduated from Sulaimaniyah high school in 1975. In 1978, during his senior year at the University of Sulaimaniyah, he joined the Kurdish revolution and became Chief of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) political battalion. ¶3. (SBU) From 1979 to 1989, Dana Ahmed Majeed was Chief of the Peshmerga forces in the following areas: 1979-1981 in Sulaimaniyah, Sulaimaniyah Province, 1981-1982 in Qala Chuwalan, Sulaimaniyah Province, 1982-1984, in Koysinjaq, Erbil Province, 1984-1985, Dukan, Sulaimaniyah Province. He was also Chief of Peshmerga forces in Kirkuk from 1985 to ¶1989. ¶4. (SBU) From 1989 to 1991, Majeed was the PUK representative during the negotiations with Saddam Hussein on autonomy for the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. From 1993 to 2000, Majeed was the PUK representation to Syria. From 2000-2003 he held the same position in Iran. ¶5. (SBU) Majeed was Director of Asayish (security) from 2003-2005 in Sulaimaniyah Province. In 2005, Majeed was elected Governor of Sulaimaniyah by the Sulaimaniyah Provincial Council. ¶6. (SBU) Majeed went to Lebanon for three months to participate in artillery and other heavy weapons training (unknown year). He claims he sent employees to the Central Intelligence Agency for training but never went himself. ¶7. (SBU) There was an assassination attempt on Majeed in 1979 by Saddam Hussein. He lost a son and was wounded during the 1988 chemical attacks of the Anfal campaign in Sulaimaniyah Province. ¶8. (SBU) Majeed wanted to see the downfall of Saddam and was pleased with his execution. He favors the presence of the United States in Iraq and an active RRT office in Sulaimaniyah Province. ¶9. (SBU) Majeed speaks Kurdish, Arabic and Persian, and has an understanding of English. -------------- THE GOVERNOR AND PUK INTERNAL POLITICS -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Although Majeed has local popular support, his position in the PUK is relatively weak, according to various sources. Dana Ahmed Majeed is allied with the reformist wing of the PUK which includes Nawshirwan Mustafa who resigned from his post as PUK Deputy Secretary General in December ¶2006. Majeed told RRT Off he is close to PUK Politburo member Muhamad Tofiq, who heads a media company * Zargata * with Nawshirwan Mustafa. ¶11. (C) Based on numerous sources, at a Provincial Council meeting in December 2006, Kosrat Rasoul, Iraqi Kurdistan Region Vice-President and member of the PUK progressive-wing, openly criticized Majeed for inadequately funding provincial projects. A source within the office of the Governor believes Majeed will try to align himself with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani,s wing to regain influence. He is well known for his short temper and has said that people who lie to him will be put in jail. Majeed prides himself on his anti-corruption position and lack of ambition for personal monetary gain in politics. KHALILZAD