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.

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BASIC BIO BACKGROUND
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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.

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THE GOVERNOR AND PUK INTERNAL POLITICS
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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