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Dubai firm agrees to 45-day security review of ports deal |
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2/27/2006 12:44:16 PM |
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WASHINGTON - The Dubai-owned company buying major U.S. port operations has agreed to a new, in-depth security investigation that won't stop it from taking ownership in New York, Newark, N.J., and four other shipping centers this week.
Dubai Ports World requested the 45-day federal investigation of its operations Sunday - a more stringent look than the 23-day review that initially okayed Dubai's purchase of Britain's P&O ports company.
It also agreed to put up a temporary firewall between itself and P&O's American operations, including Manhattan's cruise ship terminal, and Newark's vast container port.
Dubai is scheduled to take over Wednesday or Thursday, after an English court signs off on the deal, as is expected on Monday.
"As I understand it, they take ownership, but they're not going to have any input whatsoever," said Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.
The White House signed on to the new investigation Sunday night.
A statement by DP World said the British CEO of P&O would be solely in charge of all U.S. operations until May 1 or the 45-day investigation is finished by the federal Committee for Foreign Investment in the U.S.
Security until then will be in the hands of an American citizen "unless the U.S. Coast Guard agrees otherwise."
"We continue to take voluntary steps to assure people that the security of the U.S. will not be harmed as a result of this acquisition," said DP World's chief operating officer, Ted Bilkey.
News of the deal eased fears among some lawmakers, with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., saying he would recommend putting any legislation aimed at DP World on hold until the new review is done.
But King and other legislators sounded unconvinced the United Arab Emirates firm was a suitable U.S. port terminal operator, and said they would seek strong oversight of both the review and the company.
"If (the foreign investment committee) does end up recommending this, then maybe we'll have court-appointed monitors to make sure the security is operated the way we need it to be," King said. "The reason I'm somewhat hesitant about this is because last week the administration said this was investigated, and I know it wasn't."
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., praised the go-slower deal, but said he was still planning to offer a bill Monday requiring the president to stop the clock on the American part of the sale.
"This legislation will not only pass, but pass by a veto-proof margin," he said. "We care about good relations with moderate Middle Eastern countries, we care about trade, but nothing can be more important than the security of our people."
The actual agreement was not available Monday night, but King said that, as it was described to him, it would effectively stop the clock and make full and final control of the U.S. terminals contingent on the new investigation.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., said the furor over the port company sale and the White House's early ignorance of it raised questions about how President Bush was handling national security.
"It raises numerous concerns over who is minding the store in Washington," she said, standing with Schumer at a news conference at Battery Park in Manhattan.
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