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Corzine Invites Governors to Join in Lawsuit
to Halt Dubai Ports World Deal

TRENTON - Governor Jon S. Corzine today invited governors from six states with ports involved in the Dubai Ports World transaction to join in his federal lawsuit to halt the deal. The lawsuit, which is separate from the suit Corzine worked with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey to file in state Superior Court, seeks to block the sale until all relevant transactional and security-related information has been shared with and reviewed by the states involved.

Dubai Ports World, which is owned by the United Arab Emirates, was given permission by the Bush Administration to take over port operations at a number of ports along the East Coast and Louisiana. Corzine's letter was sent to: Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Louisiana; Governor George E. Pataki, New York; Governor Jeb Bush, Florida; Governor M. Jodi Rell, Connecticut; Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Maryland; and Governor Edward G. Rendell, Pennsylvania.

The text of the letter follows:

Dear Governors:  

            On behalf of the citizens of the State of New Jersey, I hereby invite your State to join in a federal lawsuit to be filed by the State of New Jersey concerning the acquisition of interests in vital U.S. ports by a company owned by the United Arab Emirates ("UAE").

            President Bush and the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States ("CFIUS") have approved the sale of major port facilities to UAE-owned Dubai Ports World ("DPW"), including facilities in New Jersey.  Neither the State of New Jersey nor the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey have been provided with any information regarding the transaction itself, the nature of the ownership interest to be held by DPW, or the attendant security issues.  This veil of secrecy is unacceptable, particularly where our citizens’ safety is at issue.  The federal lawsuit will seek to enjoin this sale of vital  assets to a foreign nation without our States having had the opportunity to determine the  extent of the threat to the safety of our citizens.

The Attorney General of the State of New Jersey intends specifically to file suit against CFIUS, the eleven federal entities with membership on CFIUS, DPW, and the current leaseholder at the New Jersey port terminal at issue. The lawsuit will seek to enjoin the transaction, at least until all relevant transactional and security-related information has been shared with and evaluated by the appropriate State officials.  Because the proposed transaction implicates port operations in your States as well, I invite you to join New Jersey in our efforts.  

Sincerely,

Jon S. Corzine

Governor

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Photos and audio and video clips from Governor Corzine's public events are available in the Governor's Newsroom section on the State of New Jersey web page, http://www.nj.gov/governor/news/