Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

HELSINKI, Could 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly accepted a proposal to use for membership of the NATO army alliance in a historic policy shift prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

President Sauli Niinisto and the federal government determined officially on Sunday that Finland would apply for membership but the resolution was pending parliament's approval.

Of the 200 lawmakers, 188 voted in favour and eight in opposition to the applying, Speaker Matti Vanhanen mentioned.

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International Minister Pekka Haavisto mentioned the choice was no reason to celebrate because "there is war in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO is not going to change our fundamental pondering that we'll always seek peaceful solutions and we're a peace-loving nation that will at the beginning search diplomatic solutions to every conflict," he mentioned through the debate.

Opponents to the applying included some lawmakers from the Left Alliance, a part of Finland's five-party coalition, among them Markus Mustajarvi who challenged the decision with a counter proposal resulting in it being put to the vote.

"Our border would grow to be the border between the military alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a risk only throughout the application course of however quite a new and everlasting condition of our foreign and safety policy," he said.

Early on Tuesday, the foreign affairs committee determined to join the state leadership in proposing to parliament that the Nordic country should apply for membership.

"Having heard a very giant variety of specialists and having received the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the foreign affairs committee agrees with the federal government that Finland should apply for membership in NATO. This choice is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho advised reporters.

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Reporting by Anne Kauranen; Enhancing by Robert Birsel and Alison Williams

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