Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

HELSINKI, Could 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved 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 however the determination was pending parliament's approval.

Of the 200 lawmakers, 188 voted in favour and eight against the application, Speaker Matti Vanhanen said.

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Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the choice was no purpose to rejoice as a result of "there is war in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our primary pondering that we are going to all the time seek peaceful options and we are a peace-loving nation that may before everything seek diplomatic options to each battle," he mentioned during the debate.

Opponents to the appliance 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 leading to it being put to the vote.

"Our border would turn into the border between the military alliance and Russia. New tensions would not be a danger only throughout the utility course of but rather a brand new and everlasting condition of our overseas and safety policy," he said.

Early on Tuesday, the international affairs committee determined to join the state leadership in proposing to parliament that the Nordic nation ought to apply for membership.

"Having heard a very massive number of consultants and having acquired the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the overseas affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland should apply for membership in NATO. This decision is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho instructed reporters.

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

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