Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

HELSINKI, Could 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a proposal to apply 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 formally on Sunday that Finland would apply for membership but the determination was pending parliament's approval.

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

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

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

Opponents to the applying included some lawmakers from the Left Alliance, 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 grow to be the border between the military alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a threat only during the application process but slightly a new and permanent condition of our foreign and safety coverage," he mentioned.

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

"Having heard a really large number of specialists and having obtained the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the foreign affairs committee agrees with the federal government that Finland ought to apply for membership in NATO. This decision is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho advised reporters.

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

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