Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

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

President Sauli Niinisto and the government determined formally on Sunday that Finland would apply for membership however the choice was pending parliament's approval.

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

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Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto said the choice was no purpose to have a good time as a result of "there may be war in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO is not going to change our basic pondering that we are going to always search peaceful solutions and we are a peace-loving nation that may in the beginning search diplomatic solutions to every conflict," he mentioned throughout the debate.

Opponents to the appliance 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 resulting in it being put to the vote.

"Our border would become the border between the military alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a threat only in the course of the application process however somewhat a new and everlasting condition of our foreign and safety coverage," he stated.

Early on Tuesday, the international affairs committee decided to affix the state management in proposing to parliament that the Nordic nation should apply for membership.

"Having heard a really giant number of consultants and having received the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the international 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; Editing by Robert Birsel and Alison Williams

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