Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

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

President Sauli Niinisto and the government decided officially 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 mentioned the decision was no reason to rejoice as a result of "there's battle in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO is not going to change our fundamental pondering that we will at all times seek peaceful solutions and we're a peace-loving nation that may in the beginning seek diplomatic solutions to every conflict," he said during the debate.

Opponents to the appliance included some lawmakers from the Left Alliance, part of Finland's five-party coalition, amongst 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 would not be a risk only in the course of the utility process however fairly a new and permanent condition of our overseas and security coverage," he mentioned.

Early on Tuesday, the international affairs committee determined to affix the state management in proposing to parliament that the Nordic country ought to apply for membership.

"Having heard a very large number of experts and having received the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the foreign affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland should apply for membership in NATO. This resolution 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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