Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

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

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

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

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Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the choice was no motive to celebrate as a result of "there is war in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO is not going to change our fundamental pondering that we'll all the time seek peaceable options and we are a peace-loving nation that can in the beginning seek diplomatic solutions to every 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, amongst them Markus Mustajarvi who challenged the choice with a counter proposal resulting in it being put to the vote.

"Our border would develop into the border between the navy alliance and Russia. New tensions would not be a danger solely throughout the utility course of but reasonably a brand new and permanent condition of our overseas and security policy," he said.

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

"Having heard a really large number of consultants and having acquired the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the foreign affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland ought to apply for membership in NATO. This resolution 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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