Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

HELSINKI, Might 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly authorised 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 government determined officially 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 said.

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Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the decision was no motive to celebrate as a result of "there's struggle in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO will not change our basic considering that we are going to all the time search peaceable options and we're a peace-loving nation that can before everything search diplomatic options to each conflict," he mentioned in the course of the debate.

Opponents to the application 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 turn into the border between the navy alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a risk solely during the utility process but slightly a brand new and permanent situation of our foreign and safety coverage," he stated.

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

"Having heard a very large variety of experts and having acquired the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the international affairs committee agrees with the federal government that Finland should apply for membership in NATO. This decision is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho told reporters.

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

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