Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

HELSINKI, May 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly authorized a proposal to use for membership of the NATO army alliance in a historic coverage 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 resolution was pending parliament's approval.

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

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International Minister Pekka Haavisto mentioned the choice was no purpose to celebrate as a result of "there is war in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO will not change our fundamental thinking that we will always search peaceful solutions and we are a peace-loving nation that can at the start search diplomatic solutions to every battle," he stated in the course of the debate.

Opponents to the application included some lawmakers from the Left Alliance, a part of Finland's five-party coalition, among them Markus Mustajarvi who challenged the choice with a counter proposal leading to it being put to the vote.

"Our border would grow to be the border between the navy alliance and Russia. New tensions would not be a danger solely through the utility course of however fairly a brand new and permanent condition of our foreign and safety policy," he said.

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

"Having heard a very giant variety of consultants 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 decision is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho instructed reporters.

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

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