Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

HELSINKI, Might 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved 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 government determined formally 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 in opposition to the appliance, Speaker Matti Vanhanen stated.

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International Minister Pekka Haavisto said the decision was no reason to have fun as a result of "there is battle in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our fundamental considering that we'll always seek peaceable solutions and we're a peace-loving nation that can at first seek diplomatic solutions to every battle," he said 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 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 risk solely through the utility course of however rather a brand new and everlasting condition of our international and safety coverage," he stated.

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

"Having heard a really large variety of consultants and having acquired the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the overseas 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; Enhancing by Robert Birsel and Alison Williams

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