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 military alliance in a historic coverage 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 determination 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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Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto mentioned the choice was no purpose to celebrate as a result of "there's war in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO is not going to change our primary pondering that we'll at all times search peaceful solutions and we are a peace-loving nation that will before everything seek diplomatic options to each battle," he stated during the debate.

Opponents to the application 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 resulting in it being put to the vote.

"Our border would become the border between the army alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a threat solely during the software course of however rather a brand new and permanent situation of our international and safety policy," he mentioned.

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

"Having heard a very massive number of experts and having received the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the overseas affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland should apply for membership in NATO. This choice is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho advised reporters.

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

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