Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

HELSINKI, Could 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly permitted a proposal to use for membership of the NATO navy 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 but the determination was pending parliament's approval.

Of the 200 lawmakers, 188 voted in favour and eight in opposition to the applying, Speaker Matti Vanhanen stated.

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Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said the decision was no purpose to have a good time as a result of "there may be conflict in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO will not change our primary pondering that we are going to at all times search peaceful options and we're a peace-loving nation that will firstly seek diplomatic options to each conflict," he said throughout the debate.

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

"Our border would turn out to be the border between the navy alliance and Russia. New tensions would not be a threat only in the course of the utility process however moderately a brand new and everlasting situation of our international and safety coverage," he mentioned.

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

"Having heard a very giant number of specialists and having received the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the overseas affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland ought to apply for membership in NATO. This decision is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho informed reporters.

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

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