Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

HELSINKI, Could 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly accepted a proposal to apply for membership of the NATO navy alliance in a historic policy shift prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

President Sauli Niinisto and the federal government determined officially on Sunday that Finland would apply for membership however the decision was pending parliament's approval.

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

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Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the decision was no cause to celebrate as a result of "there is warfare in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our fundamental considering that we will at all times seek peaceable options and we're a peace-loving nation that may firstly seek diplomatic solutions to each battle," 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 choice with a counter proposal leading to it being put to the vote.

"Our border would develop into the border between the military alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a danger solely throughout the utility course of however slightly a new and everlasting situation of our overseas and security coverage," he said.

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

"Having heard a really massive number of consultants and having acquired the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the overseas affairs committee agrees with the federal government that Finland should apply for membership in NATO. This resolution is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho told reporters.

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

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