Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

HELSINKI, Could 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a proposal to apply for membership of the NATO army 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 however the resolution 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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Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said the decision was no cause to celebrate as a result of "there is warfare in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO is not going to change our primary considering that we'll always seek peaceable solutions and we're a peace-loving nation that will at first search diplomatic options to every battle," he mentioned during the debate.

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

"Our border would develop into the border between the navy alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a danger solely throughout the application process however quite a brand new and everlasting situation of our foreign and safety coverage," he stated.

Early on Tuesday, the overseas affairs committee determined to affix the state leadership in proposing to parliament that the Nordic country should apply for membership.

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

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

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