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 army 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 however the determination was pending parliament's approval.

Of the 200 lawmakers, 188 voted in favour and eight towards the application, Speaker Matti Vanhanen stated.

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International Minister Pekka Haavisto mentioned the decision was no motive to have fun as a result of "there's battle in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO will not change our basic pondering that we'll at all times search peaceful solutions and we're a peace-loving nation that will in the beginning seek diplomatic options to every conflict," he mentioned through the debate.

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

"Our border would turn into the border between the military alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a danger solely in the course of the application process however reasonably a brand new and permanent situation of our foreign and security policy," he mentioned.

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

"Having heard a very massive number of consultants and having obtained 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 instructed reporters.

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

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