Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

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

President Sauli Niinisto and the government determined formally on Sunday that Finland would apply for membership but the resolution was pending parliament's approval.

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

Register

International Minister Pekka Haavisto said the choice was no motive to celebrate as a result of "there's warfare in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO is not going to change our basic pondering that we will all the time search peaceable solutions and we are a peace-loving nation that may in the beginning seek diplomatic options to each battle," he stated through the debate.

Opponents to the appliance included some lawmakers from the Left Alliance, part of Finland's five-party coalition, among them Markus Mustajarvi who challenged the choice with a counter proposal resulting in 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 solely during the utility course of however quite a new and everlasting situation of our international and safety 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 very large number of experts and having acquired the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the foreign affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland should apply for membership in NATO. This choice is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho informed reporters.

Register

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

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.