Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

HELSINKI, Might 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly authorized 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 decided 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 against the appliance, Speaker Matti Vanhanen mentioned.

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International Minister Pekka Haavisto mentioned the decision was no motive to rejoice as a result of "there is war in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our primary thinking that we are going to at all times search peaceable solutions and we're a peace-loving nation that can before everything seek diplomatic options to each conflict," he said during the debate.

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

"Our border would grow to be the border between the army alliance and Russia. New tensions would not be a risk solely in the course of the utility process but rather a brand new and everlasting situation of our overseas and security policy," he mentioned.

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

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

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

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