Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

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

President Sauli Niinisto and the federal government decided formally 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 against the application, Speaker Matti Vanhanen mentioned.

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International Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the choice was no cause to rejoice as a result of "there's battle in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO will not change our basic considering that we will always search peaceable options and we're a peace-loving nation that may at the beginning search diplomatic options to each conflict," he stated through the debate.

Opponents to the appliance included some lawmakers from the Left Alliance, a part of Finland's five-party coalition, amongst 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 army alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a threat solely during the software course of but somewhat a brand new and permanent situation of our foreign and security policy," he stated.

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

"Having heard a very large variety 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 determination is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho informed reporters.

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

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