Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

HELSINKI, May 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly authorised a proposal to use for membership of the NATO navy alliance in a historic policy 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 but the resolution was pending parliament's approval.

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

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International Minister Pekka Haavisto said the decision was no motive to celebrate because "there may be conflict in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO will not change our basic considering that we'll all the time search peaceable solutions and we're a peace-loving nation that will first and foremost seek diplomatic options to each conflict," he mentioned through the debate.

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

"Our border would turn into the border between the army alliance and Russia. New tensions would not be a threat only through the software process however fairly a brand new and permanent situation of our foreign and security coverage," he stated.

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

"Having heard a very giant number of specialists and having received the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the overseas affairs committee agrees with the federal government that Finland should apply for membership in NATO. This choice 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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