Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

HELSINKI, May 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved 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 but the decision was pending parliament's approval.

Of the 200 lawmakers, 188 voted in favour and eight in opposition to the appliance, Speaker Matti Vanhanen said.

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Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the decision was no motive to have a good time as a result of "there may be battle in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our fundamental thinking that we are going to always seek peaceful solutions and we are a peace-loving nation that may first and foremost seek diplomatic options to each battle," he mentioned in the course of 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 leading to it being put to the vote.

"Our border would change into the border between the navy alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a danger only throughout the utility process however fairly a new and permanent situation of our foreign and safety coverage," he mentioned.

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

"Having heard a really large variety of consultants and having acquired the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the foreign affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland ought to apply for membership in NATO. This decision 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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