Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

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

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

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

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Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the choice was no reason to rejoice because "there's conflict in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO will not change our fundamental thinking that we will always seek peaceful options and we are a peace-loving nation that may at the beginning seek diplomatic options to every battle," he stated throughout the debate.

Opponents to the applying included some lawmakers from the Left Alliance, a 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 turn into the border between the army alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a threat solely in the course of the utility course of but moderately a new and everlasting situation of our overseas and safety coverage," he stated.

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

"Having heard a really large variety of specialists and having acquired the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the international affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland ought to apply for membership in NATO. This decision is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho informed reporters.

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

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