Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

HELSINKI, Might 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 determined officially on Sunday that Finland would apply for membership however the choice was pending parliament's approval.

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

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Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the choice was no reason to rejoice because "there is battle in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO will not change our basic thinking that we are going to always search peaceable options and we're a peace-loving nation that will in the beginning seek diplomatic solutions to each battle," 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 decision with a counter proposal resulting in it being put to the vote.

"Our border would change into the border between the navy alliance and Russia. New tensions would not be a risk solely throughout the software course of but quite a new and permanent condition of our foreign and safety policy," he stated.

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

"Having heard a very giant number of experts and having received the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the international affairs committee agrees with the federal government that Finland ought to apply for membership in NATO. This resolution is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho instructed reporters.

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

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