Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

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

President Sauli Niinisto and the government determined 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 in opposition to the appliance, Speaker Matti Vanhanen stated.

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Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto mentioned the choice was no cause to rejoice because "there is conflict in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our fundamental considering that we will at all times search peaceful options and we're a peace-loving nation that will firstly search diplomatic solutions to every conflict," he said during the debate.

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

"Our border would develop into the border between the military alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a threat only through the utility course of however quite a new and everlasting condition of our overseas and safety coverage," he stated.

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

"Having heard a very large number of consultants and having obtained the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the foreign affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland ought to apply for membership in NATO. This determination is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho told reporters.

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

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