Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

HELSINKI, May 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly accredited a proposal to use 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 officially on Sunday that Finland would apply for membership however the determination was pending parliament's approval.

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

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Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the decision was no reason to celebrate as a result of "there's struggle in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our primary pondering that we'll always search peaceable options and we are a peace-loving nation that can at first search diplomatic solutions to each battle," he stated in the course of the debate.

Opponents to the appliance included some lawmakers from the Left Alliance, part of Finland's five-party coalition, among 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 risk solely in the course of the utility process but moderately a new and permanent situation of our foreign and safety coverage," he stated.

Early on Tuesday, the foreign affairs committee determined to hitch the state management in proposing to parliament that the Nordic country should apply for membership.

"Having heard a really massive variety of specialists 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 advised reporters.

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

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