Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

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

President Sauli Niinisto and the government decided officially 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 application, Speaker Matti Vanhanen mentioned.

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Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto mentioned the choice was no purpose to have a good time because "there's war in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO is not going to change our primary thinking that we will always search peaceable solutions and we're a peace-loving nation that can initially search diplomatic options to each battle," he said throughout 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 decision with a counter proposal leading to it being put to the vote.

"Our border would develop into the border between the navy alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a risk only during the application process but rather a brand new and everlasting condition of our international and security coverage," he mentioned.

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

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

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

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