Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

HELSINKI, Could 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly authorised a proposal to use for membership of the NATO military alliance in a historic policy 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 against the application, Speaker Matti Vanhanen said.

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Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the decision was no purpose to have a good time as a result of "there may be battle in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO will not change our fundamental thinking that we are going to at all times search peaceable solutions and we're a peace-loving nation that can before everything search diplomatic options to every conflict," he mentioned through the debate.

Opponents to the applying 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 become the border between the military alliance and Russia. New tensions would not be a risk solely throughout the application process however somewhat a new and permanent situation of our overseas and safety policy," he mentioned.

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 very giant variety of consultants and having acquired the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the foreign affairs committee agrees with the federal government that Finland ought to apply for membership in NATO. This choice is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho instructed reporters.

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

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