Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

HELSINKI, Could 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly accepted a proposal to use for membership of the NATO navy 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 however the resolution was pending parliament's approval.

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

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

"Finland's membership in NATO will not change our basic thinking that we are going to always search peaceful solutions and we are a peace-loving nation that will at first search diplomatic solutions to each conflict," he stated during the debate.

Opponents to the appliance included some lawmakers from the Left Alliance, part of Finland's five-party coalition, amongst 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 danger solely through the application course of however relatively a new and permanent condition of our foreign and safety coverage," he said.

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

"Having heard a really large variety of experts and having received the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the overseas affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland ought to apply for membership in NATO. This determination is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho informed reporters.

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

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