Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

HELSINKI, May 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved 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 federal government determined formally on Sunday that Finland would apply for membership but the choice was pending parliament's approval.

Of the 200 lawmakers, 188 voted in favour and eight in opposition to the appliance, Speaker Matti Vanhanen said.

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Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto mentioned the decision was no reason to rejoice because "there is war in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our fundamental thinking that we are going to all the time seek peaceful solutions and we're a peace-loving nation that may first and foremost search diplomatic solutions to every conflict," he said in the course of the debate.

Opponents to the applying 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 turn out to be the border between the military alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a risk only during the utility process but somewhat a brand new and permanent situation of our overseas and safety policy," he stated.

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

"Having heard a really large variety of experts and having obtained the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the foreign affairs committee agrees with the federal government that Finland should apply for membership in NATO. This decision is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho instructed reporters.

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

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