Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

HELSINKI, Could 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a proposal to apply for membership of the NATO army 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 determination was pending parliament's approval.

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

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Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the choice was no cause to rejoice as a result of "there's battle in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our fundamental considering that we will always seek peaceful solutions and we are a peace-loving nation that will firstly search diplomatic options to every battle," he said during 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 army alliance and Russia. New tensions would not be a threat only in the course of the utility process but relatively a brand new and permanent condition of our overseas and safety policy," he mentioned.

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

"Having heard a very large number of experts and having acquired 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 advised reporters.

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

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