LIMA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Spain supported the proposal presented by Peru to the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) to stop spending on weapons in the region, a senior Spanish official said Friday.

    "We see with great sympathy the proposal made by the Peruvian government," Juan Laiglesia, Spain's secretary of state for Ibero-AmericaLaiglesia, said in an interview with Radio Programs del Peru, while expressing the concern of the Spanish government about the development of weapons trade in the region.

    "To make Latin America an area of cooperation, peace and development is the aim we have. So, any effort in that direction will find strong support from the Spanish government," he added.

    Last month, Peru proposed to the defense council of the Unasur to limit the arms buildup in the region and to establish an agreement of non-aggression.

    During the Unasur Extraordinary Summit held in Argentina at the end of August, Peruvian President Alan Garcia denounced the growing expenses of arms buildup in the region and called the governments to use the resources to fight poverty.

    The Unasur consists of 12 member countries, which are Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Guyana and Suriname.