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The inauguration of a new president in El Salvador today is a testament to the strength and durability of democracy throughout the Americas. Since Mauricio Funes' election earlier this year, we have witnessed a peaceful transfer of power between two formerly warring parties. Elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere, democratic elections and free market economies have become the norm over the past 15 years. These developments speak to the dynamism of our region and its potential to assert greater global leadership in the 21st century.

Yet as we celebrate this progress, we should also acknowledge what President Obama has called ''a critical moment for the people of the Americas.'' To tap into the full potential of people throughout our region, we now seek to build on gains at the...