On December 31, 2016, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution welcoming the efforts of Russia and Turkey to end the violence in Syria and “jumpstart a political process.” The Security Council also reiterated “its call on the parties to allow humanitarian agencies rapid, safe and unhindered access throughout Syria, as provided for in its relevant resolutions.”  The Council stated that it looked forward to the upcoming meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, between the Syrian government and opposition groups, viewing it as “as an important part of the Syrian-led political process” and an “important step ahead of the resumption of negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations in Geneva on 8 February 2017.”