Berlin Congress (1878): The Berlin Peace Treaty and its provisions

In 1877-1878, Russia fought its tenth war with the Ottoman Empire. This time, the military campaign was extremely successful for Russia and actually represented a series of victories over the weak Turkish army. The Sultan was forced to accept very strict ceasefire conditions. According to the provisions of the San Stefano Peace Treaty (03.03.1878). Turkey not only transferred the territory of Bessarabia to Russia, but was also forced to recognize the independence of Bosnia, Montenegro and Romania, and all these countries were to receive large territorial acquisitions. However, the most important moment was the creation of a new Bulgarian state, the so-called Greater Bulgaria. If the peace treaty comes into force, Russia will gain almost unlimited influence in the Balkans thanks to such a strong ally.

Russia’s actions have deeply alarmed public opinion in Europe. Austria-Hungary, which was also planning expansion into the Balkans, and Great Britain, fearing an excessive strengthening of Russian power, felt unsafe. As a result of a series of diplomatic actions ranging from pressure to simple threats, Russia was forced to participate in a new peace conference, this time held in Berlin on July 13, 1878. This meeting was called the Berlin Congress and was one of the last major congresses of representatives of European powers before the First World War.

Russia was forced to revise the provisions of the treaty, making them less beneficial both for itself and for its allies. Plans for the creation of Greater Bulgaria failed, and the territory of the new state was significantly reduced. Bosnia and Herzegovina was also under the formal "protection" of Austria-Hungary, which in practice meant their occupation by that country (the official annexation took place in 1908). Russia conquered only territories in the Caucasus. For their mediation at the conference, France and Great Britain appropriated the territories of Turkey, respectively, the lands of Tunisia and Cyprus.

The Berlin Congress was the last such major congress of powers before the First World War and revealed the already existing tensions between individual states. This caused particular hostility in Russia and the Balkan states, which were counting on much larger annexations of Turkish territory and felt cheated. Although British diplomacy considered this a success, it did not solve Europe’s most pressing problems. Then German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck said that a new European war would surely start because of some kind of "fight" in the Balkans. Gift promo codes are another way Melbet rewards its active customers throughout the year. To receive these bonuses, you must first be a registered player, which means you need to use melbet promo code registration india when creating your account to claim your 130% welcome bonus up to $130. After registration, the bookmaker may send you gift promo codes for special occasions like your birthday, for completing your profile, for verifying your phone or email, or for regular deposits. These gift codes typically offer free bets that can be used on single bets or accumulators.