On July 13, 1878, the Treaty of Berlin was signed. It is the crown of thorns, the emanation of the relationship between the Great Powers in Europe and their aspirations to preserve their interests in the Balkans and the Straits.
The San Stefano Peace Treaty causes the displeasure of all the Great Powers,
as well as the Balkan countries. England and Austria-Hungary openly declare that Russia has arbitrarily set about the solution of the Eastern question, without caring about the opinion of others interested in this problem.
The fact that the Bulgarian principality has access to the White Sea causes particular dissatisfaction among the Western patrons of Turkey. Everyone is against this exit under the pretext that it will be used by Russia to assert its presence in the Mediterranean and thus disrupt the balance of European naval power.
The peace treaty of San Stefano led to the hardening of the position of the Western powers on the Eastern question and to the consolidation of their political initiatives. England threatens Russia with military action. It was supported by the Viennese government, which constantly pointed out that Petersburg had violated the commitments made on January 3, 1877, not to create a large Slavic state on the Balkan Peninsula, France and Italy sang in the same voice, and only Germany refrained from attacking Russia and the peace signed, but she advises the northern empire to be more lenient and more conciliatory with its opponents.
The created unfavorable situation leads to a series of diplomatic initiatives on the Russian side, which aim to neutralize the main opponents. In March 1878, Count N.P. Ignatiev visited Vienna in order to conduct negotiations on the controversial issues. His mission ends without success, as both Emperor Franz Joseph and Count Andrassy insist on compliance with the agreements reached earlier and do not want to hear even about a Bulgarian state with the borders drawn in San Stefano/
Ignatiev's failure makes the Russian government more accommodating
and in April it agreed in principle with Vienna's proposal for the division of Bulgaria into two parts. In May, the Russian ambassador in London, Count P. Shuva-lov, reached an agreement with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Salisbury, that England would not object to the annexation of Southern Bessarabia, Kars and Batum to Russia, and the latter agreed to the division of Bulgaria into two parts, as the border had to pass along the ridge of Stara Planina. According to the agreements reached, a special secret convention was signed, which in practice decides the fate of the Bulgarian state.
After the convention was signed, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck raised the idea of a meeting in Berlin to discuss the Treaty of San Stefano. This leads to the Berlin Congress. The reasons why Berlin was chosen as the site of this congress must be sought primarily in the fact that Germany and its chancellor had up to that time displayed a complete disinterest in the Ottoman Empire and the Balkan problems. In this situation, the capital of Germany turns out to be acceptable to both Russia and the other Great Powers.
Congress Sessions Begin June 1, 1878
and finish a month later — July 1, 1878, when the Berlin Peace Treaty was signed. According to him, San Stefano Bulgaria was destroyed, and the Bulgarian lands were torn into several parts. Northern Bulgaria, without Northern Dobrudja, and the Sanjak of Sofia form a Bulgarian principality dependent on the Porte. It has a territory of 63,752 sq km and a population of 2,007,919 (according to the 1881 census). Southern Bulgaria under the name of Eastern Rumelia is designated as an autonomous region under the supreme military and administrative authority of the Sultan. The southwestern Bulgarian lands, known as Macedonia, White Sea Thrace and Odrinsko, are returned to Turkey. Northern Dobrudja and according to this treaty is given to Romania, and the Sanjak of Niš joins Serbia (this is also the case according to the Treaty of San Stefano) plus Pirot and Vransko.
Austria-Hungary received great benefits with the Treaty of Berlin.
It is granted the right to occupy Bosnia and Herzegovina for 30 years. To keep his troops in the Montenegrin coast of the Adriatic Sea, which remained under Ottoman rule.
Britain legitimizes its right to occupy the Ottoman island of Cyprus.
Russia receives territories in the Caucasus region, it also annexes the previously Romanian Bessarabia.
The remaining clauses of the Treaty of Berlin confirm the San Stefano arrangements. Romania and Montenegro are recognized as independent states, but, like Serbia, they undertake to pay off the relevant part of the Ottoman Empire's national debt. Montenegro expands its territory considerably at the expense of the neighboring Ottoman regions.