Publisher's Synopsis
On 19 February 1878 Russia and the Ottoman Empire signed the peace Treaty of San Stephen. The reaction of England was immediate as through this treaty Russia was actively involved in the Balkans. So, England with the cooperation of Germany in June 1878 organized a new international Congress in Berlin where it was revised the terms of the Treaty of San Stephen. Russia accepted the new adjustments. During the same period, the English ambassador in Istanbul (Constantinople) managed to extract Cyprus from the Ottoman Empire in return for the British support at the Congress of Berlin. The occupation of Cyprus was necessary because along with Gibraltar and Malta it created a sequel of strategic ports in the Mediterranean over the trade route that connected England - via Suez - with India. In June 1878, the Sultan agreed and signed with England a treaty under which the British Empire would exercise the administration in Cyprus. So, in early July 1878 the British troops landed on the island.
