119
the Balkan side and Caucaus side could not show an
effective struggle against Russian progression. As a
result, Russian progression was stopped with the Edirne
agreement at 31st January 1878.
During war there had been a slaughter for the
Turks by Russian army at
the Balkans and Anatolia was
the only address for survivors. When it was realized
that the result of the war was to the detriment of
Ottomans Armenian National Council under the
leadership of Armenian patriarche Nerses via
Ecmiyazin Katogigsos stated that the are untill
euphrates
river
should
be
taken
under
the
administration of Russia sending a memorandum tu
Tsar of Russia. After a while, when Russian army
arrived to Istanbul Armenian patriarch Nerses
Varjabedyan, negotiated with the president of Russian
delegation Grandük Nikola and stated that Armenians
should be given self-government. As a result, 16th
article of treaty of san stefano that was concluded at 3
March 1878 passed into history with its including
Armenians’ those demands. According to agreement,
Ottoman empire would make reforms at the east of
Anatolia for Armenians and would provide the
protection
of
Armenians
against
Kurds
and
Cherkesses.
220
In this way, Armenian matter became an
international issue for especially Russia’s and the other
European countries’ policy against Ottoman Empire.
Russia and the European countries, with Ottoman’s
entering into an obligation like making reforms for a
non-Muslim community, had the right to involve in the
Ottomans internal affairs and from that time on, Russia
and the European countries had the right to involve in
Ottomans’ internal affairs at every turn.
220
Köksal, op.cit., s.7.