After the Istanbul Conference in 1876 provided the groundwork, the Bulgarian state emerged as an independent state in 1878 under the Treaty of Berlin. The policy of exterminating the Turks to create a Slavic state, as put into practice by the Russians during the War of 1877-78, was picked up by the Bulgarians after the Russian departure from the scene, followed by acts of massacres and exiles. The Ottoman government not only negotiated with the Bulgarian Principality but also held talks with the Great Powers of Europe to stop the violence in the region against the former Ottoman populations but none yielded the expected results. While the European powers pointed out that they were against the violence and oppression towards the Turks in Bulgaria, they were not more than a spectator to these violent activities of the Bulgarians