Decisions of the Berlin Congress in the light of Gusinje-Plav affair (1878-1880)

Abstract

The paper is about aninteresting historical questionrelated to non-compliance with the decisions of the Berlin Congress by the leaders and citizens of Plav and Gusinje. Specifically, upon learning that these decisions of Art. 30 of Berlin Congress were granted to Montenegro, the leaders and people stronglyopposed the decision, resolved to, regardless of price, defend their homes. In this regard, the chiefs of Plav and Gusinje, together with chiefs of the Albanian tribes, were preparing to resist Montenegrin forces. Under pressure of the Great powers, the international Commission for delimitation was formed, based on decisions of the Berlin Congress. The Commission failed to complete the task of occupation of Plav and Gusinje. Therefore, the Great powers and Montenegro launched a strong diplomatic activity, putting pressure on the Porte, in order to resolve this issue amicably. Diplomatic missions and pressures of the Porte on Plav and Gusinje inhabitants did not give results. So Montenegro decided forcibly to take Plav and Gusinje. Within the two heavy battles, on 4th December 1879 at Nokšić and at Murino on 8th of January 1880, the Montenegrin forces were slaughtered. That forced the Great powers to change the decision of the Berlin Congress and instead of Plav and Gusinje Montenegro had been granted Ulcinj and Bojana. In this way, the determination of leaders and small population of Plav and Gusinje to defend their homes and homelandproved to bemore important than decisions and interests of the Great powers