This is the first modern video-conference system, worth some 20,000 euros, and it was donated by the US government. It will be used at war crimes trials in Croatia, for the testifying of protected witnesses, the work of the Judicial Academy, and the provision of international legal assistance, it was said.
US Ambassador to Croatia Ralph Frank said that similar systems would be donated to county courts in Osijek, Split and Rijeka by the end of the year.
He expressed support to the Justice Ministry in the reform of the judiciary and added that his government would support a programme of training of Croatian police for a witness protection programme.
Justice Minister Vesna Skare Ozbolt said that the ability of Croatian courts to conduct war crimes trials confirmed the country's judicial sovereignty and made it possible for cases to be transferred to Croatian courts.
To demonstrate how the new video-conference system works, direct video link was established with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague, as well as with a war crimes court in Belgrade.