Instrument provided with cables extending between a first portion and a second portion of the instrument at opposite sides of its longitudinal axis and disposed at predefined angles with respect to said axis, which instrument has one or more sets of cables, each set of cables comprising in combination a first cable running parallel to the longitudinal axis, a second cable running at a first predefined angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, and a third cable running at a second predefined angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and having a sign that is opposite to the sign of the first predefined angle so as to arrange that the second and third cables cross each other. The instrument is preferably a joystick or a surgical instrument, such as a laparoscopic tool.