"It is again necessary to sit at the negotiating table and talk and find solutions so that bridges, roads and embankments would not be torn down but built. Incidents of this kind should be addressed at the negotiating table, without the police," Drnovsek said in an interview with Slovene news agency STA on Thursday.
"When police appear on the scene, that means that diplomats have failed and are incompetent," Drnovsek said, alluding to the Slovene prime minister and the foreign minister with whom he admitted he had not communicated for months.
The Slovene president also criticised Croatia, saying that it should have tried to avoid incidents and stick to earlier agreements.
Asked how an agreement could be reached with Croatia, Drnovsek recalled his efforts while he had been at the helm of the Slovene government. "I have signed an agreement with the Croatian government and a new one could also be reached," he said.
Commenting on the present crisis in relations between Slovenia and Croatia, Drnovsek said he was not in contact with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, but added that he was planning to meet him soon, possibly this month.
Drnovsek would not comment on claims by some Slovene analysts that the present escalation of relations between the two countries was the most serious in the last 15 years.
"Incidents have happened before and solutions have always been found to defuse the situation. That's what must be done this time as well," the Slovene president said.