 When the Iraqi Regional Branch seized power , the Syrian Regional Branch responded by not mentioning in the press release that a Ba 'ath organisation had taken power in Iraq . For instance , it mentioned that Bakr had been appointed president , but did not mention his party 's affiliation , and instead referred to the incident as a military coup . While the Syrian Ba 'ath denied giving any legitimacy to Iraqi Ba 'ath , the Iraqi Ba 'ath were more conciliatory . For instance , Bakr stated " They are Ba 'athists , we are Ba 'athists " shortly after the Iraqi Regional Branch seized power . Foreign Minister <unk> stated shortly after that " there is nothing preventing co @-@ operation between us [ meaning Iraq and Syria ] " . The anti @-@ Iraq propaganda reached new heights within Syria at the same time that Assad was strengthening his position within the party and state . When Jadid was toppled by Assad during the Corrective Movement in 1970 , it did not signal a change in attitudes , and the first joint communique of the Syrian @-@ dominated National Command and the Syrian Regional Command referred to the Iraqi Ba 'ath as a " rightist clique " . 
