Amos - I don't think you were much at risk from the Yugoslavs. We were there in the 60s and 70s and the country was very relaxed. Albania at that time was a different matter.
This thread has had some great tales, but seems to have run out of steam. So, I'll give it one more kick. This is a small horror story about an organised holiday.
Anne & I booked a cycling/trekking trip in Nepal in 1992, with a reputable organisation, but using an independent leader. Tom had led many trips in Nepal & Thailand. A month or so before we were to travel, he informed us that his father was very ill, and he might not be able to lead us. He asked for a volunteer to act as liaison with the Nepali leader if that should happen, and I agreed to do this.
About the same time, a Thai Airways jumbo crashed on approach to Kathmandu. A few weeks later, a PIA flight also crashed on approach to Kathmandu. We were flying with Bangladesh Airlines (Biman), and were a little nervous - it didn't seem Kathmandu was a very safe airport. Happily, or so we thought, Tom was able to come with us, and when we arrived at Dhaka he offered to arrange a coach tour of the city while we waited for the ongoing flight. A fascinating experience - out of the terminal via various back stairs and a side door, into a "coach" with no window glass and very dodgy seats. It certainly gave us the full flavour of Bangladeshi cities.
The flight to Kathmandu was uneventful, although Anne was not impressed by the pilot's announcement that "we will be landing at Kathmandu in 35 minutes - inshallah". Nor by the sight of the tailfin of the PIA jet still on the hillside. At least the Nepali team were very welcoming, and our simple guest house accommodation was better than expected.
Cycling around the Kathmandu valley and up to the rim at Nagarkot was an experience, and we had a very enjoyable 10 days. The Nepali cycling leader and mechanic were excellent, which was fortunate, since Tom was notable mainly for his absence. The worst example was when we cycled up to Nagarkot - Tom had gone ahead to confirm the accommodation, and as we arrived, he was leaving to return to Kathmandu. It's not surprising that we chose to have dinner on our last night in Kathmandu with the Nepali team, rather than with Tom & his mate.
We then had 2 days cycling to Pokhara, which we enjoyed, despite heavy rain on the second day. During this ride, with an overnight in a motel, most of the party came to the view that Tom's interest in young Nepali boys had little to do with furthering the education of his "adopted sons".
Tom did not join us on our 4-day trek from Pokhara, but was to meet us for the flight back to Kathmandu. When we arrived at the hotel, I found a telex for me from Tom in Kathmandu, saying that he had to go home early and would be leaving Kathmandu before we arrived the following day. (Well, we knew this might happen.) Oh, and the airlines were no longer flying jumbos into Kathmandu, so all the flight times were changed, and would I go to the Biman office and change all our tickets. Bang went half our last day in Nepal.
Despite the difficulties, we enjoyed the trip. Letters from a number of the party ensured that Tom did not "lead" any more trips.